Verizon?s evil twin

In recent years, consumers have watched as Verizon's FiOS battled Comcast and Time Warner Cable for subscribers to TV, phone and Internet services. But now the battle is further complicated as Verizon Wireless - a joint venture between Verizon Communications and the UK's  Vodafone Group PLC - is also competing for the same customers through its new alliance with ... Comcast, Time Warner, Cox and Bright House Networks. And, to make it more confusing yet, the competition takes place using the same name, Verizon.

"While Verizon claims on its website that FiOS 'beats every other cable provider in speed reliability,' a page on the Verizon Wireless website now touts Comcast as 'the fastest Internet service in the nation'." The two companies are already marketing each others' products in stores in Portland and Seattle, as well as online.

FiOS had been touted as superior to cable, and 14 percent of U.S. households bought the claims - and the service. Many more potential subscribers are waiting till Verizon fulfills its promise to build the fiber optic lines to their neighborhoods. But, they may wait a long time - forever, perhaps.

By eliminating competition between formerly bitter rivals, the cable/Verizon alliance could lead to higher prices and reduced service for consumers. And it will eliminate thousands of good, union jobs in the future as Verizon ends its FiOS deployment, opting instead to re-sell cable service.

The FCC and the Justice Department are investigating the impact of the deal on competition, prices, and service.

Verizon Crosses Web Lines (WSJ, Jan. 31, 2012)