The N.J. Board of Public Utilities (BPU) granted Verizon a state ...

The N.J. Board of Public Utilities (BPU) granted Verizon a state video franchise covering about 70% of residences there. The franchise will let Verizon offer its FiOS TV service to about 2.1 million homes in 316 cities and towns. Within weeks, Verizon will roll out state-franchised services in 100 communities, beginning with Bergen, Camden, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Passaic and Somerset Counties and later in Essex, Union and Mercer Counties. Verizon will publish in early Jan. details about where and when its FiOS services will be available first, it said. It plans to offer 200 channels for $42.99 monthly. Verizon, which serves about 200 cities and towns in N.J. under individually negotiated municipal franchises, called the state franchise “a huge victory for consumers.” The N.J. Cable Telecom Assn. and community and consumer groups said the BPU acted prematurely in granting the franchise before completing a statewide franchise rulemaking. With the franchise granted, they said, the BPU should monitor Verizon deployment to ensure residents in its video markets have access to its services. Verizon last month became the first N.J. video provider to seek a statewide franchise under a video franchise law passed in Aug.