Baltimore County Consumers Finally Have a Choice for Their Cable TV Service

TOWSON, Md. -- Consumers in parts of Baltimore County now finally have a choice of cable TV providers, with the launch of Verizon's FiOS TV.  The recent rollout of this new service makes a broad range of programming choices and superior picture quality available to some 1,000 Towson households.

FiOS TV is the only TV service delivered over the nation's most advanced all-fiber network directly connecting to millions of individual homes and businesses.  FiOS TV is now available to more than 425,000 households in Maryland, and that number is growing rapidly.

In addition to FiOS TV, Verizon also is offering its FiOS Internet service in Towson.  FiOS Internet became available in parts of Cockeysville, Ellicott City, Owings Mills and Reisterstown earlier this year.

"Our FiOS services will give Towson consumers an outstanding, superior alternative for their Internet access and video entertainment," said William R. Roberts, president of Verizon Maryland.  "Customers' response to FiOS TV and FiOS Internet service has been astounding.  Every day, more Marylanders are choosing Verizon and saying goodbye to their cable company.  Now, Baltimore County residents can join the all-fiber, FiOS revolution."

Service Highlights, Great Bundle Offers

Verizon's FiOS TV Premier package delivers 200 all-digital channels for $42.99 per month.  In the Baltimore market, FiOS TV customers have access to 26 high-definition (HD) channels and approximately 8,600 on-demand titles, 60 percent of which are free.  Sports fans subscribing to FiOS TV Premier in the Baltimore market also will receive Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN and MASN 2) at no extra charge.  MASN carries the Baltimore Orioles and Ravens, Washington Nationals and various NCAA teams.  SportsNet Mid-Atlantic also is included - providing Washington Capitals, D.C. United and Washington Mystics games. 

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 multi-room 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.

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. Consumers also can call their local Verizon sales office or 1-877-4-FIOS-TV (1-877-434-6788). 

In addition to FiOS TV, consumers can get super-fast Internet access over Verizon's all-fiber network.  FiOS Internet service delivers download speeds of up to 30 Mbps (megabits per second) and upload speeds of up to 5 Mbps.*

Verizon has developed new packages featuring FiOS Internet and FiOS TV products. Verizon is offering the new FiOS two-service and three-service packages with one- and two-year commitments.  In a two-service package, customers now can purchase the Freedom Essentials calling plan with FiOS Internet service at 5 Mbps downstream for $74.99 a month for a one-year commitment and $69.99 for a two-year commitment.  Customers also can choose to add FiOS TV Premier to the package for $109.99 or $99.99 a month (one- and two-year commitments, respectively).

Verizon will bring FiOS TV to additional communities in Baltimore County and other markets in Maryland where it has obtained franchises.  In addition to Baltimore County, Verizon offers FiOS TV in Anne Arundel, Howard, Montgomery and Prince George's counties.  Verizon currently offers FiOS TV in parts of California, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia. 

FiOS TV is designed to be a formidable competitor to cable and satellite.  It's delivered over Verizon's fiber-to-the-premises network, which is currently under construction in more than half the states where the company offers landline communications services.  Only Verizon's network has earned the certification of the independent Fiber to the Home Council for providing fiber all the way to customers' homes. 

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. 

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 24 x 7 technical assistance by phone from a number of Fiber Solutions Centers across the country.

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 60.7 million customers nationwide.  Verizon's Wireline operations include Verizon Business, which delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers around the world, and Verizon Telecom, which brings customers the benefits of converged communications, information and entertainment services over the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon has a diverse workforce of more than 238,000 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of more than $88 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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