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Verizon Taking FTTP Installation Orders
ooglek writes "Verizon is now qualifying and accepting installations for FTTP (Fiber To the Premises)! $39.95 for 5MB/2MB, $49.95 for 15MB/2MB, and $199.95 for 30MB/5MB. No word yet on whether Verizon will block ports (25, 80, etc) for incoming or outgoing traffic; with 2MB upload, I hope to basically run a small data center in my basement. Both phone and Internet will come through the fiber, and there is an unofficial rumor of video services as well by the end of this year. Got Fiber? My install date is November 2nd in Falls Church, VA (near DC). Several people in Keller, Texas have posted pictures and reported 14,679 kbps download and 1,794 kbps download speeds." Update: 10/26 23:52 GMT by T : That second "download" ought probably read "upload."
I wouldn't hold my breath.
What I can tell you is this:
When I started with DSL 5+ years ago, they allowed servers, and no ports were blocked. After a couple years, they blocked port 80 and changed the TOS to disallow servers. If servers aren't already disallowed, I imagine they will be eventually.
You broke it.
Server Error in '/FiosForHome' Application.
Runtime Error
Description: An application error occurred on the server. The current custom error settings for this application prevent the details of the application error from being viewed remotely (for security reasons). It could, however, be viewed by browsers running on the local server machine.
Details: To enable the details of this specific error message to be viewable on remote machines, please create a tag within a "web.config" configuration file located in the root directory of the current web application. This tag should then have its "mode" attribute set to "Off".
Notes: The current error page you are seeing can be replaced by a custom error page by modifying the "defaultRedirect" attribute of the application's configuration tag to point to a custom error page URL.
I live in Huntington Beach, one of the first places this is rolling out. That said, I'm going to be content with my 3Mb/768k DSL until I'm sure there aren't any ridiculous "for entertainment only" policies on Verizon's books. My current ISP (SurfCity DSL) doesn't block ports, sells me a static IP for a small fee, and even sells IP address blocks for reasonable (~$20/mo) fees. Having all the bandwidth in the world is practically useless with a dynamic IP and having the major ports blocked.
I got the 15/2 service and it's great.
Your cell phone is still registered your residence - besides you can just give them a neighbor's phone #.
Yell & scream & rant & rave... it's no use... you need a shaaaave ~ Bugs Bunny
" ok, here's a question:
they need your phone number to determine if fttp is available in your area. I don't have a land line--only a cell phone... suggestions?"
Use the # of a neighbor or nearby business. There isn't going to be much of a difference if you use a number from a building across the street or nearby location unless you happen to be on the edge of some kind of service area.
Yeah, I'm paying $49 for 512/256 DSL, best I can get here. The cable setups I've worked on locally have almost the same actual speed, and they are paying $70+ for supposed 1/512 which is no faster than my DSL. Argh
There is no installation costs. If you cancel the service in the first year, you have to give back to the router or or pay em another $50.
Mod point free since 2001
Nope - no servers allowed... so basically Verizon is continuing to be a WSP, not an ISP. I really wish more providers would just let me do what the heck I wanted to do with my connection - why should they care - just throw a QoS penalty on any traffic over xbits/sec that they don't want me to really use
I have mod points and I am not afraid to use them
From their polic, section 3.6 - E.
You may not use the Broadband Service to host any type of server personal or commercial in nature.
Okay, I'll stop bragging now (:
I mean its about £30/month for a plain 1 Mbit cable connection. *curses*
I wonder how the TOS nazis plan to handle P2P apps like BT?
Don't worry. The UK has been focussing too much on getting DSL everywhere (99.5% of the country can get it at the last count). I'm sure now that BT have nearly finished using govt money for putting ADSL everywhere, they can get to start on fiber.
Also, it doesn't help that BT's main rivals (NTL and Telewest) - or should that be only rivals -- have been in bankruptcy protection for the last 3-4 years...
