Verizon announces that its ultra-fast FiOS Internet service is now available to customers in parts of Brooklyn's Canarsie, Mill Basin, Georgetown and Bergen Beach communities. The service is also available in several buildings in Williamsburg and downtown Brooklyn. FiOS Internet is already available in many other New York communities, including the other New York City boroughs and throughout the state. Additional parts of Brooklyn and other New York neighborhoods will become eligible for the service as Verizon continues to deploy its new fiber-optic network.

"Nothing compares to Verizon FiOS Internet service," said Michelle Minus Swittenberg, Verizon vice president of sales and marketing for the New York region. "The speed and capacity of Verizon's fiber-optic network for both receiving and sending information beats old-fashioned cable hands down for anything you need to do online."

Swittenberg noted that today consumers and businesses rely on fast Internet connections for everything from routine tasks like Web surfing, shopping or e-mail to more broadband-intensive activities like photo sharing, digital movie downloads, multi-player gaming, building Web pages, blogging and video conferencing.

"Verizon FiOS Internet gives customers the fastest online connections available in the New York City area." said Swittenberg. "Backed by the Verizon network and thousands of skilled Verizon employees, FiOS promises a fiber experience that is better than anything offered by a communications provider."

FiOS Internet was recently named to the top five of PC World Magazine's 100 Best Products of 2007. The only Internet service to make the prestigious list, Verizon FiOS Internet was ranked fourth on the roster of what the magazine called "the finest products and services of the past 12 months" - "based on exemplary design, features, performance and innovation." Readers of PC World and Computerworld magazines have recently ranked FiOS Internet number-one, with top scores across the board in overall satisfaction, connection reliability, download and upload speeds, customer service and technical support.

Verizon's fiber network also is used to deliver FiOS TV, an all-digital, feature-rich service that could be made available in New York City once a local franchise is granted. TV service providers are required by law to negotiate franchises with municipalities they hope to serve.