Verizon presented its plan to offer FiOS fiber-based service throughout all five boroughs of the city to the New York City Franchise and Concession Review Committee (FCRC) . A vote is expected on May 27.
The principal provisions of the Verizon franchise proposal include:
- The plan calls for a full build-out of Verizon's state-of-the-art fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) network throughout the entire city by mid-2014.
- Providing FiOS TV service to requesting customers in all five boroughs within a six-year time frame as Verizon's wire centers are upgraded to being video-capable.
- Verizon will provide an all-digital lineup of more than 400 channels and a growing library of more than 10,000 video-on-demand selections.
- Payment to the city of more than $4 million for a technology and education fund that will enable service to public and municipal buildings as well as other projects.
- Payment of approximately $18 million in grants through the life of the agreement to support public access via the city's five borough-based Community Access Organizations (CAOs).
- $10 million in grants to support the city's education and government access channels.
- More than 50 public, educational and governmental access channels for use by the city and the CAOs over the life of the agreement.
- Provision of a fiber-optic institutional network (known as an INET), primarily to support the city's public safety needs.
- Pay franchise fees equivalent to five per cent of gross revenues on cable TV service, as do other cable TV providers in the city.
- An extensive and appropriate set of customer service provisions.
