Residents and business owners in Mineola may have noticed Verizon trucks in the area installing equipment. This is part of the company's plan to deploy fiber optics to homes and businesses.

In May, Verizon announced that it began installer in Keller, Texas a new technology known as fiber to the premises (FTTP), which uses fiber-optic cable and optical electronics to directly link homes and businesses to Verizon's networks.

According to the company, FTTP will provide voice service and associated features while offering nearly unlimited bandwidth for an array of data and video applications. It will also accommodate new broadband products and services not possible with today's network, stated information on FTTP on the company's website.

In May, the company announced that FTTP would be deployed in parts of Nassau, Rockland and Westchester counties.

The fiber-optic cables would allow the voice, data and video signals to be transmitted. It could mean that cable television company Cablevision could have some competition in the home television market.

During the summer, Verizon began installing utility boxes in Mineola. However, Mayor Jack M. Martins said Verizon would have to come before the village with a plan for what the company intended to do. The mayor instructed the building department to issue summonses to the company.

Verizon has since been in contact with the village about its intentions.

A resident of Horton Highway recently expressed concern about a box possibly being placed four feet off the ground.

Department of Public Works Superintendent Tom Rini said there are two boxes about 15 feet up on Hausner Place near Horton Highway. After receiving some complaints from residents, the village worked with Verizon so that the boxes will come down and will be replaced with one box four feet off the ground.

The village and Verizon have been working to find the most innocuous places for the boxes such places where their view is blocked by trees.