The New York Public Service Commission issued an order confirming Verizon's video franchises in Laurel Hollow on Long Island and in the Rockland County village of Grandview-on-Hudson. The village of Laurel Hollow granted a franchise to Verizon on June 22, and the village of Grandview-on-Hudson granted a franchise to the company on July 17. The commission has the authority to review franchise agreements between local governments in New York and cable service providers, such as Verizon, to make sure the agreements comply with statewide rules and regulations.

Earlier this year, Verizon began offering FiOS TV to residents in parts of the Long Island communities of Massapequa Park, the Town of Hempstead and the Town of Oyster Bay, as well as the Rockland County communities of Nyack, South Nyack and Upper Nyack. Verizon also has been granted video franchises by the Long Island villages of Cedarhurst, Mineola and Lynbrook and the Rockland County community of Clarkstown.

FiOS TV is Verizon's state-of-the-art fiber optic television service, which is delivered via the company's fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) network. Verizon currently is bringing fiber connections directly to homes in more than half the states where it offers landline communications services, including many New York communities.

The following statement should be attributed to Monica Azare, Verizon senior vice president for New York and Connecticut.

"The PSC's confirmation of the franchise agreements for Laurel Hollow and Grandview-on-Hudson helps us to provide the choice and competition that New York consumers demand. This is an important victory for cable consumers who want a choice for their video services.

"We believe these communities - and all communities where we plan to deliver FiOS TV - benefit most from policies that recognize the world has changed and that technology offers consumers a real alternative to cable TV.

"We look forward to offering more New York consumers the benefits and innovation of FiOS TV."