By ARIELLA MONTI
The agreement is now in the hands of the New York State Public Service Commission, which will consider it at its August meeting. Verizon is aiming to begin its service after Labor Day.
Residents were adamant that the agreement encompass the unincorporated areas of the village and South Hempstead. These areas are included in the Rockville Centre School District, and residents want access to the schools- public access channel, which they do not have now with Cablevision.
At a public hearing on June 17, Verizon representatives explained to the village board and residents that the overlapping governmental boundaries pose an engineering challenge for the company, but they assured the audience that they would make every effort to accommodate the village-s needs.
According to the new agreement, which can be found on the village Web site, Verizon shall transmit the Educational Access Channel originating at South Side High School to the entire boundaries of the Rockville Centre School District. Extending service to the village-s unincorporated sections and South Hempstead will be less complicated, in terms of potential legal issues, than it might otherwise be because Verizon already has a franchise agreement with the Town of Hempstead.
According to village Trustee David Krasula, a handful of homes in the Village of Hempstead that are part of Rockville Centre Schools will not have access to the school channel. Verizon will need to reach a franchise agreement with the village before it extends access to those homes.
The agreement with Rockville Centre states that Verizon has 360 days to make all public access channels available in all areas. It will offer three channels, for public, educational and governmental use. If demand warrants a fourth, it will be added later.
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