Diversification is the key to any business model, and the telecommunications giant Verizon takes that to heart. In 2005, Verizon launched the service Fios, which offers HD television and high-speed internet. Although it is not available to most of the United States, Fios has received high praise from both consumers and critics alike; but has also received some serious criticism.
So what’s the deal with Fios? Why isn’t it widely available and what makes it so great? Today I’m going to walk you through what Fios is, how much it costs, and whether or not it’s a good fit for you. Without further ado, let’s get started.
Table Of Contents
The Basics
What makes Verizon’s Fios television and internet so special is the information delivery system. For the most part, your standard internet/cable provider (AT&T Offering) will have something called “Fiber Optic Nodes,” these nodes essential act like hubs that distribute the internet/television signal. Most providers are using copper cable wires to deliver the signal; but unfortunately, those signals are unreliable and inconsistent.
What makes Fios different is that instead of being hundreds or thousands of feet away from the node, the node is essentially attached to your house and there are no copper wires. This drastically improves the reliability and clarity of your television and internet signal.
Verizon Fios Costs
Fios offers both internet and television services, and both come with multi-tiered plans. Here are the different service plans:
Fios Internet
- 300/300 Mbps: $49.99 monthly
- 500/500 Mbps: $69.99 monthly
- 940/880 Mbps: $89.99 monthly
Verizon offers deals like a discount of $20/mo if you also have certain 5G plans.
Fios TV
- Your Fios TV: 125+ channels for $70/mo
- More Fios TV: 300+ channels for $90/mo
- Most Fios TV: 425+ channels for $110/mo.
Fios DVR
The Your plan does not include a DVR. The More plan includes a single-device DVR. And the Most plan includes multi-device DVR.
The downside to Fios TV is the fact that you also have to rent Verizon equipment in order for it to work. One set-top box is included with each plan. The second and third are $12/mo each.
Can I Get Fios?
Only about a dozen states have Verizon Fios and even then it’s only available in select cities. All of them are located in New England and the Mid-Atlantic. These include:
- Delaware
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- New Jersey
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Virginia
- Washington DC
Getting started with Fios is easy. All you have to do is go to Verizon’s Fios website, and if you are eligible, sign up. You will have two installation methods. If your home is already wired for Fios you can do it yourself or have a technician come out. If your home isn’t wired for Fios, you’ll have to have a tech come out anyway.
The installation fee is usually $50, which might be a bummer to some; but it’s a small price to pay for reliability. Ask any Comcast customer who pays for “50 Mbs Download” and they’ll tell you it’s more like 15 or 20. Which would you rather have; a cheaper start-up cost or to actually get what you pay for?
For those wanting television services, outside of Google Fiber you will be hard-pressed to find any internet service provider that will offer you what Fios can at the same price. (See our Google Fiber review.)
The Downside
The biggest downside is that Verizon is not widely available. But another concern is that this is basically just cable. And the overall price does tend to indicate that.
Other the other hand, it offers a lot. And it does allow a lot of flexibility.
Verizon Fios Channels
The channel lineup is impressive. It includes the main RSNs (assuming elibability) like YES Network and SportsNet New York. It also includes an impressive collection of general local channels.
In addition, it provides (with the top plan), the following channels:
- A&E
- ACC Network
- AccuWeather
- Alerta TV Network
- AMC
- AHC
- Animal Planet
- Antena 3
- Aspire
- AXS TV
- BabyFirst
- BBC America
- BBC World News
- beIN Sports
- BET
- BET Gospel
- BET Her
- BET Jams
- BET Soul
- Big Ten Network
- Big Ten 1
- Big Ten 2
- Big Ten 3
- Boomerang
- Bravo
- C-SPAN
- C-SPAN 2
- C-SPAN 3
- Cars
- Cartoon Network
- Catholic Faith Network
- CBS Sports Network
- CGTN
- Charge!
- Cheddar Business
- Cheddar News
- Cinémoi
- Cleo TV
- CMT
- CMT Music
- CNBC
- CNBC+
- CNBC World
- CNN
- CNN International
- Comedy Central
- Comedy
- Comet TV
- Cooking Channel
- Cowboy Channel
- Crime & Investigation
- Daystar
- Destination America
- Discovery Channel
- Discovery Family
- Discovery Life
- Disney Channel
- Disney Junior
- Disney XD
- E!
