AT&T territory, but I want FiOS?

Question

I called Verizon to ask about their fiber optic FiOS internet and cable network, but they said im in at&t territory

so does this mean I'm screwed until AT&T, and Time Warner (cable) decide to start using fiber optic stuff...or is there some way around this

also why do certain companies have monopolies over certain areas, that is lame

Answer 1

If your Imbedded Local Exchange Carrier (ILEC) is Verizon and Verizon has FiOS available you can subscribe to the service.

If your ILEC is not Verizon, then Verizon's product is not available to you.

ATT has decided to roll out DSL in the neighborhoods and are actively running fiber to local distribution points (called vaults) and putting a DSLAM in the vault.  Many users see 6 Mbps service from this - and this is a very suitable speed for many users.  The price is reasonable.  Of course, as your distance from the vault increases, speed does drop with DSL (it is a clear example of the well known inverse square law that is well described in high school physics texts).  ATT made this decision because it felt this would provide decent product to its customers fairly rapidly.

Verizon made the decision to run Fiber to the home rather than install the DSLAMs in the vaults.  This will provide very suitable high speed lines capable of performing better than CATV can perform.  The down side of this decision is that the implementation time is fairly lengthy as the work is complex and in fact a whole new infrastructure.  Apparently Verizon felt this was the best to offer to their customer.  The fiber line that feeds the home is underutalized at this time and is likely to remain underutalized for several years so you can make the arguement that Verizon is proivding an "overkill" for now.

CATV companies (including Time Warner and Com Cast and all the others) use a different technology.  They connect their distribution points to each other with fiber and run co - ax cable to the end user.  This provides ability to send TV, Internet, and voice at decent speeds.  Typical speeds can be 4 - 8 Mbps depending upon your subscription service.  

All carriers use fiber as the backbone - but they do not all use fiber to the home.  Most provide decent service - with DSL being the most influenced by signal weakness with distance.  

Finally if you wish to understand the reasons why utilities have monopolies you need to check with the local Public Utility Commission for the justifications.  It is not practical for certain business to have local competition.  You will also find a lot more about what Phone and CATV companies can do by learning the Telecom Act of 1996, a federal law on this topic.  If you don't like the utilities because they comply with the federal law, the dispute you really have is with your elected federal officials.

Answer 2

Verizon is expanding the FIOS footprint area as fast as they can. They can only place fiber in places where they have been given the permission by the local PUC offices. Once Verizon files with the local PUC.  Hearings will be scheduled for other video providers to have the opportunity to say why they should/should not be given permission to provide the service.  Then the PUC will go into deliberation to grant/deny the request. It all boils down to politics as usual. Once given permission, then the Outside Techs have to place the main fiber line for the areas, the CO Techs then have to build the relay racks to receive/send the fiber signal. Then the Splice Service Techs can begin to fill the individual orders.

To find out if it is in your area go to www.Verizon.com click on FIOS, then put in your phone number (if Verizon customer), if not put in your address. If it isn't in your area you will be asked to put in your contact info for Verizon to contact you when it is available to your location.

Basically it all boils down to governmental politics as usual.

Answer 3

If Verizon doesn't provide service in that area, then, yes, you're screwed.  You can't get it if they don't have it there.

I'm in the same boat, I would like it, but they haven't expanded the FiOS network to where I live yet.. Hopefully soon.