Verizon ready to offer cable television service
BY KATHY BARATTA
Staff Writer

Cable television competition is now available in many New Jersey communities.

Verizon has launched its new FiOS service with the promise of "incredible picture and sound clarity" for prospective customers in the 106 Garden State municipalities in which the service is now available.

William Foshay, senior vice president and general manager, Verizon New Jersey, held a press conference on Jan. 11 at the company's Freehold Township facility at which time the firm's FiOS TV was touted as the next generation in fiber optic technology.

Verizon's facility near CentraState Medical Center on Route 537, Freehold Township, will be a statewide distribution center, receiving video signals from the company's super-head-end offices and then distributing that programming throughout New Jersey.

The FiOS network will allow subscribers to have, along with telephone service, their television and home computers all operating off of one network that Foshay said will be offered at competitive rates.

He said the FiOS network will allow for faster computer downloads along with superior television screen definition that will enhance the system's additional feature known as widgets.

Foshay explained widgets as being lower-screen TV displays that provide up-to-the-minute weather and traffic reports.

The widgets will be joined by the Home Media DVR system which will provide multi-room DVR viewing that does not require the purchase of additional equipment.

Also, subscribers will be able to access photos and music on their personal computer and then move that media to their TV.

Foshay said the FiOS computer system promises Internet download speeds of up to 50 megabits per second (Mbps) and upload speeds of up to 5 Mbps.

"We are looking forward to quickly offering consumers in New Jersey the industry's absolute best product in home entertainment. We are delivering a product that customers are demanding and no other company can match: a superior television service with more channels, more choice and more value."

Monmouth County towns that are eligible for FiOS subscription include Colts Neck, Eatontown, Englishtown, Fair Haven, Farmingdale, Freehold Borough, Freehold Township, Holmdel, Howell, Little Silver, Manalapan, Middletown, Millstone, Ocean Township, Oceanport, Red Bank, Rumson, Sea Bright, Shrewsbury Borough, Shrewsbury Township, Tinton Falls, Wall Township and West Long Branch.

Foshay said the company expects to expand the FiOS network to 100 more New Jersey communities in the near future and to 300 communities within the next few years.

He said the company will hire installers to meet the expected demand. Foshay said he personally oversees the installation schedule and promised that consumer requests will be acted on within a day or two of their receipt.

At present the FiOS installation requires four to six hours at a customer's home. He said that time is expected to be reduced once the technicians are used to installing the system.

For more information visit the Web site www.verizon.com/fios or call 1-877-4-FIOS-TV (1-877-434-6788).