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Another Look At Verizon's NYC Deal
Wimpy deployment failure penalties and degraded consumer protections
The Gotham Gazette has the best writeup I've seen of what Verizon's new FiOS agreement with the NYC does, and doesn't do. Hashed out in secret meetings between Mayor Bloomberg's office and Verizon over a period of eighteen months, the agreement is 59 pages long with 74 appendices and multiple additional borough agreements. To suggest the NYC public understands what they're getting into is a joke. Most are just excited to get fiber, but for those interested in the plan's finer points, the writeup is worth a read. Their bottom line:
quote:
Overall, the deal is very favorable to Verizon, which, pending Public Service Commission approval, now has access to the largest cable market in the country. It permits the company to build to areas of the city in the order it wants and allows for delays if its services do not attract enough subscribers early on. There are no repercussions for further delays or for poor customer service.
Other than two brief meetings, consumers have been allowed no substantive input on the deal. NYC hasn't even posted the deal to their website. Media coverage hasn't helped consumers either, most writers just jabbering on alongside politicians, blinded by Verizon's promises of lower TV prices that, I'm sorry to say, aren't coming. Still, those of you in neighborhoods Verizon deems worthy finally get FTTH, so that's something, right?

Most recommended from 13 comments


bugabuga
join:2004-06-10
Austin, TX

2 recommendations

bugabuga

Member

Better than nothing at all

I'm a bit surprised at how much people don't want any competition at all. Yes, it'd be great if all new deals were perfect. It'd be even better if stupid franchise laws did not limit people to one or two local providers, hand picked for agreeing to carry local public channel or promising a build-out "everywhere".
I think if people are unhappy with current options, give a competition a chance as soon as possible, then think about extra rules upon renewal, as carrier would be more willing to cooperate with having some profitable customers they could potentially loose.