Verizon 4G LTE

Verizon 4G LTE

YOUNGSTOWN

Verizon Wireless today announced it is bringing the world’s first large-scale 4G Long Term Evolution network to the Mahoning Valley.

Those with 4G LTE devices, such as the DROID RAZR by Motorola, will be able to take advantage of the new network, which Verizon says is 10 times faster than its 3G network.

The network will be activated Dec. 15.

Consumers should experience average data rates of 5 to 12 megabits per second on the downlink and 2 to 5 Mbps on the uplink.

Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network, which launched last winter, is available in more than 175 markets across the country.

BBB layaway advice

YOUNGSTOWN

The Youngstown Better Business Bureau has issued a reminder about layaway programs, which are expected to be a growing method of payment this holiday season.

When a consumer buys a product on layaway, he or she is not charged interest, because he or she cannot actually use the product until it is paid off. A buyer typically must make a down payment of 10 percent to 20 percent for an item and then has 30 to 90 days to pay off the balance.

When buying items on layaway, BBB advises consumers to get everything in writing and offers the following checklist of questions to ask: How much time do I have to pay off the item? When are the payments due? How much do I have to put down? Are there any storage or service-plan fees? What happens if I miss a payment? Are there penalties? Does the item return to inventory? Can I get a refund or store credit if I no longer want the item after making a few payments? What happens if the item goes on sale after I’ve put it on layaway? Does the retailer or third-party layaway service have a good BBB rating?

For more advice, go to www.youngstown.bbb.org, or call 330-744-3111.

World Class Assets

YOUNGSTOWN

The Youngstown Business Incubator is one of eight organizations named a Northeast Ohio World Class Asset by the editors of Inside Business Magazine.

Other organizations that made the list include the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland and The George Gund Foundation.

Ohio 2nd in mercury

COLUMBUS

A report from an Ohio environmental group says the state ranks second for mercury released into the air by electric-power plants.

Environment Ohio said Thursday that the state’s power plants emitted more than 4,200 pounds of mercury in 2010. The report says Texas was the nation’s biggest mercury polluter, with plants there releasing more than 11,000 pounds of the toxic metal last year.

The numbers come from a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency database. The EPA is working on regulations to limit mercury and other toxic pollution from coal-fired power plants.

Environment Ohio says Ohio is home to eight of the 100 plants that emit the most mercury pollution.

The group’s Jillian Hertzberg says the new EPA rules will protect children and families from a known poison.

Vindicator staff reports