by KYW's Mike Dunn
Get set for cable TV competition in Philadelphia. City Council on Thursday gave final approval to letting Verizon bring its "Fios" brand programming to the city and go head-to-head against Comcast.
It took a couple of months longer than Verizon had hoped (see previous story), but City Council in the end unanimously approved the franchise agreement with the telecommunications firm.
Disputes over minority hiring and public access programming were settled, much to the pleasure of councilman Darrel Clarke, the sponsor:
"As a result of the involvement of this body, it is a much better bill."
Councilwoman Donna Miller said residents have been clamoring for cable TV choice:
"So we can just get on, and help the people here in Philly fulfill their dream of being able to have competition here in Philadelphia for cable."
Now, Verizon spokesperson Sharon Shaffer is promising that the first customers could get Fios soon:
"We're going to do the deployment in phases. Some people will have service by the end of this year."
But the full build-out will take seven years.
The mayor and Council members said residents deserve the choice in cable TV that is already available in the outlying counties.
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