IntechHosting - Free domain, 2GB, PHP, £4.95/$8.95
FYI I'm actually working on this project right now (my company is designing the Dorrs Corner & one other C.O. in Anne Arundel county) & I can tell you there will not be any competition for this as Verizon had to basically get a franchise for the municipality. This also means that they are having to run FTTP throughout the entire C.O. & not just in the more affluent areas.
Jaysyn
There is a war going on for your mind.
Verizon is building an all new fiber optic cable plant for FIOS. Even the connection from the street to the premise will require installation of a new fiber optic drop cable and a new premise equipment box.
If you are located in one of the three ex-GTE areas TX, CA or FL currently under build-out and Verizon has been installing new cable ducts using underground rodding equipment, you are likely in the service area. In my area, near Tampa, they installed the ducts down the street in early July. I have not been able to get a map of the service areas from Verizon, but I was able to get verbal confirmation that service will be installed in most of the county over a period of two years.
I intentionally purchased a home in the FIOS service area this year. I've been following the progress of the project closely. I called and ordered FIOS about two weeks ago. A Verizon contractor installed a new fiber optic drop cable to my house last week. I'm slated for installaion of 5mb FIOS service tommorrow. Then all I have to do is get an ethernet cable out to the equipment box and I'll be in business.
(Sidebar: Verizon sales told me that the installation tech is supposed to configure my router and PC, but there's no chance he'll get any chance to touch my systems.)
What would Groucho do?
Since the site appears to have been utterly destroyed and the locator is timing out, the customer service number for Verizon Fiber Solutions. is 888-553-1555. These guys can check your availability for you.
I'm in Houston, TX, and they say no Fios for the forseeable future here.
It is only a test project in Keller TX. They expect a rollout to other areas after the completion of the test. Until then...it is still a BIG-PIPE dream. They did say they will be sending out a notification and advertising campaign when it becomes available in other areas.
You keep going until you die..."Me".
Generally speaking, no. Some ISP's will complain and threaten to cut you off if you use too much of your bandwidth, but some don't. For example, this month I've probably downloaded 100 gigs of data over my DSL line, plus uploads, and I haven't heard anything out of my ISP except them asking me to pay this months usual bill.
Necessity is the mother of invention.
Laziness is the father.
Same here in Hong Kong with DSL. We get symmetrical 10mbps/10mbps for about $20USD/month.
http://www.hgc.com.hk/eng/res_net_bb_hgcbb.html
(1 USD = 7.8 HKD)
Just got off the phone from Verizon. and the nice lady gave me some details of availibility.
1) First off, the Number that the script tells you to call (the (888) 662-8275 one) is wrong according to the person that I got on that line. She directed me to (888) 991-4999. Whether or not that's the right number for overall rollout I dont know, but it had all the answers I got. Not that you'll need to call after reading this.
2) From what she was seeing, it's still only available in the Texas area where it was deployed for it's Pilot Program. She wouldn't confirm where they were expanding the service, but she did confirm that it is going to expand in the coming months because it was very successful in the pilot program apparently.
3) She said that availability will be announced in your Verizon bill (If you get one) as soon as it's available in your area (probably to cover the costs of the equipment). the web site also will tell you about availibility whenever it's updated, but for right now it's Texas only.
In Soviet Russia, Trojan exploits YOU!
Actually, my speed tests have been about 9Mbps down/18Mbps up. Not sure why my upload is so big, but its still cool.
"The defense of freedom requires the advance of freedom" - George W Bush
Verizon's FIOS is a passive optical network, which uses shared bandwidth on the downstream side (every home's equipment sees all the traffic) and time-division multiplexing on the upstream side (homes send data one at a time). That approach allows Verizon to have only passive, non-powered optical splitters in the field, sharing one fiber among as many as 32 homes.
Google passive optical network if you want to know more.
I would do ALMOST ANYTHING for a high bandwith connection.
How about satellite?
Speak before you think
I am excited about Verizon's Fiber service!
