Charter is keeping pace with the rebirth of Worcester, Mass., having rolled out digital phone, hi-def, DVRs and local VOD.  Charter Worcester has benefited from an infusion of $1.3 billion in facilities funds approved by city officials over the last two years. Worcester's cable operator, Charter Communications, is undergoing a rebirth of its own and is stepping up its community involvement, and none too soon. Verizon's FiOS TV reportedly is looking to break into the market.

Charter has added incentive to make certain it remains a major player in the local resurgence: Worcester is developing a master plan for local communications service. Requests for proposals for that plan are due at the end of May, after which city consultants will make recommendations around October. Worcester assistant city manager Thaddeus Jankowski declined to tell CableWorld if Verizon submitted a proposal. A Verizon spokesperson also declined to discuss whether or not the company is submitting a bid.

Charter Central Massachusetts VP/GM and government relations director have met with city officials about the master plan process, which they say is separate from the renegotiation of the system's franchise contact, expiring next January. More details on services covered under the master plan, and the timetable for rolling them out, are expected later this month. Those details will influence Charter's response to the request for proposals.  "The city needs this kind of plan, and we're waiting for more guidance on what it will do," she says. "At this point, we don't believe it will impede franchise renegotiations."

City officials may be mum about a telecommunications pitch from Verizon, but Charter is certain the telco is coming—she acknowledges that the threat of FiOS TV is a big factor behind the pace of Charter's rollouts, especially digital phone. Verizon has launched FiOS in three Boston suburbs (Woburn, Lynnfield and Reading) and is negotiating with 40 other communities statewide for franchises, according to Verizon. Charter says six towns in her system's area have been contacted; Verizon declined to confirm thier claim.