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Report: Verizon Punishes Techs That Try to Repair Aging DSL

Verizon is once again defending itself from accusations that it is intentionally neglecting its fixed-line networks in Pennsylvania -- and punishes technicians that try to repair aging DSL lines. Pennsylvania has always been a sore spot for Verizon customers after the company convinced the state to give it millions in tax breaks and subsidies for fiber broadband service never delivered. More recently, cities like Philadelphia have accused the company of failing to live up to their FiOS deployment promises, a story that has played out time and time again from New Jersey to New York City.

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The Communications Workers of America have long singled out these problems as fodder in disputes with the company. The union did so again recently in testimony to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) as part of a petition for a public investigation into the safety and reasonableness of service provided by Verizon Communications to Pennsylvania customers.

"Verizon is doing a poor job of maintaining its copper network. Verizon is supposed to make sure the network is safe and provide decent and reliable service to customers,” CWA Local 13000 President Jim Gardler said in testimony submitted to the PUC. "Verizon continues to reduce its workforce without backfilling the positions, thus leaving customers with longer outages for extended periods of time."

But of particular note in the testimony is the claim that Verizon techs are being disciplined in many areas if they actually try to fix aging copper (DSL and POTS) -- instead of trying to foist VoiceLink wireless service (a voice-only POTS alternative) on customers.

“Field technicians are required to have VoiceLink units on their trucks and to refuse to repair copper plant serving voice-only customers," said Gardler. "Technicians are being told that if they actually try to repair copper plant instead of using VoiceLink they will be subject to disciplinary action by Verizon."

Verizon has consistently been under fire for refusing to repair DSL lines after natural disasters such as Hurricane Sandy, instead pushing Voice Link on customers as an alternative. The problem is that VoiceLink is voice only, meaning it's not really a suitable replacement for customers looking to have their existing DSL connections repaired.

Verizon, as it has done time and time again in the face of such criticism, denies there's any problem with lagging investment, support, or upgrades.

“The reality is that Verizon continues to make substantial investments in the wireline network each year – more than $3.4 billion last year alone," states the company. "We make these investments in our network and in our employees so that that our customers continually receive the products and services that they pay for and deserve.”

Most recommended from 115 comments



TIGERON
join:2008-03-11
Boston, MA
Motorola MG7550

22 recommendations

TIGERON

Member

Amazing

Even with photo evidence proving Verizon's willful neglect, these overpaid executive douchenozzles keep on brazenly lying. How much longer though before public anger overwhelms the company?

Over here in Massachusetts, Verizon cannot substitute voicelink so what the company does is try to force POTS as a requirement for a 3-meg DSL connection. No more dry loop lines.

It is too bad Frontier will not be able to buy anymore unwanted copper wireline assets until 2017-2018.
antidelldude
join:2003-12-22
Beverly Hills, CA

16 recommendations

antidelldude

Member

Still as crooked as ever.

Oldie but a goodie, not a lot has changed.

»www.pbs.org/cringely/pul ··· 683.html
jorcmg
join:2002-10-24
USA

13 recommendations

jorcmg

Member

This stuff is getting old.

I'm not going to comment on the wiring, but on the POTS as a whole nationwide. The vendor support will not go on forever and the 4E/5E/DMS and muxes are very old. 4E is 40 years old in 2017. Keep in mind that Nokia now owns the vendor support and intellectual rights to the Western Electric patents.

And unlike the Bell System there is no single consensus on how to proceed or significant profit incentive to motivate action. It is a sad state of affairs.
athornfam2
join:2013-09-25
York, PA

13 recommendations

athornfam2

Member

Verizon is nuts

What is Verizon talking about. I live in York,PA and can't even get fios only Harrisburg, some of Lancaster and Philadelphia. How is that completing anywhere near what is 100%. We need more competition in this state we really only have Comcast which is not good. We pay 83 dollars for 150/10 internet when I could get 100/100 for 59.99 from verizon. They need to be heavily sued for all assets in their wireline division and penalized in wireless for using those tax funds to supply that rather than the fios.
dsless
join:2001-05-16
Pittsburgh, PA

10 recommendations

dsless

Member

Lovely Pots Line in my neighborhood

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I was just at walking in my neighborhood and found this hanging open on the pots line. Thank god I got fios and dumped Comcast..

cypherstream
MVM
join:2004-12-02
Reading, PA

9 recommendations

cypherstream

MVM

I just boycott Verizon everything

It's a shame Verizon took all of those tax breaks and did not complete Fios in areas they serve in PA. I for one will always boycott Verizon (Potts, DSL and Wireless). If they change their mind then they can have me as a customer again.
grabacon9
join:2013-08-21
Newark, OH

3 recommendations

grabacon9

Member

AT&T does the same thing in Rural Areas

Makes me sick when the only other option is satellite. Wireless sucks of course too.
dplantz
join:2000-08-02
Bradenton, FL

3 recommendations

dplantz

Member

Verizon seems to maintain Boston coper well

Verizon seems to maintain the coper well in Boston. DSL is slow as dirt though max 7 meg down and 800k up. I know many businesses that would switch to Cable modems or FIOS if they could. FIOS is being deployed in parts of Boston right now. My section of the City Roslindale and West Roxbury are getting it first. Should be live where I live before december at the rate they are working. It helps to have lots of dark fiber in the ground all ready. The whole city is supposed to be done in 6 years. Funny thing is I am moving next year to Florida and I may be able to get Frontier FIOS down there.

NOCMan
MadMacHatter
Premium Member
join:2004-09-30
Colorado Springs, CO

3 recommendations

NOCMan

Premium Member

Par for the course

Verizon Wireless threatened any agent who circumvented the system to allow someone to grandfather their unlimited plans with termination as well several years ago.