Council reviews two‑step franchise process for telecom providers as Verizon seeks right‑of‑way upgrades

Town staff and the town’s telecommunications counsel briefed the Purcellville Town Council on Oct. 22 on a recommended two‑step ordinance process to update the borough’s telecommunications franchise and accommodate provider upgrades.

Planning Manager Boyd Lawrence said the process would begin with a procedural ordinance to initiate a public bid on Nov. 12, followed by a granting ordinance on Dec. 10 to award a franchise. "The code of Virginia requires that any franchise agreement with a term more than five years must be selected through a public bid process," staff said, framing the two‑step path as a way to comply with state law while expediting upgrades.

Counsel (introduced in the packet as Matt Ames, telecommunications legal counsel) explained that Verizon historically holds local telephone franchise rights and has approached the town about permits to upgrade its network and bring fiber. Counsel said those upgrades would enable Verizon to offer broadband over the same rights of way. Residents raised practical concerns about easements and whether houses in certain sections of Mayfair lack Verizon easements; a resident summarized the consequence bluntly: “If they can’t get the easements, they won’t provide the service.”

Staff recommended the Nov. 12 procedural ordinance to start the process; if approved, the town would accept bids through early December and then consider a granting ordinance on Dec. 10. Councilors also asked about public‑safety and municipal‑use provisions and whether the town could require free service; counsel said the statute provides limited ability to require service to public safety facilities but does not mandate free service for government operations as cable franchises once did.

Staff will return with draft procedural ordinance language and a recommended timeline for public notice and the bid process.