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New Jersey Lets Verizon Off the Hook on Broadband Obligations

As noted recently, some New Jersey locals have been annoyed that Verizon failed to adhere to a 1993 requirement that provided the company with subsidies and tax cuts in exchange for a promise to wire all of the state with 45 Mbps fixed-line broadband by 2010. Worse, Verizon was then caught sending bogus public support letters to the state Board of Public Utilities, supporting a provision that lets Verizon off the hook for the failed promise.

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Surely Verizon was held accountable for taking taxpayer money, failing to follow through on documented promises, then essentially engaging in fraud to get itself off the hook, right?

Not so much.

According to the Bergen Record, state regulators have voted unanimously to approve a settlement with Verizon that lets Verizon proclaim that capped, expensive LTE service is "good enough," meaning New Jersey residents will never see the fixed-line broadband investment they paid for years ago:
quote:
Under the settlement, Verizon does not have to provide broadband to customers who already have such service from cable TV providers or who have access to 4G service. The settlement also sets up a process in which customers in census tracts with no broadband can request such service from Verizon, if there are 35 or more of them, and each signs a contract for at least one year of service with a $100 deposit.
Verizon did something similar in Pennsylvania, promising the state full 45 Mbps broadband coverage after taking billions in subsidies and tax cuts, then simply being pardoned when they failed to follow through. Again, this kind of cozy relationship between timid regulators and industry is precisely why the United States continues to be the poster child for mediocrity when it comes to most global broadband rankings.

Most recommended from 32 comments



workablob
join:2004-06-09
Houston, TX

5 recommendations

workablob

Member

Fascism at its finest

Consolidation of power between the government and corporate America.

Mussolini would be proud.

Blob

Zenit_IIfx
The system is the solution
Premium Member
join:2012-05-07
Purcellville, VA
·Comcast XFINITY

5 recommendations

Zenit_IIfx

Premium Member

Fuck

Really, that's all I can say. This is a disaster.

This government is truely in the hip-pocket of the corporations, while we the people continue to get ripped off for every penny.

Once again VZ wins the "Capped 4G LTE is grate" battle. It will never stop, will it!

Well, those of you who don't have FIOS now in NJ, you will NEVER see it. Thank your elected officials for throwing out the 1993 agreement. Cablevision and Comcast will love your wallet for a long time!

Meanwhile here in VA, the only thing that will bring FIOS to my town is the County demanding it by 2015, but even then I doubt it will actually happen and VZ will say "$g is greate.! OR Just use comcast "

(hand rubbing intensifies)

TAZ
join:2014-01-03
Tucson, AZ

3 recommendations

TAZ

Member

So how's this work for everyone else?

So can I go rob a Verizon store, get arrested, then have a bunch of my friends send letters to the prosecutor in support of my release (no need to disclose their relation to me, of course!)? Hmm, something tells me that wouldn't turn out very well...

IowaCowboy
Lost in the Supermarket
Premium Member
join:2010-10-16
Springfield, MA

3 recommendations

IowaCowboy

Premium Member

Their CEO should be fired

This is called corruption, and if any kickbacks or bribes were involved or if any money was exchanged for the deal then someone should be going to jail.

Maybe it will take a judge to get them to follow through on their obligations. Unfortunately it takes thousands of dollars in legal fees to take on a multimillion dollar corporation.