Showing posts with label Verizon FIOS in Lakewood CA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Verizon FIOS in Lakewood CA. Show all posts

November 16, 2008

Verizon FIOS finally arrives in North Lakewood

Many areas of Lakewood CA north of Del Amo now have Verizon FIOS available to them (thanks to LAAG making sure our central office was on the 2008 build list). LAAG was one of the first installations in our area (11/1/08). Areas south of Del Amo have had it since early 2007. We now have the 10/2 speed and do like it. We had the 3.0 DSL speed previously for about 5 years. Dont notice a huge difference in down load speed but it seems more speed consistent from web page to web page than DSL and the upload is better. Email checking is also faster on POP 3 and via web interface on Google than with DSL 3.0.

The most accurate way we determined to see if FIOS is available is to use the Verizon on line checking tool available here

We have been using the service for two weeks and have not had a problem yet with the internet or phone portion. We did have a problem with the aspect ratio on the TV via the set top box with the DVR. We still have not ironed out the aspect ratio issue but the DVR does work nicely. Needs more space (bigger hard drive) for High Definition recording. Eventually with the "M-Cards" you will be able to buy your own DVR (not rent one for 20.00 mo from Verizon) and plug in their card to get your shows. The latest DVR's can use this M-Card.

We are also waiting for femtocells here as well as FIOS digital voice, both of which are likely over a year away from this area.

I will say 4 hrs is a min installation time. Mine was an easy installation. I have seen some installations take 7 hours. I was also thankful I had Verizon employees do the installation and not contractors. I saw some contractor installations and there were some major problems. FIOS and Verizon may end up with a damaged reputation if contractors keep messing up.

I was also worried about the battery back up "BBU" placement. But once the installers got there there was no problem as they placed it in a laundry service area. It cannot be placed outside. The Motorolla optical net work terminal "ONT" was placed in the same area as the old phone service box. I was fearful I was going to have to bring in an electrician to wire in the 110 voltage.

The BBU does power both the phone and the internet connection when the power goes out. (Not sure about TV part as we did not test that part). However you have to have the modem and all the computer stuff on a separate battery power supply, which some do.

One last note, it took some time for LAAG to get the City, Time Warner and Verizon to get the city channel 31 (like on Time Warner) to also be broadcast on FIOS. As of 11/15/08 it seems to be working so now we can finally tape the city council meetings broadcast live on Channel 31. Also for Lakewood FIOS users the city channel is on 31 just like with Time Warner. One problem is that neither the city nor Verizon have coordinated the scheduling menu so that feature is useless. It just say "local programming" for all times and dates. This requires you to do manual programming to record the meetings every two weeks. But of course the city does not want to make it easy to view those meetings as you might learn something, but that is another article.

Lakewood Accountability Action Group™ LAAG | www.LAAG.us | Lakewood, CA
A California Non Profit Association | Demanding action and accountability from local government™

click here to receive LAAG posts by email

July 20, 2008

Verizon fios update July 19 2008

A LAAG reader writes:

"Do you know whether they will be offering us all the FIOS services internet, tv, phone right away? I've read that in some places around the country, they don't offer everything at first. Maybe they offer internet and phone, then tv later, for whatever reason."

No reply from Verizon on that yet. However one other development. Verizon recently (week of July 14, 2008) placed curbside/parkway terminals (called "FDH's" or "Fiber Distribution Hubs") on Ashworth near Ibbetson and 2 FDH's side by side on Allington near Ibbetson. These are tan "vault like" cabinets that look virtually tamper proof (don't want anyone stealing fios or hijacking the fiber!). They are about 3.5 feet all and about 1/3 the size of a standard refrigerator. The Verizon linemen "on the ground" (not contractors) told me those are placed near where all the loops are seen on the poles and hooking those boxes up is one of the last steps done before the fiber is lit up. The boxes do not look like they are hooked up yet. Once they are all those loops of fiber on the poles above them will disappear as they run them underground into the boxes. This is where all the splicing takes place. Different teams of linemen are used on this hookup operation than running the fiber on the poles. Also keep in mind that some of the main trunk lines of fiber are run underground but most of it in this area is aeriel. We have seen some fiber run from the poles to underground conduits in a few spots in Lakewood.

This link has a nice example of what the street mounted FDH's look like from the inside and videos of how Verizon hooks them up. Also in some states they use the same size FDH but pole mounted. Here in Lakewood they are using the sidewalk or parkway level mounted boxes. Verizon apparently calls these "pedestal" mounted FDH's. Also note the red or dark orange wrappers on the fiber lines on the poles on the link above. They use those here in Lakewood too so I guess the linemen working with copper will not touch those fiber lines.

