Verizon's Seidenberg calls for less red tape
Verizon Communications Inc. chief executive Ivan G. Seidenberg called for a streamlined cable franchising process and cautioned politicians to be careful when considering new taxes or regulations.
Speaking at the Boston College Chief Executives' Club of Boston, Seidenberg jokingly referred to Mayor Thomas M. Menino several times during his speech. The mayor supports a recent Appellate Tax Board decision that Verizon should pay taxes on telephone poles and wires over public ways, but the company has said it will appeal the ruling.
Seidenberg mentioned Verizon's recent announcement that it would invest $200 million in Massachusetts this year, and plans to offer its television service, called FiOS, to 30 more communities, but said that even though the company has had success negotiating cable franchises with individual towns and cities, the process has been more costly and uncertain than elsewhere.
In other states where Verizon has gotten streamlined rules for offering video service, part of the negotiations of the legislation included broader commitments about its FiOS buildout, Seidenberg said. "We'd be willing to address the breadth of our rollout."
Menino, who sat at the same table as Seidenberg, said he did not bring up telecom tax issues. If the city is able to tax poles and wires over public ways, it would add an estimated $7.5 million to Verizon's tax bill.
Menino also said he has no timeline for Verizon to offer television service in Boston, and is more concerned in ensuring that the eventual buildout of service occurs equally, across all neighborhoods.
(By Carolyn Y. Johnson, Globe staff)
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