Consumers in Three Delaware Communities Are One Step Closer to Cable TV Choice

Consumers in Three Delaware Communities Are One Step Closer to Cable TV Choice

Verizon Obtains Cable Franchises in Bellefonte, Delaware City and Odessa

DELAWARE CITY, Del., March 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers in three New Castle County communities are one step closer to the innovation and value that cable competition brings.

City and town councils in Bellefonte, Delaware City and Odessa have voted unanimously over recent weeks to award Verizon cable franchises, setting the stage for cable competition in the First State. The jurisdictions -- representing approximately 3,000 potential viewers -- are the first in Delaware to approve Verizon's franchise agreements.

Verizon still must negotiate franchises with other Delaware state and local authorities before offering video service in more communities. Verizon has filed an application with the Delaware Public Service Commission for a franchise to deliver video services in the unincorporated parts of the state. The company already has obtained franchises in California, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia.

"We applaud these Delaware officials for moving the state to the forefront of communities nationwide where consumers will be able to choose their cable provider," said William R. Allan, president of Verizon Delaware. "Competition drives value, innovation and quality. It puts the consumer in control.

"Verizon will compete aggressively for consumers' business in Delaware with our FiOS services -- fueled by our lightning-fast fiber-optic network."

FiOS TV is designed to be a formidable competitor to cable and satellite. It is delivered over Verizon's fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) network, which has industry-leading quality and reliability. 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 fiber-optic network uses hair-thin strands of fiber and optical electronics to directly link homes and businesses to Verizon's network and replaces traditional copper-wire connections. Verizon's network design includes backup facilities not common to traditional cable systems, such as duplicate "head ends" where the TV service receives national programming.

Verizon launched FiOS TV Sept. 22, 2005, in Keller, Texas, unveiling a broad collection of all-digital programming with more than 330 total channels. Verizon expects to begin offering FiOS TV in Delaware later this year.

Verizon is the only company to offer -- on a large scale -- all-digital, fiber-optic communications all the way to the customer.

In addition to FiOS TV, Verizon's fiber network also allows the company to offer consumers and businesses high-speed FiOS Internet Service at download speeds of up to 30 mbps (megabits per second) and upload speeds up to 5 mbps.*

"We are building the communications network of the future to provide customers unmatched network reliability, incredible speed and exciting new options for voice, data and video connections," said Allan. "Our FTTP project will help stimulate economic development and enhance Delaware as a great place to live and do business."

*Note: Actual (throughput) speeds will vary.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), a Dow 30 company, is a leader in delivering broadband and other communication innovations to wireline and wireless customers. Verizon operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving 51.3 million customers nationwide; one of the most expansive wholly-owned global IP networks; and one of the nation's premier wireline networks, serving home, business and wholesale customers. Based in New York, Verizon has a diverse workforce of approximately 250,000 and generates annual consolidated operating revenues of approximately $90 billion. For more information, visit http://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 http://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

CONTACT: Sandra Arnette, +1-302-576-5410, sandra.u.arnette@verizon.com

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

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

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