Residents of the Chester County borough of West Chester and the township of Thornbury are a major step closer to having a real choice for their cable television services, thanks to recently approved agreements authorizing Verizon to offer its fiber-optic-powered FiOS TV in those communities.

Verizon is the first company to offer such a communications network, connecting homes and businesses directly to fiber optics on a widespread scale.

The communities join the townships of West Goshen and Westtown, other member communities of the West Chester Area Council of Governments, which have taken steps to advance cable alternatives for consumers by granting Verizon cable franchises.

West Chester, Thornbury, West Goshen and Westtown join the townships of Valley, East Marlborough and Uwchlan and the borough of Modena in Chester County on the growing list of southeastern Pennsylvania communities that have said yes to cable competition. Verizon also has obtained 11 franchises in communities in Montgomery, Bucks and Delaware counties. The company will announce availability plans for FiOS TV in these communities later this year.

"The momentum to bring consumers long-overdue, much-needed choice and competition for cable TV is building in Pennsylvania," said William B. Petersen, president of Verizon Pennsylvania. "Verizon's FiOS TV offers an innovative, reliable and competitive alternative to the incumbent cable provider - powered by our lightning-fast fiber-optic network.

"We hope to bring innovation, reliability and value to more Pennsylvanians by reaching similar agreements with other communities."

Under the agreements, Verizon will be able to offer FiOS TV service to residents of the various municipalities. In addition, the agreements require Verizon to pay the communities franchise fees based on the company's gross revenues on cable services in each community.