- Eleven Sports
- Enrich
- ES
- ESPN
- ESPN College Extra 1
- ESPN College Extra 2
- ESPN College Extra 3
- ESPN College Extra 4
- ESPN College Extra 5
- ESPN College Extra 6
- ESPN College Extra 7
- ESPN College Extra 8
- ESPN Deportes
- ESPNU
- ESPN2
- ESPNews
- Essex County
- EWTN
- FETV
- Fios 4K
- Fios 4K 1
- Fios 4K 2
- Fios 4K 3
- Fios 4K 4
- Fios 4K 6
- Fios 4K 7
- Flix
- Food Network
- Fox Business Network
- Fox Deportes
- FOX Life
- Fox News
- Fox Sports 1
- Fox Sports 2
- Freeform
- Fusion
- FX
- FXM
- FXX
- FYI
- G4
- Galavisión
- Game Show Network
- Gem Shopping
- Golf Channel
- Hallmark Channel
- Hallmark Drama
- Hallmark Mysteries
- HD Net Movies
- HGTV
- History
- HITn
- HLN
- HSN
- HSN2
- i24NEWS
- IFC
- Impact Network
- IndiePlex
- INSP
- ID
- Jewelry Television
- Jewish Broadcasting
- Justice Central
- Leased Access
- Lifetime
- Lifetime Real Women
- Liquidation Channel
- Living Faith
- LMN
- Logo
- Longhorn Network
- Magnolia Network
- MAVTV
- MC 70s
- MC 80s
- MC 90s
- MC Adult Alternative
- MC Alternative
- MC Blues
- MC Classic Country
- MC Classic Rock
- MC Classical
- MC Christian
- MC Country Hits
- MC Dance/EDM
- MC Easy Listening
- MC Gospel
- MC Hip-Hop and R&B
- MC Hip-Hop Classics
- MC Hit List
- MC Indie
- MC Jazz
- MC Kidz Only!
- MC Light Classical
- MC Love Songs
- MC Metal
- MC Mexicana
- MC Musica Urbana
- MC Party Favorites
- MC Pop Hits
- MC Pop Latino
- MC R&B Classics
- MC R&B Soul
- MC Rap
- MC Reggae
- MC Rock
- MC Rock Hits
- MC Romances
- MC Singers & Swing
- MC Smooth Jazz
- MC Soft Rock
- MC Solid Gold Oldies
- MC Sounds Season
- MC Soundscapes
- MC Stage & Screen
- MC Throwback Jamz
- MC Today’s Country
- MC Toddler Tunes
- MC Tropicales
- MC Y2K
- Mega TV
- Mexicanal
- MGM+
- MGM+ Hits
- MGM+ Marquee
- Military History
- MLB Network
- MLB Strike Zone
- MotorTrend
- Movie Channel
- Movie Channel Xtra
- MSNBC
- MTV
- MTV Classic
- MTV Live
- MTV2
- mtvU
- Music Choice Max
- Music Choice Play
- Music Choice Pop
- Music Choice Teen
- MyDestination
- Nat Geo Mundo
- National Geographic
- Nat Geo Wild
- NBA TV
- NBC Universo
- NET TV
- New Tang Dynasty TV
- Newark Government
- News 12
- Newsmax TV
- NewsNation
- NFL Network
- NFL Red Zone
- NHK World TV
- NHL Network
- Nick 2
- Nick Jr
- Nick Toons
- Nickelodeon
- NickMusic
- OANN
- Ovation
- OWN
- Oxygen
- Paramount Network
- Pets
- POP
- PTL TV
- Pursuit Channel
- QVC
- QVC2
- QVC3
- Recipe
- REELZ
- RetroPlex
- REVOLT
- Ride TV
- Science
- SEC Network
- SHO x BET
- ShopHQ
- Showtime
- Showtime 2
- Showtime Extreme
- Showtime Family Zone
- Showtime Next
- Showtime Showcase
- Showtime Women
- Sino TV Network
- Smithsonian Channel
- SonLife Broadcasting
- Starz
- Starz Cinema
- Starz Comedy
- Starz Edge
- Starz Encore
- Starz Encore Action
- Starz Encore Black
- Starz Encore Classic
- Starz Encore Espanol
- Starz Encore Family
- Starz Encore Susp
- Starz Encore Westerns
- Starz in Black
- Starz Kids & Family
- Sundance TV
- Syfy
- TBN
- TBS
- TeenNick
- Tennis Channel
- Three Angels
- TLC
- TNT
- Tr3s
- Travel Channel
- truTV
- TUDN
- Turner Classic Movies
- TV Land
- TV One
- FanDuel
- FanDuel Racing
- Universal Kids
- UP
- USA Network
- VH1
- VICE
- WE tv
- Wealth of Ent
- Weather Channel
- Word
- WOW
- Yahoo! Finance
- YE
- Z Living
Are you using Fios TV? If so, what do you like and not like about i
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