Verizon Fios

Verizon Fios is a bundled Internet access, telephone, and television service provided by Verizon Communications that operates over a fiber-optical network within the United States.

History

Early development (1995–1996)

The early stages of Fios began when Bell Atlantic (now Verizon Communications) was testing its video service "Stargazer" in 1995. This was the first commercial video on demand (VOD) service, which was tested for 1,000 homes in Northern Virginia. During this time there were talks of developing a fiber optic-based service. In 1996, VP of Programming Bob Townsend told the Baltimore Sun that Stargazer would be "folded into (Bell Atlantic's) deployment of fiber to the curb."

Launch and expansion (2005–2010)

In September 2005, Verizon Communications began offering a fiber optic digital television service, which became available for 9,000 customers in Keller, Texas. Called Fios TV, the service aimed to replace copper wires with optical fibers. By August 2006, Fios TV was available in parts of seven states.

Stable footprint (2010–present)

In March 2010, Verizon announced that it was winding down its Fios expansion, concentrating on completing its network in areas that already had Fios franchises but were not deploying to new areas, which included the cities of Baltimore and Boston, which had not yet secured municipal franchise agreements. Some viewed the halt in expansion as a violation of Verizon's agreements with some municipalities and states, since Verizon has collected revenue to deploy infrastructure upgrades that never occurred.

In New Jersey, Verizon collected $15 billion in fees from customers and tax subsidies in exchange for promising fiber optic broadband for the whole state.