Verizon customers here and in Great Neck can experience breathtaking high-speed Internet access as the company begins to offer its Verizon FiOS (FYE'-ose) Internet Service to homes in both villages.

Verizon is rolling out the industry's premier consumer broadband services to a growing number of residents in Nassau County. The company is offering three tiers of service with downstream (download) speeds of up to approximately 5, 15 and 30 Mbps (megabits per second).

Verizon is delivering FiOS services over its new fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) network, which the company is currently building in half of the states where it offers landline communications service. In Nassau County, FiOS is also available in the communities of Massapequa, Wantagh, Franklin Square, Port Washington, Oyster Bay and Syosset.

FTTP technology utilizes fiber-optic connections - instead of copper wire - directly into homes and businesses to enable a broad array of voice, data and video applications. In addition to its current FiOS Internet Service, Verizon plans to launch FiOS TV in 2005 to compete directly with cable-TV providers. FiOS TV will be available in markets where Verizon has negotiated cable franchise agreements with local authorities.

Each FiOS service is available either as part of a bundle of local and long-distance calling services from Verizon, or as a stand-alone Internet access service.

While FiOS services are not immediately available to all customers in all locations, the services now are available to many Verizon customers in the 516 area code. Customers who want to determine whether they can order FiOS Internet Service can call 888-GET FIOS (888-438-3467) or visit Verizon's FiOS Web site at www.verizon.net/fios.

For more information about Verizon FiOS, see our Verizon FiOS category or our article, "Have you caught the FiOS fever?"