WASHINGTON - The Council of the District of Columbia Tuesday (Dec. 16) unanimously approved, with one abstention, legislation authorizing Verizon Washington DC to offer its all-fiber-optic FiOS TV service to District residents. As part of the 15-year cable franchise included in the legislation, Verizon will make FiOS TV available throughout the District over the next nine years. The legislation now moves to Mayor Adrian M. Fenty for his signature into law. The following response should be attributed to William R. Roberts, Verizon regional president for Maryland and Washington, D.C.:
"The D.C. Council today has taken a bold step forward for residents who deserve more choice in who provides their pay-TV service. And Verizon is eager to begin offering District residents FiOS TV, an award-winning, superior alternative to their current cable TV service, with more high-definition channels and innovative interactive features cable companies don't provide.
"In reviewing the franchise legislation, the Committee on Public Services and Consumer Affairs, under the leadership of Committee Chair Mary Cheh, received testimony from dozens of District residents who called for more cable competition. We salute the committee's thorough examination.
"We thank Mayor Fenty and his administration for their continued support throughout this process, and we urge the mayor to sign this legislation quickly so that Verizon can start bringing the many benefits of cable TV choice to District residents in 2009."
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