Lakewood Accountability Action Group™ LAAG | www.LAAG.us | Lakewood, CA
A California Non Profit Association | Demanding action and accountability from local government™

click here to receive LAAG posts by email

July 16, 2008

Lakewood, CA FIOS sales to start at the end of August 2008

LAAG has just been advised by Verizon that the Bellflower CA central office will begin offering FIOS signups at the end of August 2008. That office serves the phone prefixes listed below. Now it is not at all clear how many homes will be offered FIOS at that time as it is not at all clear how much of Bellflower and northern Lakewood (generally north of Del Amo) has the FIOS main lines strung so that "fiber drops" to residences can begin with the residential installers. But all in all this is good news as it means FIOS coverage for most of Lakewood could be accomplished by the end of 2008. Hopefully there will not be any "snags". There are approximately 20,000 single family residences in Lakewood.

Phone prefixes served by the Bellflower Central office (area code-prefix):

213-259, 213-632, 310-623, 310-696, 310-698, 310-856, 323-312, 323-345, 323-374, 323-456, 323-505, 323-508, 323-796, 323-813, 323-834, 323-835, 323-989, 323-999, 562-246, 562-248, 562-249, 562-250, 562-251, 562-263, 562-280, 562-281, 562-282, 562-283, 562-285, 562-287, 562-821, 714-210, 714-224, 714-263, 714-453, 714-698, 714-729, 714-887, 949-540, 949-545, 949-554, 949-681, 949-751, 949-945
562-461, 562-804, 562-866, 562-867, 562-920, 562-925


Lakewood Accountability Action Group™ LAAG | www.LAAG.us | Lakewood, CA
A California Non Profit Association | Demanding action and accountability from local government™

click here to receive LAAG posts by email

June 29, 2008

FIOS starts rolling out in North Lakewood

Lots of loops of fiber all over east of Bellflower Blvd and North of DelAmo. I look for the bright burnt orange tags on the fiber lines where they are secured to the poles. That is the telltale sign for fiber in this area as to where it has been stretched and secured to the poles already. They loop it en masse where they are going to put the tan fios boxes on the sidewalks. I have yet to see one of those installed yet. Funny how fast these guys are laying the trunk wire along major routes. Still not strung on the secondary poles yet for service. No rhyme or reason as to the map/system they are following to string the fiber. I assume they know what they are doing pursuant to some "master plan". Seems like it from the verizon fios guys I talk to on the street doing the work.

Lakewood Accountability Action Group™ LAAG | www.LAAG.us | Lakewood, CA
A California Non Profit Association | Demanding action and accountability from local government™

click here to receive LAAG posts by email

May 29, 2008

Verizon Fios installation underway in North Lakewood CA

Verizon has finally started doing Fios installations in North Lakewood, the part of the city north of Hardwick St. that is controlled by the Bellflower Central Office on Oak St. LAAG has spoken with "Curt" the Director of "Verizon's FTTP Program, West Coast Region" in Newbury Park, CA. He advises that Fios will be ready for sign ups by Oct-Nov 2008 in both the SW quadrants (west of Bellflower Blvd. north of Hardwick, east of Lakewood Blvd and south of Flora Vista St.) and SE quadrants (east of Bellflower Blvd. north of Hardwick, west of the San Gabriel River and south of Flora Vista St.) of Lakewood (but likely only a small percentage of homes in those quadrants). At this point it looks like the SE quadrant will be the first quadrant wired. We spoke to Verizon engineers "on the ground" near Eastbrook and Allington on 5/29/08 and they confirmed placement is starting in that location and should be available within 2 months to homeowners in that area around Allington and Eastbrook. There is no orderly progression as to how the fios installation flows. It is based on permits and where engineering tells the installers to go. It does not necessarily run east to west or north to south or in any contiguous or progressive fashion. The first sign that you will be getting fios is the cable stringers that go behind your property to string the fiber under the existing copper cables. Once they string that "dark fiber" it then needs to be hooked up to trunk lines. Then they install the beige metal boxes on the street and hook it up. Hooking up to the boxes at the ends of the block seems to be the last step before they turn on your service and offer you a 'drop" to your house. (They place a door hanger on your door to tall you its available to you)

In addition Curt also advises that the Bellflower Central Office will be the better GPON technology. Their current BPON technology splits 622Mbps downstream and 155Mbps upstream among 32 users. GPON technology will allow Verizon to offer 2.4Gbps downstream and 1.2Gbps upstream among 32-64 users (eliminating ATM, making it also more efficient). Read more on that here.

