Leesburg, Virginia, Consumers Major Step Closer to Real Choice for Cable TV

30 June 2006

Residents of Leesburg are a major step closer to real choice for their cable television services, thanks to last night's (June 27) unanimous Town Council vote authorizing Verizon to offer its fiber-optic-powered FiOS TV here.

Leesburg is the 13th Washington metropolitan area jurisdiction to grant Verizon a cable franchise. The company has also obtained a 14th franchise in Henrico County, Va.

Verizon offers FiOS TV in more than 50 communities in parts of Virginia and six other states: California, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York and Texas. It is adding new markets as it obtains franchises giving it the legal authority to do so.

The company expects to begin taking orders for FiOS TV within the next couple of weeks in Leesburg and parts of Loudoun County, which awarded Verizon a franchise June 20.

"These recent agreements represent great progress for consumers who are eager for a true competitive choice in video service providers," said Robert W. Woltz Jr., president of Verizon Virginia. "Competition drives innovation, value and service quality, and we will compete aggressively for business with our FiOS services, which are fueled by our lightning-fast fiber-optic network."

Under the 15-year agreement, Verizon will pay the community franchise fees based on the company's gross revenues on cable services.

Verizon FiOS TV provides an extensive array of digital video and music channels, high-definition channels, on-demand titles and features such as FiOS TV Widgets, which supplies on-touch, on-demand access to real-time local weather and traffic. FiOS TV is delivered over Verizon's fiber-to-the- premises network, the largest of its kind in the country.

In addition to FiOS TV, Verizon's fiber network also allows the company to offer consumers and businesses high-speed FiOS Internet Service at download speeds of up to 30 Mbps (megabits per second) and upload speeds up to 5 Mbps.* FiOS Internet Service currently is available to many consumers and small businesses in Leesburg, Loudoun County and other parts of Virginia.

* NOTE: actual (throughput) speeds will vary.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ), a Dow 30 company, is a leader in delivering broadband and other wireline and wireless communication innovations to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving 53 million customers nationwide. Verizon Business operates one of the most expansive wholly-owned global IP networks. Verizon Telecom is deploying the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network to deliver the benefits of converged communications, information and entertainment services to customers. Based in New York, Verizon has a diverse workforce of more than 250,000 and generates annual consolidated operating revenues of approximately $90 billion. For more information, visit http://www.verizon.com.

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Source: prnewswire