TV Choice and Competition Near for Residents of Foxborough, Mass.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass., May 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Residents of Foxborough are a major step closer to having a real choice for their cable television services, thanks to a newly approved agreement authorizing Verizon to offer its FiOS TV service via the most advanced all-digital, fiber-optic network straight to customers' homes.

The Foxborough Board of Selectmen on Tuesday (May 25) granted a cable franchise to Verizon, authorizing video choice for thousands of households here.

The board's authorization brings to 107 the total number of Massachusetts communities where Verizon's FiOS TV is or will soon be available.

"A total fiber network triggers key differentiators and technology innovations like the FiOS TV multi-room DVR and on-screen Twitter and Facebook Widget applications," said Donna Cupelo, Verizon region president for New England.  "These are features traditional cable just can't provide.  And this franchise agreement clearly demonstrates the customer demand for choice in broadband, television and entertainment services." 

FiOS TV is the company's advanced fiber-optic television service, with superior picture-and-sound quality, innovative and interactive features, more high-definition programs than cable, and more reliable service at competitive prices.

"As a result of this new franchise, consumers in Foxborough will be able to choose their cable provider as easily as they choose their phone company," said Cupelo. "Competition drives innovation, value and service quality, and it puts the consumer in control."

Verizon's license agreement with the city of Foxborough is for 11 years.  The agreement contains provisions for the network's future growth; financial support and capacity for educational and government access channels; cable service to government buildings; and other important benefits to the city, including insurance, indemnification and enforcement protections.

"Verizon will compete aggressively for subscribers in Foxborough with our FiOS services, which are fueled by our lightning-fast fiber-optic network," Cupelo said. Verizon soon will begin its door-to-door sales campaign in Foxborough, explaining the many advantages of FiOS TV to local consumers.

Verizon is the first company to offer a fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) network, connecting homes and businesses directly to fiber optics on a widespread scale.

FiOS TV offers a broad collection of programming, with more than 600 all-digital channels in Massachusetts and about 18,000 video-on-demand (VOD) titles each month – 70 percent of which are free.  Verizon's industry-leading VOD library also includes more than 2,800 HD titles per month.

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.  

In addition to FiOS TV, Verizon's fiber network also enables the company to offer consumers and businesses high-speed FiOS Internet service at download speeds up to 50 Mbps (megabits per second) and upload speeds up to 35 Mbps and also to offer symmetrical download/upload speeds, with speeds of 25/25 and 35/35 Mbps.*  Verizon is the only company to offer symmetrical speeds.

The 24-month triple-play of FiOS Internet, TV and home phone plans begin at $89.99 a month, with prices guaranteed for two years for those customers who sign up online.  This amounts to a savings of $20 a month over regular prices and also applies to other FiOS triple-play bundles, including those with more HD options and unprecedented symmetrical Internet speeds of 35 Mbps or 25 Mbps. Details of additional packages can be found at www.verizon.com/bundles.

* 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 nearly 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 217,000 and last year generated consolidated revenues of more than $107 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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SOURCE Verizon