To the Citizens of Whitman:
Verizon has notified the Town that it will not be installing its Fiber Optic (FIOS) Service in Whitman. In the interest of ensuring your understanding of this matter I offer the following:
In 2007 I began receiving calls from citizens advising me that they had contacted Verizon and had been told that service was not available because “…the Selectmen will not issue a license…”
I called Verizon and contacted Rick Colon, who informed me that the Town of Whitman was not scheduled for FIOS due to the cost that Verizon would incur to upgrade their facilities in Whitman.
Over the next year we continued to receive calls, frequently stating that Verizon marketers were misstating the reason for FIOS unavailability as being due to the Town’s unwillingness to issue a license.
In July, 2008, I was contacted by Verizon and advised that they would be seeking a license in Whitman. I advised Verizon we would be happy to work with them. At Verizon’s request, I sought and obtained a waiver of the requirement to advertise nationally for cable licensees. Verizon subsequently submitted a license application and the Board of Selectmen issued a report on the application on December 30, 2008.
On January 13, 2009 State Senator Steven C. Panagiotakos on behalf of Verizon, filed Massachusetts Senate Bill No. 3765 titled ”An Act promoting consumer choice and competition for cable service” and on January 14, 2009 State Representatives Michael J. Rodrigues and Geraldo Alicea filed the same bill in the House of Representatives. This bill was represented to be a bill to benefit the citizens of Massachusetts by providing cable choice (see bill text: http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/186/ht03/ht03765.htm ) when in fact, the bill would result in setting unattainable deadlines for negotiating and approving applications for license at the local level, thereby shifting that authority to the state.
I met with a representative of Verizon and our cable counsel on February 17, 2009. That meeting proved to be unproductive, with Verizon demonstrating an unwillingness to negotiate with the Town. A second meeting was scheduled for March 4, 2009. That meeting was cancelled on March 3rd, and Verizon then failed to respond to numerous requests for another meeting.
Today, August 18, 2009, I met with Rick Colon at his request and was advised that Verizon is “Pausing” its pursuit of cable licenses in Whitman and any town where it does not currently have an agreement in place. Mr. Colon could not say when, or even if Verizon plans to return to these markets.
Please note that your Board of Selectmen is ready and willing to negotiate with Verizon for a cable license. If you have comments you wish to share with Verizon, please send those comments to info@whitman-ma.gov, with the subject line containing ONLY the letters “FIOS”. Your comments will be forwarded to Verizon management.
Frank Lynam, Town Administrator