Word is out that Temple Terrace will be next location for Verizon to launch their FiOS IPTV service. Temple Terrace granted Verizon a video franchise earlier this year. The Tampa Tribune writes that Temple Terrace and Verizon will make the announcement this next Tuesday. Verizon is also in talks with Tampa and Hillsborough county over video franchise agreements.

Verizon will provide competition with the local cable television company, Bright House Networks, and satellite television companies.

Cable Rates Rising Next Year

The much needed competition is welcomed as cable rates continue to increase. The nation's largest cable companies are raising rates across the board. They claim the new rates are a response to rising costs of programming and investment in new services. Comcast Corporation is raising the rate on its most popular cable package by an average of 6 percent next year. Time Warner cable announced they will raise rates by 3.1 percent for its expanded basic package and 1.9 percent for its limited basic plan.

Our question is, why should we pay for the "investment in new services"? What new services are we paying for? The kicker is that we will probably end up paying additional fees for these "new services" when they are released.

Meanwhile, Verizon lays a fiber optic network in each city they roll FiOS out. You don't see them passing the buck.

Thanks for the tip Rob.