New York Balks at Verizon FiOS

by on 10/01/2008 in Business, Internet

I am a fan of Verizon FiOS as indicated by the blogs we have posted about this high speed fiber optic offering. No matter what, we need to have choices and at the same time save money on internet access. Comcast has slammed customers with expensive internet and cable TV prices. It’s time that customers have better choices!

From Peter Svensson, AP Technology Writer

New York regulators have raised the possibility of banning Verizon Communications Inc. from installing its fiber-optic FiOS service in New York City until the company makes sure it’s doing enough to provide electrical grounding for its equipment in homes.

Poorly grounded equipment or cables could give electrical shocks or start fires, but there have been no reports of FiOS equipment causing harm to people or property, Verizon said.

The New York State Public Service Commission, which regulates telecommunications, has been dogging Verizon on the electrical issue since 2006, and the staff concluded in a report to the commission last week that the company’s remedies don’t go far enough.

New York is the only state to have raised these concerns, but Verizon is installing FiOS in 15 others.

New York can have a bone to pick about grounding issues with Verizon FiOS, but remove the monopoly of having one company to provide what many of us depend on, internet and TV services!

5 Responses to “New York Balks at Verizon FiOS”

  1. Mark

    Oct 1st, 2008

    hooray. It’s good to see that someone realized how absurd this is. It’s classic: cable trying to spit on Verizon by making up an issue and getting NY to help them, because they know how much better FiOS is than their overpriced offerings. If anything is going to cause fire its cable, which actually conducts electricity

  2. Jennifer

    Oct 1st, 2008

    I have an appointment Saturday to have FIOS installed in my apartment. What will happen if I get it and then this happens. Will I have to have mine removed?

  3. Frank J

    Oct 1st, 2008

    Mark you’re right. Cable has been robbing us for years and now that competition enters the area, they start to panic and do whatever possible to stall the competition.

  4. Frank J

    Oct 1st, 2008

    Jennifer,

    I would not worry as this will come to a head really soon.

  5. Mark

    Oct 5th, 2008

    As a follow up, Dr. Stringfellow, and international expert in groundng and electrical issues has confirmed that FiOS installations pose no threa. However, he did say that when examining homes around New York he found a lot of problems with cable installaions. Now if only Verizon would up their political contributions to NY gov’t, they could give cable a taste of their own medicine…

    http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=726124&category=BUSINESS