| Do not believe the hype, even if it comes directly | | | | ultra-high speed broadband connections to the |
| from Verizon. The company is indeed continuing | | | | country sooner than planned? If so, Verizon could |
| to expand into new markets despite some | | | | be poised to take over a major portion of the |
| previous comments from executives. Why is the | | | | market due to their existing expertise and proven |
| nation's largest fiber optic network waffling on the | | | | marketing techniques. |
| issue of expansion? That is a difficult question to | | | | On the other hand, it could very well be that |
| answer, but it could very well be that the latest | | | | shifting economic conditions that seem to show a |
| round of government incentives and the pressure | | | | favorable outlook in the near future played a role |
| to compete with Google's upcoming gigabit fiber | | | | in Verizon's seemingly unstable plans for the |
| service have something to do with it. | | | | future. Whatever the cause of the change of |
| In fact, Verizon recently demonstrated that their | | | | heart, here is what it means to America and |
| existing fiber optic infrastructure could almost hit | | | | Americans: |
| the 1Gbps mark in real-world tests, not just those | | | | |
| conducted in a lab. While the conditions may have | | | | 1. Access to higher speed Internet. Who knows |
| been somewhat controlled, the fact is that fiber | | | | what this will lead to? The bottom line is that it |
| optics lend themselves to easy upgrades | | | | won't leave America out in the cold when |
| compared to metal wires. This fact may have a | | | | technologies are developed that require more |
| lot to do with why Verizon FiOS availability | | | | bandwidth than DSL and/or cable can handle. |
| continues to expand; once laid, the fiber optic | | | | 2. Freedom from cable companies via IPTV. |
| cables rarely need to worked on and won't need | | | | Verizon still offers IPTV via FiOS, but more |
| to be upgraded in the foreseeable future if even | | | | avenues will be open with higher speed broadband |
| in our lifetimes. That is just how much overhead | | | | services. |
| fiber optics possess as a medium for data | | | | 3. Access to more markets for our ideas and |
| transmissions. | | | | products, and that is a good thing. |
| Of course, the government incentives to carriers | | | | 4. Entirely new services and expanded availability |
| to expand their network might have a lot to do | | | | of existing services such as online backups and |
| with why and when vendors choose to expand | | | | video conferencing. |
| their networks. Certainly a few well-selected | | | | 5. Lower prices and less advertising on existing |
| grants or concessions to Verizon could have been | | | | services delivered over the web. |
| the impetus to see Verizon FiOS availability | | | | The future is bright thanks to Verizon FiOS |
| expand so soon after company PR | | | | availability increasing. Now all that is missing is |
| representatives claimed that no more expansions | | | | more competition to bring prices down and the |
| were in the works. Could it be possible that the | | | | quality of service up. |
| federal government's plans are actually bringing | | | | |