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Verizon Expands Its Industry-Leading Fiber-to-the-Premises Network in New Jersey; Company's Transformational Technology to Benefit Residential and Business Customers, Boost Economic Development

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NEWARK, N.J., Oct. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon is bringing to 16 New Jersey communities 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 in the future - to residence and business customers in: Audubon, Audubon Park, Barrington, Haddon Heights, Haddonfield, Lawnside and Tavistock in Camden County; and Bergenfield, Dumont, Garfield, Ho-Ho-Kus, Lodi, Ridgewood, Wallington, Washington Township and Woodcliff Lake in Bergen County.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime transformation of the communications network serving these communities," said Dennis M. Bone, president Verizon New Jersey.

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 will unleash a range of advanced communications 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 Bone. "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 currently is constructing FTTP networks in more than half the states where it offers landline communications service, including the state of New Jersey. To date, Verizon has announced it is building its FTTP in 80 New Jersey communities in nine counties.

To help build the network across the country, Verizon has hired between 3,000 and 5,000 new employees this year, including hundreds in New Jersey. The cost to Verizon of building the network in New Jersey was not disclosed.

"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 William Foshay, Verizon market area president for New Jersey.

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. FiOS Internet Access services are already available in dozens of New Jersey communities. Verizon will notify additional customers when FiOS is available locally. Customers who want to determine whether they can order FiOS also can call 888-GET FIOS (888-438-3467) or visit Verizon's FiOS Web site at www.verizon.net/Fios .

"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 Foshay. "This is the most significant transformation of the network that I have witnessed during my career at Verizon."

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 Jersey

* NOTE: Actual (throughput) speeds will vary.