More than 2 million New Jersey households moved closer Thursday to getting more choices when it comes to cable television service.
The state's leading telephone provider, Verizon, sought state regulators' approval Thursday to offer television in 316 New Jersey communities, bringing more competition to a state where television has been dominated by cable companies.
Verizon said its plan would include 2.1 million homes, or 70 percent of the state's households. It hopes to begin offering the service in late December and have it available to 500,000 homes by March.
The Board of Public Utilities has 45 days to act on Verizon's application.
For $42.99 per month, Verizon proposes offering over a fiber-optic network nearly 200 digital channels, more than 20 high-definition channels and a video library with 3,000 titles.
`We're throwing open the door to video choice in New Jersey and consumers will be the true winners,'' said Dennis Bone, Verizon New Jersey president.
He said Verizon's offerings cannot be matched by cable companies.
But the cable industry said it's ready to compete with telephone providers just as it has competed with satellite companies. Cable companies have also gotten involved in phone service, providing competition to companies like Verizon.
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