mr sean
Professional Infidel
Premium,ExMod 2001-07
join:2001-04-03
N. Absentia
clubs:
| The scary part..
...is even if there were a repaymenet due from Verizon it would still come out of the consumer's pocket.
If I lived in Pennsylvania, I think my collective energies would be best spent on creating a climate that allows factors such as contractual obligation and responsibility TO the taxpayer to flourish.
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BE LIKE THE TWENTY-SECOND ELEPHANT WITH HEATED VALUE IN SPACE--BARK! |
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pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD
 ·Comcast
| Penna. PUC full of morons
I remember how the PUC said this would revolutionize the commonwealth. What a bunch of morons. As for Verizon, the commonwealth cannot save them anymore. Many people in my area have given up on landline altogether and more are cutting the cord each day. So there is some justice in that they are no longer feeding the machine. I think the recent Verizon layoffs are proof of that.
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Jewel got Britney-fied! There is hope for the world yet! |
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funkyfelty
Armament For Peace
join:2002-10-01
Lebanon, PA
| What Can I do?
Well this seriously has me considering running for State House of Reps. Seeingas I am from PA and getting $crewd
[text was edited by author 2003-07-18 11:28:20] |
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rit56
join:2000-12-01
New York, NY
| blatant thefy
it's incredible they get away with this. for what it's worth I write many nasty letters to NY State and City Politicians. at some point people have to take some sort of stand and it starts with the politicians. each household was robbed of 785 dollars with a wink and a nod for Pennsylvania politicians. I think they should relentlessly demand that money back from the Politicians and force them to force Verizon to pay. "No Taxation Without Representation" it's time we acknowledge the officials we elect represent Corporate America, we get screwed through charges on our bills which are taxes under different names, the politicians get campaign contributions and they both laugh in our faces. Pennsylvania isn't the only place this is happening and it's not just Verizon. soon we will have the 9% tax on cable modems for the Universal Fund. who gets that money? |
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murdok6100
Avatar. Get It, Avatar?
join:2002-06-20
| reply to pnh102
Re: Penna. PUC full of morons
I remember it too. Promises promises. I think pnh hit the nail on the head. People in this area are fed up - and folks are leaving Verizon all together (like me). I think this trend will continue forever.
**And to think I was paying those bastards premium prices for ISDN back in 1996-1997.**
**Of course they are on my SH*T list**
murdok610 |
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Unit649
I B U, Who U B?
Premium
join:2000-01-22
Stockton, CA
·Comcast
| How many?
I wonder how many other states signed deals similar to this with Verizon. I'm sure this isn't the only deal like this they aren't meeting, or maybe are-they just didn't here due to the fact there wasn't enough customers to meet the costs of such a rollout.
Can you hear me now? Good! Got 45Mbps fiber? Uh, you're breaking up, could you repeat that?
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U ::::Founder, ForeverChat IRC Network:::: »www.foreverchat.net
[text was edited by author 2003-07-18 11:49:57] |
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bistro777
Donuts-Is There Anything They Can't Do?
Premium
join:2002-02-07
Englewood, CO
| reply to mr sean
Re: The scary part..
Mr. Thomas served as Chairman of the Pennsylvania PUC until May 20, 2003. As such, he was the architect of the Commission’s backpedaling vis a vis Verizon. His official bio on the PUC Web site notes “Commissioner Thomas has been involved in developing Pennsylvania’s competition initiatives since he was tapped in 1995 as former Governor Tom Ridge’s principal adviser on utility and environmental issues.” And letting Verizon skate is fostering competition? Que?
But from the “on the other hand, she wore a glove” department, he has championed UNE-P - - From an article last October 30th - - FCC chairman Michael Powell's office met with disapproval and resistance on Monday, as state regulators from across the nation voiced opposition to any attempt by the FCC to preempt states' rights to legislate critical telecommunications issues within their states. Regulators from a dozen states at a National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners ("NARUC") meeting rebuked the recent notion by SBC and other Baby Bells that the Bells are losing money on the unbundled network element platform ("UNE-P"). "UNE-P is important, there's no doubt about it," said Glen Thomas, chairman of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. He said that nearly half of Pennsylvania's CLECs use UNE-P. "We've talked to several people who truly depend on UNE-P as an initial mode of entry."
So he appears to be a dichotomy of sorts...and maybe – maybe – he thought PA couldn’t win this battle against Verizon. But it's a shame the taxpayers had to take such a hit. Let’s call and ask him! 
I personally think we developed language because of our deep inner need to complain. - - Jane Wagner |
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pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD
·Comcast
| reply to murdok6100
Re: Penna. PUC full of morons
said by murdok6100  :
I remember it too. Promises promises. I think pnh hit the nail on the head. People in this area are fed up - and folks are leaving Verizon all together (like me). I think this trend will continue forever.
This is the reason that the state enacting new fees for landlines to supposedly "pay for" this BS won't bother me. As Verizon loses landline customers to cheaper alternatives such as cellphones and cable modems, they will lose more and more clout with the government.
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Jewel got Britney-fied! There is hope for the world yet! |
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tim_k
Buttons, Bows, Beamer, Shadow, Kasey
Premium
join:2002-02-02
Stewartstown, PA | screwed
So in other words, we got nothing from the $2.1B. I'd settle for any sort of wired broadband. My fixed wireless is expensive, slow, and has high pings due mainly to the trees. |
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royhandy
Panem et circenses
Premium
join:2000-05-23
Yesterday
clubs: 
| I wonder how much it would cost.
Since the infrastructure is in place and ready to be used (according to Mr. Weigel) I wonder what kind of price a customer service rep would quote me for monthly service at 45000/45000.
I wonder if I should even bother wasting my time trying to get a quote.
