The Future of TV Arrives as Verizon Delivers FiOS TV in Montgomery County, Maryland

SILVER SPRING, Md. - The future of television has arrived in Montgomery County as Verizon offers FiOS TV to more than 75,000 households, with more to come in the next few months.

Verizon delivers FiOS TV over its revolutionary, all-fiber-optic network, the largest in the nation.  Only this network has earned the certification of the independent Fiber to the Home Council for providing fiber all the way to customers' homes.

"The new year is even happier for Montgomery County consumers, who have waited a long time for a better choice in TV service," said William R. Roberts, president of Verizon Maryland.   "FiOS TV will bring something to consumers they've never had before: incredible picture and sound clarity and innovative new services - all from a brand they know and trust.  Customers who liked what FiOS has done for their Internet connection will love what it does for their TV."

Verizon FiOS TV is available now in parts of Bethesda, Burtonsville, Garrett Park, Glen Echo, Kensington, Silver Spring and Wheaton.   

In addition, 16 local jurisdictions within Montgomery County have chosen to adopt the franchise agreement the county and Verizon reached in late November, which will hasten cable competition for the jurisdictions' residents. 

Consumers can check online at www.verizon.com/fiostv to see if FiOS TV is already available in their area, or to request that Verizon contact them when FiOS TV is available.  To order FiOS TV, consumers can call their local Verizon sales office or 1-877-4-FIOS-TV (1-877-434-6788). 

Service Highlights

Verizon's FiOS TV Premier package delivers 200 all-digital channels for $42.99 per month.  The package includes access to approximately 4,000 on-demand titles, 60 percent of which are free.  Sports fans subscribing to FiOS TV Premier will also receive Mid-Atlantic Sports Network at no extra charge.  MASN carries the Washington Nationals, Baltimore Orioles and Ravens, and various NCAA teams.

FiOS TV currently includes 24 high-definition (HD) channels in the Maryland market.

Verizon offers three set-top boxes: standard definition for $4.99 per month; high definition, which includes HD channels, for $9.99 per month; and a dual-tuner, HD-capable digital video recorder for $12.99 per month.

Verizon also offers innovative features not available from other providers, such as Home Media DVR (digital video recorder) and FiOS TV Widgets.  Home Media DVR, at $19.99 per month, has a multiroom DVR feature enabling up to three simultaneous viewings of recorded programs without requiring customers to set up a complex home network or buy extra equipment.  Customers also can access photos and music on their PCs and play them on their TV.  FiOS TV Widgets is a free interactive feature that provides viewers with local weather and traffic information while they're watching their favorite shows.

"Our all-fiber-optic network delivers a superior customer experience today, and has an abundance of bandwidth for the exciting services we'll offer in the future," said Toby Frank, Verizon's director of regional marketing operations for Maryland.  

Verizon will bring FiOS TV in 2007 and beyond to additional communities in the Washington metropolitan area and other markets in Maryland where it has obtained franchises.   

In addition to Maryland, Verizon currently offers FiOS TV in parts of California, Delaware, Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia.   

Delivered over Verizon's fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) network, FiOS TV is a formidable competitor to cable and satellite.  The Verizon FTTP network is currently under construction in more than half the states where the company offers landline communications services.

Since Verizon began building its fiber-optic network in Maryland in 2004, the company has placed more than 34 million feet of fiber and created hundreds of new full-time positions to build and support the network and FiOS services. 

The network brings the power and capacity of fiber optics directly into people's homes and has industry-leading quality and reliability.  Fiber delivers amazingly sharp pictures and sound and has the capacity to transmit a wide array of high-definition programming that is so clear and intense it seems to leap from the TV screen.  It also delivers Internet download speeds of up to 30 Mbps (megabits per second) and upload speeds of up to 5 Mbps as well as high-quality voice service.*

"Our all-fiber-optic upgrade is a complete transformation of Verizon's communications network," said Roberts.  "This transformation will offer consumers the very best services: super-fast Internet speeds, superior TV and crystal-clear voice, all at competitive prices with Verizon's unmatched customer service."

The value of FiOS TV extends to the installation and customer support.  Specially trained Verizon technicians will install the service and acquaint subscribers with FiOS TV features and services.  Verizon is waiving the installation fee for up to three existing TV outlets, and there is no charge to install a needed optical network terminal at the subscriber's home.  Charges for other installation services, such as additional outlets, may apply.  Verizon provides 24x7 technical assistance by phone from its specialized Fiber Solutions Centers, including one in Hampton, Va. 

* NOTE: actual (throughput) speeds will vary.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), a New York-based 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 nearly 57 million customers nationwide.  Verizon's Wireline operations include Verizon Business, which operates one of the most expansive wholly-owned global IP networks, and Verizon Telecom, which is deploying the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network to deliver the benefits of converged communications, information and entertainment services to customers.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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