Verizon Statement on N.Y. PSC's Confirmation of Company's Video Franchises With the Town of Hempstead and Village of Upper Nyack

NEW YORK - The New York Public Service Commission issued Wednesday (May 17) an order confirming Verizon's video franchises in the town of Hempstead on Long Island and in the Rockland County village of Upper Nyack. The town of Hempstead granted the company a franchise on April 4, 2006. The village of Upper Nyack granted a franchise to the company on March 16, 2006. The commission has the authority to review franchise agreements between local governments in New York and TV providers, such as Verizon, to make sure the agreements comply with statewide rules and regulations. Earlier this year, Verizon began offering residents in the Long Island village of Massapequa Park, as well as the Rockland County communities of Nyack and South Nyack, FiOS TV - all-digital services with more than 350 channels, delivered over an all-fiber network. Verizon currently is bringing fiber connections directly to homes in more than half the states where it offers landline communications services, including more than 150 communities in New York.

The following statement should be attributed to Monica Azare, Verizon senior vice president for New York.

"The PSC's confirmation of the franchise agreements for the town of Hempstead and the village of Upper Nyack helps us to provide the choice and competition that New York consumers demand. This is an important victory for cable consumers who want a choice for their video services.

"We believe these communities - and all communities where we plan to deliver FiOS TV - benefit most from policies that recognize the world has changed and that technology offers consumers a real alternative to cable TV.

"We look forward to offering more New York consumers the benefits and innovation of FiOS TV."

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), a Dow 30 company, is a leader in delivering broadband and other communication innovations to wireline and wireless customers. Verizon operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving 53 million customers nationwide; one of the most expansive wholly-owned global IP networks; and one of the nation's premier wireline networks, serving mass market, business, government and wholesale 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 www.verizon.com.

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