X

Verizon hits gas on TV deployment

Marguerite Reardon Former senior reporter
Marguerite Reardon started as a CNET News reporter in 2004, covering cellphone services, broadband, citywide Wi-Fi, the Net neutrality debate and the consolidation of the phone companies.
See full bio
Marguerite Reardon

More Texans will soon have access to Verizon's TV service.

On Friday the company announced that it has filed for a statewide franchise to offer TV service in 21 North Texas communities. In total the service will be available to nearly 400,000 households.

Last week, Verizon launched the new TV service, which runs over its fiber-to-the-home network called Fios, in Keller, Texas. The company, which has been building the fiber network throughout the country, has been lobbying state and federal officials to change laws to make it easier for new players to enter the market. This summer it won a major victory when the Texas legislature passed a law granting statewide franchises.

Verizon hopes that other states will pass similar laws. But until that happens, the company is plugging away at striking franchise deals with local officials in towns all across the U.S. It recently announced agreements for Fairfax, Va. and Massapequa, N.Y.