In a move that signals our intent to act swiftly on favorable franchise legislation, Verizon is greatly expanding immediate plans for offering FiOS TV in Texas – the first state to enact a new law that streamlines the local franchise process.

Vice Chairman and Domestic Telecom President Larry Babbio announced on Sept. 30 that we will offer FiOS TV to 21 additional communities in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, beyond the four in the area where we have franchises in place. By the end of 2006, FiOS TV will be available to nearly 400,000 North Texas households with over 1 million potential viewers.

The new FiOS TV areas must be approved by the Texas Public Utility Commission. A state-issued franchise was requested on Friday, Sept. 30. Thanks to the new Texas law, we no longer must reach a franchise agreement with each locality.

During a speech to key Texas business leaders, Babbio said that accelerating our FiOS TV plans would not have been possible “without the historic passage of Texas Senate Bill 5.” Babbio said the legislation “will bring the citizens of Texas innovative video services and a better value,” and it will drive investment in the state.

“We feel sure that Texas’ progressive vision will lead the way for other states to pass similar legislation,” he said.

The announcement in Texas follows four milestone video franchise wins for FiOS TV as of Sept. 30. Fairfax County, Va., became the largest franchise area yet to give its approval and the City of Fairfax signed an agreement, giving us a strong presence in the metropolitan Washington, D.C. market. Meanwhile in New York, the Board of Trustees of Massapequa Park approved Verizon’s franchise. It now goes to the Public Service Commission for consideration. Finally, the mayor of Woburn, Mass., approved a franchise following a favorable recommendation by the city’s Cable Advisory Committee. The approved franchises now expand FiOS TV’s potential viewing audience to more than 3 million.

Verizon also announced a number of agreements with major programmers during the past two weeks, adding Disney, ESPN, Lifetime and the Weather Channel, among others, to the FiOS TV lineup.