| reply to cbrain
Re: Verizon Reaches Agreement with Montgomery County That's funny because I sent a hostile email to each member of the County Council seperatly (even personally addressed them) last week. I basically told them in the emails that if they did not vote fast on the verizon franchise or did anything to hold it up I would vote for someone else. I received only one response. Preze
See all the fun below!
*****Response - See below for original Email********
Dear Mr. Bean Counter:
Thank you for your e-mail and comments. Councilmember Perez appreciates hearing from you, and he certainly will keep your comments in mind when discussing the County’s franchise agreement for Verizon. As you have, the Council has also been eagerly awaiting this agreement, as franchise agreements are negotiated solely by the County Executive’s office and only approved by the County Council. The Council is currently in the process of scheduling the discussion for this agreement so that the Council can act expediently. We, like you, want to see a fair and appropriate agreement approved as soon as possible.
If you have questions or other concerns, please feel free to contact our office again.
Best,
Ms. Chong-hwa Lee
Assistant to Councilmember Tom Perez
Montgomery County Council
240-777-7966
******Original email to Prez office below*************
Council Member Perez,
I am writing you to ask you and your fellow council members to quickly vote and approve the video franchise agreement for Verizon. This franchise is long over due, about 1 year the way I figure it. Since YOU and the rest of the County leadership failed to make this franchise agreement happen in a timely manner, you have hurt the residents of the county in choice and savings. The competition that this agreement will bring is sorely needed. Currently I pay $56 a month for what amounts to a basic cable package with Comcast (this package does not include digital or HDTV). This same package would cost me approximately $42 a month with Verizon (and this would be digital and HDTV).
By the county’s inaction, you have cost me $14 a month for at least 10 months now ($140 and counting), of wasted money that I will never get back. And, please do not tell me that the county leadership was stalling this franchise agreement for me. That is a lame excuse and insulting. We both know better.
Since this is an election year, I am telling you that if you and your fellow members on the council stall this vote or fail to make this franchise a reality in the shortest time period possible, my neighbors and I will make sure to vote against you in November.
I appreciate all of your hard work and apologize for the harshness of this email, but I am frustrated with the Council’s lack of foresight and leadership on this matter and many others. Please lead this county to greatness and not down the toilet of bureaucracy.
Thank you, |
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Liz
join:2000-06-24
Potomac, MD | said by bean counter1:... I am writing you to ask you and your fellow council members to quickly vote and approve the video franchise agreement for Verizon. This franchise is long over due, about 1 year the way I figure it. Since YOU and the rest of the County leadership failed to make this franchise agreement happen in a timely manner, you have hurt the residents of the county in choice and savings. The competition that this agreement will bring is sorely needed. Currently I pay $56 a month for what amounts to a basic cable package with Comcast (this package does not include digital or HDTV). This same package would cost me approximately $42 a month with Verizon (and this would be digital and HDTV). By the county’s inaction, you have cost me $14 a month for at least 10 months now ($140 and counting), of wasted money that I will never get back. And, please do not tell me that the county leadership was stalling this franchise agreement for me. That is a lame excuse and insulting. We both know better. ... Did you read Mark Fennel's web site. He has some interesting information on wasted county money and candidate contributions.
»www.markdfennel.com/desk.html |
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 JTRockvilleData HoPremium,MVM
join:2002-01-28
Rockville, MD | Ah, if only I lived in District 4... |
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JTRockvilleData HoPremium,MVM
join:2002-01-28
Rockville, MD | reply to bean counter1
Will Perez be on the ballot for county council in November? |
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Liz
join:2000-06-24
Potomac, MD | said by JTRockville:Will Perez be on the ballot for county council in November? I think not. Bad choice on his part.
You can track the results at the below link. Hope we know the winners by the general. 
»www.montgomerycountymd.gov/eletm···ndex.asp |
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BarneyBadAssBadasses Fight For FreedomPremium
join:2004-05-07
00001 | Hey, they forgot the link for the
Unofficial Domestic Illegal Resident Results
link 
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---Barney |
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JTRockvilleData HoPremium,MVM
join:2002-01-28
Rockville, MD Reviews:
 ·Verizon FiOS
1 edit | reply to Liz
said by Liz:said by JTRockville:Will Perez be on the ballot for county council in November? I think not. Bad choice on his part. I didn't used to be in favor of term limits. But, if only those who aren't running will respond, maybe all seats on the council should be limited to a single term.
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meb
join:2002-12-12
Potomac, MD | said by JTRockville:I didn't used to be in favor of term limits. But, if only those who aren't running will respond, maybe all seats on the council should be limited to a single term. Educated voters can impose term limits on an as needed basis. Unfortunately, they do so way too rarely. |
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DonLibesPremium,ExMod 2001
join:2003-01-19 | said by meb:said by JTRockville:I didn't used to be in favor of term limits. But, if only those who aren't running will respond, maybe all seats on the council should be limited to a single term. Educated voters can impose term limits on an as needed basis. Unfortunately, they do so way too rarely. Citizens have reached their limit. Anti-incumbency fever is finally taking hold. It was quite pleasing to see the Go Montgomery! team perform so poorly last week.
By the way, did anyone attend the Damascus Town Meeting? |
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JTRockvilleData HoPremium,MVM
join:2002-01-28
Rockville, MD | I didn't. I'll have my say at the hearing. I'm tired of looking like a LOON because I'm the "only one" of the angry cable consumers who dares to show up!!
