Verizon Another Step Closer To NYC Franchise

New York City's Franchise and Concession Review Committee (FCRC) voted unanimously Tuesday to approve Verizon Communications’ proposal to provide TV service in all five boroughs of the city.

Before Verizon is allowed to start marketing FiOS TV service, the proposed agreement must be confirmed by the Mayor's Office of the City of New York and the New York State Public Service Commission. The city's Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications accepted the Verizon proposal April 29.

"If we are successful in the last steps of the approval process, we will deliver on our promise to begin offering FiOS TV in parts of each of the five boroughs later this year,” said Monica Azare, Verizon senior vice president for New York and Connecticut, in a statement.

Verizon will chiefly be competing against Time Warner Cable and Cablevision Systems, as well as RCN. Both Time Warner Cable and Cablevision are seeking renewals of their franchises with New York City that expire this September.