Verizon plans to host a grand-opening ceremony for a new FiOS store in Washington, D.C., on Friday, June 4, as the telco gets more aggressive battling Comcast for customers in the nation's capital.
Verizon began offering service in D.C. last year after its cable-franchise agreement with the city was approved earlier in 2009. More broadly, the company recently has cut back the rate of its fiber-optic network buildout, shelving plans to bring FiOS to Alexandria, Va., Boston, Baltimore and other areas.
In D.C., the new FiOS store in the Chevy Chase Pavilion shopping mall (at 5335 Wisconsin Ave. N.W.) will let visitors sample FiOS TV and FiOS Internet services, pay Verizon bills, and pick up and return FiOS TV set-top boxes.
Scheduled to attend the ceremony from 11:30 to noon Friday are D.C. Office of Cable TV director Eric Richardson and David Zvenyach, chief of staff for Ward 3 D.C. Councilmember Mary Cheh. Also on hand will be G-Wiz -- the mascot of the NBA's Washington Wizards -- who will greet visitors and pass out autographed photos.
According to Verizon's franchise agreement, the telco will offer service by April 30, 2012, to all residents in an initial service area that includes parts of the following neighborhoods: Barry Farms, Brightwood, Columbia Heights, Crestwood, Fort Stanton, Friendship Heights, Historic Anacostia, Petworth, Shepherd Park, Sheridan, Tenleytown, Van Ness and Woodley Park.
By April 2018, the telco is obligated to make FiOS services available throughout the rest of D.C. subject to a possible extension of one year based on certain success-based criteria.
