72% of Co-Op City residents want Verizon to offer high-speed Internet choice

Despite Verizon’s refusal to offer its high-speed Internet and television service, FiOS, in Co-Op City and many other neighborhoods, residents want the option, according to a new poll released today by the Communications Workers of America.  According to the poll, 72 percent of Co-Op City residents would definitely sign up or consider signing up for FiOS if it were available.

Despite the clear demand for its service in Co-Op City and other neighborhoods throughout New York City, Verizon continues to refuse to abide by its franchise agreement with the City.  At a City Council hearing in October, Verizon testified that they could offer service in Co-Op City, but that they won’t go in.

“Verizon needs to stop hiding behind silly excuses and offer the Internet and television service they promised when they got an agreement with the City,” said Dennis Trainor, Vice President of Communications Workers of America District 1.  “New Yorkers are clamoring for FiOS, but Verizon would rather focus on its wireless network.”

The poll also asked why people would consider FiOS, allowing respondents to give more than one answer.  According to the poll, 72% said cost, 42% said programming choices, 39% said speed and 36% said reliability.

Last year, a damning audit of Verizon’s FiOS rollout by the New York City government found that Verizon has failed to meet the terms of its franchise agreement, which requires the FiOS network to be available to any household that requests service by June 2014.

Currently, thousands of street blocks, including Co-Op City, cannot get any service at all.  Millions of New Yorkers cannot get FiOS service, leaving them dependent on their cable company for TV and internet service.

The City Council held a hearing on the issue and an investigation found that Verizon call center representatives did not offer an explanation for a lack of service or any estimate of when service would be available.