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Council holds public hearing on proposed Verizon FiOS TV franchise; company says service already built to about 54% of city
Summary
City staff opened the required public hearing on a proposed five-year franchise for Verizon to provide FiOS TV in Beacon. Pamela Goldstein of Verizon said the company has built approximately 54% of the city and would need PSC confirmation to begin cable service; council and residents asked about expansion commitments and local impacts.
The council opened a state‑required public hearing on a proposed franchise agreement allowing Verizon New York to offer FiOS TV in Beacon. Pamela Goldstein, an associate general counsel at Verizon, summarized the company's position and the application process, saying the agreement would be for a five‑year term and must be confirmed by the state Public Service Commission before Verizon could offer cable service. "Verizon has built out approximately 54% in Beacon," Goldstein said, describing the current fiber build and noting that a full city build would take additional years.
City staff and council members asked whether Verizon would commit to expanding the network beyond current coverage. Goldstein and staff said the company was not committing at this time to expand to 100% coverage and that any future build-out could be discussed at renewal. Staff noted that federal and state law constrain local negotiation and that franchise terms must be consistent with existing franchisee agreements; Optimum was provided a copy of the draft agreement for review. The council closed the hearing by motion and will continue technical review in workshop and subsequent meetings.
