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NJ municipalities demand investigation in Verizon service quality

Sixteen municipalities across four counties in New Jersey havefiled a complaint with the state’s Board of Public Utilities (NJ BPU) against Verizon. The towns ask regulators to collect data on the company’s phone and Internet services and to protect customers by preventing Verizon from further neglecting its copper network.


The municipalities’ request that the NJ BPU investigate Verizon’s service quality comes after the regulatory agency agreed toexempt Verizon from certain state regulations earlier in the year, and builds on growing evidence that Verizon neglects its copper network to the point that service is effectively useless. "If the BPU does not hear this coalition's plea,” the complaint reads, “there will be residents and businesses in three to five years that will not have any recourse with their (landline) phones and wireless" service.


Hopewell Township Committeeman Greg Facemyer explained the importance of the complaint: "In three to five years we will no longer have any leverage against Verizon if (the BPU's) recent decision stands.”


These are the counties and municipalities thatfiled the complaint:


  • Atlantic County: Estell Manor and Weymouth Township.

  • Gloucester County: South Harrison Township.

  • Salem County: Alloway Township, Lower Alloways Creek, Mannington Township, Township of Pilesgrove, and Upper Pittsgrove Township.

  • Cumberland County: Commercial Township, Downe Township, Hopewell Township, Lawrence Township, Maurice River Township, City of Millville, Upper Deerfield Township, and Fairfield Township.

Verizon criticized by N.J. towns over copper networks (FierceTelecom, Dec. 3, 2015)


N.J. officials unite to insist Verizon maintain landline service (NJ.com, Dec. 1, 2015)


N.J. approves Verizon deregulation deal; opponents fear effect on landline customers (NJ.com, May 19, 2015)


CWA Petitions Maryland Public Service Commission to Investigate Verizon Service Quality (Speed Matters, Nov. 13, 2015)

 

CWA: Verizon neglects copper lines (Speed Matters, June 11, 2015)