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Montgomery, Verizon agree on possible cable deal
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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.
“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
Comments from Examiner Readers
12:44 AM MST on Fri., Aug. 29, 2008 re: "Schools to lease land for phone towers"
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3:39 PM MST on Thu., Aug. 7, 2008
re: "Where being a nerd is cool"
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11:46 AM MST on Thu., Apr. 10, 2008
re: "Defense, technology firms’ needs make Baltimore the place to be for IT positions"
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11:07 AM MST on Mon., Mar. 24, 2008
re: "U.Md. study shows MBAs lead to higher salaries in IT sector"
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7:34 AM MST on Thu., Mar. 13, 2008
re: "Businesses, educators agree they must unite to address tech job shortage"
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10:17 AM MST on Fri., May. 11, 2007
re: "Schools to lease land for phone towers"
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9:26 AM MST on Fri., May. 11, 2007
re: "Schools to lease land for phone towers"
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Examiner Reader said:
Hi this is Nilesh Pund Plz send me information about how take land for tower by company {in short}on my e-mail pund2007@rediffmail.com
29 agree | 27 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Really, we're [game developers] pretty sick of being called "Nerds" by the media; it's a ridiculous characterization. I doubt you'd use the same kinda of language when discussing race or gender. I.e "where being a Ni**** is cool" or "where being a bi*** is cool."
30 agree | 29 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
san carlos removed the only person that was earning her salary. REMOVE THE EMBEZZLING OFFICIALS !
53 agree | 28 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
We know who, we know where, we kind of know how, and we get an idea of when... but why did he do this?
32 agree | 34 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Wind turbines certainly generate clean energy (preferrable), but I wish leaders would allocate some of their design engineers to study how to protect the wildlife (birds) fatalities. It seems easy enough to place a cage around the turbines, just like the smaller, domestic models that protect children from getting their fingers clipped by the fan blades. I'm sure there's a way to make this look attractive in a super-size turbine.
37 agree | 37 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
The Dice Report. “Baltimore-Washington has the third-highest average salary for IT professionals at $81,750 a year, ahead of the national average of $74,570.” WOW and yet the jobs which I applied for are paying way below the average. Usually a company asked what salary range I'm looking for, and usually that's a sign of we can't afford you. I answered negotiable, they pursuit for a number. When I give them a number I don't hear from them. Most of the positions I come across are bombarded with responsibilities and has a failure of matching the pay.
38 agree | 36 disagree
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Terence said:
What the article failed to address is that if you have an a non-business major and have an engineering or computer science degree, it is advisable to pursue an MBA degree and as such you would tend to pursue something like an IT degree and in that case, the jump in salary is significant. If you have a business undergrad in IT and pursue an MBA, that jump is significantly less. I still do not understand why students would do both an undergrad and grad in business. Really the textbooks are almost the same, the delivery is the difference. In some cases, classes are cross-taught at both the undergrad and grad. Pursuing a masters of science in marketing, operations and IT is the appropriate route not an MBA for undegrad in business. Just IMHO
39 agree | 37 disagree
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Iconic Xer. said:
I find this story missing a critical and informative element. Sure, tech companies and institutions such as NASA may be losing *employees* to retirement. But that doesn't mean there aren't *lots* of tech professionals around. Quite the opposite. There's an abundance of them. Companies have got to change their cultures, compensation and engagement of workers to be in alignment with the preference of many tech professionals to work outside of organizations, to work for multiple companies, to be flexible, nimble and not dependent on one industry or company for survival. It's a generational thing, really, with your GenXers (27-47 in 2008) heavily leaning in this direction. Re: the lack of kids entering STEM. It has nothing to do with them not wanting to be cool. They are achievement, affluence and team-oriented. Sing their song and they'll come in droves. Sing *your* song & they won't hear you ... or even bother trying. And, mistakenly, you'll conclude they're not interested. What
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Examiner Reader said:
Possible health risk of cancer too! See international studies.
449 agree | 506 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
You can't stop it now and usually there is a reason its done that way
510 agree | 492 disagree
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