Verizon has moved one step closer to offering cable service to Baltimore County residents.
The Baltimore County Council on Monday voted unanimously to approve a deal that will allow Verizon to begin laying miles of fiber-optic cable throughout the county. The county will collect close to $2.5 million from Verizon to run fiber-optic cable to residents? doors.
Now that the deal has been approved, the company plans to start construction of the network within the next two months, according to Sandra Arnette, a Verizon spokeswoman. Once construction is under way, Arnette said the company will initiate talks with the county to secure a cable franchise.
Arnette added that the process of deploying the network across the entire county could take several years, but once a portion of it is completed and a franchise agreement has been reached, Verizon will begin offering its video services to county residents. The company says its fiber-optic video service, FiOS TV, is going head to head with cable television.
“As soon as we can get a franchise agreement with the county ? we can begin offering video services,” Arnette said.
Verizon has already widened its footprint in other areas of the state?s cable market by securing a cable franchise in Howard County, where it provides services to about 11,000 county residents. The company is also laying fiber-optic cable in Anne Arundel, Prince George?s and Montgomery counties, though it has not secured cable franchises there.
Though Verizon has moved closer to offering cable services in Baltimore County, a spokesman for competitor Comcast said the company is not worried about a negative impact to its bottom line.
“As far as competition goes, Comcast is more than ready and willing to compete,” said Jim Gordon, a Comcast spokesman. “Our product in Baltimore County has beenand will continue to be well-positioned to compete with any provider. It?s certainly a fun time to be in business. We?re growing and will continue to grow.”