For a map of the quadrant boundaries and installations so far click here. Please email us if you see verizon fios installations underway or if you have fios up and running in Lakewood and you are within the SE and SW quadrants outlined above.

Lakewood Accountability Action Group™ LAAG | www.LAAG.us | Lakewood, CA
A California Non Profit Association | Demanding action and accountability from local government™

click here to receive LAAG posts by email

December 23, 2007

Still No FIOS in North Lakewood CA

Well LAAG is still waiting for FIOS. Long Beach has it. Norwalk, Cerritos and many other cites close to Lakewood have it. Seal Beach's city council squabbled with Verizon FIOS installation before the statewide franchise in March 2007, but within the last 3 months Seal Beach invited Verizon back into the city with open arms. Long Beach also courted Verizon in 2006 and 2007. From what we can see the city of Lakewood and Bellflower (where the central office in for North Lakewood)have done nothing to get their residents FIOS and wired for the 21st century. Does the city favor Time Warner cable? Or does the city just not care that consumers have a choice for pay TV and internet access? Without action by the city in early 2008 we doubt that Lakewood will get FIOS at all in 2008. The story below is an example of what happens when the city council takes an assertive role in assuring its residents get first shot at new technology.

Fort Wayne Thanks Mayor for FiOS
A politician who understands technology
03:06PM Sunday Dec 23 2007 by KathrynV
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Fort-Wayne-Thanks-Mayor-for-FiOS-90460

Residents of Fort Wayne, Indiana finally got FiOS in May and the area’s Journal Gazette says that they should be thanking the local mayor. Mayor Graham Richard, whose term expires on January 1st, apparently played a very active role in working with Verizon to bring FiOS to the area. Based on the belief that innovation and competition both drive the economy, he held several meetings with Verizon executives to make the case that Fort Wayne was a good market for developing FiOS in the Midwest. Verizon noted that it’s rare for politicians to really understand the technology and to have the same vision as the company for developing it; this ultimately aided in their decision to move into Fort Wayne.

Lakewood Accountability Action Group™ LAAG | www.LAAG.us | Lakewood, CA
A California Non Profit Association | Demanding action and accountability from local government™




August 3, 2007

Lakewood CA and Bellflower CA FIOS '08 build out

click here to read the forum posts on FIOS in Lakewood CA

I just spoke to the Verizon person in charge of all the FIOS build outs in this area. Still no word on the Bellflower CA Central Office build schedule for 2008. Soon. But she did say that all the people that have contacted me from Bellflower and North Lakewood CA (north of Del Amo) that want FiOS are helping Bellflower's ranking to get on the list and built out earlier.

So keep those emails coming Lakewood CA and Bellflower CA FIOSless people! Updates@laag.us

Lakewood Accountability Action Group™ LAAG | www.LAAG.us | Lakewood, CA
A California Non Profit Association | Demanding action and accountability from local government™

click here to receive LAAG posts by email

March 20, 2007

Verizon March 2007 press release does not tell the whole story

Well LAAG pressed the verizon people on where our Lakewood Fios Fiber was and guess what. Only a small portion of Lakewood will get Fios fiber out of a Long Beach central office (the one near clark st. and carson st.). The Bellflower CO (our CO) will not get FIOS until 2008!! That is according the woman at Verizon in charge of fiber build out schedules. The Verizon FIOS rep. said that if we can get the city council to write a letter to Verizon that may speed things up in terms of getting things wired.

Kind of let down after being told being told we were going to get it in 4 weeks. You would think the Verizon people would have known or at least asked what Central Office LAAG was out of before giving me false hope!

Verizon Petition needed!

For Lakewood CA and Bellflower CA residents that would like to speed things up send us an email at UPDATES@LAAG.US and we will use your name (and address if you give us permission) to put together a sort of petition to the City to write to Verizon to see if we can get Verizon to put the Bellflower CA Central Office (which serves northern Lakewood and parts of Bellflower) on the early 2008 Fios upgrade list instead of late 2008 or 2009. LAAG is doing this at the suggestion of the Verizon people in the main Huntington Beach FiOS scheduling office. There is nothing stopping Verizon now on permits (as they obtained the statewide franchise rights in March 2008) and they told us they prefer areas (like Lakewood) with aerial as opposed to underground wiring (speeds up FIOS wiring) and areas with lots of single family homes as large multiple family dwelling units like apartments bog down the installations as they often require permits or private ownership consent for placement.

For more up to date Verizon FiOS news go here and do a search for Bellflower or Lakewood CA


Lakewood Accountability Action Group™ LAAG | www.LAAG.us | Lakewood, CA
A California Non Profit Association | Demanding action and accountability from local government™