More Cable TV Choice for Melrose and Middleborough, Mass., Consumers

More Cable TV Choice for Melrose and Middleborough, Mass., Consumers

15,000 Households Now Can Order Verizon's FiOS TV, the Only TV Service Delivered Over Nation's Most Advanced Fiber-Optic Network Straight to Consumers

MELROSE, Mass. and MIDDLEBOROUGH, Mass., July 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Beginning today, consumers in Melrose and Middleborough have more choice in cable TV providers now that Verizon has introduced FiOS TV, making a broad range of programming choices and superior picture quality available to some 15,000 households.

Melrose and Middleborough are among 47 Massachusetts communities [see list below] where the company's new television service is being offered -- the only TV service delivered over the nation's most advanced all-fiber network directly connecting to millions of individual homes and businesses. FiOS TV is now available to consumers in more than 300,000 Massachusetts households.

Verizon is currently negotiating with some 15 other communities in Massachusetts to obtain additional franchises. For more information on the Verizon franchise process in the state, visit www.verizon.com/ma.

"FiOS TV gives Melrose and Middleborough consumers an outstanding, superior alternative for their video entertainment," said Donna Cupelo, Verizon region president for Massachusetts and Rhode Island. "Melrose and Middleborough customers who liked what FiOS did for their Internet connection will love what it does for their TV. We've harnessed the speed and capacity of fiber-based broadband with the power of broadcast to create a revolutionary, new entertainment experience."

Massachusetts residents who are FiOS TV-eligible now have the option to trim their monthly bills by bundling FiOS TV service, FiOS Internet service and the Verizon Freedom Value unlimited calling plan, all for $99.99 a month.

Service highlights include:
-- FiOS TV Premier, the lead offer, delivers more than 200 all-digital
channels for $42.99 per month.
-- A total of 27 high-definition channels with extraordinary clarity and
theater-quality sound.
-- More than 5,000 on-demand titles available to customers each month from
a library that totals 8,600 titles.
-- The choice of 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.
-- Channels grouped by genres such as entertainment, sports, news,
shopping, movies and family, making it easy for audiences to find their
favorite programming.
-- An easy-to-use interactive programming guide that integrates HD
programming, On Demand content and the digital video recorder along
with broadcast television into a seamless user experience.
-- The option of Home Media DVR, featuring a multi-room DVR that enables
up to three simultaneous viewings of recorded programs without
requiring customers to set up a complex home network or buy extra
equipment. The recorder is bundled with Media Manager, a new feature
that lets customers easily access photos and music from their personal
computer and play them on their entertainment center where they look
and sound the best.
-- FiOS TV Widgets, a free interactive feature that provides local weather
and traffic information.

Programming choices for Hispanic, African-American, Asian, Russian and other multicultural audiences are available in every market. Because FiOS TV has so much capacity, it is an outlet for emerging and independent networks to showcase their diverse programming.

Information on packages and prices is available at www.verizon.net/fiostv. Melrose and Middleborough customers also can call 1-800-880-2943 to see if they qualify to order FiOS TV.

Verizon research indicates 87 percent of Massachusetts residents favor more competition and choice for video services. Independent studies have shown that competition in the video market brings enormous benefits to consumers in the form of reduced prices, better packages and improved service.

FiOS TV is designed to be a formidable competitor to cable and satellite. Verizon's fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) network, the largest of its kind in the country, is currently under construction in more than half the states where the company offers landline communications services, including more than 50 Massachusetts communities.

The network brings the power and capacity of fiber optics directly into people's homes and 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. It also delivers Internet download speeds of up to 50 Mbps (megabits per second) and upload speeds of up to 5 Mbps as well as high-quality voice services.

(More information about FiOS TV and fiber optics is available in Verizon's online News Center at www.verizon.com/news.)

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 Fiber Solutions Centers in Providence, R.I., and other cities.

[FiOS TV is available in Acton, Andover, Arlington, Bedford, Belmont, Boxborough, Boxford, Burlington, Canton, Dedham, Dunstable, Franklin, Georgetown, Hamilton, Hopkinton, Ipswich, Lawrence, Lincoln, Littleton, Lexington, Lynn, Lynnfield, Marlborough, Medfield, Melrose, Middleborough, Nahant, Natick, Needham, Newton, North Reading, Reading, Southborough, Stoneham, Sudbury, Swampscott, Tewksbury, Topsfield, Tyngsborough, Wakefield, Wellesley, Wenham, West Newbury, Westwood, Wilmington, Winchester and Woburn, as well as other locations in New York, New Jersey, California, Delaware, Texas, Florida, Indiana, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Virginia. The company also has TV franchises in the Massachusetts communities of Marion, Mattapoisett, Rochester, Rockland and Wareham.]

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 60.7 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.

Source: Verizon Communications Inc.

CONTACT: Stephanie Lee (Melrose), 617-743-5440,
stephanie.s.lee@verizon.com, or Rick Colon (Middleborough), 781-849-2046,
richard.b.colon@verizon.com, both for Verizon Communications Inc.

Web site:

http://www.verizon.com/

Company News On-Call:

http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/094251.html

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