Richland residents will have another option available for cable television service because of a new franchise agreement with Consolidated Communications.

The phone provider, formerly known as North Pittsburgh Telephone Co., will begin offering fully digital cable service next month. The agreement was unanimously approved during the township supervisors meeting Wednesday.

Mark Swift, video production manager for the company, attended a public hearing before the board's vote.

"The technology exists today to use the existing copper wires we have in place to also provide video," Mr. Swift told the supervisors. "This will be fully digital service."

The new service will be highly competitive with existing providers, Armstrong Cable and satellite television, Mr. Swift said.

"We're excited to be in the area [and] to be able to offer residents another choice," he said. "It will definitely benefit the consumer."

Mr. Swift said the company can use existing phone lines to bring the service to customers. Only upgrades in equipment located in the office will need to be made, he said.

Residents would be provided with a converter box for their television sets to convert the signal once it is brought inside the home.

High-speed Internet filters currently needed by customers who have both phone and Internet service would no longer be necessary for each phone jack in the home, Mr. Swift said. A universal filter will instead be installed at the outside phone service box on each customer's home.

Residents do not have to have phone service with the company to be able to receive the cable programming, Mr. Swift said.

"All you need is to be in an area serviced by us," he said. "There will be both bundle options that include cable, phone and internet service, as well as a la carte."

In addition to regular programming, educational and governmental channels also will be on the system, Mr. Swift said. The educational programming will feature news from the Pine-Richland School District and the governmental channel will feature Richland news and meetings.

As part of the deal, the township will receive $2.18 per house in the company's service area, which is estimated to bring in more than $8,000 in a one-time payment. That money will be transferred to the North Hills Council of Governments, which will determine the best use for the funds, said township manager Dean Bastianini.

There also is a 5 percent fee on all gross revenues.

Mr. Swift said the company has not yet established fees for its Internet service, but added it hopes to do so soon.