Verizon Prepares Internet, Cable Rollout in F.C.; Cox Slams Push for New Law

Verizon officially announced the launch of its new high-speed Internet service to customers in Falls Church yesterday with a press statement that promises "breathtaking" and "blazing-fast" fiber optic broadband service.

But while welcoming the new service and benefits of competition that Verizon is bringing to Falls Church, members of the City Council here expressed deep concern Monday for legislation that Verizon is backing in Richmond that would remove cable television franchise negotiating rights from localities and place them with the state.

The general manager of Verizon's rival, Cox Communications, was present at Monday's work session of the Falls Church City Council to also express concern for the two bills in question, SB 1335 and HB 2880. Gary T. McCollum of Cox called the legislation "an end run around local communities" that would "take away recourse to the needs and interests of local communities" if passed.

McCollum added that while Cox successfully negotiated its franchise with the City of Falls Church, the service that Verizon will be providing is "nothing new."

While hearing from the Cox spokesman this Monday, the Council resolved to invite a Verizon spokesman to its next work session Feb. 7. Harry Mitchell, Mid-Atlantic Media Relations Director for Verizon, told the News-Press Tuesday that the claim Verizon is offering "nothing new" is "a bunch of hooey."

"They are in an all out fight to defeat this, to maintain their competitive advantage," Mitchell said. "It's the way cable monopolists operate."

Mitchell repeated his claim that the Richmond legislation, sponsored by Jay O'Brien (R-Fairfax) in the senate and Samuel Nixon Jr. (R-Chesterfield) in the house, "is not an end run on local communities, but aimed at bringing choice to local communities quicker."

The bills, he said, which are still being revised, "will meet the main requirements that localities might face." While these issues will be addressed in the legislation, he said, it will be better than "having 100s of separate negotiations."

But Verizon officials will have some convincing to do when they come to the Council here next Monday. At this week's work session, Council member Lindy Hockenberry characterized the legislation as "reprehensible," calling it "an end-around to jump to the head of the line. It's a terrible way to do business. The consumers lose by having no voice" if it is passed.

Mayor Dan Gardner was not much kinder. "I don't know if this is a good idea," he said. "It lowers the bar for competition. When it comes to state versus local satisfaction, I will go with local every time. I give a failing mark to the (legislative) idea right off the mark."

A Verizon spokesman confirmed to the News-Press yesterday that his company has reserved the State Theatre in Falls Church for a public event Sunday afternoon, Feb. 13, aimed at introducing local citizens to its new high-speed Internet service. The company plans to use the same fiber-to-the-premises capability to offer cable TV later this year.

Similar capabilities are being developed by Verizon in 11 other states. In addition to customers in Falls Church, some in Arlington and Fairfax will also have access to the new service being rolled out this week.

Three classes of service with downstream (download) speeds of up to 5, 15 and 30 megabits per second will be offered.