Verizon Seeks Franchise to Bring Fairfax County Residents Choice for Their Cable TV Service

FAIRFAX, Va. - Fairfax County residents and businesses are one step closer to having a long-awaited choice for their video services as Verizon and the county staff have negotiated a cable franchise agreement that would allow Verizon to offer Fios TV Service.

The company has submitted a cable franchise application for the county Board of Supervisors' approval, which is required before Verizon can begin to offer cable services. At its Aug. 1 meeting, the board will consider authorizing publication of the proposed franchise agreement and a Sept. 26 public hearing to consider adopting the franchise.

"We have negotiated a strong, fair agreement that paves the way for more competition in one of the nation's most technology-rich markets," said Robert W. Woltz Jr., Verizon Virginia president. "The agreement will give Fairfax County residents a choice among hundreds of channels, unparalleled HDTV offerings and a rich, diverse lineup of live and recorded programming.

"If you were impressed by the changes Verizon Fios Internet Service forced cable companies to make to their cable-modem offerings, wait until you see how Fios TV improves cable competition in the region," said Woltz.

Verizon received its first municipal cable franchise in Virginia on July 19 when the Herndon Town Council approved a 15-year agreement with the company. Verizon also has a franchise agreement to provide cable television service at the Marine Corps Base in Quantico, Va. The company is negotiating franchises with more than 200 municipalities in Virginia and other states where it's building a new fiber-to-the premises network.

Verizon will offer a full suite of Fios TV Services over this future-proof fiber-optic network that provides state-of-the-art communications and is a superior technology to any system now in use by telephone or cable television companies. Verizon's fiber network also allows the company to offer high-speed Fios Internet Service at download speeds of up to 30 Mbps (megabits per second) and upload speeds up to 5 Mbps.* Fios Internet Service currently is available to many northern Virginia customers.

* NOTE: actual (throughout) speeds will vary.

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 more than 214,000 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 47.4 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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