Perris and Temecula residents are a major step closer to having more choice for their cable television services, thanks to separate city council votes last night (June 27) in favor of allowing Verizon to offer its fiber-optic-powered FiOS TV in these communities. The Temecula vote is final, but the Perris City Council is expected to take up the issue again for a final vote at its July 11 meeting.

"These votes are great news for the residents of Perris and Temecula," Verizon West Region President Tim McCallion said. "We commend the mayors, council members, city staff and city attorneys in both communities for their dedication and hard work throughout this process and await the Perris City Council's final vote next month. Competition drives innovation, value and service quality, and we will compete aggressively for business in Perris and Temecula with our FiOS services, which are fueled by our lightning-fast fiber-optic network."

Perris, with approximately 10,000 households, and Temecula, with nearly 20,000 households, are the seventh and eighth communities in California to vote on a video-franchise application from Verizon.

"Verizon has worked hard to negotiate franchise agreements over the past two years, but so far only eight communities have voted to approve an agreement," McCallion said. "All the votes have been favorable, but tens of thousands of consumers in other communities served by Verizon have been denied a new alternative to their cable company because the current video-franchising system is slow and inefficient. Californians deserve a state-based franchising process that will accelerate competition, bringing lower prices and improved technology."

The California Assembly recently voted 77-0 to pass legislation that would move franchising to the state level.

Verizon already offers FiOS TV in Beaumont and Murrieta and plans to launch the service later this year in Hermosa Beach, Apple Valley, Lake Elsinore, Temecula and (pending final City Council approval) Manhattan Beach. No launch date has been set yet for Perris.