Verizon breaks promise to deliver FiOS to NYC

Verizon broke its 2008 promise to bring FiOS to all of New York City by 2014.According to the Wall Street Journal: based on an audit by the city’s Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications, “there are more than 40,000 requests for service pending, about 75% of which have remained outstanding for 12 months or longer.”

Mayor Bill de Blasio’s administration is fighting income inequality in the city, and access to broadband is a part of that fight. Counsel to de Blasio Maya Wiley explained how Verizon’s broken commitment and failure to deliver service is an important barrier to broadband access: “Part of what the broadband agenda means is making sure that the city is holding its franchise holders accountable.”

The Journal article notes that this isn’t the first time Verizon has failed to deliver promised services, citing the Communications Workers of America’s accusations that the company is neglecting its copper lines and directing customers toward an ineffective wireless phone service.

New York City Criticizes Verizon on FiOS Delivery (Wall Street Journal, June 17, 2015)

Verizon FiOS Implementation Final Audit Report (NYC Information Technology & Telecommunications, June 18, 2015)

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