West Goshen Township Consumers One Step Closer to Real Choice for Cable TV

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WEST CHESTER, Pa. - Residents of the Chester County township of West Goshen are a major step closer to choice for their cable television services, thanks to the township supervisors' vote yesterday (June 28) authorizing Verizon to offer its fiber-optic-powered FiOS TV there.

The township is the fourth Chester County jurisdiction - and the first of the six West Chester Area Council of Governments member communities - to grant Verizon a cable franchise. The council of governments on May 22 recommended that each of its six member communities approve a cable franchise with Verizon.

The other member communities are the borough of West Chester and the townships of East Bradford, East Goshen, Westtown and Thornbury.

West Goshen Township joins the townships of Valley and East Marlborough and the borough of Modena in Chester County on the growing list of state communities that have said yes to cable competition. The company also has obtained seven franchises in communities in Bucks, Delaware and Montgomery counties. Verizon will announce availability plans for FiOS TV in these communities later this year.

Verizon, which launched FiOS TV last September in Keller, Texas, currently offers the service in parts of California, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Texas and Virginia. The company will make FiOS TV available in Pennsylvania markets where it has negotiated franchise agreements with local authorities.

"We applaud the township supervisors for their quick action and for their foresight in putting into place the foundation that will allow consumers to choose their video provider as easily as they now choose their phone company," said William B. Petersen, president of Verizon Pennsylvania. "Competition drives innovation, value and service quality, and we will compete aggressively for business in Chester County with our FiOS services, which are fueled by our lightning-fast fiber-optic network.

"We hope to bring these benefits to more Chester County consumers by reaching similar agreements with other municipalities."

Under the agreement, Verizon will pay West Goshen franchise fees based on the company's gross revenues on cable services.

FiOS TV is designed to be a formidable competitor to cable and satellite, offering a broad collection of all-digital programming, nearly two dozen high-definition channels, video on demand and more. It is delivered over Verizon's fiber-to-the-premises 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. 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.

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.* FiOS Internet Service currently is available to many consumers and small businesses in Chester County, as well as parts of Bucks, Montgomery and Delaware counties.

* NOTE: actual (throughput) speeds will vary.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), a Dow 30 company, 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 more reliable wireless network, serving 53 million customers nationwide. Verizon Business operates one of the most expansive wholly-owned global IP networks. Verizon Telecom is deploying the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network to deliver the benefits of converged communications, information and entertainment services to customers. Based in New York, Verizon has a diverse workforce of more than 250,000 and generates annual consolidated operating revenues of approximately $90 billion. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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