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JTRockvilleData HoPremium,MVM
join:2002-01-28
Rockville, MD Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS
| reply to meb
said by meb:said by JTRockville:I didn't used to be in favor of term limits. But, if only those who aren't running will respond, maybe all seats on the council should be limited to a single term. Educated voters can impose term limits on an as needed basis. Unfortunately, they do so way too rarely. I feel the same way. If someone's well-suited to the job, why through them out "just because"?
said by DonLibes:...It was quite pleasing to see the Go Montgomery! team perform so poorly last week.... I haven't even looked at the results of the election. I plan to study-up before the vote, but till then, we got who we got. |
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cbrain
join:2000-05-21
Silver Spring, MD Reviews:
 ·Future Nine Corp..
·Google Voice
·Verizon FiOS
 ·DSL EXTREME
| reply to cbrain
Montgomery County, MD - Press Releases County Negotiates Cable Franchise Agreement with Verizon; Agreement Resolves Litigation, Provides Increased Competition for Cable Service
»www.montgomerycountymd.gov/apps/···rID=2582
Montgomery County officials today announced that they have negotiated a franchise agreement with Verizon Communications for cable television services that will result in greater choice and increased competition among cable providers, while providing customers with important consumer protections. In an agreement that is similar to those with the current cable providers in the County, Comcast and RCN, Verizon could begin signing on new customers in its initial service areas early next year. The agreement, if approved by the County Council, will resolve litigation filed earlier this year by Verizon.
“We are extremely pleased that we have been able to resolve our differences with Verizon and work out an agreement that will result in increased cable competition, while ensuring consumer protections for our residents,” said Bruce Romer, Chief Administrative Officer.
In exchange for the right to provide cable television services to County residents and businesses under the negotiated 15-year franchise agreement, Verizon is committed to supporting the County’s Public Education and Government (PEG) channels, and providing cable television services to 100 public-use buildings such as schools, libraries, and fire stations. In addition, Verizon has agreed to pay the County five percent of gross revenues as a franchise fee and three percent of gross revenues for public access programming and other cable television needs. Verizon will also pay $1 million under the agreement, over the course of five years, for other cable-related investments.
Montgomery County began negotiations with Verizon over cable television services more than a year ago, but the process was halted in June when Verizon filed a lawsuit against Montgomery County. During a hearing before a federal judge in August, Verizon agreed to file a cable franchise application and, at the direction of the court, the parties restarted negotiations in an effort to resolve their differences. The franchise agreement announced today is the result of those efforts.
“We are extremely pleased to have reached agreement with Verizon, and we are looking forward to working with them to provide Montgomery County residents with the cable services they expect and deserve,” said Alisoun Moore, director of Montgomery County’s Department of Technology Services.
A public hearing will be held on September 28 at 7 p.m. in the Third Floor Hearing Room of the Stella B. Werner Council Office Building, 100 Maryland Avenue in Rockville. Individuals may either testify in person at the public hearing or provide written comments for the record. To pre-register to testify at the hearing, contact the County’s Cable Office at 240-777-3684. Written comments may be submitted through 5:00 p.m. on Monday, October 2, 2006 or as otherwise directed by the Hearing Officer. Comments should be mailed or delivered to DTS-Cable Office, 100 Maryland Avenue, Suite 250, Rockville, MD 20850. Comments may also be submitted via email to amy.wilson@montgomerycountymd.gov.
Interpreter services are available for deaf or hearing impaired citizens with five working days advanced notice. Call 240-777-3684 or email amy.wilson@montgomerycountymd.gov, giving the name and telephone number of the requesting citizen and the type of interpreter services needed.
Copies of the franchise application and related public documents are available for inspection in the Department of Technology Services, Cable Office, 100 Maryland Avenue, Suite 250, Rockville or on the Internet at »www.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcgtm···izon.asp
The franchise agreement is subject to County Council approval.
»www.montgomerycountymd.gov/apps/···rID=2582 |
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1 edit | reply to cbrain
Re: Verizon Reaches Agreement with Montgomery County I spoke with Verizon FIOS sales person who was going door to door and offering FIOS in our neighborhood. He told me that Fios TV will be available in Germantown in the middle of November 2006. |
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cbrain
join:2000-05-21
Silver Spring, MD | I hope he is right but I have a question. Would he cover his prediction with a friendly wager? |
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1 edit | said by cbrain:I hope he is right but I have a question. Would he cover his prediction with a friendly wager? I did ask him couple times. I told him that I heard that they are going to start offering the service from the beginning of '07. But he said that they will start from November. He told me that they will go around the houses again very soon to offer FIOS TV in our area. Could be some insider info |
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BarneyBadAssBadasses Fight For FreedomPremium
join:2004-05-07
00001 | I suspect if you offer the sales person enough alcohol and they successfully consume it you can get whatever availability date you want from them! 
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---Barney |
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| said by BarneyBadAss:I suspect if you offer the sales person enough alcohol and they successfully consume it you can get whatever availability date you want from them! No doubt Let's try this on MC officials tomorrow |
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DonLibesPremium,ExMod 2001
join:2003-01-19 | reply to cbrain
$1000 says it won't be available by mid-November. Any takers? Salespeople?
News flash: 16 speakers pre-registered to speak this evening. (JT, you won't be alone - although I'm not going to touch the loon comment.) |
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JTRockvilleData HoPremium,MVM
join:2002-01-28
Rockville, MD Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS
| said by DonLibes:JT, you won't be alone... Yeah, but is anyone (other than me) bringing their own cheering section?
Why isn't it scheduled to be televised?
»www.montgomerycountymd.gov/apps/···/28/2006 |
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DonLibesPremium,ExMod 2001
join:2003-01-19
1 edit | said by JTRockville:Why isn't it scheduled to be televised? If it was televised, viewers would be able to see that no county officials showed up. (My prediction anyway.) Well, I do expect representation from the Cable Office. But I doubt the Executive or anyone from the Council will show. |
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