Residents of Leesburg are a major step closer to real choice for their cable television services, thanks to last night's (June 27) unanimous Town Council vote authorizing Verizon to offer its fiber-optic-powered FiOS TV here.

Leesburg is the 13th Washington metropolitan area jurisdiction to grant Verizon a cable franchise. The company has also obtained a 14th franchise in Henrico County, Va.

Verizon offers FiOS TV in more than 50 communities in parts of Virginia and six other states: California, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York and Texas. It is adding new markets as it obtains franchises giving it the legal authority to do so.

The company expects to begin taking orders for FiOS TV within the next couple of weeks in Leesburg and parts of Loudoun County, which awarded Verizon a franchise June 20.

"These recent agreements represent great progress for consumers who are eager for a true competitive choice in video service providers," said Robert W. Woltz Jr., president of Verizon Virginia. "Competition drives innovation, value and service quality, and we will compete aggressively for business with our FiOS services, which are fueled by our lightning-fast fiber-optic network."

Under the 15-year agreement, Verizon will pay the community franchise fees based on the company's gross revenues on cable services.