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Purcellville council unanimously approves 25‑year telecom franchise with Verizon
Summary
After staff and outside counsel recommended approval, Purcellville’s council adopted an ordinance and authorized execution of a 25‑year franchise agreement with Verizon Virginia LLC; council and staff addressed resident concerns about easements and broadband upgrades.
Council approved a granting ordinance and the associated franchise agreement that will allow Verizon Virginia LLC to operate in the town’s rights‑of‑way under a new 25‑year franchise.
Staff told council Verizon was the sole responsive bidder to the public notice; outside counsel said the proposed agreement is an improvement over the town’s expired 1989 franchise and clarifies town and company obligations. “It’s a much better agreement than what’s currently in place,” the outside counsel said during the discussion.
Councilors asked staff to clarify resident reports that Verizon had sent notices seeking easements that, in some cases, proposed work in front of private houses. Staff and engineering said homeowners cannot be forced to convey private easements and that some individual residences may have to grant local easements for service where the town’s development easements do not include those parcels. The council voted unanimously to adopt the ordinance (recorded in the meeting packet as ordinance 24‑12‑01) and then to approve the franchise agreement; the motions carried 7–0 and the mayor was authorized to execute the agreement on behalf of the town.
