Comments on: Verizon FIOS insures future monoply

By: joe

joe — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 00:04:29 +0000

does anyone know when is fios is coming to bethlehem,pa area

By: mc

mc — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 01:36:07 +0000

copper has to be completely stripped of all other materials before you can recycle it, it is not worth it for the small amount there is in a drop,it would take thousands of feet to recover a pound.

By: mc

mc — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 01:32:40 +0000

phdr actually ford did have a massive recall because of rear end collisions with the pinto.but any ways you do have a choice in local providers it part of federal deregulation they have to open up copper to smaller competitors,they repair cables for the spare pairs,which is what your old pair becomes,if you live in an area thats known for cable troubles your old pair will be gone in a month and your old drop sits wired to nothing but your house,agian serving no purpose but clutterin g the side of your house,but i don’t know why we are disscusing this they no longer remove copper drops and haven’t for at least a year.so everyone move on from the drop issue.

By: cyberpunk

cyberpunk — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 05:15:31 +0000

Although it may seem like a small amount, there’s gold in them thar copper drops! At the price of copper nowadays, if VZ recovers and “scraps” every copper drop post-FiOS install, cumulatively, it would represent allot of $$$. ie: 1 million new FiOS customers = 1 million “scrapped” copper drops = allot of $$$. One would think that VZ should have the right to recover, recycle, and off-set FiOS installation costs by using this practice. No? They originally incurred the cost of the copper install.

By: PhDr

PhDr — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 19:01:33 +0000

Also Ford didn’t go out and collect all the old Pinto’s.

There is no reason to remove the copper, except gor GTE’s
own benefit. The “asset” has been depreciated, it doesn’t require maintenance, as it sits idle with FiOS.

(Although a 900 pair cable that gets damaged by a Pole/Car crash has to be completely repaired, regardless of the number of users on the cable )

Also most of Calif. and parts of the West have NO Choice for local Telephone service. Other states in the Union can order Local service for various vendors. Out here, we ONLY have Verizon or SBC. So in that sense, there will never be a local choice.

I want Fios, but frankly the Copper thing really stops me.

We don’t hear enough success stories either.

Anyone have experience with a Second Phone number over Fios? I went from two copper lines to one copper with the second Ph# coming in on Distinctive Ring (seems they could’nt fix the one bad pair: they kept saying: we see fiber back there, just go FiOs !!!).

I really want that second line, Dist.Ring is Ok.
Any idea of upcharge?

Fios pricing is great. Same as DSL + 2 Lines, + calling plan…..I wonder if they will honor the pricing after 1 year? Seems their pricing has remained stable for the last 3 years. THANKS

By: mc

mc — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 02:47:39 +0000

elle you should be able to record with a dvd or a vcr off an available a/v output of the cable box.what model cable box do you have and how is it connected to your tv right now ? are you recieving error messages when you log on to your email.are your cookies shut off,is active x installed?if your not sure what these are call 18885531555 for help,kind of sounds like the email wasn’t set up the people @ that # can help you.

By: elle

elle — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:11:33 +0000

My FIOS installation took 11 hours! I have a small ranch… they kept running into line errors of some sort. It’s up now – I lost the ability to record with my VCR and DVD recorder (this is not the Verizon one). I can’t spend another $13 a month on that! I also lost my “distinctive ring” special line. They told me when I ordered that everything would remain the same… so far, it has cost me an extra $5/mo to get the distinctive ring line back, and if I want to record anything, another $13 – there’s $18 more a month. They did give me 3 STBS for FREE – no monthly charges. HERE’S MY QUESTION: WHEN I TRY TO REGISTER MY COMPUTER FIOS AND IT ASKS FOR MY EMAIL AND PASSWORD, it gets to the next section but then loops back to “enter email and password” part… it just keeps going in a circle. I’ve turned off my Antivirus – rebooted – tried everything. I can get on the Internet, but what could be causing this problem? ANYONE? ANYONE? :-) thanks.

By: eric

eric — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 05:56:43 +0000

there is no monopoly guys. a cable/phone/internet provider is only allowed to have one “drop” at each house.when you have fios you still have copper throught your house. fiber is only the transfer of light “frequencies” that have to be converted into “data” with this copper is required.the reason they dont want to change back to dsl is because you need copper from the pole to your house. once the fiber is installed it is a very expensive cable and a much more efficient way to transfer data.when you have dsl you are connected to your network provider with copper and when you have fiber you are connected with glass. there is no resistance or electrical potential with glass.

