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

Verizon is rolling out the industry's premier consumer broadband services to customers in Lexington, Natick and Winchester. 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. In Massachusetts, FiOS also is available in Andover, Bedford, Belmont, Burlington, Holliston, Hopkinton, Lynnfield, North Reading, Reading, Topsfield and West Newbury.

Customers who want to determine whether they can order FiOS can call 888-GET FIOS (888-438-3467) or visit Verizon's FiOS Web site at www.verizon.net/fios.

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 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.

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