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Lebanon City adopts Verizon cable franchise; agreement allows 5% franchise fee
Summary
Council voted 5–0 to authorize a cable franchise agreement with Verizon Pennsylvania LLC, mirroring many terms of the city's Comcast franchise: a 5% franchise fee on cable services, quarterly reporting, audit rights and customer‑service standards; Verizon requested a five‑year term.
Lebanon City Council adopted a resolution authorizing a cable franchise agreement with Verizon Pennsylvania LLC, a measure Mayor Sherry Capello described as an unusual opportunity to introduce traditional cable competition in the city. "This agreement authorizes Verizon to provide cable service and introduce cable competition in the city," Mayor Capello said during the discussion.
The mayor said the franchise mirrors the existing Comcast agreement in most respects, allows the city to assess a 5% franchise fee on Verizon’s cable revenues (the statutory maximum for cable), and includes audit and reporting requirements and enforceable customer‑service standards. The agreement requires quarterly fee payments, permits the city to audit fees no more frequently than once every three years and allows the city to recover audit costs up to $8,000 if underpayments are found. Council adopted the resolution by a 5–0 roll call.
