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Dover, Verizon negotiate deal for digital cable TV(Delaware State News (KRT) Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) Mar. 30--DOVER -- Dover officials hope to get together soon with Verizon representatives about the telecommunications company's plan to bring its brand of digital cable television to Dover. Dover's Utility Committee on Monday discussed the company's desire to forge a franchise agreement with the city for FiOS, or fiber optic, digital cable. In anticipation of the talks, Dover Finance Director Donna Mitchell said she has begun to research the medium and consult The National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors on what city governments typically negotiate in franchise agreements. This could include a service area; where the company would install wires; and types of service standards that are fair to the city, Verizon and its would-be competitor Comcast, which already offers digital cable and Internet service in the area. Ms. Mitchell said Verizon hopes to offer service as soon as possible. "And we're going to be working with them to get it done as soon as possible," she said. "We're trying to make sure we have all the research done and prepare for it." Utility committee member Eugene B. Ruane said the city should seek outside counsel to help with negotiation and financial information and the panel gave Ms. Mitchell permission to continue to contact attorneys from a list she's already compiled. Committee member Kenneth Hogan said he'd like to see a schedule of when Verizon could be ready to offer the service to all its intended customers. Verizon already offers FiOS to customers in New Castle County towns such as Middletown, Odessa and Townsend. If negotiations are successful, Dover could be the first Kent County municipality to receive the service. When the state Public Service Commission gave Verizon permission last fall to offer service in unincorporated areas of the state, company representatives said they hopes one day to offer service in unincorporated areas near Dover and make their way through the rest of Delaware. Fiber optic television is connected directly to the home and does not need to compress signals to offer more channels. To see more of Delaware State News, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.newszap.com/dover Copyright (c) 2007, Delaware State News, Dover Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |