The Apple Valley Town Council Tuesday night (10/25) took a major step toward providing residents here with true choice for their cable television services, voting in favor of Verizon's video-franchise application. The council is expected to take up the issue again for a final vote at its Nov. 8 meeting.

If approved on the second vote, the franchise would allow Verizon to deliver its technologically advanced FiOS TV product to Apple Valley’s 22,000 households via the company's new, fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) network.

This High Desert town is the third community in California to vote on a video-franchise application from Verizon. The company obtained its first franchise in Beaumont last year and reached a similar agreement in Murrieta in September. Communities in Florida, Texas, Virginia and Massachusetts have also approved franchises for Verizon.

"This is great news for the residents of Apple Valley, who are now much closer to having greater choice for their video entertainment, " said Tim McCallion, president for Verizon’s Pacific region. "We commend the Town Council, mayor, city manager and city attorney for their dedication and hard work throughout this process and await their final vote next month. Apple Valley’s leaders recognize and support the technological advantage and competitive benefits fiber will bring to their community. "

Many Verizon customers in Apple Valley are already enjoying FiOS Internet Service, which delivers blazing-fast download speeds approximately ranging from up to 5 Mbps to up to 30 Mbps (megabits per second).

"The incredible bandwidth of FiOS opens up many possibilities for our customers, including telecommuting, distance learning and, with the council’s decision, a new choice in video programming, " McCallion said. "Verizon’s fiber network brings a distinctive edge in economic development and quality of life to Apple Valley. "

Verizon launched FiOS TV Sept. 22 in Keller, Texas, unveiling a broad collection of all-digital programming with more than 330 total channels and more on the way.

Verizon FiOS TV delivers digital video and music channels, high-definition programming, video-on-demand content, a robust interactive programming guide and other customer-friendly features via the company's FTTP broadband network. Verizon is currently constructing FTTP networks in more than half the states where it offers landline communications services.

Customers will be able to buy FiOS TV as a stand-alone service or packaged with voice and FiOS Internet Service. Verizon has announced video content agreements with major and independent network groups, including NBC Universal Cable, The Walt Disney Company, MTV Networks, BET, Starz Entertainment Group, Showtime Networks, Turner Broadcasting System, A&E Television Networks, Discovery Networks, SiTV and NFL Network.