neftv
join:2000-10-01
Broomall, PA
 ·Broadvox Direct
| guarantee
I have had Fios for few months now and so far no outage but can Verizon guarantee that the connection will hold up as long as copper does when power goes out? Sure the ONT has battery and I have a UPS but the "network" stay up to the backbone for as long at the CO can for copper? If so, they can take my copper out. If not then I want to keep copper. Copper would be the back up for communications be it internet or phone. |
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a333
A hot cup of integrals please
join:2007-06-12
Rego Park, NY | Of course, VZ is required by law to keep the voice network working, which is why they generally have backup generators and batteries at the CO, and switching centers. |
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dcurrey
Premium
join:2004-06-29
·ViaTalk
| reply to neftv
I can see the option of going back to dsl. But as a backup line. Lets say the power does go out for extended time. Fios line drops. You still won't be able to use the copper line for phone or internet service. Its dead they are not going to come out and hook it back up for a few hours.
This doesn't apply if you are in an area that is required to maintain 911 even on disconnect lines. Once you cancel phone service here its gone. |
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verolom
join:2002-03-23
Eagleville, PA
 ·Comcast
| reply to neftv
Are you aware that the ONT uses a lead-acid battery with a life span of about five years? What happens to it when it no longer can power the ONT? Will Verizon be able to test it proactively and replace it before it is completely dead like they do with CO batteries or will you figure that you don't really have a battery backup when the power outage occurs?
As crappy as copper is, it does offer independence from the power company to make calls. With all the new equipment and its complexity, the cost of maintaining it could easily surpass that of maintaining the copper lines. |
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Voyager2K2
join:2001-10-04
Wayne, PA
 ·Verizon FIOS
| reply to neftv
The ONT has a 2-stage back-up.
It first will provide power for x-amount of time.
There is a secondary button which will provide power for emergency use after the primary back-up is exhausted.
Having survived a couple of hurricanes in FLA a few years back something of the magnitude that would take out power that long usually damages the entire utility infrastructure.
This means copper is gone, cable is gone (including VoIP) and perhaps if you are lucky cell phones still work.
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King Duck
join:2005-04-10
Elizabeth City, NC
1 edit | reply to verolom
said by verolom  :Are you aware that the ONT uses a lead-acid battery with a life span of about five years? What happens to it when it no longer can power the ONT? As is more than adequately explained elsewhere, the battery is the user's responsibility and is very easily replaced. |
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T1 Rocky
join:2002-11-15
Dallas, TX
·Time Warner Cable
| reply to dcurrey
said by dcurrey :I can see the option of going back to dsl. But as a backup line. Lets say the power does go out for extended time. Fios line drops. You still won't be able to use the copper line for phone or internet service. Its dead they are not going to come out and hook it back up for a few hours. This doesn't apply if you are in an area that is required to maintain 911 even on disconnect lines. Once you cancel phone service here its gone. Let's run through another case scenario that might sound outlandish right now but given the history of telco, isn't so unreasonable. Let's say 12 months from now, Verizon buys the cable provider in your area. You upgraded to FIOS a year ago and the copper was removed. Your FIOS is outstanding on service. However, FIOS decides that you have to do forced bundling of long distance, phone service and television in order to get internet access (dsl users are familiar with forced bundlng.) And the rate for all of these products is $300 per month. Not a bad price for all products considered and you get to call Portugal for free! However, you don't have $300 in your budget. What is your recourse? The copper is gone. The telecom Act of 96 doesn't apply to fiber so they do not have to share it. You better have a view of the south sky because satelitte is now your only option unless there happens to be a wireless isp in your neck of the woods.
We already do not have enough choices. Losing the copper is just handcuffing the consumer that much more. And I don't buy that the Verizon is saving $$ by removing the copper. When was the last time you saw a Verizon rep in your front yard working on the copper? What does it cost to pull copper from the pole into a house? $100 maybe? And it lasts just like that for 40 years. And in the rare occasion when they do service it, THE CONSUMER PAYS FOR IT!!
The reason the copper is being removed is two fold.
#1 Remove competition.
#2 Copper rates have more than tripled in the last 2 years so they can scrap it and make a decent profit.
The removal of fiber is going to bite us all in the ass in the next 3 years, I guarantee it. |
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megalosaurus
join:2000-11-29
North Salem, NY
| reply to neftv
A Verizon lineman repairing my copper connection (a very frequent occurrence) told me that they don't need to provide power to any part of the network between the CO and the customer's house, so there should be no issues with batteries running down in the network. But in my neighborhood, where outages often last for days, eight hours of backup in the modem isn't much of a solution. It would be helpful if someone made a power adapter that could be plugged into a car's lighter socket.
The whole issue of FiOS is pretty much irrelevant for me. The last few houses on my street (including mine) have underground wiring, so FiOS stops where the wires go undeground. The copper wires are ancient and Verizon isn't maintaining them. My phone rarely works when it rains. Even in good weather, I get a loud hum, frequent crosstalk, and rarely get Caller ID info. When I report this to Verizon, they come out, swap circuits with someone else, then the next time it rains, that person complains and they swap me back to a bad circuit. And if they ever do decide to bring FiOS to my house, I'll be able to get 30/5 service for $179.95 per month. Verizon has made it clear just how much they want my business, so I'll respect their wishes and act accordingly. |
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