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A celebratory Verizon press release on their NJ roll-outs. The pricing appears to be the same as local cable offerings (is this what they mean by ‘choice and competition’)? We'd love to hear stories from NJ and elsewhere on local pricing levels, service and PEG carriage (write us at info@saveaccess.org). Verizon also introduced state franchise bills in NY and MA last week . . .

from: PR News Wire

TV as You've Never Seen It Before: Verizon Launches FiOS TV in 106 New Jersey Communities

Company Begins Offering FiOS TV to 250,000 Households in Eight Counties; Service Will Expand to More Than 100 Additional Communities Within Months

FREEHOLD, N.J., Jan. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- The future of television arrived in New Jersey Thursday (Jan. 11) as Verizon announced that its industry- leading FiOS television service is now available to consumers in 106 communities in the state, with more soon to come.

"This is great news for New Jersey consumers, who've waited far too long for true competition and a superior choice of television service for the home," said William Foshay, senior vice president and general manager, Verizon New Jersey. "Verizon's FiOS TV will bring something to consumers they've never had before: incredible picture-and-sound clarity and innovative new services - all from a brand they know and trust."

In New Jersey, Verizon's FiOS TV is available now to approximately 250,000 households in parts of 106 communities in Bergen, Camden, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Passaic, Somerset and Union counties. The service will soon be expanded to hundreds of thousands of additional households in more than 100 additional communities. Under the state's new streamlined video franchise law, Verizon has announced plans to offer FiOS TV over its all-fiber network in more than 300 communities in the next few years.

"We're looking forward to quickly offering consumers in New Jersey the industry's absolute best product in home entertainment," said Foshay. "We're delivering a product that customers are demanding and no other company can match: a superior TV service with more channels, more choice and more value, delivered on an all-fiber, next-generation network. Customers will also be delighted with the new interactive features we announced this week at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, including our new interactive media guide that makes watching FiOS TV easier and better than ever."

Verizon launched the service in New Jersey Thursday at the company's video hub office in Freehold. The new, state-of-the-art video distribution center receives video signals from Verizon's super-head-end offices and then distributes the programming throughout the state over the new fiber network.

Consumers can check online at http://www.verizon.com/fios 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 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.

In addition to New Jersey, Verizon currently offers FiOS TV in parts of California, Delaware, Florida, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Maryland.

Verizon's network brings the power and capacity of fiber optics directly into people's homes and has industry-leading quality and reliability. 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 service.(*) Only Verizon's FiOS network has earned the certification of the independent Fiber to the Home Council for providing fiber all the way to customers' homes.

"Our all-fiber-optic upgrade is a complete transformation of Verizon's communications network," said Dennis Bone, president of Verizon New Jersey. "This transformation offers consumers the very best services: super-fast Internet speeds, superior TV and crystal-clear voice, all at competitive prices with Verizon's unmatched 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.

(*) NOTE: actual (throughput) speeds will vary.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ) , a New York-based 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 most reliable wireless network, serving nearly 57 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. 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.

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