Article Info
FiOS TV Rollout and Franchise Approval
This weekend was Town Day in the Boston suburb where I live. One of the street vendors was Verizon (VZ), who was promoting their FiOS service. Comcast (CMCSA)was there too.
I took the opportunity to quiz the Verizon rep on how deployment was going. The rapidity and completeness of his answers was either the result of rehearsal or intense pride.
He indicated that the surrounding towns, where FiOS TV was available, FiOS penetration was at 20%. I asked him what 20% meant and he said “One in every Five Homes”. I asked – “No tricky accounting?”. He said no, and that things were going very, very well. I asked about my town, where FiOS TV is not available and he said that penetration was about 10%, and that the lack of video impacted penetration in a big way. Towns with Video service see much higher subscriber take rates.
I was in disbelief – 20% penetration after six months of service was astounding. I pressed him for a few more minutes and he stood firm on his answers.
I then asked him when they would be getting the franchise approval in my town and he said – the Town Meeting is this Wed. Today.
Should be interesting to see what machinations are required to secure a video franchise. I’m going to go.
I have seen in you in action when it comes to talking to people about FTTH.
My guess is that after you were out of eyesight, the VZ rep immediately whipped out his Balckberry and sent out an email blast to all his VZ rep buddies warning them to stay clear of the this “Schmitt guy”.
Wait till they see me tonight at town hall. Given this is New England, I may be walking around town with a scarlet letter for the next year, a big red V.