Verizon agrees to cable franchise deal with Pittsburgh
July 6, 2009
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania has reached a tentative agreement with Verizon on a 10-year franchise that would allow Verizon to bring its FiOS TV service to customers in the city.
The agreement, which is subject to the recommendation of the Cable Advisory Board and the approval of City Council, would mean Pittsburghers would have competition for the first time for cable TV services. The city currently only has service from Philadelphia-based cable provider Comcast.
"I am very pleased that the city and Verizon have reached an agreement that will pave the way for cable competition in Pittsburgh," Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said.
The franchise agreement follows several months of intense negotiations between Verizon and city officials, according to Gale Y. Given, president of Verizon Pennsylvania. Given urged the Cable Advisory Board and city council to approve the deal expeditiously.
Verizon is upgrading its network to provide a fiber-to-the-premises system (FiOS) that will include telephone, internet and cable services. Under the agreement, Verizon will deploy cable service throughout the entire city within six years.
As part of the agreement, Verizon will provide the city with an Institutional Network, a high speed fiber internet network for public safety communications. Verizon has also agreed to enhance public, educational and governmental (PEG) channel access in Pittsburgh.
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