Thread: Verizon FIOS Update (Clearwater, FL):

A few days ago I read in the St. Pete Times about a gas break that occured on Highland Ave. and Nursery Rd. in Clearwater, FL (on the border of Largo, FL) that involved Verizon FIOS installation underground. The article made it a point to say it was Verizon running fiber optic cables underground via the sewers. So this prompted me to call Bob Elek to get another update on FIOS rollouts.



It seems this article is indeed correct and this is fiber for FIOS services as well and not something else like hooking up a new business etc. I've also been told that FIOS services will be available to nearly all Clearwater and Largo residents before years end of 2009. Most will have service available within the first half of 2009 though. Also depending on hurricane season along with other issues Seminole and Pinellas Park could also see heavy availability of FIOS services as well.

Keep in mind that anyone living in apartments and condos might not have services available because the apartment owners and/or condo HOA need to allow Verizon to run fiber optic cables to each unit. Townhomes and Villas in most areas shouldn't be a problem though but some "could" require approval from the HOA.

So for those of you within this area awaiting an alternative to BHN you may soon have your choice of Verizon FIOS services available to you.

Originally Posted by LonghornXP

A few days ago I read in the St. Pete Times about a gas break that occured on Highland Ave. and Nursery Rd. in Clearwater, FL (on the border of Largo, FL) that involved Verizon FIOS installation underground. The article made it a point to say it was Verizon running fiber optic cables underground via the sewers. So this prompted me to call Bob Elek to get another update on FIOS rollouts.

It seems this article is indeed correct and this is fiber for FIOS services as well and not something else like hooking up a new business etc. I've also been told that FIOS services will be available to nearly all Clearwater and Largo residents before years end of 2009. Most will have service available within the first half of 2009 though. Also depending on hurricane season along with other issues Seminole and Pinellas Park could also see heavy availability of FIOS services as well.

Keep in mind that anyone living in apartments and condos might not have services available because the apartment owners and/or condo HOA need to allow Verizon to run fiber optic cables to each unit. Townhomes and Villas in most areas shouldn't be a problem though but some "could" require approval from the HOA.

So for those of you within this area awaiting an alternative to BHN you may soon have your choice of Verizon FIOS services available to you.

Late 2009 for all of Clearwater?????? I thought they said St. Pete would have service by the end of 2009.... this is going to put St. Pete into 2010. Oh well.

Originally Posted by skottey

Late 2009 for all of Clearwater?????? I thought they said St. Pete would have service by the end of 2009.... this is going to put St. Pete into 2010. Oh well.

I believe they said that some of St. Pete would have service by the end of 2009 which is still correct. Beyond that I doubt that "all" of St. Pete will be wired even after 2010 either but I'd love to be wrong though.

Its however clear that they feel that nearly "all" of both Clearwater and Largo will be wired by the end of 2009. Now being wired is one thing but some customers who are wired say in November of 2009 won't have service until early 2010 for example. Being wired and service ready are two different things as I'm told.

Originally Posted by LonghornXP

I believe they said that some of St. Pete would have service by the end of 2009 which is still correct. Beyond that I doubt that "all" of St. Pete will be wired even after 2010 either but I'd love to be wrong though.

Its however clear that they feel that nearly "all" of both Clearwater and Largo will be wired by the end of 2009. Now being wired is one thing but some customers who are wired say in November of 2009 won't have service until early 2010 for example. Being wired and service ready are two different things as I'm told.

It seems they have slowed expansion. They rolled through Tampa at five times the speed they are moving now in Pinellas. I think they have gotten to the point where they really need to recoup some of that money they couldn't afford to invest in this project. I'll bet they have laid off expansion crews. It'll be 2012 before they finish Pinellas at the rate they are going.

Originally Posted by skottey

It seems they have slowed expansion. They rolled through Tampa at five times the speed they are moving now in Pinellas. I think they have gotten to the point where they really need to recoup some of that money they couldn't afford to invest in this project. I'll bet they have laid off expansion crews. It'll be 2012 before they finish Pinellas at the rate they are going.

Quite a bit of both Clearwater and Largo need fiber runs underground compared to on the poles like much of Tampa so that is why it "seems" like they are taking longer. Once those parts are wired and they move further towards St. Pete I'd bet that the speed will be much faster. Just give things some time and keep in mind that Tampa took nearly four years to get completed assuming its even complete yet. Verizon couldn't start wiring much of Pinellas until recently because of a non compete clause when they sold their Americast system to Knology.

Originally Posted by LonghornXP

Quite a bit of both Clearwater and Largo need fiber runs underground compared to on the poles like much of Tampa so that is why it "seems" like they are taking longer. Once those parts are wired and they move further towards St. Pete I'd bet that the speed will be much faster. Just give things some time and keep in mind that Tampa took nearly four years to get completed assuming its even complete yet. Verizon couldn't start wiring much of Pinellas until recently because of a non compete clause when they sold their Americast system to Knology.

Yeah, I figured in part this had something to do with Knology.

I didn't realize they were doing any pole installs.I thought FIOS was putting the whole thing underground. Remember all that digging in Tampa where they kept hitting other utilities? haha.

Originally Posted by skottey

Yeah, I figured in part this had something to do with Knology.

I didn't realize they were doing any pole installs.I thought FIOS was putting the whole thing underground. Remember all that digging in Tampa where they kept hitting other utilities? haha.

Interesting about the all underground thing. I'll have to call and ask if all fiber runs will be done underground. I know some fiber needs to be place underground but I always believed that quite a bit of the main streets (ie East Bay Drive, Keene Rd., Belcher, Ulmerton etc) still needed fiber to be run on the existing above ground telephone poles.

Last year they were up near Curlew Rd. If they are now doing fiber near Nursery & Highland that means they must have skipped right over us near the Countryside Mall. Just my luck!

Originally Posted by Larry

Last year they were up near Curlew Rd. If they are now doing fiber near Nursery & Highland that means they must have skipped right over us near the Countryside Mall. Just my luck!

They tend to work in more than one specific area at a time so I doubt they just skipped your area. Just give this rollout some time because its still in its early stages with regards to Pinellas County.