Prepping For The FiOS Visit

As >Rockville Central readers are well aware, many residents have been chomping at the bit to get their hands on Verizon’s super-speedy all-in-one phone-TV-Internet service called FiOS. Big Red is busy running fiber optic cable throughout Rockville, so you may eventually be getting a flyer on your door that says FiOS can come to your very own home.

Rockville Central friend Jennifer Ramarui recently had her home blessed by the fiber optic deities, and she offers these tips if you are planning on it:

My tips:

1. If you can, ask for the guy named Bill — very pleasant and funny guy. But, I’m sure everyone else is good too, so it’s not a deal-breaker if he can’t come.

2. Clear clutter around areas where they need to work, and think of an area near a plug where the battery backup can be installed. Ours went in our cellar near the circut box.

3. They might need to drill holes to get the coax cable routed through the various rooms. If that ‘s not an option, think of ways it can go over over door frames, near baseboard, etc. If you have Comcast right now, it might not be an issue. We had wacky double DirecTV cords, which caused a little confusion

After you place your order, you’ll receive an email with a link to a”what’s next” page which provides more details about preparing. The installation took a long time, but I was only offline for about 30 minutes. It may have been shorter since I ran out for a bit while Dante was there.

Important — you need to be there the whole time. Our installation took from 11:30 til 6:45, but it was thorough. He programmed ALL the remotes to work with ALL the devices, which was very nice.

Thanks so much Jenny! Now I just have to wait for them to reach me.

Verizon FiOS Construction Schedule For August

I am w-a-i-t-i-n-g patiently for Verizon’s FiOS to come to my house. When, oh when, will Big Red contact me to let me know I can sign up? Dudes, I am ready to give you my money. Please take it.>Here is the latest (pdf) construction schedule for Rockville:

• Aldersgate Rd
• Barkston Ct
• Beechknoll Ln
• Blue Ash Way
• Broadfield Dr
• Calabash Ln
• Cartwright Way
• Cavanaugh Dr
• Celtic Ct
• Chinkkapin Ct
• Chinkkapin Dr
• Circle Drive
• Cleveland Dr
• Colonial Green Ct
• Dalebrooke Ln
• Deerbrook Dr
• Delamere Ct
• Farmbrooke Ln
• Flowerfield Dr
• Flowerfield Way
• Gray Birch Way
• Hayworth Dr
• Hayworth Ln
• Heathside Way
• Hillbrooke Ln
• Knightsbridge Ct
• Lake Winds Way
• Maplecrest Ln
• Morning Field Dr
• Newgate Rd
• Outpost Dr
• Overgate Pl
• Overgate Way
• Pellita Terr
• Piney Meetinghouse Rd
• Procera Dr
• Red Ash way
• Ridge Dr
• Saint James Rd
• Settlers Landing Way
• Shady Grove Rd
• Shining Willow Dr
• Silver Bell Terr
• Sweetwood Av
• Sweetwood Ct
• Watts Branch Dr

Verizon’s main info page (which offers little in the way of update) is here.

Verizon FiOS Construction Schedule For June

All the signs point to the imminence of FiOS for many who, like me, are w-a-i-t-i-n-g.>Here is the latest coinstruction schedule:

