Verizon's FiOS TV Approved in 30th New York Community

PIERMONT, N.Y. - Residents of this Rockland County village are a major step closer to having a real choice for their cable television services, thanks to a vote last night (March 27) by the Piermont Board of Trustees to approve a video franchise for Verizon.

The board's vote marks the 30th community in New York to approve an agreement authorizing Verizon to offer its FiOS TV service.

"Securing 30 video franchises to offer FiOS TV in New York in just 18 months is a significant milestone for Verizon," said Monica Azare, Verizon senior vice president for New York and Connecticut.  "We are excited to give the residents of Piermont a new choice for their video entertainment with FiOS TV, which offers incredible pictures and sound clarity and innovative new services - all from a brand they know and trust."

Piermont joins a growing list of New York communities that are paving the way for competition and choice in the television market.  In addition to Piermont, Verizon has been granted video franchises in Rockland County by the communities of Orangetown, Clarkstown, Nyack, South Nyack, Upper Nyack and Grandview-on-Hudson.  Verizon also has video franchises in the Westchester County communities of Irvington, Ardsley, Dobbs Ferry, Tarrytown, Eastchester, Mount Kisco, Elmsford, Port Chester, Tuckahoe and the Town of Greenburgh; and on Long Island in the villages of Massapequa Park, Cedarhurst, Laurel Hollow, Lynbrook, Mineola, East Rockaway, Farmingdale, Valley Stream and Freeport, and the towns of Huntington, Smithtown, Hempstead and Oyster Bay.

As with all local franchise approvals in New York, the agreement between Verizon and Piermont is subject to review by the New York State Public Service Commission.

Verizon's FiOS TV is a formidable competitor to cable and satellite, offering a broad collection of all-digital programming, more than 20 high-definition (HD) channels in the New York market, and access to more than 8,500 on-demand titles, 60 percent of which are free.  Verizon is providing FiOS services on the nation's most advanced digital all-fiber-optic network straight to customers' homes.  Only Verizon's fiber network has earned the certification of the independent Fiber to the Home Council for providing fiber all the way to customers' homes and businesses.

Verizon's fiber network 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.  In addition to FiOS TV, Verizon's fiber network also delivers Internet download speeds of up to 50 Mbps (megabits per second) and upload speeds of up to 5 Mbps, as well as high-quality voice service.*

* 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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