Verizon on Oregon Video Competition: 150,000 Washington County Households Move Closer to Real Choice for Cable TV

BEAVERTON, Ore. -  Many Washington County residents are a major step closer to having more choice for their cable television services, thanks to a vote Thursday (Feb. 8) by the Metropolitan Area Communications Commission (MACC) Board of Directors.  The vote recommends allowing Verizon to offer its fiber-optic-powered FiOS TV service to more than 150,000 Washington County households, or about 420,000 potential viewers.

The agreement needs to be approved by all affected municipalities and Washington County before the company can offer FiOS TV.  Verizon hasn't yet stated when its TV offering will be available.

"Consumers want options in their video service provider, and Verizon looks forward to providing area residents with a dramatic new choice that will forever change their TV viewing experience," said David Valdez, Verizon senior vice president for public policy and external affairs in the Pacific Northwest. "Competition drives innovation, value and service quality, and we will compete aggressively in Washington County with our FiOS services."

Washington County, where Verizon began building its fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) network in the region two years ago, will be the first area in the Northwest to receive the benefits of the company's FiOS TV offering.  FiOS TV is currently priced at $42.99 per month for about 200 channels. 

FiOS TV is designed to be a formidable competitor to cable and satellite, offering a broad collection of all-digital programming, two-dozen high-definition channels, more than 5,000 video on demand titles and more.  It is delivered over Verizon's all-fiber network, which 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.  Verizon's network design includes backup facilities not common to traditional cable systems, such as duplicate "head ends" where the TV service receives national programming.

Additional information about FiOS Internet and FiOS TV services can be found at http://www.verizon.com/fios and http://www.verizon.com/fiostv.

The FTTP network links homes and businesses to Verizon's network and offers a range of advanced communications services.  In addition to video services, the network  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.*

 * NOTE: Actual (throughput) speeds will vary.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), headquartered in New York, 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 more than 59 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.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon has a diverse workforce of approximately 242,000 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of more than $88 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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