Verizon announced plans to build a fiber-optic network that will deliver faster data speeds and crystal-clear voice to residence and business customers here – and also has the capability to offer a full suite of future video services. The company will seek a franchise agreement from the local authority before offering cable service in a particular community.

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.

Verizon has begun or will be building its FTTP network in a number of locations in and around the City of Richmond and neighboring Chesterfield and Henrico counties.

In Chesterfield County: Ashbrook, Deer Run, Woodlake Parkway, Brandermill Parkway, Timber Bluff Parkway, Hampton Park Drive, Bayhill Pointe, Bailey Bridge Road.

In Henrico County: Britton Hill, Springfield Road, Innsbrook and Three Chopt west of Parham Road.

In Richmond: the Fan, Brookland Parkway, Laburnum Park, portions of the West End, including the Byrd Park area.

One of Verizon’s two contractors in this area, Ivy H. Smith Co. or S&N Communications, will notify residents with letters and door-hangers before it begins construction in their neighborhoods. To lessen inconvenience and reduce the impact on local streets, Verizon and its contractors use the latest installation techniques and existing underground cable pathways or utility poles, or both, whenever possible. Residents may call their respective contractor with any construction questions. Ivy H. Smith Co. can be reached toll-free on 800-768-8831, and S&N Communications can be reached toll-free on 800-757-6842.

Verizon is building its FTTP network in half the states where it offers landline communications services. In Virginia, FTTP construction also is under way in parts of Northern and Eastern Virginia.

To help build the network across the country, Verizon will hire between 3,000 and 5,000 new employees by the end of this year, including hundreds in Virginia. Locally, Verizon technicians are learning how to install the fiber-based network facilities required to bring advanced data services to customers at the company’s FTTP training center in Sandston.

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 Service currently is available to many Northern Virginia residential customers. Verizon will notify customers when FiOS is available locally. For more information on FiOS Internet Service, customers can visit www.verizon.net/fios.

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 future video services.

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