By: mc

mc — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 13:10:42 +0000

************************************************************************************************************************************************Removing copper from your house is not Verizon’s attempt of monopolizing fios .The reality is Verizon is moving awy from copper services.They are spending billions on a fiber network to replace the copper network.They are working on phasing out copper,especially in fiber areas it doesn’t make sense to support 2 networks.They are phasing copper out.And people are lucky they are giving them time and not forcing everyone to switch over.But if you really wanted dsl you don’t have to wait until another company offers services over fiber(which should never be allowed cable companies aren’t subject to this)there are smaller companies that offer dsl over existing copper networks.If you were to choose one of these companies Verizon would come out and run a new copper line and give you service through a different company.There are options.But if you really think about it from a business stand point companies need to move forward,technology is changing and the network needs to change you don’t invest in what’s going away just because a certian few still want it.Lets take the auto industry for instance just because you liked the style and price of the Ford Pinto doesn’t mean that Ford has to keep producing the same car and parts for thirty years because you happened to like it.It doesn’t make sence.

By: Deceptive Solicitation

Deceptive Solicitation — Thu, 01 May 2008 18:12:52 +0000

I had a very bad experience with a Verizon representative who came to the door of my small store today. He told me that he was there to change our wiring type from POTS (copper) to a newer system, that Verizon was trying to change all their accounts to. He never mentioned FIOS, or any TV or DSL service (we don’t get those from Verizon – only phone service), so I got the impression that it was some sort of wiring upgrade that didn’t change service. I refused to let him see my bill or phone Verizon from my phone, but I did listen to his explanation of the new wiring, and wrote it all down. He said the reason for the change was to reduce our FCC line charges because of lower maintenance costs, but that there would be no other costs at all to us, and no change in our service. I wrote this information down, and said I would call Verizon after thinking it over. He said that calling Verizon was his job, and that he would call from my phone. I said he could not, but offered to take down his name so that if he got any commission from convincing me to change our wire, I could give him credit if I called Verizon. He became insistent, and said “You don’t understand – that’s my job to call Verizon!” He also told me that we “had” to change our wiring (or what? our service would be disconnected? he didn’t say). I politely said that I would call Verizon, and asked him to leave. He did not leave, and kept insisting – “You don’t understand! You can’t call Verizon – I have to do that now, or I’ll get in trouble at my job!” He kept repeating this. I asked him to leave again, and he still would not – and then a second representative came in, and the first guy started to loudly complain – “she doesn’t understand – I have to make this call!” I was getting actually a little frightened, because I was the only person in the store, and they wouldn’t leave. However, when I asked them to leave a third time, the second guy said, “Ok, we’ll come back,” and got the first guy out. I called Verizon immediately to say how deceptive and even threatening this guy had been, and the rep told me she was sorry, and that the man was not an employee, but an “authorized agent” (he had a badge). Then she told me that I was indeed eligible for FIOS service! Like I was going to sign up for it now!

By: James

James — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:03:43 +0000

I called Verizon FIOS to order phone, internet, and cable prior to my move in. My Consumer Order Summary was dated 3-28-08, and the scheduled installation date was 4-7-08. I reviewed the e-mail and all looked well. I move into my new house and install date comes. They setup an 8 AM-noon window. I already had the Optical Network Terminal unit (ONT) in my house, so I figured this would be cake for them. I am a Sys Admin at an ISP, so the internet stuff I could do myself with ease.

On install day, no one showed, no one called. I had my mobile with me at ALL times. So around 1:30 PM I called Verizon to see what was going on. If something came up, I had a week off to move in and if they needed to come by in a day or two, I was totally cool with that. After about an hour on hold I got in touch with a “state level” dispatcher. That said that there were “no facilities available for my order” and I was called. Nope, I wasn’t called; they did have my cell (which I had with me all of the time) in their records. I wanted them to come out later in the week if possible since I was home. They said that their next available time for me was 4-12-08, which was a day where I was going to a wedding. The next available time after that was at the end of the month, on a work day for me.

Basically because they did not show up, or even notify me with a reason, they put me at the back of the line. I was trying to escalate my request and the support only gave me unreasonable dates and that “no facilities available for my order” BS. I later wanted to get my copper line put back so I could at least get phone service, and after a long wait in hold they gave me the end of the month as a date. Basically I was being run around in circles and being shoved to the end of the line because Verizon screwed up my installation. I was told the only way I could get it sooner is if I “knew an installer who’d do me a favor,” and I was pretty much screwed with the window of time I had to get the service installed. The salesperson fed me a load of bull and the installer didn’t even call me with a reason. I tried to figure out what “no facilities available for my order” meant, and why this was such a problem since I already had the ONT in my house. Half of their work was already done.

The same day, I called a local cable company who installed my phone, internet, and cable the next day. They showed up on time and did the normal pre and post appointment verification. I unplugged the ONT in my house and let the battery go out. Verizon gave me such a lousy customer experience I swore I would never do business with them, and be sure to let other people know about their awful customer service and commitments they setup and do not honor. Verizon screwed up prior when they bought Bell Atlantic, and screwed up our perfectly find DSL service I had around 98/99. My money is going to a competitor, and Verizon won’t see if because they have abysmal customer service. I am certainly interested in fiber optic lines connected to my house, but so long as Verizon is the only provider, I will happily do without.

