Verizon Communications filed an application Tuesday to begin selling cable television in Baltimore County, potentially providing residents with an alternative to the now-dominant Comcast Corp.
A contract could be finalized by the end of the year after at least two public hearings and a county review of the company?s fiscal health and professionalism, said County Council Member Kevin Kamenetz, who negotiates franchises for the council. Early last month, the county agreed to let Verizon replace its copper phone wires with cable-capable fiber-optic lines, hinting at its intentions to move into the region?s cable TV market.
“It?s good news for citizens in Baltimore County,” said Verizon spokesman Harry Mitchell. “If there are three certainties in life, it?s death, taxes and the annual cable price increase. We aim to do something about that.”
Verizon already offers cable TV in Howard County and is negotiating contracts in Anne Arundel, Prince George?s and Montgomery counties. Mitchell said negotiations will determine where the service is provided in Baltimore County.
A Comcast spokeswoman said Verizon?s application was expected and said they will track the franchise process to ensure a “level playing field.”
“We?ve been competing for years,” said spokeswoman Anna Custer. “Our products are fully featured and fully deployed and available today to all customers in Baltimore County, which is something other providers can?t offer.”
In 2000, two relatively unknown cable providers ? Starpower and a short-lived New England-based start-up company ? applied to do business in the county, Kamenetz said, but withdrew their offers during negotiations. Kamenetz said he expects Verizon to “pass” the county?s corporate review.
Verizon is paying the county about $2.5 million to access public property to replace the phone wires. The construction could take as long as three years, officials said.