I don't like to sit. Sitting is for people who like to sit.
http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2004/Oct/1085658.ht
A quote:
Let me start with the installation. I ordered the 15/2 MB package. The installation went pretty smooth. The techs were knowledgeable and polite. As the pictures show in previous comment they mount a box on the side of the house by the existing phone box. The box is also configured for a COAX connection into the premises. I have heard rumors that they already have a deal worked out with one of the dish companies. The only issue I had with the install was that the installation techs could not go into the attic of my house. (Already had several lawsuits due to techs falling through ceilings.) So they were going to run a CAT5E cable around the side and drill a hole through the side. I ended up running the CAT5 cable myself. They also need to install a UPS within 50' of the box mounted outside that does the fiber to copper conversion. They will also sell you a D-Link 624 Wireless access point/router or furnish another D-Link router for free. I had major trouble with it dropping the PPPoE (hate PPPoE) connection. I messed with it for 2 weeks and bought a Linksys. After I changed the default MTU the Linksys has been flawless. The change over for the phones was done onsite by the installation techs and took all of 10 seconds.
Service - great so far. Download tests from a Verizon website run around 15 MB down and just under 1.8 MB up. Tests from websites to check the speed of your line report anywhere from 1.5 down to 4.5 down. For most viewing you will not notice any difference, although I have noticed traceroutes seem faster. I have also found that most websites limit download speeds to 500K. I was able to download the Fedora Core 3 Test 3 from a university the other night at just under 7.5 MB second. As for what ports are being blocked, I have my own mailserver setup and it is working. I can ssh back to my servers with no problems. HTTP seems to be blocked though, but I have not been able to confirm this with Verizon. Conclusion - So far I have been very satisfied with the service. It is as fast as they advertised and in 6 weeks has not gone down. The only drawbacks I have so far are the PPPoE connection, D-Link router, and having to run my own CAT5 cable.
Call it 'monopolistic' all you want. Verizon just doesn't want to be forced to rent the fiber *they completely financed* to competitors at lower than Verizon's cost. That's like saying, "Here, you pay millions of dollars to build out and deploy all of the infrastructure. BUT we're going to force you to allow your _competitors_ to utilize it at a discount and below your cost."
That's what happened with the copper lines and DSL. Back during the boom, all these competitors lined up and are mostly gone now.
If you want companies to deploy (and finance) advanced technology, you have to make it worth their while.
I've seen providers with bandwidth and latency guarantees before. But, keep in mind that:
1. They only guarantee bandwidth within their own network, and under certain conditions
2. They only guarantee latencies within their own network
3. They only guarantee bandwidth and latency a certain percentage of the time, not 100%.
4. They are usually very expensive
5. Your recompense if they don't meet the guarantees are minimal.
As far as items 1 and 2, you really just can't do anything else. Company A simply cannot stake financial risk on the performance of Companies C, D, E, and H through M.
As for numbers three through five combined, if you wanted to guarantee bandwidth/latency 100% of the time, you end up having to pay horrendous amounts for the ability to do so. Remember, script-kiddies with $10/month dialups have brought people spending millions for connectivity to their knees without much trouble.
When you're talking "9's", each 9 that you add drives the cost up exponentially. It doesn't take many 9's before the cost to actually provide the service level is much greater than most anyone is willing to pay for it.
steve
Oh, you're not stuck, you're just unable to let go of the onion rings.
Verizon just doesn't want to be forced to rent the fiber *they completely financed* to competitors at lower than Verizon's cost. That's like saying, "Here, you pay millions of dollars to build out and deploy all of the infrastructure. BUT we're going to force you to allow your _competitors_ to utilize it at a discount and below your cost."
Verizon may have arranged financing on the fiber, but who do you think actually provided the base capital and will pay off the rest of it in the future? Yeah, that's right, the citizens of the communities. The same ones who are guaranteed to get hammered if Verizon is given unfettered right of control over this public utility.
