US Telco Support > Verizon > Verizon Fiber Optics > Will Verizon shut down copper phone accounts?

Will Verizon shut down copper phone accounts?

What area do you live?

reply to Libra
It is unlikely that Verizon will/can shut down copper telco service for a long time. The infrastructure to support FiOS still does not exist in many areas where FiOS has a presence e.g. NYC. Until Verizon is available to every single location where copper exist today, copper isn't going away.

Regards....JL

reply to Libra
Thank you for your replies. I live in one of the 5 boroughs of NYC. I'm glad to hear copper will remain. I don't want to be forced into switching to digital (although the digital line we now have seems fine).

Sincerely, Libra

reply to Libra
Two people out my way were transitioned over to fiber because of line quality complaints, repeatedly over the years. We're 32000 feet out, and finding good copper pairs is not easy I guess.

The services they are getting is the same as before in terms of billing. It's still regulated POTS, just over on fiber delivery.

The thing VZ cannot do is to force migration from regulated POTS to a non-regulated digital service. Your price shows that, $65 instead of $10.

At this home/office, three lines go through the ONT. One is residential POTS metered service. That never changed. The other two lines are business, were also POTS that did not change. When we ordered FiOS, we went internet only. The phone service stayed the same, just changed from copper to fiber.

We did recently go to bundled service to put both business phones and internet to the business account.

I think the biggest reason folks want to stay on copper is the ability to use line-powered phones in case of an extended outage. The only times we have had longer than 8-hour electrical outages was when they were storm-related. Since we want to keep the freezer running, our generator also keeps the FiOS running. No big deal for us, although it's not a solution for everybody.

There are other ways to keep the ONT running in a long-term outage. $55/mo. difference will pay for a lot of backup in a short time. Unless I misunderstood your reason to retain copper.

My 2 friends who were pushed over to fiber had some of the same concerns, they are both elderly and need communication in case of emergency. We've improved their battery backup for longer-term peace of mind, so now they have the best of both worlds. An external battery and cable to plug into the Auxiliary power jack on the BBU works for them.

And POTS =
Plain Old Telephone Service

reply to Libra

reply to Libra
Just to add to the conversation, fiber has been used to provide plain old telephone service for decades now.

Anyone who is familiar with DSL in its early days, or was a visitor to this site, may recall people talking about how they couldn't get DSL because part of their telephone line was delivered over fiber and only part was delivered on copper.

Some providers used to sell i-dsl -- DSL service over fiber which was just ISDN service without a B-Channel.
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reply to birdfeedr
Thank you for explaining the difference between copper POTS and digital voice. I imagine that since the digital voice is unregulated it may not remain in our favor in the future. I read the information you wrote about using the auxiliary bbu. It's quite interesting but the initial warnings stopped me, not to mention I wouldn't be capable of doing that.

I'll keep the copper for now. I'm glad Verizon can't force a switch.

Sincerely, Libra

reply to SRF26

reply to Libra

reply to Libra
My neighbor had bad quality problems on his copper, that resulted in 911 calls coming from his phoneline (interference, cross-talk)?? At any rate, they moved him to FiOS just because of it - I doubt he knew what it was.. no problem since...

There is no doubt fiber is the wave of the future, but it isn't going to replace the current copper infrastructure in urban areas like NYC for many years to come. IMO, fiber will only be run to replace copper as a last resort. It might be a cynical, but Verizon isn't going to run fiber (spend money) unless they are forced to do it.

Regards...JL

reply to Libra
The reason that VZ is forcibly switching customers to DV is to bust the CWA and IBEW unions. Trouble report resolution for DV is handled by non-union employees. Fiber, once it is installed is subject to for less degradation than copper, thus, no work for VZ union field employees. It's aways the money.

reply to Libra
It is called "network evolution". Yes Verizon CAN force you off of the copper and onto the Fiber. What they CANNOT do is force you from a regulated service to a deregulated service.

You as the subscriber cannot dictate to Verizon the "transport method" in which they deliver the service.

Network evolution involves changing your transport method from the copper network onto the fiber optic network. However, your services and rates do not change.

As an example, your copper line at one point may have been a direct copper feed. As years went by your pair may have changed from direct copper to a "PG"(pair gain) system. (Half fiber/ half copper). This change would be transparent to you and you would never know we changed the transport method of delivering your service. Also, the line cards would be subject to failure and power outages just the same as an ONT, and all you would know is that your service was out without knowing the exact reason why. The backup generators and batteries for these CEVs (fiber huts) would keep the power going, similar to the Battery Backup for your FiOS ONT. The difference being they would last a lot longer than 8 hours because they are refrigerator sized units.

In summary, YES, everyone in a FiOS enabled area will eventually be forced onto the fiber, but you can keep your same deregulated services. Currently, to make the transition as smooth as possible, Verizon is requesting customers to voluntarily accept the free upgrade. When you are one of the last remaining customers in an area, you will be forced to make the change, especially if there are no spare copper pairs to provision your service in the event that the copper degrades. There is ZERO capital expenditure going into replacing copper plant where there is already a fiber overlay. The only areas that will have copper plant replaced with new copper cables are the areas that are not planned for FiOS.

reply to Libra
They are lying....Some day it will me true but not yet.

Again they are LYING to you.They are fishing

What are they lying about? They did not say they are forcing Libra over. VZ also said that Libra can move over to DV , dropping the copper bill and adding $10 to the FiOS bill.

reply to vzfiostechnj
Verizon may have a right to change the transport method however the FiOS install is very invasive. Unlike a transparent change of fiber added someplace away from the home FiOS requires a new drop brought in, an outlet to be provided, access to MY computer . For most people this is not an issue and if one is building a new home and the walls are not closed in by all means wire it for fiber from the get go (EX: run cat 6 through the walls, new coax to every room). Issues however can occur retrofitting an older home . In this case the customer can simply move on to another provider for services needed as i did. I got rid of both the verizon POTS and verizon DSL to get them off my back. I will leave this with the following: I would embrace this IF the home was new.