Less than two weeks after its IPTV launch in Keller, Texas, Verizon has filed for a state-issued franchise from the Public Utility Commission of Texas to offer its FiOS TV service to 21 communities in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
The state-issued franchise by the Texas commission is expected to be approved within the next two weeks. Verizon has already secured video franchise agreements in Keller, Sachse, Westlake and Wylie and wants to add 21 additional markets including Allen, Carrollton, Colleyville, Coppell, Denton, Double Oak, Flower Mound, Fort Worth, Garland, Grapevine, Hebron, Highland Village, Irving, Lewisville, Lucas, Murphy, Parker, Plano, Rowlett, Southlake and St. Paul.
"Accelerating our FiOS TV service gives more Texans a true choice for TV service much faster than would have otherwise been possible without the historic passage of Texas Senate Bill 5," said Verizon President Lawrence T. Babbio.
Without the law, it could take up to 18 months to negotiate a video franchise agreement, according to Verizon, which plans to offer public, education and government (PEG) channels as part of its FiOS TV lineup.
