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.
Recommended Stories
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.”