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HERNDON, Va. - The Herndon Town Council last night (July 19) voted to provide its citizens with true choice for their cable television services, awarding a video franchise to Verizon for its Verizon Fios TV product, to be delivered via the company's new, fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) network.
In awarding the franchise, this northern Virginia town of 22,000 becomes the first community in the state to pave the way for improved competition in the cable television market. In addition to Herndon, Verizon has obtained video franchises in California, Florida and Texas.
"This is great news for the citizens of Herndon, who will have more choice for their video entertainment," said Robert W. Woltz Jr., president of Verizon Virginia. "We commend the Town Council, mayor, town manager and town attorney for their dedication and hard work throughout this process. Herndon town leaders recognize and support the technological advantage and competitive benefits fiber will bring to Herndon.
"We look forward to similarly successful negotiations with other Virginia jurisdictions as we move forward," said Woltz.
When Verizon's fiber-to-the-premises network is completed in the Town of Herndon later this year, residents will enjoy Fios Internet Service, which delivers download speeds ranging from up to 5 Mbps to up to 30 Mbps (megabits per second).* Verizon began offering these services earlier this month in parts of the Herndon and Reston areas.
"Herndon residents are going to discover that Verizon Fios not only delivers incredible broadband and video power, but that the fiber-optic technology behind Fios will bring a distinctive edge in economic development and quality of life to the community," said Woltz.
Verizon will introduce Verizon Fios TV in parts of North Texas later this year. Additional communities with franchises in place will begin to receive the product sometime after this initial rollout.
With its Herndon franchise, Verizon will provide a state-of-the-art video service to the town's residents. Under the agreement, which covers 15 years, Verizon will provide service to all of the Town of Herndon once the company's fiber network is completed. In addition, the agreement contains provisions for the network's future growth; financial support and capacity for public and governmental access channels, including Herndon Community Television (HCTV); and other important provisions.
Verizon Fios TV will deliver hundreds of digital video and music channels, high-definition programming, video-on-demand content, a robust interactive programming guide and other customer-friendly features via the company's FTTP broadband network. Verizon currently is constructing FTTP networks in more than half the states where it offers landline communications service.
Fios TV also will deliver a wide range of programming specifically designed to meet the entertainment and information needs of northern Virginia's diverse population.
Customers will be able to buy Fios TV as a stand-alone service or packaged with voice and Fios Internet Service. Currently, Verizon has announced video content agreements with major and independent network groups, including NBC Universal Cable, Starz Entertainment Group, Showtime Networks, Turner Broadcasting System, A&E Television Networks, Discovery Networks, SiTV and NFL Network, and is close to finalizing agreements with several other major content-partners.
* NOTE: Actual (throughput) speeds will vary.
Verizon Communications Inc.
With more than $71 billion in annual revenues, Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) is one of the world's leading providers of communications services. Verizon has a diverse work force of 212,000 in four business units: Domestic Telecom provides customers based in 28 states with wireline and other telecommunications services, including broadband. Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 45.5 million voice and data customers across the United States. Information Services operates directory publishing businesses and provides electronic commerce services. International includes wireline and wireless operations and investments, primarily in the Americas and Europe. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.
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