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Verizon Brings
Fiber to Consumers and Small Business in 24 Industry
Leading Verizon Fiber-to-the-Premises Network Means Blazing-Fast Data, Crystal
Clear Voice and Video Capability Company’s Transformational Technology to Benefit Residential and Business Customers, Boost Economic DevelopmentThe company today announced it is rolling out a fiber-optic network that will deliver faster data speeds and crystal clear voice to residence and business customers. This transformational upgrade to Verizon’s network also has the capability to offer a full suite of video services. Verizon had suspended the project a year ago because of an adverse regulatory climate in New Jersey, a situation that is improving. The 24 communities where the project is underway are: Allendale, Alpine, Closter, Demarest, Franklin Lakes, Harrington Park, Mahwah, Northvale, Norwood, Oakland, Old Tappan, Ramsey, Rockleigh, Westwood and Wyckoff in Bergen County; the city of Passaic; Ewing, Lawrence and Pennington in Mercer County; Mendham Township and Rockaway Boro in Morris County; Tinton Falls in Monmouth County and Evesham and Medford in Burlington County. Acting Governor Richard J.
Codey welcomed Verizon’s FTTP
efforts.
“Verizon’s decision to build its fiber-optic network in our state is
a win for all of New Jersey,” Codey said.
“This investment will not only improve existing services for New
Jersey’s businesses and residents, it will also create new jobs and new
opportunities for the state. “It
is important that New Jersey has the latest available technology infrastructure
so that we stay competitively strong. We
look forward to working with Verizon to expand the uses of this technology to
benefit other areas within the state.”
Today’s announcement comes about a year after the company suspended its
fiber-to-the premises (FTTP) deployment plans for New Jersey because
the regulatory environment in the state did not compare favorably with the other
states competing for significant new investment.
But Verizon New Jersey President Dennis Bone says things are beginning to
change. “We
have always said that New Jersey is a great market and we want to offer this
transformational technology here,” said Bone.
“In the past year, there
have been signs that the overall investment climate in our state has been
improving,” said Bone. “The new administration and key state leaders have
shown a clear interest in improving our state’s competitiveness by fostering
more infrastructure investment and economic development.
Their willingness to listen and their encouragement have given us the
confidence to proceed with building this communications network of the
future.” FTTP uses hair-thin strands of fiber and optical electronics to directly link homes and businesses to Verizon’s network. The state-of-the-art network upgrade will unleash a range of advanced communication services. Verizon’s all-fiber system is capable of carrying a competitive choice to the existing cable television providers. The company will seek a franchise agreement before offering cable television service in a selected community. Although the use of fiber optics is common for long-distance and inter-city communications throughout the telecommunications industry, Verizon is one of the first major telecom companies to begin using it to directly connect homes and businesses to the network on a widespread scale. Bergen County Executive Dennis McNerney is seeing first-hand the placement of fiber optics in his area. “I’m pleased that Bergen was one of the first places to receive Verizon’s fiber optic technology,” he said. “This will make it easier for our residents to enjoy the benefits of ultra-high speed Internet access and eventually the next generation of cable television services.” Today’s announcement brings to14 the number of states where Verizon has begun building its FTTP network. Other states are California, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas and Virginia. To help build the network across the country, Verizon will hire between 3,000 and 5,000 new employees, including hundreds in New Jersey. Fiber
offers tremendous advantages to network operators, in addition to new and
superior services for customers. For
example, fiber offers reliable service in stretches of wet weather that can
affect copper-based networks and coaxial cable systems. “Verizon’s
fully fiber-optic network is technically superior to other communication
platforms because it offers faster data speeds than those currently available,
as well as voice and video capability,” said William Foshay, Verizon market
area president. “Our fiber
engineering creates a network that requires less day-to-day maintenance and
allows for proactive and even faster repairs.” Customer
reaction to Verizon’s new fiber-based Internet access service, called FiOS (FYE’-ose),
has been very positive, with broadband subscribers more than doubling in the
company’s inaugural FiOS market of Keller, Texas, just outside Dallas/Fort
Worth. Verizon will notify customers
when FiOS is available locally. “FiOS
has been an extraordinary hit with our first customers. People are literally
lining up to get what they know is a fantastic and even more reliable service at
an excellent price,” said Foshay. “The need for speed and ability to take
advantage of bandwidth-intensive applications remain a top priority for all
computer users.” There are three
tiers of Verizon FiOS Internet Service for consumers, with downstream (download)
speeds of up to 5, 15 and 30 Mbps (megabits per second).* ·
Up to 5 Mbps (megabits per second) downstream and 2 Mbps upstream.
Suited for Internet surfing and basic computer functions. $34.95 a month as part
of a calling package, or $39.95 a month stand-alone. ·
Up to 15 Mbps downstream and 2 Mbps upstream. Appealing to
families that have multiple computers and various needs such as media downloads
and the ability to access or share large files. $44.95 a month as part of a
calling package, or $49.95 a month stand-alone. ·
Up to 30 Mbps downstream and 5 Mbps upstream. Designed for
communications-intensive power users with significant bandwidth needs, such as
telecommuters or work-at-home households and avid online gamers. $179.95 a month
as part of a calling package, or $199.95 a month stand-alone. The FTTP initiative represents a natural extension of the more than 10
million miles of fiber-optic cable Verizon already has in place and extends the
high capacity, speed and quality of fiber directly to the customer’s doorstep.
With FTTP technology, Verizon can easily add
more capacity, higher speeds or future video services. Verizon’s digital subscriber line (DSL) service will remain the company’s most widely available form of high-speed Internet access for the foreseeable future while the company ramps up FTTP deployment. The company offers DSL on a widespread basis in New Jersey. With more than $71 billion in annual revenues, Verizon
Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) is one of the world’s leading providers of
communications services. Verizon has
a diverse work force of more than 210,000 in four business units:
Domestic Telecom serves customers based in 29 states with wireline
telecommunications services, including broadband, nationwide long-distance and
other services. Verizon
Wireless owns and operates the nation’s most reliable wireless network,
serving 43.8 million voice and data customers across
the United States. Information
Services operates directory publishing businesses and provides electronic
commerce services. International
includes wireline and wireless operations and investments, primarily in the
Americas and Europe. For more
information, visit www.verizon.com. #### *NOTE:
Actual (throughput) speeds will vary. VERIZON’S
ONLINE NEWS CENTER: Verizon news releases, executive speeches and biographies,
media contacts, high quality video and images, and other information are
available at Verizon’s |
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