Verizon announced that more residents in Long Island's Town of Oyster Bay are now eligible for FiOS TV, offering a true choice for subscription television and on-demand programming via the company's all-digital, fiber-optic network. Verizon is the first company to offer such a communications network, connecting homes and businesses directly to fiber optics on a widespread scale.

Verizon is now taking orders for its fiber-optic TV services in parts of the Town of Oyster Bay hamlets of Bethpage, Hicksville, Jericho and Plainview. The company began taking orders for FiOS TV in the town on June 27 in parts of Massapequa, Seaford, Syosset and Woodbury. The Town Board voted unanimously on May 9 to grant the company a franchise to provide television services for the town's unincorporated villages. Verizon will work with each of the incorporated villages to expand FiOS TV's availability to more households. Verizon already offers FiOS TV in one of the Town of Oyster Bay's incorporated villages, Massapequa Park, where Verizon obtained a local video franchise in September 2005.

"More residents in the Town of Oyster Bay now have an outstanding, superior choice for their video entertainment," said Monica Azare, Verizon senior vice president for New York and Connecticut. "Customers who liked what FiOS did for their Internet connection will love what it does for their TV. We've harnessed the speed and capacity of fiber-based broadband with the power of broadcast to create a revolutionary, new entertainment experience."

The Town of Oyster Bay's residents, along with all other Verizon FiOS TV-eligible customers in New York, have the option to trim their monthly bill by bundling FiOS TV service, FiOS Internet service and the Verizon Freedom Values unlimited calling plan - all for under $95 a month.

Service highlights include: A broad collection of all-digital programming and compelling consumer choice.

• An initial service package of more than 180 digital video and music channels for $34.95, when combined with high-speed Internet service or a calling plan. With an annual savings agreement, customers can waive the monthly standard definition set-top box fee of $3.95.
• More than 20 high-definition (HD) channels, with extraordinary clarity and theater-quality sound.
• Over 2,500 on-demand titles available to customers now, increasing to over 3,500 titles in the next several months.
• Channels grouped by programming genres such as entertainment, sports, news, shopping, movies and family entertainment, making it easy for audiences to find their favorite programming.
• An easy-to-use interactive programming guide that integrates HD programming, on-demand content and the digital video recorder along with broadcast television into a seamless user experience.
• A dual-tuner, HD-capable Digital Video Recorder (DVR) that gives customers the freedom to pause and rewind live TV, record two shows simultaneously, and fast forward to their favorite part of the program - all without a VCR, tapes or DVDs. Information on packages and prices is available now at www.verizon.com/fiostv. Customers also can call 1-800-880-2941 to see if they are able to order FiOS TV.

Residents in the Town of Oyster Bay join the Town of Hempstead communities of Baldwin, Bellmore, North Bellmore, Merrick, North Merrick, Roosevelt, Seaford and Wantagh as FiOS TV markets on Long Island. In addition, Verizon offers FiOS TV service in the Rockland County communities of Nyack, South Nyack and Upper Nyack. Verizon will begin offering FiOS TV to other New York communities later this summer where it has franchise agreements, including the Long Island villages of Cedarhurst and Laurel Hollow.

"We look forward to negotiations with many other towns and villages on Long Island and elsewhere in the state," said Azare. "We want to deliver FiOS TV and high-speed Internet services to consumers as quickly as possible."

In addition to New York, FiOS TV is also available to customers in parts of six other states: California, Florida, Massachusetts, Maryland, Texas and Virginia.

FiOS TV is designed to be a formidable competitor to cable and satellite. Verizon's fiber network 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, which is currently available in many New York communities.

Verizon's FTTP network, which is the largest of its kind in the country, has industry-leading quality and reliability. It is currently under construction in more than half of the states where the company offers landline communications services, including more than 150 New York communities.

Programming choices for Hispanic, African-American, Asian, Russian and other multicultural audiences are available in every market. Because FiOS TV has so much capacity, it is an outlet for emerging and independent networks to showcase their diverse programming.