Montgomery County residents likely will get a new choice when it comes to cable — Verizon Communications.

Officials say that if the public and members of the County Council support an agreement just negotiated between Montgomery and Verizon, the cable provider could start offering service early next year.

Donna Bigler, a public information officer for Montgomery County, said Wednesday that the franchise agreement spells out that, in exchange for the right to offer cable television services in the county, Verizon will pay Montgomery County 5 percent of gross revenues as a franchise fee, 3 percent of gross revenues for public access programming and $1 million in other cable-related costs over the next five years.

Comcast, which has been the sole cable provider for the county since 2000, will continue to offer service in the market. Lisa Altman, a Comcast spokeswoman who represents the region, said company executives had not yet had a chance to look over the agreement to be able to comment on it directly.

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“But as long as there’s an equal playing field, we welcome competition,” she said Wednesday.

The agreement comes on the heels of more than a year of negotiating between the parties. In June, Verizon filed a lawsuit against Montgomery County, alleging that the county denied it access to customers. A judge ruled last month against Verizon, and — in the process — assigned a mediator to work with the sides. Wednesday’s agreement is the culmination of the mediator’s efforts.

Verizon spokesman Harry J. Mitchell said, if the agreement stands, it is customers who will reap the benefits.

“The bottom line is this moves customers in Montgomery County that much closer to having options,” Mitchell said. “For years they have had to suffer through annual price increases and separate fees to get all the options they want.”

Before Verizon begins phasing Montgomery County into its network, Bigler said there will be a public hearing on Sept. 28 in Rockville so that county officials can receive input from citizens. From there, the County Council must give the go-ahead for the agreement, which is likely to happen in November, she said.

dlevitz@dcexaminer.com