Verizon fires competitive shot in D.C. with new FiOS store

Verizon's (NYSE: VZ) opening of a FiOS store in the nation's capital this Friday is a clear indication that the RBOC is serious about giving cable rival Comcast a run for its money.

Last year, Verizon launched FiOS service in D.C. following the city's approval of the telco's cable franchise in late 2008. While committed to bring FTTH to D.C. and other cities, the telco earlier this year announced that it would cap its FTTH rollout plans, leaving out other cities as Alexandria, Va., Baltimore, Md., and Boston, Mass.   

At the new store, which is located near the Friendship Heights Metro train station at Chevy Chase Pavilion shopping mall (at 5335 Wisconsin Ave. N.W.), customers will be able to sample Verizon's FiOS TV and FiOS Internet services, answer questions, pay bills and pick up and return FiOS set-top boxes.

As part of that franchise agreement, Verizon agreed to provide District-wide coverage within 10 years. By April 2012, Verizon will bring FiOS services to 13 neighborhoods including Barry Farms, Brightwood, Columbia Heights, Crestwood, Fort Stanton, Friendship Heights, Historic Anacostia, Petworth, Shepherd Park, Sheridan, Tenleytown, Van Ness and Woodley Park.

For more:
- see the release here
- Multichannel News has this article

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