Verizon's New High-Fiber 'Diet' for 16 More Long Island Communities: Blazing-Fast Data, Crystal Clear Voice and Video Capability

NEW YORK - Verizon will soon bring to 16 additional Nassau County communities one of the most significant advancements in telecommunications technology in the past 100 years.

The company today announced plans to build a fiber-optic network that will deliver faster data speeds, crystal clear voice -- and also has the capability to offer a full suite of video services in the future - to residence and business customers in: Flower Hill, Great Neck, Great Neck Estates, Great Neck Plaza, Kensington, Kings Point, Lake Success, Munsey Park, North Hills, Plandome, Plandome Heights, Plandome Manor, Russell Gardens, Saddle Rock, Sands Point and Thomaston. The company will seek a franchise agreement from the local authority before offering cable service in a selected community.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime transformation of the communications network serving these communities," said Paul A. Crotty, Verizon state president for New York and Connecticut.

Known as fiber-to-the-premises, or FTTP, the fiber-optic network uses hair-thin strands of fiber and optical electronics to directly link homes and businesses to Verizon's network. The new network replaces the traditional copper-wire connections and will unleash a range of advanced communication services.

"We are building the communications network of the future to provide customers unmatched network reliability, incredible speed and exciting new options for voice, data and video connections," said Crotty. "Our FTTP project will help stimulate economic development and enhance these communities as great places to live and do business."

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.

Verizon is building its FTTP network in parts of 12 states: California, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas and Virginia.

Today's announcement brings to 29 the number of communities on Long Island in which the company has announced deployment of its FTTP network. The others identified to date are Cedarhurst, East Williston, Garden City, Hempstead, Hewlett Bay Park, Hewlett Harbor, Hewlett Neck, Massapequa, Mineola, North Hempstead, Syosset, Williston Park and Woodsburgh.

To help build the network across the country, Verizon will hire between 3,000 and 5,000 new employees by the end of this year, including hundreds in New York. The cost to Verizon of building the network on Long Island was not disclosed.

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.

"Verizon's fully fiber-optic network is technically superior to other communication platforms because it offers faster data speeds than currently available, as well as voice and video capability," said Patrick Welsh, Verizon market area president for Long Island. "Our fiber engineering creates a network that requires less day-to-day maintenance and allows for 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 service at an excellent price," said Welsh. "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).*

• 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.

• 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.

• 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 video services in the future.

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 throughout New York.
*NOTE: Actual (throughput) speeds will vary.

Verizon Communications Inc.

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.

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