Verizon's FIOS Commitment Stalls Despite Promises

If you're a resident of the Boston area, or large parts of Long Island, who's waiting for the touted advantages of Verizon's its FiOS (fiber optic service), you'd better be prepared to wait a long time. Maybe forever. These resident join the 40 percent of those in Verizon's territory who won't receive the gains offered by fiber optics. Verizon has said that only 60 percent of its subscribers will get the upgrade. This choice creates a further digital divide - often between rich and poor, or rural and urban.

At one time, Verizon tried to convince consumers everywhere of the advantages of its FiOS phone, Internet and TV connection: higher speeds, more clarity, great price. But since then, FiOS network upgrades slowed to a trickle. The company still promises to continue in metro areas where it signed agreements, such as New York, Washington and Philadelphia. But many residents are still waiting.

Despite commitments, Verizon has also shelved plans to bring FiOS to much of Long Island, NY and other communities. For months, residents of Buffalo, New York have joined in Don't Bypass Buffalo -- a coalition of labor (including CWA), community advocates, justice organizations - that have been fighting Verizon's attempts to deny FiOS to lower income areas of the city.

In its 2011 third-quarter earnings conference, Verizon appeared to be moving away from extending FiOS beyond where it has already committed, and to try to move customers now using copper wire connections to wireless LTE. Whether wireless will prove as dependable and effective as fiber optic is very uncertain, but one thing is clear: millions of Verizon customers will be stuck with low-speed copper for years to come.

Boston & Long Island Still Waiting on FiOS (DSLReports, Oct. 21, 2011)

Buffalo Residents Protest Unequal Treatment From Verizon (Speed Matters, Jul. 25, 2011)

Verizon Communications Inc. Q3 2011 Earnings Call (Oct. 21, 2011)