Verizon said it intends to file the first application for a video franchise in New Jersey under the state’s new video franchise law. This initial filing covers 2.1 million households, or 70% of the homes in the state, by Verizon’s estimation.

Under the law, the Board of Public Utilities must act on the franchise application within 45 days. Two public hearings on the matter have been scheduled this month, on Nov. 17 in Newark and Nov. 21 in Cherry Hill.

Verizon signaled its expectation the N.J. Board of Public Utilities will take the full 45 days to consider its application; the company said it is planning to begin offering video to some communities by the second half of December.

Verizon has been unspooling fiber throughout the state for over a year, and is already offering Internet access on its FiOS network. FiOS TV will take a little more time, however. Verizon said it will have FiOS TV available to only about 450,000 households by March.