Newport News Residents to See More Choice, Competition as Verizon Obtains Cable Franchise for City

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - More residents of Newport News are a step closer to having choice for their cable television services, thanks to a vote by the Newport News City Council Tuesday night (June 12) authorizing Verizon to offer its fiber-optic-powered FiOS TV.

The cable franchise covers more than 70,000 households in the city. Verizon currently offers FiOS TV to more than 8,200 households in Newport News and will expand service availability to more households over the next several years.

Verizon began offering FiOS TV in Newport News in late April under the “ordinance franchise” rules in a new law passed last year to accelerate choice and competition for cable television services. The negotiated franchise approved by the City Council will be effective retroactively to April 18.

Verizon is providing FiOS services on the nation’s most advanced digital, all-fiber-optic network. 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.

“It’s clear from the tremendous demand for FiOS TV that Virginians want choice and competition for their TV service,” said Robert W. Woltz Jr., president of Verizon Virginia. "FiOS TV offers an innovative, reliable and competitive alternative to the incumbent cable provider - powered by our lightning-fast fiber-optic network.

“Newport News residents are saying ’yes’ to FiOS TV in rapidly growing numbers, and we hope to increase those numbers even more as we build our all-fiber network in the city.”

Newport News joins 18 other Virginia municipalities, including neighboring Virginia Beach, that have awarded franchises to Verizon. The company also has begun franchise negotiations with Chesapeake city officials.

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

FiOS TV offers a broad collection of all-digital programming, 23 high-definition channels in the Hampton Roads market, 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.

In addition to FiOS TV, Verizon’s fiber network also allows the company to offer consumers and businesses crystal-clear voice service and 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 Newport News.

* 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.