Verizon Faces Probe For Neglecting Unwanted DSL Customers The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities announced this week that its top commissioner, Richard R. Mroz, will lead a probe into copper-line service complaints against Verizon across Southern New Jersey. For several years now dozens of New Jersey towns have tried to hold the company accountable for the lagging quality of existing DSL and POTS lines and the company's refusal to upgrade users to FiOS, despite a 1993 agreement promising uniform fiber deployment in exchange for tax breaks.

And while we've seen a rotating crop of investigations just like this one, little ever comes of them -- in large part thanks to Verizon's financial and lobbying stranglehold over state legislatures across most of the company's east coast territory. Verizon has of course given up on fixed-line broadband because it's not profitable, quickly enough for the company's investors. Instead, Verizon has shifted its focus to acquiring companies like AOL and Yahoo as it attempts to pivot and focus on the media and advertising market. In fact the company has actively tried to drive many of these customers away with a trifecta of major rate hikes for DSL service, repair delays, and a refusal to upgrade them. One New Jersey resident tells the Philly Inquirer that residents are tired of being treated like "second-class citizens" and the New Jersey regulatory agency is "hearing our plea." "We're very pleased that the BPU has recognized the serious concerns of 17 communities who are fighting for a level telecommunications playing field," said the resident. Verizon has consistently responded by denying any serious problems, and in some instances by mocking locals who'd like it very much if their current DSL lines continued to work. At several points Verizon has suggested these people are just afraid of the fiber future, despite the fact most of them aren't getting fiber upgrades now, or ever. "This is a classic example of how some people fear new technology so they re-actively reject it instead of accepting it, no matter how irrational that fear may be," said Verizon spokesman Lee Gierczynski last year. "I think people are going to look back and laugh at people ... just like who were a part of the Anti-Digit Dialing League." "This is a classic example of how some people fear new technology so they re-actively reject it instead of accepting it, no matter how irrational that fear may be," said Verizon spokesman Lee Gierczynski last year. "I think people are going to look back and laugh at people ... just like who were a part of the Anti-Digit Dialing League."







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Most recommended from 37 comments

Slyster

join:2015-01-08

Sugar Grove, VA 15 recommendations Slyster Member Simple Start making them pay back taxes plus interest

Zenit

The system is the solution

Premium Member

join:2012-05-07

Purcellville, VA 14 recommendations Zenit Premium Member Here's the problem "This is a classic example of how some people fear new technology so they re-actively reject it instead of accepting it, no matter how irrational that fear may be," said Verizon spokesman Lee Gierczynski last year. "I think people are going to look back and laugh at people ... just like who were a part of the Anti-Digit Dialing League."



Here is the problem Mr. Gierczynski, unlike the Bell System that actually pushed new technology out to all of its customers (what triggered the Anti-Digit Dialing League; luddites refusing new technology), Verizon REFUSES to provide new technology to a large segment of its footprint. These are people complaining about your company leaving them in the cold. There is no fiber future in these areas. Your offering failing POTS/DSL or wireless at $15/Gb.

Takuro

join:2016-10-17

Chapel Hill, NC 7 recommendations Takuro Member The Fear is Real "This is a classic example of how some people fear new technology so they re-actively reject it instead of accepting it" Yeah no sh*t. They are scared of new technology when it comes at a higher price and promotes behaviors of cherry picking over who gets basic service, leaving them potentially in the dark. elray

join:2000-12-16

Santa Monica, CA 6 recommendations elray Member Government is as government does... We saw similar ineptness and neglect in California for decades under regulation.

The PUC was the only point of appeal, yet nothing would happen.

We actually had to move to get working dialtone. Twice.



The "unwanted" customers need to wake up and realize that it is their faith in government which permits this quagmire to persist, and move on to form and fund coops to overbuild their communities if private for-profits aren't partaking.



Sitting on your hands and protesting for the next generation ... will only lead to more defectors taking up 5G wireless, and you'll lose the momentum, the quorum necessary to support the underlying capital outlays.



pende_tim

Premium Member

join:2004-01-04

Andover, NJ 1 edit 6 recommendations pende_tim Premium Member Not Just South Jersey Here in NorthWest NJ Verizon is getting away with the same thing. Lots of tax dollars and no benefits to us. DSL is really poor. As an example, my neighbor has a whopping 867x128 and still sees constant drops. The line techs say no better copper in the obverheads to allow upgrades.



The hope now is the next generation, 5G. Only thing is the 5G they are talking about as a possible substitute for DSL doesn't do so well in the hills and trees around here. kc9sqr

join:2011-11-10

Rockford, IL 2 recommendations kc9sqr Member Profitable customers But... But... They only want the PROFITABLE customers..... (kidding, but not kidding)