NEW YORK (Reuters)  Verizon Communications (VZ) wants the Federal Communications Commission to make it easier for consumers to switch video service providers, as competition with cable companies heats up.

Both Verizon and phone industry leader AT&T (T) offer high-speed Internet and video services that compete with cable, while cable providers sell phone services.

Verizon said Wednesday that consumers should be able to switch from cable as easily as they can change phone companies. Phone companies accept cancellations from rival providers, but many cable companies require consumers to submit disconnection orders themselves.

"The process to switch video providers is more cumbersome for consumers," Verizon said in a petition to the FCC.

"This significantly complicates the process of switching video providers, thereby entrenching the cable incumbents' dominant market position."

The announcement from Verizon comes as the two largest U.S. cable operators, Comcast (CMCSA) and Time Warner Cable, reportedly discuss a joint wireless venture with Sprint Nextel(S) and Clearwire (CLWR).

Verizon is spending billions of dollars on an all-fiber network to deliver FiOS, a high-speed Internet and high-definition video service.

The expansion of FiOS, however, has been limited by the slow pace of regulatory approval as well as construction and installation.

Verizon also offers satellite video services through a partnership with DirecTV to consumers without access to FiOS.

Copyright 2008 Reuters Limited.