FOXBORO - Verizon's interest in bringing advanced fiberoptics services to Foxboro, and giving residents a choice in cable providers, has taken a step forward.

The company and the town's Cable Television Advisory Committee have sketched a path toward compromise on the town's "right-of-way" bylaw, chairman Lynn Foell said.

Foell, along with Selectman Lynda Walsh, Town Counsel Paul DeRensis and other town officials, met with Verizon representatives at town hall in hopes of ironing out a long-running dispute over the bylaw, which allows the town to charge fees for cable poles and wiring on local roadways.

In the past, Verizon has insisted the bylaw be repealed as a pre-condition of introducing its FiOS high-speed service in Foxboro. And in hopes of creating cable competition in the town and allowing Foxboro residents access to Verizon products, the board of selectmen had placed an article on the town meeting warrant to do just that.

During a meeting this week, Selectman James Thrasher spoke at length about efforts to negotiate a new license with Comcast, the town's current cable provider, while simultaneously urging Verizon to compete locally. Thrasher characterized the town bylaw as a significant impediment to this scenario, said the town would never be able to collect fees from telecommunication firms, and suggested it be repealed. But during last week's meeting, which Thrasher did not attend, Verizon and local officials agreed the current bylaw should be retained while both parties work cooperatively to find common ground, according to Foell.

Inasmuch, Foell asked residents to vote no action on the warrant article, and instead let town and Verizon representatives work out details of a compromise aimed at protecting Foxboro while meeting Verizon's needs.

DeRensis said the eight-year-old bylaw contains parts that are good for the town, and other parts "that will interfere with the progress you want to make on a number of fronts."

Nonetheless, DeRensis described last week's session as "a cooperative, friendly meeting."

The 25-page bylaw contains rules for stringing lines on town right of ways, including protection of trees, and sets out rental costs for use of that town-controlled property.

Previously unwilling to specify what parts of the bylaw the company objects to, Verizon agreed to list its concerns and work with the town to amend the bylaw for consideration at the annual town neeting next May.

But Verizon may be able to start its "infrastructure" work sooner, once a memorandum of understanding on the effort to revise the bylaw is reached, DeRensis said. Comcast, the sole license holder for cable TV services to Foxboro, is seeking to renew its license.

Staff writer Jeff Peterson contributed to this story.