WARWICK – Verizon Communications this morning officially entered the Rhode Island cable television market, going live with FiOS TV service via the company’s fiber-optic network.

It was Lt. Gov. Elizabeth H. Roberts who, shortly before 8 a.m., pressed the remote-control button that turned on the service, making Rhode Island the 11th state where Verizon’s FiOS TV is available.

The ceremonial ribbon then was burst by a convoy of Verizon trucks, as they drove out of the Verizon garage at 1245 Jefferson Blvd. to begin FiOS TV installations.

Overseeing the event were Donna Cupelo, Verizon’s regional president, and Ellen Corcoran, New England senior vice president and general manager.

Those on hand for the launch also included Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian and union rep Bill McGowan, the business manager for Local 2323 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

Today’s launch brings cable TV competition to state Service Area 6, which includes Warwick, West Warwick, East Greenwich, Coventry, West Greenwich, Exeter and North Kingstown. Verizon also has applied for permission to bring its FiOS TV to Service Areas 2, 3 and 8. (READ MORE)

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) delivers broadband and other communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers through its Verizon Wireless and Verizon Wireline divisions. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.