Government of the District of Columbia
Executive Office of the Mayor



Office of Cable Television
3007 Tilden Street, N.W., Pod-P
Washington, D.C. 20008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, September 1, 2009

CONTACT: Kenneth Borden 202.671.0057, Kenneth.Borden@dc.gov

Mayor Fenty Welcomes Additional Cable Options to the District
Mayor Fenty, City Officials and Verizon Launch District-Wide All-Fiber Network Upgrade

Washington, DC – Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, along with Office of Cable Television (OCT) Director Eric E. Richardson and Verizon Washington, D.C. President William R. Roberts today launched the District-wide upgrade of Verizon's existing network to a state-of-the art fiber optic network (FiOS) providing District residents with more cable television options. This phase of the District-wide build out of the FiOS network ensures that the first service areas of District residents and businesses will have access to FiOS TV and Internet by year's end.

"District residents and businesses have eagerly awaited an additional choice for their video services and the benefits that competition affords consumers, and that day is nearing," said Mayor Fenty. "As one of the country's most technology-rich markets we look forward to the deployment of the latest video and broadband technology."

Held in the 1600 block of 19th Street, S.E., a residential neighborhood near Minnesota Avenue where the network upgrade has already begun, the launch included a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a demonstration of the splicing operation of hair-thin fiber-optic strands that Verizon technicians perform as part of the network upgrade. The partnership with Verizon is part of the District's commitment to ensuring residents have expanded options when it comes to cable television services.

"The countdown to FiOS continues in the nation's capital and our employees will be working hard over the next few years to bring the benefits of FiOS services throughout the District," said Roberts.

According to the franchise agreement finalized April 30, 2009, Verizon will offer FiOS service within three years of the franchise's effective date to all residents in an initial service area that includes parts of the Barry Farm, Brightwood, Columbia Heights, Crestwood, Fort Stanton, Friendship Heights, Historic Anacostia, Petworth, Shepherd Park, Sheridan, Tenleytown, Van Ness and Woodley Park neighborhoods.

Verizon will expand its FiOS service availability within six years to an extended service area that will include parts of the Adams Morgan, Benning Heights, Buzzard Point, Deanwood, Dupont Circle, Eastland Gardens, Ft. McNair, Lincoln Heights, Logan Circle, Shaw and Southwest Waterfront neighborhoods.

Verizon will make its services available throughout the rest of the District within nine years of the franchise effective date, subject to a possible extension of one year based on certain success-based criteria.

"It's great to see the results of many months of hard work finally unfold as Verizon begins its network upgrade," said OCT Director Eric Richardson.

With today's announcement, the District has three cable television providers, Comcast of the District, RCN Communications and Verizon Washington, DC Inc. The District is at the forefront of providing its citizens with direct cable competition and is one of the few markets in the country where its citizens have a choice between three cable television providers. In many markets direct competition between cable companies has lead to decreased prices, a greater variety of programming choices, increased quality of service, and the introduction of more advanced services (both video and non-video).

For more information regarding OCT, please visit the agency’s website:
http://www.oct.dc.gov