Verizon's FiOS TV - Packing More Channels, More HD and More Features - on Its Way to Colonie, Bethlehem, N.Y.

NEW YORK, Jan. 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- When Verizon FiOS TV becomes available in the Capital District early this year, consumers in the Village of Colonie and the Town of Bethlehem will be able to ditch their current cable provider and select FiOS TV, which offers revolutionary, feature-rich, crystal-clear television service delivered over the most advanced fiber-optic network.

That's because both the Colonie Village Board and the Bethlehem Town Board recently approved television franchise agreements, making the communities the second and third, respectively, in the Capital District to do so.  The Village of Scotia awarded a TV franchise to Verizon on Oct. 12, and that franchise was approved by the New York Public Service Commission at its Nov. 18 meeting.

The company is in the process of building and installing the necessary video equipment into local central offices in the region, and anticipates that FiOS TV service will be turned on for new customers in the Albany County communities late in the first quarter this year.  

In securing TV franchises from Colonie and Bethlehem, Verizon has signaled its intention to bring its revolutionary FiOS TV service – delivered over Verizon's all-fiber-optic network – into the Capital District market.  The company is continuing to develop its plans and expects to have TV franchise discussions with other municipalities in the region.

The franchises from Colonie and Bethlehem bring the total number of TV licenses Verizon has secured in New York to 180.  

"We're excited that both Colonie and Bethlehem have seen the benefits that an all-fiber-optic network, and a new TV provider, can bring to their residents," said Jim Gerace, Verizon president for the New York region.  "Our investment in local infrastructure ensures good jobs and state-of-the-art broadband technology that leapfrogs anything currently available from other carriers.  These communities have recognized the economic and consumer benefits of broadband investment and competition.

"These franchise agreements also clearly shows the customer demand for choice in television and entertainment services.  Our goal is to provide our current and future customers with a choice, a far superior technology for their homes and businesses, and great value for their money," Gerace said.

Gerace also pointed out that the company has been marketing FiOS Internet and voice services in the Capital District for several years, and has gained a sizable market share.  "We want to capitalize on that investment and offer these customers a fuller and more robust set of TV and entertainment services," he said.

As with all local franchise approvals in New York, the agreements between Verizon and Colonie and Bethlehem are subject to review by the Public Service Commission. 

One of the largest New York employers, with more than 29,000 employees in the state, Verizon continues to invest in the state's infrastructure by building, maintaining and enhancing its wireline and wireless networks across New York, including its advanced fiber-optic network providing consumers and businesses with reliable FiOS Internet, entertainment and voice services.

FiOS TV Service Highlights

FiOS TV offers more than 520 all-digital channels, including 138 HD channels in New York, all with extraordinary clarity and theater-quality sound.  Customers also have access to FiOS TV's video-on-demand (VOD) service, with 18,000 monthly titles, including 3,300 in HD.  FiOS TV also provides next-generation interactive services including an advanced interactive media guide; social TV, news and entertainment widgets; DVR management; multi-room DVR, and more.

More information about FiOS TV features is available at http://www22.verizon.com/residential/fiostv/overview.

Verizon recently started offering Flex View, which gives FiOS TV customers anywhere, anytime access to a selection of on-demand programming on the TV, PC and a growing number of mobile devices.

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 150 Mbps (megabits per second) and upload speeds of up to 35 Mbps, as well as high-quality voice service.*

Colonie and Bethlehem join a growing list of New York communities that are paving the way for competition and choice in the television market.  In addition to Colonie and Bethlehem, Verizon has been granted cable television franchises in the following municipalities:

City of New York

Long Island

Amityville, Asharoken, Atlantic Beach, Babylon, Baxter Estates, Bayville, Bellerose, Brightwaters, Cedarhurst, Centre Island, Cove Neck, East Hills, East Rockaway, East Williston, Farmingdale, Floral Park, Flower Hill, Freeport, Garden City, Great Neck, Great Neck Estates, Great Neck Plaza, Head of the Harbor, Hempstead (Town), Hempstead (Village), Hewlett Bay Park, Hewlett Harbor, Huntington, Huntington Bay, Islip, Kensington, Kings Point, Lake Grove, Lake Success, Laurel Hollow, Lawrence, Lindenhurst, Lloyd Harbor, Long Beach, Lynbrook, Malverne, Manorhaven, Massapequa Park, Mill Neck, Mineola, Munsey Park, New Hyde Park, Nissequogue, North Hempstead, North Hills, Northport, Old Field, Oyster Bay, Oyster Bay Cove, Plandome, Plandome Heights, Plandome Manor, Poquott, Port Washington North, Rockville Centre, Roslyn, Roslyn Estates, Roslyn Harbor, Russell Gardens, Saddle Rock, Sands Point, Sea Cliff, Smithtown, South Floral Park, Stewart Manor, The Branch, Thomaston, Valley Stream, Westbury, Williston Park

Westchester County

Ardsley, Bedford, Briarcliff Manor, Bronxville, Buchanan, Cortlandt, Dobbs Ferry, Eastchester, Elmsford, Greenburgh, Hastings-on-Hudson, Irvington, Larchmont, Mamaroneck (Town), Mamaroneck (Village), Mount Kisco, Mount Pleasant, Mount Vernon, New Castle, New Rochelle, North Castle, Ossining (Town), Ossining (Village), Peekskill, Pelham, Pelham Manor, Pleasantville, Port Chester, Pound Ridge, Rye, Rye Brook, Scarsdale, Sleepy Hollow, Tarrytown, Tuckahoe, White Plains, Yonkers, Yorktown

Rockland County

Airmont, Chestnut Ridge, Clarkstown, Grandview-on-Hudson, Haverstraw (Town), Haverstraw (Village), Hillburn, Montebello, New Hempstead, Nyack, Orangetown, Piermont, Pomona, Ramapo, South Nyack, Spring Valley, Stony Point, Suffern, Upper Nyack, Wesley Hills, West Haverstraw

Dutchess County

Fishkill (Town), Fishkill (Village), Poughkeepsie (City), Poughkeepsie (Town), Wappinger, Wappingers Falls

Orange County

Cornwall, Cornwall-on-Hudson, Newburgh (City), Newburgh (Town)

Erie County

Amherst, Blasdell, Hamburg (Town), Hamburg (Village), Kenmore, Lackawanna, Orchard Park (Town), Orchard Park (Village), Tonawanda, West Seneca

Putnam County

Carmel, Kent

Onondaga County

Baldwinsville, Camillus (Town), Cicero, Clay, DeWitt, East Syracuse, Fayetteville, Geddes, Liverpool, Lysander, North Syracuse, Salina, Skaneateles (Town), Skaneateles (Village), Solvay, Van Buren

Cayuga County

Auburn, Fleming, Owasco, Sennett

Schenectady County

Scotia

* NOTE: actual (throughput) speeds will vary.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving more than 93 million customers nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers innovative, seamless business solutions to customers around the world.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 195,000 and last year generated consolidated revenues of more than $107 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.

SOURCE Verizon