Mamaroneck Town Approves Verizon Cable Franchise Contract

by Harriet Kline

November 8, 2008) The Mamaroneck Town Courtroom was packed on Wednesday night as the board opened a public hearing to discuss the Verizon franchise agreement negotiated by the Tri-Municipal Cable Board of Control.

Supervisor Valerie O’Keeffe opened the meeting by thanking Village of Larchmont Trustee Jim Millstein, Town Councilman David Fishman and Mamaroneck Village Trustee Tom Murphy for their intense negotiations over the last nine months. Mr.Millstein went on to delineate some of the key provisions of the contract, including how much Verizon will pay in franchise fees and funds to support LMC-TV's capital needs. (See: Verizon & Cable Board Agree on TV Franchise Terms.)

Mr. Fishman cited Mr.Millstein’s knowledge of the industry and negotiating skills as being key to the satisfactory conclusion of the tri-municipal negotiations with Verizon. Councilwoman Nancy Seligson assured the public that the Town Board has had many discussions (at working sessions) with the Cable Board on contract specifics.

Tom Dunn, a vice president with Verizon and a Town resident, discussed the value of bringing competition to the three communities. (Up to this point Cablevision has been the sole cable TV provider in the area.) His Verizon colleague, Matt Curby, anticipated that increased competition will benefit the community in three specific ways: price stabilization for cable services, improvements in customer service, and accessibility to developing technologies. Verizon’s cable services will be provided through a fiber optic network which has already been installed throughout the area.

Paul Jamieson, attorney for Cablevision, was also on hand. He urged additional consideration and warned the board about the Verizon contract provisions that are based on the presumption that a contract with Cablevision will be negotiated in 120 days. Cablevision has been operating without a contract for the last year and a half.

There were no other comments opposed to the Verizon contract, but several residents voiced support, including Beverly Brewer-Villa of the Greater Mamaroneck Community Action Program and Beth Perretti who spoke of Verizon’s commitment to customer service. Eric Lewis, executive director of LMC-TV, also expressed support for the franchise agreement. Town Clerk Christina Battalia said she had received several letters in favor of the Verizon franchise.

The Town Board was unanimous in its approval of the resolution awarding Verizon the cable franchise contract.

Similar resolutions must now be approved by the trustees of the villages of Larchmont and Mamaroneck. Larchmont's public hearing is on Wednesday, November 14. The contract will then be brought to the Securities and Exchange Commission for final approval before Verizon can begin selling television services in the community.

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