James Herndon, VA

By: Peter G

Peter G — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 05:55:14 +0000

I just had my Fios Internet and phone installed. The tech was a good guy to work with. The only drawback I had was that he came right at the end of the two hour window period. However, I was happy to see my cable go away. Fortunately, I was able to do a speed test with my cable modem and my newly installed FIOS Internet as I had not shut off my cable modem service with Charter. Wow! What a surprise blazing speed with my hard wired computer at close to the promised 15/2 speed. Tests ranged from 14/2 to 15/2. As for the wireless, speed was still good but not as my hard wired computer. I guess it also depends on how old your computer is. My brother's laptop got at least 13/2 speed and my old Compaq ranged from 4/2 to 9/2.

The sales rep was great. She offered me the various options and whenever I had a question just to test her, she was very courteous and answered my questions with no b.s. answers. I guess it just depends on what FIOS office you get. When I called the general FIOS number listed on my bill, they couldn't really help me with pricing and didn't have access to the special price packaging. Funny thing is that they had to refer to my local FIOS service number (local as in State). So glad I got connected to my local FIOS customer service/sales center in Ca. I spent at least 45 minutes with the sales rep on the phone discussing various packages and in the end was happy with my deal. I'm saving at least an extra $20 a month on my phone/internet bill. Glad I switched even though I was a bit apprehensive with having to have a power supply to make my system work. Oh well, we deal more with Earthquakes in California. NOt that many to worry about.

"I have seen the light with Verizon Fios"

By: john whalen

john whalen — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 01:08:33 +0000

MY HOUSEHOLD HAS BEEN INUNDATED WITH FIOS ADVERTIZING VIA MAIL,PHONE,INTERNET AND DOOR TO DOOR SALESMEN FOR ABOUT A YEAR OR SO IT SEEMS. ALTHOUGH I WAS HAPPY WITH CABLE I DECIEDED ,HEY FREE TV AND A SAVINGS ABOUT $40/MONTH I WILL TRY IT. WE HAD INSTALL LAST WEEK. LET ME JUST SAY MY SEARCH HAS ENDED. I WAS WONDERING WHERE THAT BIG BAG OF ASSHOLES WAS AND NOW I KNOW THEY WORK IN EVERY DEPT. IN VERIZON FIOS.
FROM THE INSTALLER WHO USED MY CABLE COMPANY WIRING TO HOOK UP HIS BOXES TO CUSTOMER SERVICE WHO JUST OUTRIGHT LIE THAT SOMEONE WILL BE OUT TOMORROW TO CHECK OUR GREEN COMPLEXIONS AND TV’S THAT FIOS IS JUST NOT WORKING. I COULD NOT BELIEVE THE INCOMPETENCE AND PLAIN POOR SERVICE.
ABOUT THE WORST I HAVE EVER HAD ANYWHERE.AND LEST YOU THINK PERHAPS I AM A CABLE CO. EMPLOYEE, I HAVE VERIZON WIRELESS,VERIZON INTERNET SERVICE AND VERIZON LAND LINE.NO PROBLEMS THERE. BUT THESE FIOS PEOPLE HAVE ME SO PEEVED I AM CONTEMPLATING REPLACING THESE VERIZON SERVICES.
SINCE IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO REACH ANY CORPORATE PEOPLE I AM HOPING THIS GETS BACK TO CHIEF ASSHOLE IN FIOS CORPORATE VIA SOME WAY.
I RARELY IF EVER COMPLAIN EVEN WHEN I GET POOR SERVICE IN ANTHING. BUT THIS WAS SO OUTRAGEOUSLY POOR I DID TAKE THE TIME TO WRITE THIS.

By: Dan Miller

Dan Miller — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 04:09:40 +0000

I ordered fios over three weeks ago with an expected install date of last wednesday... they botched it. no phones, no internet and no fax at my law office and no install date in sight. BUYER BEWARE!!!!!!!!!

By: Joe McCrary

Joe McCrary — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 15:38:57 +0000

The video quality with my Verizon FiOS TV service is superb, but with it I don't get the MASN 2 (Mid-Atlantic Sports Network 2) channel. As a result I've been unable to watch quite a few ball games. And I can't get the Golf Channel unless I pay an extra $8 per month! Also can't record programs on DVDR or VCR. Frustrating!

By: Javier Ospina

Javier Ospina — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 21:09:17 +0000

My only problem with FiOS has been that I was disconnected from the internet service, around the time my 1 yr contract was up. I called to find out why I was disconnected. But nobody knew why, just that ther was an order for termination of service, and the could not stop it. My service was reintated the folling day at noon,
Has anybody had this problem?
The other problem was just a few months after I had my internet service, the TV service become available. So I ordered the next day my internet was out. Some how when they added the TV service it messed up the internet service. I had to wait a whole day, while they closed the account and started it again with internet and TV service together.