ONT: Optical Network Terminal

An ONT is a media converter that is installed by Verizon either outside or inside your premises, during FiOS installation. The ONT converts fiber-optic light signals to copper/electric signals.

Three wavelengths of light are used between the ONT and the Optical Line Terminal:
• 1310 nm voice/data transmit
• 1490 nm voice/data receive
• 1550 nm video receive

Various models of ONTs are used by Verizon, depending on a number of factors:
• Residential or business install (2 vs 4 POTS lines)
• Interior or exterior installation
• Multiple Dwelling Unit (MDU)
• GPON or BPON equipped Central Office

Each ONT is capable of delivering:
• Multiple POTS (plain old telephone service) lines
• Internet data
• Video

Your existing inside wiring for telephone, internet and video are connected to the ONT during installation.
The following picture shows typical connections and status indicators at the ONT:

Click to enlarge
From left to right, RJ45 LAN connection, two POTS connections and coax connection

• Video is always on coax
• Internet can be delivered over either coax or cat-5.

Verizon's standard installation is coax from the ONT to the STBs and router.

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A user asks, "Must the ONT be shielded against amateur radio RF power if it is near an amateur radio transmitting antenna?" BDF says, "The ONT's required FCC certification for protection from radiated RF (as well as not radiating RF itself) should avoid the necessity for shielding. I do not have a problem at 250 watts, the ONT is about 30 feet from the transmitter, and about 40 feet from the closest part of the antenna. I run both horizontal and vertical polarization at different times, no issues."