Builders and Developers Can 'Weave' Marketing Magic With Verizon's Glass Fibers

RESTON, Va. - With more than a dozen such agreements already signed, Verizon is aggressively pursuing more marketing pacts with developers of single-family residential communities to serve each home with fiber-optic technology and the latest and best in broadband communications services.

"We're in the market full-bore now with the visionary technology and services that give developers a competitive edge the day they start selling homes," said John W. Baker, director of Verizon's Enhanced Communities Group. "Savvy developers know that modern families have bigger appetites for voice, data and video services and will welcome the best in all those services at a good price. With our fiber-optic services called FiOS (FYE'-ose), we'll give them an amenity that differentiates their properties at the outset."

The Enhanced Communities project is an extension of Verizon's breakthrough plan to revolutionize broadband services with fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) technology that brings high-capacity fiber-optic network links directly to homes and businesses. Under the initiative, begun last year, Verizon currently is building its all-fiber network in parts of 14 states. The network has enough capacity to provide blazing-fast data speeds and video services today and many other services that will be developed in the future.

Verizon's first FTTP community, Brambleton, located in fast-growing Loudoun County, Virginia, has been able to capitalize on this technology with the Brambleton developer's target market. "Partnering with Verizon has differentiated our community. We have been able to offer our homebuyers unparalleled high-tech services that most communities are simply not able to provide to their residents, " said Anthony L. Soave, owner of Brambleton and the developer of the 6,240 unit mixed-use community.

"With telecommuting, home-based business and the need for lightning-fast Internet connections all on the increase, the products and services offered over Verizon's fiber network will give our homeowners more free time to connect with family and friends and provide more leisure time for themselves," he said.

Verizon's Enhanced Communities project installs fiber once -- in new communities as they are being built - which means no future construction is required to update the network. According to Verizon research, nearly a quarter of a million homes are constructed in new communities within Verizon serving areas each year, with the hottest markets in the mid-Atlantic, southern California, central Florida and central Texas areas.

Verizon offers developers the opportunity to market voice service, FiOS high-speed Internet Service at up to 30 megabits per second, and FiOS TV service over the fiber cables. Verizon's digital TV package is under development now, for introduction to the market later this year.

"We simplify things for the community developer by providing voice, lightning-fast FiOS Internet service and interactive FiOS video service," Verizon's Baker said. In some communities, he said, developers may opt for agreements that package charges for a full suite of services into community home owner associations' (HOA) monthly fees.

The Enhanced Communities Group has recruited a dedicated and experienced sales team from an existing Verizon sales team with experience negotiating marketing agreements with multi-dwelling property owners.

"These people understand the concerns and issues of builders and property managers and speak their language," Baker said.

Verizon already is working with developers, including Pulte Homes, Pardee Homes and KB Home, as well as partnering with several large developments in Southern California, such as The Preserve at Chino, a 9,800-home master-planned community developed by Lewis Operating Corporation. Similar activity is underway in select communities in the Washington, D.C., area. Interested developers can reach the Enhanced Communities Group by calling 703-375-8856.

With more than $71 billion in annual revenues, Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) is one of the world's leading providers of communications services. Verizon has a diverse work force of more than 210,000 in four business units: Domestic Telecom serves customers based in 29 states with wireline telecommunications services, including broadband and other services. Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 43.8 million voice and data customers across the United States. Information Services operates directory publishing businesses and provides electronic commerce services. International includes wireline and wireless operations and investments, primarily in the Americas and Europe. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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