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My punctuality is well known/ When the revolution takes place/ I'll be late/And I'll be shot as a traitor |
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greywolf520
That's All Folks
join:2003-06-02
New Kensington, PA
| Deal? What Deal?
What gets me is that they had a deal to wire the state for 'braodband' or 45 Mbps and 50% of the state would be wired by 2004. Heck, I don't believe that 50% of the state even knows what broadband is... Outside of the 'big' cities of the state, it's like night and day trying and hoping to get broadband.
Even in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, broadband coverage is spotty. My old place I had to wait until Verizon push the DSL limit to 18,000. In my new place, I'm hoping that the DSL order I placed today goes through. Verizon said I qualified for DSL. Sending me the modem next week. My next door neighbor told me he has been trying for years to get DSL but that Verizon has told me he is too far.
I like Verizon DSL, the speed thing is 1000 percent better than dialup. I just don't like how the slow it's been to expand the coverage. I shouldn't have to worry whether or not if my new house is capable of getting DSL.
Anyone remember 1200 baud modems? Remember how quickly it went to 2400 then the small step (or hiccup) to 33.6 then the big jump to 56K? Why can't broadband be working at that speed? It should have, those moves were all because of customer demand, wants and needs. The demand is there for broadband, just the telcos and ISP don't want to keep up. |
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calvoiper
join:2003-03-31
Belvedere Tiburon, CA
| Doomed by incompetence from the beginning....
It appears the deal probably never guaranteed anything--by not specifying a price for 45 Mb service, they PUC left itself open to the current situation--VZ can claim 45 Mb is "available" everywhere--but only at outrageous cost and rates.
This deal is typical of the "exchanges" that ILECs have participated in--the key element of which is they get what they want (rate increase, higher burden on competitors, etc.) right away and some ill-defined "community benefit" is to follow. Any PUC that currently accepts such a deal is either ignorant or corrupt. (Anyone from the Illinois or Oklahoma Commissions care to identify which they are?)
Sadly, this is reminiscent of the '90's when the electric utilities pushed "automated meter reading" as a way to "save money"--but the funny thing was, in order to save money, the utilities always wanted a rate increase or surcharge to pay for the new equipment! Smart Commissions said that the utilities should pay out of the savings--Dumb Commissions granted the requests.
Calvoiper
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VoIP--the death knell of remaining voice monopolies! |
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murdok6100
Avatar. Get It, Avatar?
join:2002-06-20
| reply to greywolf520
Re: Deal? What Deal?
said by greywolf520 :
Anyone remember 1200 baud modems? Remember how quickly it went to 2400 then the small step (or hiccup) to 33.6 then the big jump to 56K? Why can't broadband be working at that speed? It should have, those moves were all because of customer demand, wants and needs. The demand is there for broadband, just the telcos and ISP don't want to keep up.
Comparing analog modems to digital connections is ludacris. It took nearly 70 years for the first 300 baud modems to roll after the lines were laid.
Of course Im not defending verizon - I hate the bastards.
murdok610 |
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footballdude
Premium
join:2002-08-13
Imperial, MO
| Competition
Commissioner Glen Thomas, speaking in fluent lobby-eese, defended his ruling: "As Pennsylvania considers its telecommunications policy of the future, I believe that our collective energies will be best spent on creating a climate that allows factors such as competition and demand to flourish."
I'm certainly not defending Verizon but I'm think I understand what that quote means. If Verizon were to lay fiber, I don't think they would be forced to share it with competitors. If Thomas is a big proponent of UNE-P, he wouldn't want deployment of fiber. |
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MortySnerd
join:2001-07-26
Mclean, VA
| reply to calvoiper
Re: Doomed by incompetence from the beginning....
sigh....
Sadly if I was a judge I'd have to side with Verizon on this. You are absolutely correct, and PA doesn't have a leg to stand on with this.
How can you be so dumb as to not include a price when they wrote that agreement though? Heck, I will offer anyone on this board unlimited 1GB/1GB fiber anywhere in the world, provided you pay me correctly. Geez....
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This light dinner is over. |
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user726195
Premium
join:2002-11-23
South Pole | wow
in my state Verizon powers almost every thing, from local to long to toll. i think if Verizon does not keep to its exact words of the deal the state should sue Verizon....
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SITE: coming soon! AIM: m2dek |
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systems2000
What? You Say It's Fixed. Hah
join:2001-11-29
Cyberspace
|  Here is What Was Going On Last Year
I started these threads last November, about what was going on.
Comcast Forum (Main Thread): »PA - Speak Out About Your Broadband Service!
Verizon Forum: »PA - Let the State Know About Your Service
Lot of good seems to have come out of those hearings  |
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royhandy
Panem et circenses
Premium
join:2000-05-23
Yesterday
clubs:
| A small correction
Interesting to note that Mr. Weigel, according to the article, actually said that Verizon could provide 45Mb to any school, hospital, or industrial park in its service area. He never made any mention of residences.
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My punctuality is well known/ When the revolution takes place/ I'll be late/And I'll be shot as a traitor |
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pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD
·Comcast
| said by royhandy :
Interesting to note that Mr. Weigel, according to the article, actually said that Verizon could provide 45Mb to any school, hospital, or industrial park in its service area.
LOL... Verizon can barely provide quality voice service (Voice lines get me 20K or so on dialup to remote sites) to industrial areas. Forget about DSL as well. I can't believe people bought that line.
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Jewel got Britney-fied! There is hope for the world yet! |
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rpg
join:2003-02-11
Aston, PA
| reply to royhandy
quote:
Ronald F. Weigel, director of government relations for Verizon's Pennsylvania division, says the company could provide any school, business, or residence within Verizon's service area with a 45 Mbps connection
Try reading that again |
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