With the click of a remote control and the departure of a caravan of Verizon service trucks on their way to installation appointments, competition for cable TV service arrived in Rhode Island Monday (June 18).

Verizon launched FiOS TV in the state, making a broad range of programming choices and superior picture quality available to some 80,000 households in seven inaugural communities.

The event marks the 11th state where Verizon is offering FiOS TV. The service is now available to more than 3 million homes in the United States.

At a news conference at Verizon's Jefferson Boulevard garage, Rhode Island Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts pressed the button on a remote control, turning on FiOS TV in the Ocean State.

Shortly thereafter, in an unusual ribbon-cutting ceremony, a caravan of FiOS-branded Verizon trucks broke through a ribbon, on their way to the first installation appointments in Rhode Island for FiOS TV.

Donna Cupelo, Verizon's region president in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, hosted the event. Also attending were Warwick Mayor Scott Avedesian, Verizon New England Senior Vice President and General Manager Ellen Corcoran, and IBEW Local 2323 Business Manager Bill McGowan.

The company's new television service is being offered in Coventry, East Greenwich, Exeter, North Kingstown, Warwick, West Greenwich and West Warwick, the seven communities that constitute what is called Service Area 6.

FiOS TV is the only TV service delivered over the nation's most advanced all-fiber network directly connecting to millions of individual homes and businesses. To date, Verizon has deployed more than 7 million feet of fiber in its fiber-to-the-premise network in Rhode Island.

Verizon also plans to offer FiOS TV later this year to an estimated 158,000 more households in Rhode Island's service areas 2, 3 and 8, which cover Charlestown, Cranston, Foster, Hopkinton, Johnston, Narragansett, North Providence, Providence, Richmond, Scituate, South Kingstown and Westerly.

Rhode Island residents who are FiOS TV-eligible now have the option to trim their monthly bills by bundling FiOS TV service, FiOS Internet service and the Verizon Freedom Essentials unlimited calling plan, all for as low as $94.99 a month, with no price increase for two years.

Service highlights include:

• FiOS TV Premier, the lead offer, delivers more than 200 all-digital channels for $42.99 per month.
• A total of 27 high-definition channels with extraordinary clarity and theater-quality sound.
• A library of more than 8,600 on-demand titles.
• The choice of 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.
• Channels grouped by genres such as entertainment, sports, news, shopping, movies and family, 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.
• The option of 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 new 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. Because FiOS TV has so much capacity, it is an outlet for emerging and independent networks to showcase their diverse programming

Information on packages and prices are available at can you get FiOS TV? . Rhode Island customers also can call 1-800-880-2943 to see if they qualify to order FiOS TV.