• Albermyrtle Rd
• Ambleside Dr
• Auburn Ave
• Autumnwood Way
• Bald Cypress Dr
• Baylor Ave
• Becket Street
• Beekman Pl
• Bettendorf Ct
• Bettstrail Way
• Big Tree Ct
• Boswell Ct
• Boswell Ln
• Broad Green Ct
• Broad Green Dr
• Brookford Rd
• Bunker Ct
• Carnegie Ct
• Cedrus Way
• Cherrydale Dr
• Churchview Pl
• Clagett Farm Dr
• Clemson Ct
• Cliff Hill Ct
• Cliffe Hill Way
• Cloverbrooke Dr
• Cold Spring Rd
• College Pkwy
• Columbia Ave
• Columbia Ct
• Coniston Ct
• Crabbs Branch Way
• Cutters Ln
• Deep Spring Dr
• Doubletree Ct
• Dubuque Ct
• Duke Ct
• Edgepark Ct
• English Ivy Ct
• Falls Chapel Way
• Fallsmead Way
• Frederick Rd (MD RTE 355)
• Glen Mill Rd
• Glen Rd
• Glynshire Ct
• Glynshire Way
• Gold Ring Terr
• Gold Ring Way
• Goya Dr
• Greenleaf Ave
• Gregerscroft Rd
• Grinnell Ct
• Grinnell Dr
• Grinnell Terr
• Halesworth Dr
• Harrowgate Ct
• Hayfield Ct
• Henslowe Dr
• Hungerford Dr (MD RTE 355)
• Hunting Horn Ct
• Hunting Horn Ln
• Hunting Ridge Ct
• Indianola Dr
• Infield Ct N
• Infield Ct S
• Juniper Hall Rd
• Kersey Ln
• Lakestone Pl
• Lambertina Ln
• Lambertina Pl
• Lamp Post Ct
• Lamp Post Ln
• Lancashire Dr
• Ledgerock Ct
• Lincolnshire Dr
• Maplecrest Dr
• Milboro Dr
• Missionwood Way
• Monona Ct
• Monona Dr
• Monona Terr
• Montage Ct
• Moravia Ct
• N Commons Way
• Old Creek Ct
• Paddock Ln
• Pasture Brook Ct
• Pasture Brook Way
• Piney Knoll Ln
• Piney Meetinghouse Rd
• Pipestem Ct
• Pipestem Pl
• Princeton Pl
• Purdue Ct
• Reynolds Ave
• Ridge Mist Terr
• Roberts Glen Ct
• Rockfalls Ct
• Rutgers St
• Saddle Ln
• Samplers Way
• Sandringham Ct
• Sargent Ct
• Silver Brook Dr
• Slatestone Ct
• Stallion Ct
• Tallwood Ct
• Tanager Ct
• Tanager Ln
• Titian Way
• Trailridge Ct
• Trailridge Dr
• Trailridge Terr
• Tulane Pl
• Twining Ln
• Van Gogh Ct
• Villisca Terr
• Wandering Trail Ct
• Wandering Trail Dr
• Wapello Dr
• Weatherwood Ct
• White Clover Terr
• White Pine Pl
• Willow Tree Dr
• Willowleaf Way
• Wooton Pkwy
• Wootton Oaks Ct
• Yale Pl
• Yellow Plum Ct

Hmmm, my street is not on the list.

FiOS Is Almost Here!

As everyone knows, I am waiting with bated breath for Verizon’s >FiOS to wend its way near me (I live on Beall Ave.). When it comes, it will be good-bye, Comcast! Numerous signs have recently been pointing towards imminent joy.

I just thought I would share them because lots of people are interested in the state of FiOS.

1) Alain said just a few days ago: “Did you see all those Verizon trucks in our neighborhood this last week-end? I couldn’t believe it when they told me they were installing FIOS (Fiber Channel)! Finally, the wait is almost over ! They informed me that we should see some fliers pretty soon and that we should be able to order within 4 to 6 weeks!”

2) Lee said: “Received an ad from Verizon FiOS today announcing the soon to be available service. I expect all residents received the same mailing. The Website address provides preliminary details of the installation process, the product/packages which to be offered, and a channel lineup. Also, one may register with Verizon to be notified when service becomes available.”

3) And, my friend Jenny just said: “A big truck is installing the FIOS line down my street–I even asked the guys to make sure and it’s true! Hooray! . . . They looked kinda busy (chopping wires & stuff) so I didn’t ask where they were headed next. Their truck says UNI-COMM on the side.”

All this is good, good news.

Verizon FiOS Construction Schedule For May

>

FiOS Rockville Construction Schedule For April

Each month Verizon >teases me with a roundup of its construction plans for implementing its fiber optic network, FiOS.

Rockville Central friend Alain Menguy pointed out to me that, this month, there are many Rockville streets on the list. Alas, not mine!

