By Richard Tedesco
Verizon had responded to suggested amendments to its initial proposal within several days of the April hearing on the franchise proposal, according to Dr. Jack Levenbrown, Lawrence mayor, who said some trustees had additional questions they wanted to resolve.
"There are a number of items that several of the trustees want clarified," said Levenbrown.
Mac Kirby, Verizon consultant, declined to comment on any specific points under discussion with the Lawrence board.
At the April hearing, Kirby had a sharp exchange with Trustee Martin Oliner, who declared Verizon should grant Lawrence "favored nation status," proffering a pact that includes all the features Verizon has included in other franchise agreements.
Kirby curtly told Oliner that Verizon would not accede to that demand. "That's not good business," Kirby said.
Echoing the sentiments Oliner expressed during that hearing, Levenbrown said, "What we're looking to do is to get the best deal we can."
One of the prime issues is the determination of how the standard franchise revenue split of 5 percent of video revenues is calculated, according to Dr. Levenbrown. While the percentage of the fee is fixed by federal regulation, there are variations in the way that percentage is calculated in each franchise agreement.
Dr. Levenbrown said the board also wants to make certain that phone lines will remain underground in neighborhoods where they are now buried. Residents living in areas where power lines are above ground will have to pay Verizon a fee to have their phone lines buried.
The trustees also want assurances that all Verizon Fios boxes enabling access to the service be located within residential structures rather than being mounted externally to prevent tampering with private phone lines, Dr. Levenbrown said.
"It should be ironed out soon," he said.
Verizon currently has 30 Fios franchises in place statewide and is eager to add to that number. Four more proposed Fios franchises are currently being reviewed by the state public service commission.
The second - and likely final - phase of the Verizon Fios hearing will take place at the next village board of trustees meeting on June 14.
