Verizon Seeks to Expand Availability of FiOS TV Service in North Texas

Verizon Seeks to Expand Availability of FiOS TV Service in North Texas

Company's Plan Would Help Customers in Far North Dallas and Parts of Grand Prairie to Enjoy Greater Choice for Television Service

IRVING, Texas, Oct. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon applied today for an expanded state-issued video franchise, bringing more than 15,000 Verizon-served households in North Texas one step closer to enjoying greater choice for television service.

Once the Public Utility Commission of Texas acts on the company's application -- approval is expected by early November -- thousands of households (single-family homes, mobile homes and apartments) in Far North Dallas and north Grand Prairie will be able to dump their current cable provider and join the rapidly growing number of customers in North Texas who enjoy Verizon FiOS (FYE'-ose) TV.

"The blockbuster success of Verizon FiOS TV has significantly changed the North Texas competitive climate in terms of how video services are marketed and perceived," said Trinidad Aguirre, Verizon's senior vice president and general manager for Texas. "More than 1 in 4 Verizon customers in North Texas have made the switch to FiOS TV, and we're looking forward to increasing our base of video fans."

Verizon Seeks to Establish Video Beachhead in Two Major North Texas Cities

The company's latest application filing is significant, said Aguirre, because it will establish Verizon's initial video services beachhead in two important North Texas cities and satisfy customer demand for FiOS TV. After receiving approval from the Texas commission, Verizon will sell FiOS TV in 31 area cities.

Verizon currently offers FiOS TV in Allen, Argyle, Bartonville, Carrollton, Colleyville, Coppell, Copper Canyon, Corinth, Denton, Double Oak, Flower Mound, northern Fort Worth, Garland, Grapevine, Hebron, Highland Village, Irving, Keller, Lucas, Murphy, Lewisville, Parker, Plano, Rowlett, Sachse, Southlake, St. Paul, Westlake and Wylie.

The expanded franchise, once obtained, will further boost Verizon's steady rollout of FiOS TV service in North Texas. By the end of 2007, FiOS TV will be available to more than 400,000 North Texas households with over 1.1 million potential viewers.

Two years ago, Texas Gov. Rick Perry signed into law Senate Bill 5, which updated antiquated video franchise laws and helped spur video competition by allowing new video providers to seek state-issued video franchises from the Public Utility Commission of Texas.

FiOS TV Paired With Super-fast Internet and Crystal Clear Voice Services

Atop the extremely strong consumer response to FiOS TV in North Texas, customer penetration for FiOS Internet service, which delivers the fastest Internet access speeds in the market, exceeded 35 percent in Texas at the end of June as previously reported, and continues to grow rapidly.

With FiOS voice, FiOS Internet service and FiOS TV, customers receive a powerful combination of crystal-clear voice, super-fast broadband and amazingly sharp pictures. The three services bundled together can be purchased for $99 a month as part of current pricing plans, and other packages are available. In its FiOS markets, Verizon aggressively markets its triple- play lineup to win over customers from existing broadband, cable and satellite providers.

Verizon's fiber-optic-based voice and Internet service is already available to customers who live in the Far North Dallas and Grand Prairie clusters represented in the company's application.

All Fiber-Optic Network Continues to Expand FiOS Footprint

Verizon, the first company to connect homes and businesses directly to fiber optics on a widespread scale, offers its FiOS voice and Internet service in more than 1,800 cities in parts of 16 states, and provides its FiOS TV service in more than 500 cities in parts of 12 states.

To deliver its FiOS service in North Texas and compete aggressively against the incumbent cable companies, Verizon has installed more than 25 million feet of fiber and hired nearly 1,400 full-time employees during the past three years in Tarrant, Dallas, Denton and Collin County.

Verizon is the first and only major telecommunications company to be certified by the independent Fiber to the Home Council as providing customers with 100 percent fiber-optic service, the ultimate communications and entertainment technology.

Residential customers who want to determine whether they can order FiOS Internet Service or FiOS TV can call 1-888-GET FIOS (888-438-3467) or visit the Verizon FiOS Web site at www.verizonfios.com. Specific information about FiOS TV can be obtained at www.verizon.com/fiostv.

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 62 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.

VERIZON'S ONLINE NEWS CENTER: Verizon news releases, executive speeches and biographies, media contacts, high quality video and images, and other information are available at Verizon's News Center on the World Wide Web at www.verizon.com/news. To receive news releases by e-mail, visit the News Center and register for customized automatic delivery of Verizon news releases.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Verizon

CONTACT: Bill Kula, APR, Verizon, +1-972-718-6924,
william.kula@verizon.com

Web site: http://www.verizon.com/
http://www.verizonfios.com/
http://www.verizon.com/fiostv

Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/618232.html

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Profile: International Entertainment