Will Verizon spur cable TV rate war in Albany?

[Skaggs]

Looks like Scotia will get FioS TV service in March 2011.

There was an article in the Gazette yesterday. You can read it here.

[Skaggs]

Verizon in local cable TV picture
By Larry Rulison Business Writer
Published: 12:03 p.m., Wednesday, October 20, 2010

GUILDERLAND -- After agreeing to bring its FiOS cable TV service to the village of Scotia, Verizon Communications appears to have set its sights on bringing TV to select portions of Albany County as well.

Officials from Colonie, Bethlehem and Guilderland confirmed Wednesday that they have been in talks with Verizon over cable TV franchises, which would likely provide competition to Time Warner Cable and satellite TV providers serving the area -- although it's unclear if any other communities are under consideration.

"We've been in negotiations," said Guilderland Supervisor Kenneth Runion. "It provides some alternative. I think it's a good option."

In March, Verizon said that it was not planning to bring cable TV service to the Capital Region, instead focusing on areas in the state such as metro New York City, Buffalo and Syracuse where it already offers TV.

But last week, the Scotia village board voted to approve a franchise with Verizon that will pay the village 5 percent of gross revenues from cable TV operations there.

And Verizon is also talking to at least three Albany County towns where its FiOS Internet and telephone service is already offered.

The FiOS system uses an advanced fiber optic network that has been installed in select areas of Albany and Schenectady counties. The TV service can be broadcast over that same network, although under state law, Verizon must negotiate a franchise with each town or city where it wants to offer the service.

"We are talking with a couple of other municipalities in the area," Verizon spokesman John Bonomo said, although he declined to reveal specifics for competitive reasons.

"We've been contacted," said Bethlehem Cable Television Administrator Michael Cohen. "We've had a couple of discussions, but we're not near anything yet."

Colonie Town Attorney Michael Magguilli also said town officials have been in "active negotiations" with Verizon for a cable franchise. If an agreement can be reached, it would be presented to the town board for approval.

The state Public Service Commission must also approve cable TV franchises before they can take effect.

Consumers across the Capital Region have been waiting for years for Verizon to add cable TV service to its FiOS offering in hopes that it could provide alternatives to other TV providers such as Time Warner. Verizon believes its service in Scotia will be available by March 2011.

Bonomo said the change in Verizon's stance on TV here took many factors into consideration.

"We took a look at the amount of fiber we've deployed and the success we've had in the market with similar markets, and we made a decision to go ahead," Bonomo said. "We've got the fiber deployed. Let's take advantage of it."

But don't expect places like Troy or downtown Albany to get Verizon TV or other FiOS services. In general, the company has been focusing its resources building out its fiber network in the communities where it negotiates TV franchises, because the agreements require such investments.

And Verizon says it has no plans to enter any new communities with FiOS.

Time Warner spokesman Michael Bucci said the company looks forward to any new entrants in the cable TV marketplace.

"Time Warner Cable has always faced competition," Bucci said. "Competition is what produces innovation, and we have some of the most innovative services available."

He says that Time Warner's network can match the FiOS system in every way, including its broadband Internet speeds.

"Time Warner Cable was one of the pioneers of fiber optic video," Bucci said. "We've been doing it all along."

Larry Rulison can be reached at 454-5504 or by e-mail at [e-mail].

[hurnik]

I'll still believe it when I see it. Especially if Rulison wrote the article (his track record of accuracy is abysmal). Not that I wouldn't like to get FIOS in Colonie. Although with Verizon rolling out CCI byte, about the only plus is you get to get rid of that nasty Tuning Adapter (if you have a Tivo).

[Skaggs]

Village of Colonie also in line to get FiOS TV
Times Union Business Blog
October 25, 2010 at 9:28 am by Larry Rulison

The Village of Colonie has negotiated a deal with Verizon for a cable TV franchise.

A public hearing is going to be held next month.

The franchise would pave the way for Verizon to offer its FiOS TV product that would compete with Time Warner Cable.

The Village of Scotia was the first local municipality to approve FiOS TV, and Verizon is also in various stages of talks with the towns of Colonie, Guilderland and Bethlehem.

The state Public Service Commission must also approve any franchises awarded by municipalities.

[the block]

I'm liking all this fios talk lately. I live in the town of Colonie, not village, but at least it's getting closer. Hopefully within the next year I'll see some VZ trucks in the neighbor laying fibre.