Baltimore County and Verizon Communications officials have reached an agreement, providing competition they hope will improve cable products and services for residents, possibly within two months.
Upon County Council approval, the contract requires the company to begin rolling out services in the first of three phases within 12 months, beginning in the county?s western region. It remains unclear which communities Verizon will reach first, but the agreement requires Verizon to cover all areas currently served by the now-dominant Comcast Corp., said Councilman Kevin Kamenetz, who negotiated on behalf the county.
That means everywhere but the most rural corners in the north, Kamenetz said.
“If the consumer can see improvements in both products and services, that?s a win,” Kamenetz said. “Comcast has always given us the latest technology. We?ve always been first, but I think the consumers want to see competition.”
Kamenetz introduced a resolution at Monday?s council meeting to adopt the 15-year contract, instituting a 30-day public review period. The contract is slated for vote March 5.
Comcast officials said they don?t view the new competition ? already surfacing in Howard, Anne Arundel, Prince George?s and Montgomery counties ? as a threat. Comcast has offered the products Verizon is introducing for several years, said company spokesman John Lamontagne.
“We?re years ahead of Verizon,” Lamontagne said. “While they try to play catch-up, we continue to roll out the Triple Play bundle and take their phone customers away.”
In addition to $9 million in annual contract fees, which are directed into the county?s general fund, Comcast provides the county with free Internet in government offices, schools and libraries. Verizon agreed to pay a fee per subscriber, which Kamenetz estimated at 66 cents per customer per month, in lieu of free services. Contractual fees are expected to total $2 million, depending on Verizon?s popularity.
