Jose Fononuso LvonR user Peso Daron Nureannato.cen Omeeor case Tesicn Comasione Texeoourancancn Daesouon ; Fe er Sah Conmssinen State of New Jersey Boar oF Pusuc Unumes came te 44SoumCumron Avenue, 4 Foon Post Ornce Box 360 FRoeeRTM. GoRDON “TeexTON, NeW JERSEY 08625-0360 eco eee comuasonen wrx. covieeu EGEIVE July 13,2022 JUL 18 2022 VIA U.S. CERTIFIED MAIL, Honorable Maurice Mo B. Hill, Jr, Mayor MAYOR. ‘Township of Toms River TOMS RIVER TWP. 33 Washington Street Toms River, NJ 08754 Re: Access to Fiber Optic Cable Television Service for Residents at Certain Multi-Dwelling Unit Buildings in the Township of Toms River Dear Mayor Hill: On December 16, 2020, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) approved the renewal of Verizon New Jersey, Inc.'s (Verizon or Company) Cable Television System-Wide Franchise (SWF) for 379 municipalities, including the Township of Toms River. Asa condition of the SWF renewal, Verizon recently submitted information to the BPU that reflects the Company was unable to negotiate an access agreement with ownership/management in a number of Multi-Dwelling Unit (MDU) buildings. Consequently, residents in certain MDU buildings are still without access to fiber optic FiOS TV service (FiOS) and high-speed broadband internet service (Broadband Internet). The MDUs in Verizon’s SWF approved communities that are still without FiOS and Broadband Internet include a number of MDUs in the Township of Toms River and are listed in the attachment to this letter. ‘As you may know, when Verizon was originally granted a SWF in 2006, the Township of Toms River was one of seventy (70) municipalities in New Jersey where the Company was required to either make cable television available to all residents or, in the case where service could not be provided to certain MDUs, seek relief by requesting a waiver exemption from the BPU. Because Verizon has been unsuccessful in obtaining the necessary access agreements required by law, it has submitted a request for waiver exemption for each of the MDUs listed in the attachment to this letter. Should BPU grant the requests for waiver exemption, residents of the listed MDUs will not have access to FiOS and Broadband Internet. The BPU’s Office of Cable Television and Telecommunications (OCTV&T) is attempting to resolve the outstanding MDU access issues and waiver exemption requests in many of the 70 municipalities including the Township of Toms River. To that end and in the interest of transparency, the BPU is providing interested parties and elected officials in the affected2 ‘municipalities an opportunity to submit comments to Verizon's requests. In addition to or in lew of submitting comments, interested parties and elected officials may also provide relevant information that may be useful to the OCTV&T in considering Verizon's outstanding waiver exemption requests, If you or someone from your office would like to submit comments, you may do so on our online portal by accessing the BPU's web address for the Public Search homepage at | https://publicaccess.bpu.statenj.us. Follow the instructions by clicking the “User Guide — | Comment and Subscription” tab and submit your comments using one of the docket numbers listed in the attachment to this letier as a reference. You may also contact the OCTV&T at 609-633-9702 if you have questions concerning this matter ot need assistance accessing the BPU's online portal Please respond to this letter or submit your comments by August 15, 2022 Very truly yours, | Lavan © Gilbert | Lawanda R. Gilbert, Director Office of Cable Television and Telecommunications Enclosure ce: Maria Novas-Ruiz, Esq.. NJ Division of Rate Counsel (via email) Lanbi Saldana, Esq., BPU Office of the General Counsel (via email) Meliba Amautovic, Esq., NJ Deputy Attomey General (via email) Frank Gaffney, BPU Business Ombudsman (via email)Multi-Dwelling Unit (MDU) Buildings Without Access To Verizon FiOS TV And Internet Broadband Service ‘Township of Toms River Address/Location Docket No. Friendly Village Mobile Hom: | 593 Clifton Ave righten Ln “Dover Walk ~_€013090880 | CO13090880_|