Cable Franchises

Fairfax County Communications Ordinance
This section of the Fairfax County Code addresses cable franchises and cable service.

Cox Communications Franchise Agreement
In October 1999, the Board of Supervisors held a public hearing and adopted an ordinance granting a non-exclusive cable television franchise to Cox Communications, Inc. (Cox). Cox agreed to provide cable television services to Fairfax County residents and businesses, as well as to schools, libraries, and other public organizations. Cox acquired the cable system from Media General Cable, Inc. and completed a major system upgrade in 2003. Cox's cable service is available to all Fairfax County households (except in the Reston area) and without line extension charges to at least 85% of households.

Comcast Cable Franchise Agreement
In May 2005, the County Board of Supervisors held a public hearing and adopted an ordinance granting a non-exclusive cable television franchise to Comcast for the Reston area of Fairfax County. Comcast agreed to provide cable television to Reston area residents and businesses, as well as to schools, libraries, and other public organizations. Comcast completed a full upgrade of its cable system in 1999. Comcast’s cable service is available to all Reston area households and without line extension charges to at least 85% of households.

Verizon Cable Franchise Agreement
In September 2005, the County Board of Supervisors held a public hearing and adopted an ordinance granting a non-exclusive cable television franchise to Verizon for the entire county (North County, South County, and Reston franchise areas). Verizon agreed to provide cable television to Fairfax County residents and businesses, as well as to schools, libraries, and other public organizations. Verizon's cable service will be available to all Fairfax County households and without line extension charges to at least 85% of households by 2012.

Comparison of Verizon, Cox and Comcast Cable Franchise Provisions (17KB .pdf file)
The County has determined that the terms and conditions of Verizon’s Cable Franchise Agreement, when taken as a whole, are not more favorable or less burdensome than those cable franchise agreements of Cox and Comcast. Significantly, both Cox and Comcast representatives testified at the September 26, 2005 public hearing in favor of granting the Verizon Cable Franchise because it was competitively neutral and met the level playing field objective.