More Richmond-Area Consumers Gain TV Choice as Verizon Launches FiOS TV in Chesterfield County

More Richmond-Area Consumers Gain TV Choice as Verizon Launches FiOS TV in Chesterfield County

Video Service is Delivered by Verizon FiOS, Nation's Most Advanced Fiber-Optic Network Direct to Consumers' Homes

RICHMOND, Va., April 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers in parts of Chesterfield County now have a choice of video providers as Verizon expands the availability of its amazing FiOS television service in the Richmond area.

Chesterfield County residents join Henrico County and Richmond customers who already are signing up for FiOS TV, the only TV service delivered over the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network straight to consumers' homes.

"The Richmond area's response to FiOS TV has been outstanding since we began offering the service here late last year," said Robert W. Woltz Jr., president of Verizon Virginia. "Each day more Virginians are choosing Verizon and telling us they want to be part of the future of television. New customers tell us they love the service. And now Chesterfield County consumers can join the fiber revolution."

In Chesterfield County, Verizon FiOS TV now is available to more than 22,000 households in parts of the following areas: Bailey Bridge Road, Bayhill, Brandermill, Brian Woods, Clover Hill, Deer Run, Fox Creek, Hampton Park, Hunters Landing, Lake Genito, Salisbury, Woodlake and along the Robious Road corridor west of the Huguenot Road-Robious Road intersection.

Overall, nearly 64,000 households in Chesterfield and Henrico counties and the city of Richmond now can choose FiOS TV, and Verizon continues to build its all-fiber network to bring FiOS TV and Internet services to more area customers.

Consumers can check online at www.verizon.com/fiostv to see if FiOS TV is already available in their area, or to request that Verizon contact them when FiOS TV is available. To order FiOS TV, consumers can call their local Verizon sales office or 1-877-4-FIOS-TV (1-877-434-6788).

Service Highlights

Verizon's FiOS TV Premier package delivers 200 all-digital channels for $42.99 per month. Richmond-area customers have access to 21 high-definition (HD) channels and 8,600 on-demand titles, 60 percent of which are free. Sports fans subscribing to FiOS TV Premier in the Richmond market will also receive Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN and MASN 2) at no extra charge. MASN carries the Washington Nationals, Baltimore Orioles and Ravens, and various NCAA teams.

Verizon offers three set-top boxes: standard definition for $4.99 per month; high definition, which includes HD channels, for $9.99 per month; and a dual-tuner, HD-capable digital video recorder for $12.99 per month.

Verizon also offers innovative features not available from other providers, such as Home Media DVR (digital video recorder) and FiOS TV Widgets. Home Media DVR, at $19.99 per month, has a multi-room DVR feature enabling up to three simultaneous viewings of recorded programs without requiring customers to set up a complex home network or buy extra equipment. Customers also can access photos and music on their PCs and play them on their TV. FiOS TV Widgets is a free interactive feature that provides viewers with local weather and traffic information while they're watching their favorite shows.

"Our all-fiber-optic network delivers a superior customer experience today, and has an abundance of bandwidth for the exciting services we'll offer in the future," said Christopher L. McKay, Verizon's director of regional marketing operations for Virginia.

Verizon will bring FiOS TV in 2007 and beyond to additional communities in the Richmond area and other markets in Virginia where it has obtained franchises. In addition to Virginia, Verizon currently offers FiOS TV in parts of California, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Texas. The company is preparing to offer FiOS TV in parts of Indiana and Rhode Island.

FiOS TV is delivered over Verizon's fiber-to-the-premises network, which is currently under construction in more than half the states where the company offers landline communications services. Only Verizon's network has earned the certification of the independent Fiber to the Home Council for providing fiber all the way to customers' homes.

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. It also delivers Internet download speeds of up to 30 Mbps (megabits per second) and upload speeds of up to 5 Mbps as well as high-quality voice service.*

"Our all-fiber-optic upgrade is a complete transformation of Verizon's communications network," said Woltz. "This transformation will offer consumers the very best services: super-fast Internet speeds, superior TV and crystal-clear voice, all at competitive prices with Verizon's unmatched reliability and customer service."

The value of FiOS TV extends to the installation and customer support. Specially trained Verizon technicians will install the service and acquaint subscribers with FiOS TV features and services. Verizon is waiving the installation fee for up to three existing TV outlets, and there is no charge to install a needed optical network terminal at the subscriber's home. Charges for other installation services, such as additional outlets, may apply. Verizon provides 24x7 technical assistance by phone from its specialized Fiber Solutions Centers.

Since Verizon began building its fiber-optic network in Virginia in 2004, the company has placed more than 25.5 million feet of fiber and created hundreds of new full-time positions to build and support the network and FiOS services, including 370 in the company's Hampton Fiber Solutions Center.

*NOTE: actual (throughput) speeds will vary.

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 59 million customers nationwide. Verizon's Wireline operations include Verizon Business, which operates one of the most expansive wholly owned global IP networks, and Verizon Telecom, which is deploying the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network to deliver the benefits of converged communications, information and entertainment services to customers. A Dow 30 company, Verizon has a diverse workforce of approximately 242,000 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.

Source: Verizon Communications Inc.

CONTACT: Harry Mitchell, of Verizon Communications Inc.,
+1-804-772-1460, harry.j.mitchell@verizon.com

Web site:

http://www.verizon.com/

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http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/618232.html

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