Verizon made a pitch to the Philadelphia City Council Committee on Public Property and Public Works to install its all-fiber-optic network and bring real TV choice to more than 600,000 households throughout the city. The company is seeking franchise agreement from the city.
Key points of Verizon's proposal:
- Verizon plans to bring fiber optics directly to every Philadelphian's home. More than 600,000 households will have access to FiOS TV, including households in multiple dwelling units.
- The full deployment of Verizon's FTTP network throughout the entire city will occur within seven years of the franchise ordinance's effective date.
- The network will deliver an all-digital FiOS TV lineup, including VOD.
- Payment of franchise fees equivalent to 5 per cent of gross revenues on cable TV service.
- Payment to the city of $2 million for a technology and education fund.
- Payment of $9.2 million in grants to support the city's public, education and government access channels.
- Up to 15 all-digital public, educational and governmental access channels for use by the city or its Public Access Corporation over the life of the agreement.
- An extensive and appropriate set of customer service provisions.
