Yonkers, N.Y., Residents to See More Choice, Competition as Verizon Obtains Cable Franchise from the City

Yonkers, N.Y., Residents to See More Choice, Competition as Verizon Obtains Cable Franchise from the City

Verizon's FiOS TV Will Transform the Market for One of New York's Largest Cities

YONKERS, N.Y., July 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Residents of this city, the largest in Westchester County, 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, delivered over the most advanced fiber-optic network straight to customers' homes.

Following negotiations with the administration of Mayor Philip A. Amicone, and the Yonkers City Council's Cable Franchise Committee led by Chairman Dennis Robertson, the council granted a video franchise to Verizon Thursday night (July 12), paving the way for video choice in the community. The board's vote brings to 47 the total number of New York communities that have approved video franchises for Verizon.

"We look forward to serving the residents of Yonkers with Verizon's FiOS TV, which offers consumers something they've never had before, with incredible pictures and sound clarity and innovative new services - all from a brand they know and trust," said Monica Azare, Verizon senior vice president for New York and Connecticut. "This franchise will give Yonkers residents the ability to choose their cable provider as easily as they choose their phone company. Competition like this drives innovation and value, and puts the consumer in control."

Robertson said: "By approving this franchise, the city of Yonkers has created a new choice in cable TV service, presenting a significant advantage for our residents by introducing competition. In addition, the franchise provides more funding for our public, education and government channels as well as additional benefits for our senior citizens. We look forward to the introduction of Verizon's FiOS TV service."

Yonkers joins a growing list of New York communities that are paving the way for competition and choice in the television market. In addition to Yonkers, Verizon has been granted video franchises in the Westchester County communities of Scarsdale, Mount Pleasant, North Castle, White Plains, Rye Brook, Irvington, Ardsley, Dobbs Ferry, Tarrytown, Eastchester, Mount Kisco, Elmsford, Port Chester, Tuckahoe and the Town of Greenburgh. Verizon also has video franchises in the Rockland County communities of Spring Valley, Chestnut Ridge, Airmont, Piermont, Orangetown, Clarkstown, Nyack, South Nyack, Upper Nyack, Grandview-on-Hudson, West Haverstraw and the Town of Haverstraw; and on Long Island in the villages of Massapequa Park, Cedarhurst, Laurel Hollow, Lynbrook, Mineola, East Rockaway, Farmingdale, Valley Stream, Freeport, Williston Park, New Hyde Park, Sands Point, Bayville and Old Field, and in the towns of North Hempstead, Huntington, Smithtown, Hempstead and Oyster Bay.

As with all local franchise approvals in New York, the agreement between Verizon and Yonkers is subject to review by the New York State Public Service Commission.

Verizon's FiOS TV is a formidable competitor to cable and satellite, offering a broad collection of all-digital programming, 28 high-definition

(HD) channels in the New York market and access to more than 8,600 on-demand titles, 60 percent of which are free.

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 50 Mbps (megabits per second) and upload speeds of up to 5 Mbps, as well as high-quality voice service.*

* 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 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 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: Heather Wilner of Verizon, +1-212-321-8333, or
heather.b.wilner@verizon.com

Web site:

http://www.verizon.com/
http://www.verizon.com/news

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

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