Verizon?s Landline Fight Heads to the Catskills

The NY Attorney General is sounding the alarm about Verizon, yet again.

Verizon is continuing their attempt to push customers towards Voice Link, a service that transmits calls over a wireless network, instead of fixing phone lines.

First in Fire Island, and now in the Catskills, Verizon is urging customers to use Voice Link.

Voice Link is no substitute for wireline service. It doesn't support data service: no DSL, no fax transmission, no alarm or health monitoring, no access to operator services or international calls. Last month, the NY PSC allowed Verizon to go ahead with Voice Link installation on Fire Island, but refused to authorize Voice Link installation in other parts of the state, pending a more thorough review.

But Verizon has moved ahead with Voice Link in the Catskills. CWA members noticed Verizon's activity when they saw “a pallet-load of Voice Link devices” being delivered to installation centers in the Catskills region.

And so, on Wednesday, the NY State Attorney General’s office asked the New York Public Service Commission (PSC) to stop Verizon from “illegally installing” the devices.

The public has an opportunity to weigh in on the issue. The New York Public Commission is accepting public comments which are due July 2. The case is 13-C-0197.

Fight With Verizon Over Ending Landline Service Has New Front: Catskills (The New York Times, Jun. 26, 2013)