Spurred by significant growth in deployment and demand for its fiber-optic-based Internet and TV services around the country, Verizon is hiring about 320 more employees for its state-of-the-art Fiber Solutions Centers (FSCs) in six locations.

The company is seeking candidates for management and associate positions at FSCs in Dallas; Hampton, Va.; Oxnard, Calif.; Providence, R.I.; Syracuse, N.Y.; and Everett, Wash.



Employees in the centers support consumers and business customers who purchase new FiOS broadband and video products delivered over Verizon's new, all-fiber network, which the company is building in more than half the states where it provides landline phone service. The new technology uses fiber-optic connections - instead of copper wire - all the way from Verizon network centers directly into homes or businesses. With fiber optics it is possible to provide a broad array of voice, data and video services with greater reliability, quality and capacity than any other technology. Verizon is the only company to connect homes and small businesses directly with fiber optics on a large scale.

Verizon plans to pass 18 million premises with its fiber network by the end of 2010, or more than 50 percent of the approximately 33 million households in the company's 28-state wireline service area. The FiOS network buildout is on target to pass a total of 6 million premises by year-end 2006, with an additional 3 million a year planned through 2010.

Verizon has set a target of 725,000 FiOS Internet customers by year-end 2006, with the service available for sale to 5 million premises. This would represent a market penetration of approximately 15 percent, toward a 2010 goal of 35 percent to 40 percent -- or from 6 million to 7 million FiOS Internet customers.

Verizon has set a target of 175,000 FiOS TV customers by year-end 2006, making the service available to 1.8 million households. This would be a market penetration rate of approximately 10 percent. More than 1 million households are already currently eligible to purchase FiOS TV services, due to Verizon's significant progress in obtaining state and local cable franchises.

Verizon's goal is for FiOS TV to have a market penetration rate that ranges from 20 percent to 25 percent by 2010 -- or from 3 million to 4 million FiOS TV customers -- based on its estimate that approximately 15 million households will be video-ready by then.

"The Fiber Solutions Center and its employees are playing a key role as Verizon provides our new FiOS customers with an unprecedented broadband and video experience," said Robert Mudge, Verizon Telecom executive vice president and chief operating officer. "Our employees are trained in all aspects of how this technology works, and they will help our customers get the most out of the very best broadband and entertainment services available."

Specially trained fiber-customer-support analysts and fiber-network technicians in the center handle calls from customers who buy FiOS Internet and FiOS TV services, and also support Verizon technicians who install the new products, answering technical questions and remotely diagnosing and correcting problems.

Some of the requirements for the new positions include:

• Basic understanding of communications networking components such as routers, LAN topology, Ethernet and network interface cards, as well as a working knowledge of PC hardware/software functionality.
• Training, education or experience related to PC home-networking technology.
• Working at a computer terminal assisting internal and external customers.
• Must be willing to work regularly scheduled hours including day, evening, night weekend and holidays as required. Overtime may also be required.

Job responsibilities include:

• Answer incoming calls from customers with order inquiry and/or trouble reports.
• Providing fiber-to-home activation support.
• Analyzing and isolating trouble conditions.
• Initiating service-order corrections and changes.
• Understanding of PC components and functionality, the ability to work with customers. on the telephone and to isolate/resolve problems with the equipment at a customer location.

Candidates for the new positions can apply and schedule testing by visiting: www.verizon.com/fiberjobs