Verizon Rolls Out Its Fiber

NEW YORK -- Verizon is bringing to 25 communities in Westchester and Rockland Counties one of the most significant advancements in telecommunications technology in the past 100 years.

The company today announced it is building 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 -- to residence and business customers in the Westchester County communities of Ardsley, Bronxville, Dobbs Ferry, Eastchester, Elmsford, Greenburgh, Harrison, Hastings, Irvington, Larchmont, Mamaroneck (Town and Village), Port Chester, Rye, Rye Brook, Scarsdale, Tarrytown, Tuckahoe and White Plains; and the Rockland County communities of Clarkstown, Grand View on Hudson, Orangetown, Piermont, Nyack, South Nyack and Upper Nyack.

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 from the local authority before offering a cable-TV-type service in a selected community.

"We're excited that Verizon has chosen Greenburgh for its all-fiber network," said Town Supervisor Paul Feiner. "We'll have access to broadband Internet services that are faster than anything we've seen in the region so far. The network promises to change every aspect of our lives, from health and safety to entertainment and commerce.

"In the future, residents and businesses can look forward to ultra-fast broadband connections and, after approval of a franchise, another choice for their video services. Many Greenburgh constituents have been pushing for cable competition for years. Finally the goal is becoming a reality."

---In a separate release---

FORT WAYNE, Ind. -- Verizon will soon bring to Fort Wayne and New Haven 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 the fastest data speeds available as well as crystal clear voice services. The Verizon network is capable of carrying a competitive choice to the existing cable television providers, but Verizon has not announced plans to deploy cable TV in the Fort Wayne area.

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 limitless potential for voice, data and video connections," said Great Lakes Region President Gale Given. "We believe our FTTP project will stimulate economic development; help convince companies and people to move to Fort Wayne and New Haven; and enhance Allen County as a great place to live and do business."

Building the fiber-optic network locally will take more than two years, but it will completely transform communication services for Verizon customers. Fort Wayne and New Haven are the company's first FTTP markets in the Great Lakes region.

Verizon Communications Inc.