The NXTcomm conference is happening this week in Las Vegas, and Verizon CEO has taken the opportunity to throw down the speed gauntlet. Its FIOS service, which provides the highest download rates available in the US, will see increased levels of service throughout the 16 states in which it is offered. The changes will see the maximum speed, 50Mbps down/20Mbps up, offered throughout Verizon's network, and the speed of the lower tier services upped as well. With its cable competitors testing usage caps and connection throttling, the move appears to be Verizon's attempt to kick them when they're down.

FIOS was already available at 50/20Mbps speeds, but only in some areas. The changes will see it available everywhere Verizon offers FIOS. Those lucky enough to reside in New York or Virginia and willing to sign up for a full year will wind up spending $89.95 a month; those elsewhere will be hit with a $139.95 monthly tab. A 20/20Mbps service will be rolled out at the same time; this will replace the prior offerings of 30/15Mbps and 15/15Mbps. At the bottom end, the 5/2Mbps will be gone, replaced with a 10/2Mbps tier. A 20/5Mbps offering will round out the service. The offer only applies to new customers, but the remainder should be able to upgrade the next time their contract rolls around.

The new offerings extend Verizon's lead over competing broadband providers. Comcast is the only one to offer anything matching the speed of the high end service (and so far only in a couple of its markets), but FIOS offers superior upload speeds, and edges out Comcast at the low end. Nobody else is anywhere close. Verizon is also free of the baggage associated with some of the cable services, such as charges for high use and bandwidth throttling.

Verizon has its own problems—I've found its customer service to be about as helpful as a salmonella-laced tomato—but its FIOS customers appear to be happy with the service. The new offerings appear designed to make the service that much more tempting, which should allow Verizon to permanently wire more houses into their TV/phone/Internet service.

Despite the poor service history I've had with Verizon, I'd be sorely tempted if it were ever offered in this neighborhood.