Verizon workers rally to prevent New England from falling further behind

Verizon workers rallied in Boston yesterday. The impact of the proposed sale of Verizon's landlines in New England on high speed Internet buildout in the region was among their concerns. Unions representing the workers are expanding their "Stop the Sale" effort by launching a nationwide campaign to get the Federal Communications Commission to rule against the sale.

Darlene Stone, a member of CWA Local 1400 who workers as an Administrative Assistant at Verizon’s Consumer Sales and Services Center in Burlington, VT said:

FairPoint doesn't have the same capacity as Verizon to expand high speed Internet service throughout the northern states.  I believe the proposed sale would only make the growing digital divide between rural and urban areas much worse.

Regulators in three states affected by the proposed sale are also expected to rule on it later this year.  Over 50 politicians, including Democratic Presidential candidate John Edwards and 21 elected officials from Massachusetts have joined the unions in opposing the Verizon-FairPoint deal.

What's the Point? It's not fair. (Speed Matters)

Tell the FCC: Stop the Sale of Verizon to Fairpoint

John Edwards Speaks Out Against Verizon-FairPoint Deal (Speed Matters)