Verizon High Speed Internet - Availability

Availability

Verizon High Speed Internet is available in many areas where Verizon offers telephone service. Availability and speed are mainly determined by the overall loop length, the length of the copper cable from the DSLAM, normally in the central office, where the DSL signal originates, to the consumer's residence, where the signal is received. Maximum connection speed decreases as the loop length increases, and service will be unavailable if the distance is too great because the DSL signal weakens over the distance of the copper lines.

The official maximum loop length for Verizon High Speed Internet, as of 2006, is 18,000 feet (5,500 m) from the Central Office or remote DSLAM. Work is currently in place to extend the local loop length to 24,000 feet (7,300 m) The availability of DSL service also depends on details of outside plant including wire gauge and the absence of bridge taps, repeaters, load coils, and other devices that augment the telephone signal at the expense of attenuating the DSL signal. Newer residential developments are being designed with Verizon FiOS in mind so copper lines are not needed, and DSL cannot operate over strictly fiber optic lines.

Verizon no longer sells fixed plans but instead offers speed ranges based upon the condition of the local loop. The actual speed that customers receive will depend upon the length and condition of the local loop.

Service Offerings as of December 2007

• Lineshare - Verizon Telephone Service required for Verizon High Speed Internet. This is the most widely available service.
• UNE-P (unbundled network element platform) - Verizon High Speed Internet with 3rd party incumbent local exchange carrier. This is not as widely available.
• Dry Loop (also known as Naked DSL)- Verizon High Speed Internet Service without any telephone/voice service required. This is becoming widely available and more popular as voice over IP and cell-phone usage lessens the need for analog telephone service.