Snohomish County, Wash., Awards Video Franchise to Verizon

Vote Paves the Way for Innovative, Competitive Choice for TV Service,
Delivered Over the Nation's Most Advanced All-Fiber-Optic Network Straight to
Consumers' Homes

EVERETT, Wash., Aug. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Residents of unincorporated areas
of Snohomish County are a major step closer to having an innovative, reliable
and competitive alternative for their television services, thanks to a
unanimous vote by the County Council Wednesday (Aug. 27) authorizing Verizon
to offer its fiber-optic-powered FiOS TV.
Snohomish County is the 10th community in the state to grant a video
franchise to Verizon, following recent approvals in Bothell, Brier, Edmonds,
Everett, Kenmore, Lynnwood, Marysville, Woodinville and Woodway. The company
plans to begin offering FiOS TV in Washington later this year.
FiOS TV offers consumers a broad range of programming choices and superior
picture quality from the only TV service delivered over the nation's most
advanced all-fiber network directly connecting to millions of individual homes
and businesses.
"Approval of Verizon's video franchise is great news for the residents of
Snohomish County, who will soon have more choice for their video
entertainment," said David S. Valdez, senior vice president for Verizon's
Pacific Northwest region. "We commend the county executive, the County Council
and their staff for their dedication and hard work throughout this process.
They recognize and support the technological advantage and competitive
benefits, as well as the distinctive edge in economic development and quality
of life, that fiber will bring to their community.
"We look forward to reaching similar agreements with other Washington
communities," said Valdez.
The franchise vote gives Verizon the authority to offer FiOS TV to up to
80,000 households in Snohomish County. Many Verizon customers in Washington
are already enjoying FiOS Internet service, which delivers ultra-fast download
speeds up to 50 Mbps (megabits per second).*
Verizon already provides FiOS TV in parts of California, Delaware,
Florida, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon,
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas and Virginia.
FiOS TV Service Highlights

FiOS TV service highlights include:

-- More than 400 all-digital channels grouped by genres such as
entertainment, sports, news, shopping, movies and family, making it easy for
audiences to find their favorite programming.
-- A wide array of high-definition channels, with extraordinary clarity
and theater-quality sound. The company plans to significantly expand the HD
lineup to include all available major HD programming by year-end.
-- An industry-leading library of more than 11,000 video-on-demand (VOD)
titles each month, 70 percent of which are free. In addition, Verizon offers
an increasing number of VOD titles in high definition, with plans for 1,000 HD
VOD titles per month by year-end.
-- An easy-to-use interactive media guide that integrates HD programming,
on-demand content and the digital video recorder along with broadcast
television into a seamless user experience.
-- Set-top boxes ranging from a standard-definition box to the Home Media
DVR, featuring a multi-room DVR that enables up to three simultaneous viewings
of recorded programs without requiring customers to set up a complex home
network or buy extra equipment. The recorder is bundled with Media Manager, a
feature that lets customers easily access photos and music from their personal
computer and play them on their entertainment center where they look and sound
the best.
-- FiOS TV Widgets, a free interactive feature that provides local weather
and traffic information.
Programming choices for Hispanic, African-American, Asian, Russian and
other multicultural audiences are available in every market, making FiOS TV an
outlet for emerging and independent networks to showcase their diverse
programming.
Everett consumers can check online at www.verizon.com/fios for more
information or to request that Verizon contact them when FiOS TV becomes
available. Customers also can call their local Verizon sales office or 888-GET
FiOS (888-438-3467).
FiOS TV is delivered over Verizon's all-fiber-optic network, which brings
the power and capacity of fiber optics directly into people's homes and 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. It also delivers Internet download speeds of up to 50 Mbps*
(megabits per second) and upload speeds of up to 20 Mbps, as well as
high-quality voice services.
* 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
nearly 69 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
employs a diverse workforce of more than 228,600 and last year generated
consolidated operating revenues of $93.5 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.
SOURCE Verizon

Kevin Laverty, +1-425-261-5855, kevin.laverty@verizon.com; or Jon Davies,
+1-805-372-6969, jon.davies@verizon.com, both for Verizon