Here’s the list:

• 1st Street
• Adueduct Rd.
• Allan Rd
• Amelung Ln
• Ashley Av
• Avery Rd
• Bald Cypress Dr.
• Baltimore Rd
• Bartonshire Way
• Bethelehem Ct
• Betteker Ln.
• Bickford Ave
• Blandford St
• Burgundy Dr
• Buttermere Ct
• Canterbury Way
• Charles St
• Cherrydale Dr.
• Chilham Pl
• Circle Dr.
• Cold Spring Rd.
• Crabb Ave
• Crawford Dr
• Dale Dr
• Derbyshire Rd
• Devilwood Ct
• Devilwood Dr
• Dimes Rd
• Douglas Av
• Dunster Ln
• Dunster Rd.
• Dwight D.Eisenhower Hwy./ Rte. 270
• E. Jefferson St.
• Edmonston Dr
• Elizabeth Av
• Enid Dr
• Evans St
• Falls Chapel Way
• Falls Farm Dr
• Falls Rd. /Rte 189
• Fallsmead Way.
• Farragut Av
• Fleet St
• Fletcher Pl
• Fontaine St
• Frederick Av
• Frederick Av
• Gainsborough Rd
• Gerard St.
• Glen Mill Rd.
• Glen Rd.
• Goya Dr
• Grandin Av
• Grandin Cir
• Great Falls Rd
• Greenleaf Av
• Greyswood Ct
• Gruenther Av
• Gruenther Ct
• Harmony Ln
• Hectic Hill Ln.
• Henry Fleet Dr
• Henslowe Dr.
• Hungerford Dr
• Infield Ct. S.
• Inspection House Rd
• Ivy League Ln
• Jubal Early Ct
• Juniper Hill Rd.
• Kersey Ln
• Kimblewick Rd
• Lancashire Dr
• Laura Ln
• Leonard Ct
• Lewis Ave
• Liberty Ln
• Lincoln Av
• Lincoln St
• Linthicum St
• Lynn Ct
• MacDowell St
• Marshall Av
• Martins Ln
• Martins Square Ln
• Maryland Ave
• McAuliffe Dr
• Meadow Hall Dr
• Milboro Dr
• Monroe St
• Monument Ct
• Monument St
• Morre Dr
• Mount Vernon Pl
• N Horners Ln
• N Stonestreet Av
• N. Commons Way
• Neal Dr
• Newgate Rd.
• Norbeck Rd
• Orchard Way N
• Orchard Way S
• Overlea Dr.
• Pinneberg Av
• Postoak Rd
• Potomac St
• Potomac Valley Rd
• Prospect Hill Pl
• Raphael Ct
• Renoir Ct
• Reynolds Ave
• Robert Rd
• Rockcrest Cir
• Rose Petal Way
• S Adams St
• S Van Buren St
• S Washington St
• Saint James Rd.
• Sargent Ct
• Scott Dr.
• Selworthy Rd
• Serenity Ln
• Seven Locks Rd
• Shetland Ct
• Shetland St
• Smoketree Rd
• Southlawn Ln
• Spring Av
• State Hwy 586
• Stonestreet Av
• Stratton Dr
• Sussex Ct
• Tegner Way.
• The Bell Way
• Titian Way
• Tuckerman Ln
• Twin Oaks Dr.
• Twinbrook Pkwy
• Twinbrook Pkwy
• Valley Dr.
• Van Dyck Ct
• Van Gogh Ct
• Veirs Dr.
• Victory Ln
• Viers Mill Rd
• Viers Mill Rd
• Vinson St
• W Jefferson St
• W Montgomery Ave
• W Kersey Ln.
• Waddington Ct.
• Wade Av
• Walking Trail
• Warm Springs Dr
• Watts Branch Dr.
• Watts Branch Pkwy.
• Wesley Rd
• Westmore Av
• Whistler Ct
• Whites Ford Way
• Williams St
• Willow Tree Dr.
• Winding Rose Dr
• Woodburn Rd
• Wootton Pkwy.
• Montrose area:
• Alsace Ln
• Ardennes Av
• Atlantic Av
• Belair Rd
• Brooke Dr
• Cliffvale Rd
• Crawford Dr
• Denfiled Ct
• Halpine Rd
• Halpine Walk Ct
• Henry Rd
• Holland Rd
• Kahlston Rd
• Leahy Dr
• Lemay Rd
• Lewis Av
• Lewis Ave
• Matthews Dr
• Pier Dr
• Ridgeway Av
• Rockland Av
• Stanley Ave
• Stanley Ct
• Stillwell Rd
• Stillwell Rd
• Thornden Rd
• Trepid Rd
• Twinbrook Pkwy
• Valley Stream Dr
• Vandegrift Av
• Vandegrift Ct
• Wainwright Av

So many streets . . . not one is mine!

