I've had to set up residential- and business-Verizon DSL accounts and
configure the Verizon-supplied modems (you must use theirs) in several
customer locations, and have had to do it again on two (2) of them. It
simply cannot be done without using the Verizon CD and having to install
just about everything on it, save the ISP-provided security suite, to (1)
set up the DSL account and (2) configure the modem. Once it's up & running,
all of it can be uninstalled, including Verizon toolbar, Help and
SmartBridge, with no negative affects.
Verizon is not AT&T (née SBC née PacBell/SoutheastBell).