Verizon Expands FiOS TV Availability in Prince George's County, Md.

UPPER MARLBORO, Md. -- Nearly 9,700 additional Prince George's County consumers now can drop their cable provider for good, as Verizon expands its industry-leading FiOS TV service to portions of Upper Marlboro. 

Since Verizon began offering FiOS TV in Prince George's County in January, the company has brought cable choice to more than 87,000 households - approaching one-third of the county's total households.  FiOS TV is delivered over the nation's most advanced all-fiber-optic network straight to customers' homes.

"Customers' response to FiOS TV has been astounding since we began offering the service in Prince George's County just three months ago," said William R. Roberts, president of Verizon Maryland. "Every day, more Marylanders are choosing Verizon and saying goodbye to their cable company.  New customers tell us they love the service, and now more Prince George's County residents can join the all-fiber FiOS revolution."

To serve this rapid growth, the company has opened a bill payment and service center at 345 Prince George's Blvd. in Upper Marlboro.  At the center, customers can consult with experts to choose packages and order service, make changes to existing service, and pay their bills in person.  The service center is open Monday - Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

FiOS TV now is available in parts of the following county communities: Accokeek, Beltsville, Bowie, Capitol Heights, Clinton, District Heights, Fort Washington, Glenn Dale, Hyattsville, Lanham, Laurel, Riverdale, Seat Pleasant, Temple Hills, and Waldorf.

FiOS TV, which Verizon launched in Maryland in 2006, already is available to consumers in parts of Anne Arundel, Howard and Montgomery counties as well as Annapolis, Bowie, New Carrollton and Laurel. 

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. Consumers also can call their local Verizon sales office or 1-877-4-FIOS-TV (1-877-434-6788). 

Service Highlights

Verizon also has developed new packages featuring FiOS Internet and FiOS TV products. The new FiOS two-service and three-service packages are being offered with one- and two-year commitments.  In a two-service package, customers now can purchase the Freedom Essentials calling plan with FiOS Internet service at 5 Mbps downstream for $74.99 a month for a one-year commitment and $69.99 for a two-year commitment.  Customers can also choose to add FiOS TV Premier to the package for $109.99 or $99.99 a month (one- and two-year commitments, respectively)

Washington metropolitan area customers have access to 27 high-definition (HD) channels and 8,600 on-demand titles, 60 percent of which are free.  Sports fans subscribing to FiOS TV Premier also will 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 multiroom 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 TVs.  FiOS TV Widgets is a free interactive feature that provides viewers with local weather and traffic information while they're watching their favorite shows.

Verizon will bring FiOS TV to additional communities in Prince George's County and other markets in Maryland where it has obtained franchises.  In addition to Maryland, Verizon currently offers FiOS TV in parts of California, Delaware, Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia.  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.*

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.

* 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 www.verizon.com.

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