Posts by Doug Williams from July 16, 2008

Doug Williams | July 16, 2008, 05:13 PM
Verizon FiOS Takes Manhattan

Verizon today announced that the NY Public Service Commission has confirmed the agreement between Verizon and the city of New York to provide FiOS TV and broadband to all five boroughs of the city.

It's a big deal: it'll be costly and time-consuming, but its an attractive market. It's very good news to those consumers who are looking for that infamous 20/20 FiOS broadband service.

Verizon claims that it will serve the five boroughs by 2014, but it will be interesting to see whether it ends up serving all of the five boroughs. While that is the intent of the agreement, six and a half years is a long time. Hopefully the city established strong enough financial incentives to encourage Verizon to complete the job as per the agreement. If it's cheaper to pay the fine than comply with the agreement, some consumers could be left out.

I'd also note that in the press release, Verizon claims that the agreement "makes TV choice a reality for New Yorkers." Not to split hairs, but those New Yorkers that live in RCN's overbuild footprint have had TV choice for quite some time. So now there will be "choice" for some, and "more choice" for others.