What about the valuable right-of-way they have, rent free, to run the fiber over private property? Think that might be worth a buck or two?
As for Verizon's position here, maybe they should not have run the fiber BEFORE getting an agreement hammered out?
Don't be a sucker, like he said, bright and shiny things for the easily distracted.
http://newscenter.verizon.com/proactive/newsroom/r elease.vtml?id=87633
or http://newscenter.verizon.com/kit/fiber/
from oct
FALLS CHURCH, Va. - Fast as light, Verizon is moving to roll out advanced fiber-based broadband technology to customers in six more states.
At a news conference here today, the company announced new fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) deployment to homes and businesses in Virginia as well as in parts of Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania -- bringing to nine the total number of states where work is under way. The company had previously announced FTTP deployment in California, Florida and Texas as part its plan to pass some 1 million homes and businesses with the new technology this year. Verizon plans to pass some 2 million additional homes and businesses with the new technology next year.
Verizon will hire between 3,000 and 5,000 new employees by the end of 2005 to help build the network.
"Verizon fiber all the way to the homes and businesses of our customers means they will have the highest-speed computer connections available from anyone," said Paul Lacouture, president of Verizon's Network Services Group. "No other company is offering this cutting-edge data service, and the reliability of fiber also means unprecedented dependability as well."
Verizon has introduced new data services - offered on the FiOS platform - that already are or soon will be available in parts of the three states where Verizon began installing FTTP earlier this year. Verizon also expects to begin marketing FiOS services in Falls Church and some other communities over the next several months. The company expects to market video services on the new FTTP network next year.
"FiOS has been an extraordinary hit with our earliest customers in Texas and elsewhere," said Bob Ingalls, Verizon Retail Markets president. "People are literally lining up to get what they know is a fantastic service at an excellent price."
Verizon's FiOS broadband Internet access services offer download speeds of up to 5 Mbps (megabits per second), 15 Mbps and 30 Mbps, with upstream speeds of up to 2 Mbps for the first two products and 5 Mbps for the third. The 5 Mbps service sells for $34.95 per month, when purchased with a package of Verizon services, and $39.95 when purchased separately. [For more information on the technology and pricing, see the FTTP and FiOS fact sheets in the Verizon press kit at http://newscenter.verizon.com/kit/fiber/.]
The new FTTP technology is capable of carrying a wide array of existing and new services, including high-speed broadband products that are far superior and more cost-effective than most services offered today, as well as video applications in the future. FTTP technology uses a fiber-optic cable to replace the existing copper-wire link that now connects homes and businesses to Verizon's nationwide network.
Fiber offers tremendous advantages to network operators, in addition to new and superior services for customers. For example, fiber offers reliable service in periods of wet weather that can affect copper. Less day-to-day maintenance is required, and repairs are quicker when problems do occur. Verizon's fiber engineering eliminates electronics between the customer and the network so that problems of providing repairs and power for equipment in the field are reduced.
In addition, Verizon has invested in designing some 40 new operations support systems to handle everything from electronic processing of customer FiOS orders to remotely diagnosing and correcting problems - often before a customer experiences a problem.
"We know small-to-medium-sized businesses and customers at home are ready to move to the next generation of high-speed data communications," said Ingalls. "So our aggressive move to become the first major telecom company to deploy fiber all the way to customers means we'll be able to offer services and applications that aren't yet even on the drawing board."
Verizon is laying the fiber along other people's property. It has the right to do this by virtue of government action: easements (rights to use someone else's land in a particular way) granted by way of or under threat of eminent domain (government-imposed surrender of property rights). Verizon (or Bell, long ago) used a special relationship with the government to get what it has, and so does not have the right to use it in an unregulated fashion.
Removing controls from large companies while letting them keep their special government-granted advantages does not create a free market. Free-market advocates who fail to understand this create broken economic systems when they succeed and give us all a bad name even if they don't. Please don't be one of them.