The cities of Port Richey and Zephyrhills voted to grant Verizon a video franchise. They are the 10th and 11th communities in Florida to give Verizon a franchise for FiOS TV.
Both towns are suburbs of Tampa, an area where Verizon has secured most of its Florida franchises. Zephyrhills has more than 12,000 residents; Port Richey has 3,000. Verizon says the total population now covered in the area is 1.9 million.
“Today’s franchise in Zephyrhills enhances our efforts to bring FiOS TV to as many consumers in Pasco County as possible,” said Alan Ciamporcero, Verizon’s Southeast region president.
Verizon will offer FiOS TV to Zephyrhills residents sometime in 2007.
By agreement, Verizon has to make FiOS TV available to all 12,000 residents within three years of the initial offering.