This message is sent to Verizon retirees in Texas on behalf of Steve Banta, Group President – Northwest & Southwest Regions and Sheila Lau, President – Texas Market Area.

Texas Senate Bill 408 is closer to becoming a reality. This past weekend, the Texas House of Representatives tentatively approved Senate Bill 408 that would allow telecommunications companies to obtain a statewide franchise to introduce TV services in the communities where we deploy our fiber-optic network. This is a major step in the right direction, and we hope to gain final approval of SB 408 in the House sometime today.

Representatives for Verizon and the CWA stood shoulder-to-shoulder in supporting this bill in Austin, and our success was truly a team effort. And, thank you to those who contacted your legislators last week and asked them to support this bill.

The House recognized an opportunity to create progressive legislation that reflects the emerging competition for cable subscribers by telecommunications companies. Texans deserve the benefits of cable competition as soon as the equipment and facilities are ready, not months or years later. Genuine competition will happen faster by creating a statewide franchise for video services in Texas. We are hopeful and optimistic that the Senate will act upon the opportunity to bring meaningful competition to the modern era of communications.

All of our efforts will now focus on getting the Senate to approve the bill in its current form. We're not asking employees or retirees at this point to contact their senators about the bill, but please be ready to respond in this remaining week of the legislative session in case we do need to ask for your help.