The Hillsborough County Commission today awarded a far-reaching video franchise to Verizon for its FiOS TV product, to be delivered via its new, all-fiber network.
The franchise, which gives Verizon authority to offer FiOS TV to 735,000 residents of the county, is the largest municipal franchise granted thus far in Florida to the company. Hillsborough County also joins Manatee County and Temple Terrace as the third municipality in Florida to grant a franchise to Verizon, as it continues its campaign to be permitted to deliver television services to customers in its six-county service territory. Meanwhile, Verizon continues to negotiate with the cities of Tampa and Bradenton, and Sarasota and Pasco counties while also participating in an industry push to obtain passage by the Florida Legislature of a state-issued franchise law this year.