Newsroom
For Immediate Release
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
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Public input sought; public hearing set for June 5
ARLINGTON, Va. –The Arlington County Board last night took a step toward providing competitive cable television services in Arlington County when it authorized the announcement of a public hearing on a proposed agreement between Arlington and Verizon Virginia, Inc., to provide cable TV service in Arlington.
The only cable service currently available in the County is Comcast.
Under the proposed agreement with Verizon, the County will receive five per cent of gross revenues for video services and an annual grant to support the County’s institutional network and the public, educational and government (“PEG”) channels in exchange for using rights-of-way along the streets of the County.
Arlington’s County Code authorizes the County Board to issue a non-exclusive cable franchise if the Board finds that it is in the public interest to do so.
Background
In early 2004, Verizon began providing fiber optic cable service [Fiber to the Premise (FTTP)] to Arlington County. Currently, Verizon is providing voice and data services – named “FIOS” -- over its FTTP network. The FTTP network can also enable cable TV service, if and when the County activates a cable franchise agreement with Verizon. FTTP technology enables the full combination of video, voice and high-speed data services using fiber optic cable.
Public Input
The Arlington Cable Television and Information Technology Advisory Commission will hold a special public meeting on the agreement at 7:30 p.m. Monday, June 5, in the County Board Room, Room 307, 2100 Clarendon Blvd. Residents are invited to attend and give their views on the proposed franchise. The Commission will submit its recommendation to the County Board, which will consider the proposed agreement at its June meeting (June 10 and 13).
Individuals may submit written comments to the Arlington Office of Cable Administration at 2100 Clarendon Blvd., Suite 612, Arlington Va., 22201, or via email at
Verizon’s proposed agreement for the franchise is available on the Arlington County Web site. A paper copy is also available for public inspection from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday in the temporary Cable Administration Office at 2300 Clarendon Blvd., 2nd floor, Arlington, VA 22201.
Arlington, Va., is a world-class residential, business and tourist location that was originally part of the "10 miles square" parcel of land surveyed in 1791 to be the Nation's Capital. It is the geographically smallest self-governing county in the United States, occupying slightly less than 26 square miles. Arlington maintains a rich variety of stable neighborhoods, quality schools and enlightened land use, and received the Environmental Protection Agency's highest award for "Smart Growth" in 2002. Home to some of the most influential organizations in the world - including the Pentagon - Arlington stands out as one of America's preeminent places to live, visit and do business.