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Verizon to Launch FiOS TV in Puget Sound Region of Washington State

7:30 am on September 5, 2008 | Category: Regulation, Telecom Services, Television

Verizon Communications will begin offering its FiOS fiber-optic television service in parts of Washington’s Puget Sound region late next week, according to company spokesman, Jon Davies.

200,000 homes in the area are already wired for FiOS, but many will not be able to order the service right away, Davies said, due to pending cable franchise negotiations in some communities. Verizon has been negotiating video franchises on a city-by-city basis, and likely hopes next week’s launch will put pressure on local governments that have yet to license the FiOS service.

Franchises were finalized this week in Redmond, Mukilteo, and Mountlake Terrace, and another one is currently being negotiated for the unincorporated parts of King County. FiOS has already won regulatory approval in Bothell, Brier, Edmonds, Everett, Kenmore, Lynnwood, Marysville, Woodinville, Woodway, and Snohomish County.

Washington residents will be able to order an FiOS bundle of digital voice, 10-Mbps broadband, and 400 standard-definition TV channels, at a cost of $99 per month. High-definition TV service, which requires a special set-top box, will be available at a slightly higher cost.

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