Verizon customers in Closter and Wyckoff now can experience high-speed Internet access as the company begins to offer its Verizon FiOS (FYE'-ose) Internet Service to homes here.

The two Bergen County communities are the first where Verizon's premier consumer broadband services are available in the state. 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 already delivering FiOS services over its new fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) networks in half the states where it offers landline communications service. The company has identified 55 communities in New Jersey where it is rolling out its all-fiber network. The company will announce FiOS Internet Service in other areas as it becomes available.

FTTP technology utilizes fiber-optic connections - instead of copper wire - directly into homes to enable a broad array of voice, data and video applications. In addition to its current FiOS Internet access 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.

Each consumer data offer includes the suite of services currently available to Verizon Online DSL customers at no additional charge, including: MSN Premium content; Verizon's new Broadband Beat entertainment portal optimized for high-speed access featuring news, games, streaming video and more; up to nine e-mail accounts with 30 megabytes (MB) of storage for the primary account and an additional 10 MB for each sub-account; address book and calendar; 10 MB personal Web space and a Web-site building tool; and access to newsgroups.

While FiOS services are not immediately available to all customers in all locations, the services now are available to many Verizon customers with a 201 area code whose phone numbers have the following prefixes: 750, 767, 768, 784, 269, 560, 847, 848 and 891. 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?"