>>Valley Patriot>>
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Valley
Patriot Exclusive!
TV
Choice and Competition
Near for
Residents of Methuen
Manzi Approves
Video License for Verizon; 5,200 More Households
Soon Can Get FiOS TV
(09/13/07)
METHUEN, Mass. –
Residents of Methuen 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 via the most advanced
all-digital, fiber-optic network straight to customers'
homes.
Methuen Mayor William M. Manzi III granted a cable
franchise to Verizon Thursday (Sept. 6), paving the way
for video choice for approximately 5,200 more
Massachusetts households.
The mayor’s authorization brings to 56 the total
number of Massachusetts communities where Verizon’s
FiOS TV is or will soon be available.
“We are thrilled to be able to bring FiOS TV to
residents in Methuen,” said Donna Cupelo, Verizon
region president for Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
launch of FiOS TV in Massachusetts last year, we are
continuing our efforts to meet the consumer demand for
cable TV choice.”
“Since the
“By granting this license, the city of Methuen has
created a real choice in cable TV service for our
residents,” said Manzi. “This is a significant
advantage for Methuen consumers because competition often
results in new features, improved service and competitive
rates. The license also provides additional funding for
our public, education and government cable-access
channels, and ensures that all parts of the city will be
served.”
FiOS TV is the company’s new fiber-optic television
service, which offers a better-quality picture, more
high-definition and on-demand programs, and more reliable
service at competitive prices.
Verizon currently offers FiOS TV to more than 380,000
households in 53 Massachusetts communities [see list
below] as well as other locations in New York, New
Jersey, California, Delaware, Texas, Florida, Maryland,
Pennsylvania, Indiana, Rhode Island and Virginia.
“As a result of this new franchise, consumers in
Methuen will be able to choose their cable provider as
easily as they choose their phone company,” said
Cupelo. “Competition drives innovation, value and
service quality, and it puts the consumer in control.”
Verizon is currently in negotiations with some 15 other
communities in Massachusetts to obtain additional
franchises.
For more information on the Verizon franchise process in
the state, log onto www.verizon.com/ma.
Verizon research indicates 87 percent of Massachusetts
residents favor more competition and choice for video
services. In dependent studies have shown that
competition in the video market brings enormous benefits
to consumers in the form of reduced prices, better
packages and improved service.
The Methuen franchise agreement contains provisions for
the network’s future growth; financial support and
capacity for educational and government access channels;
cable service to government buildings; and other
important benefits to the town, including insurance,
indemnification and enforcement protections.
“Verizon will
compete aggressively for subscribers in Methuen with our
FiOS services, which are fueled by our lightning-fast
fiber-optic network,” Cupelo said. Verizon soon will
begin its door-to-door sales campaign in Methuen,
explaining the many advantages of FiOS TV to local
consumers.
Verizon is the first
company to offer a fiber-to-the premises (FTTP) network,
connecting homes and businesses directly to fiber optics
on a widespread scale.
FiOS TV offers a broad collection of all-digital
programming, two dozen high-definition channels, video on
demand and more. 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
high-speed FiOS Internet service at download speeds up to
50 Mbps (megabits per second) and upload speeds up to 10
Mbps.*
* NOTE: actual (throughput) speeds will vary.
FiOS TV is available in Acton,
Andover, Arlington, Bedford, Belmont, Boxborough,
Boxford, Burlington,
Canton, Dedham, Dunstable, Framingham, Franklin,
Georgetown, Hamilton, Hopkinton, Ipswich, Lawrence,
Lincoln, Littleton, Lexington, Lynn, Lynnfield, Marion,
Marlborough, Mattapoisett, Medfield, Melrose,
Middleborough, Nahant, Natick, Needham, Newton, North
Reading, Norwood, Reading, Rockland, Southborough,
Stoneham, Sudbury, Swampscott, Tewksbury, Topsfield,
Tyngsborough, Wakefield, Wellesley, Wenham, West Newbury,
Westborough, Westwood, Wilmington, Winchester and Woburn.
The company also has TV franchises in Rochester and
Wareham.]
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 more than 62 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
###
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 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.
If you have any
informatin about this story please email us at
valleypatriot@aol.com
*Send your questions comments to ValleyPatriot@aol.com
The September 2007
Edition of the Valley Patriot
The Valley Patriot is a Monthly
Publication.
All Contents (C) 2007, Valley Patriot, Inc.
We publish 15,000 newspapers and distribute in Andover,
North Andover,
Methuen, Haverhill, Chelmsford, Georgetown, Groveland,
Boxford, Amesbury, Newburyport
Lawrence, Dracut, Tewksbury, Merrimack, Newburyport,
Westford, Acton, and Lowell.
Hampton & Salisbury Beach, (summers
only)
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