NEW YORK – The Federal Communications Commission today took steps to speed the entry of new competitors into the cable television market, by streamlining the local franchising process through which companies gain approval to offer subscription TV services.
Among the companies affected by the ruling is Verizon Communications Inc., which in Rhode Island has said it plans to sell television services, as well as telephone and Internet services, over its not-yet-completed fiberoptic network.
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Susanne Guyer, Verizon’s senior vice president for federal regulatory affairs, had this to say about the decision:
“Today’s action will fast-forward the delivery of new choices, lower prices and better services to consumers. The FCC is standing up for consumers who are tired of skyrocketing cable bills and want greater choice in service providers and programming. Verizon has an aggressive schedule to deploy FiOS TV.
“This order will enable us to reach agreements with local franchise authorities more quickly so we can deliver the benefits of competition to consumers faster.
“The FCC has taken strong steps to increase consumer choice and spur investment in broadband and video deployment.”
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), a New York-based Dow 30 company, delivers broadband and other communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers through its Verizon Wireless and Verizon Wireline divisions. The Wireline division includes Verizon Business, operator of a wholly-owned global IP network, and Verizon Telecom, whose developing fiber-optic network will deliver converged communications, information and entertainment. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.