Verizon FiOS Construction Schedule For March 2009

As loyal >Rockville Central readers know, I am beside myself waiting for my FiOS — Verizon’s super-speedy TV/Internet/Phone service. Each month Big Red posts its construction schedule and I check it for streets nearby. No love yet, but maybe you will have better results taking a look at the March 2009 schedule!

Here are the Rockville streets where Verizon says it will be working this month:

Amelung Ln
Avery Rd
Bethelehem Ct
Bickford Av
Denham Ct
Denham Rd
Dimes Rd
Edmonston Dr
Hungerford Dr
Ivy League Ln
Martins Ln
Martins Square Ln
Serenity Ln
Southlawn Ln
Templar Ct
Walking Trail
Warm Springs Dr

Man, I feel surrounded! They are getting closer.

Verizon FiOS Construction For February

As most >Rockville Central readers know, I am waiting with bated breath for Verizon’s super-swift FiOS Internet / TV / phone service to come to my house, so I can finally ditch my nemesis, Comcast.

Each month, Vz posts its construction schedule. Thank you to reader Alain Menguy, who noticed that Big Red had finally posted February’s list.

Alas, my street is not on the list of Rockville construction sites. Is yours?

• Crawford Dr
• E Gude Dr
• Lewis Ave
• Norbeck Rd
• Redgate Farms Ct
• Rockcrest Cir
• Taft Ct

New Info On Verizon's FiOS Efforts

Recently I received a question about the latest with Verizon’sd FiOS fiber optic system. After inking a deal with Our Fair City to be able to sell the service to residents, many are waiting with bated breath for those cool orange cables carrying massive amounts of data.>

I know I am one of those people! A tree blocks my view of the southern sky so DirecTV doesn’t work, and Comcast just gives me fits. Fits, tell you.

So I asked the City and here is the response I got from Doug Breisch, telecommunications manager:

Verizon has begun to install the fiber-optic cable for its Fiber To The Premises (FTTP) project. This is a construction project that involves installing fiber primarily along streets and other rights-of-way. Much of the work has been above ground installation, attaching to poles where Verizon has copper wire attached. Verizon also has started doing some underground work. Verizon posts its construction schedules on its Web site at www.verizon.com/md. This part of the project is essentially the “backbone” of the network from which FiOS connections will be made to individual residences at the request of the customer.

Verizon will be using its marketing tools to inform the community when FiOS service will be available for ordering to individual neighborhoods and areas. Verizon has the lead responsibility for informing the community about its construction project and when and where FiOS will be made available. There are several ways residents can contact Verizon to ask about these schedules.

Construction complaints, inquiries:
Call the toll-free telephone number on contractors’ trucks and on signs placed in neighborhoods; if you need further help, call Verizon Customer Care Center 1-888-550-2244, Mon. – Fri. 7a.m. to 7 p.m., Sat. 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.; or e-mail md-fios-dpcc@verizon.com.

Construction schedule, service availability:
Web site: www.verizon.com/md
Customer Care Center: 1-888-550-2244, Mon. – Fri. 7a.m. to 7 p.m., Sat. 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m
E-mail: md-fios-dpcc@verizon.com

This information, along with information about the Verizon project and the City’s relationship with the project can be found on the City’s Web site at: www.rockvillemd.gov/cabletv-telecom.

The City recently requested certain information from Verizon about tis project, including whether any FiOS marketing and installation (from the backbone to individual residences) has begun. Again, this was a recent request, and we have not yet received a response from Verizon.

I went ahead and linked through to the January construction schedule. Looks like Verizon is planning work on these streets in January:

Brice Rd
Copperstone Ct
Curtis Pl
East Jefferson St
Fleet St
Grand Oak Way
Hardy Pl
Julian Pl
Preserve Pkwy
Regal Oak Dr
Ritchie Pkwy
Tower Oaks Blvd
Treasure Oak Ct
Welsh Ln
West Edmonston Dr
Wild Oak Ter
Wootton Pkwy

(That is all the info I have; I do not have block number or anything like that.)

Progress!