Update: Verizon and FiOS

The rumors of Verizon's FiOS service continue to bounce around the Internet and this blog. Thanks to a BCR reader I got a contact in Verizon's Public Affairs department, who provided the following statement, reproduced in its entirety:

As of today, there are no plans on deploying the fiber network in NC and I have not heard of any plans to start doing so at this juncture - though that can always change.

If you are reading or hearing rumors, and feel like responding, you can tell individuals that you have spoken directly with Verizon and have confirmed there are no FiOS plans on the table.

Sorry I can't say yes for now - but did want to follow-up.

So the official answer is, no announced plans. I'm still intrigued by the rumors, including this one from a reader on the earlier post. Of course, there's lots of reasons to deploy fiber optic cables without providing FiOS service.

Officially, then, there's no plans for the service. Will anything come of the chatter (which includes speculation that Verizon is quiet about deployment to avoid customers being locked up in long-term deals with their current broadband providers)? No idea for now -- we'll have to wait and see.

Comments

[Eatin my bran flakes]

If Verizon doesn't roll out fiber internet to one of the largest research areas outside of California, can we rename the service to fiber myopic?

[Carol]

I'm not in VZ Business, but I am a VZ employee. The company is focusing its efforts on the larger regions as deploying FIOS is very expensive. Keep in mind, VZ only has local service in Durham,Creedmoor,RTP area and a small area in Western North Carolina. We are not spread throughout the state. Hopefully, we'll have it here one day, but its not coming anytime soon based on the $.

[AMS]

Kevin:

As a second place prize, Verizon is presently offering in Southern Durham its higher performance DSL, 7.1Mbps, also known as the Ultra or Turbo plan. I can't speak for other CO's in Durham, but I was told that the Lakewood CO would have this service level by June. The price, I believe is $39.99 per month, which is $2.00 more than the current, 3.0Mbps service. There is a distance to the CO requirement, which I'm told is 8,000 feet. This seems mighty short to me, but I don't really know how this is defined. This service level is suppposedly being rolled out to better compete with already faster speeds offered by TWC.

I am hopeful that FIOS will eventually get deployed in our area, although I suspect it would take time to reach Durham's urban center. I think it would really wratchet up the competition w/TWC, and offer consumers better choices w/competitive prices. IF FIOS TV gets deployed, perhaps some of those satellite dishes staked in some folks front yards will disappear.....

AMS

[Joshua]

Verizon DSL at 7.1Mbps sounds appealing. I'd be happy to switch from TWC at that speed. I'm terribly worried about TWC's current trials in TX to limit the amount of data you can download per month. This is a direct assault against Apple and other movie download services because TWC is afraid of losing on demand service revenue to them. TWC basically wants to charge you for downloading a movie from a competitor on top of the monthly fee you are already paying. TWC sucks!

[Will]

Have any other TWC broadband subscribers noticed a slow-down recently? It was crawling for me (and I confirmed with a couple of other friends near downtown) this weekend and then again last night it was seemingly slower than normal. I tried calling TWC but that was a DISASTER and I hung up - not on a person - I never actually got to speak with a person.

[Dave N.]

Carol's comments make sense but raise the continuing question, "Why do we have to suffer with Verizon? Verizon admits they cannot properly serve this market as their footprint here is not large enough."

The deregulation of telecom was supposed to release us from this hostage situation.

[Toby]

In response to Dave N.'s question: left unregulated, utility markets -- characterized by huge costs of entry -- often evolve into oligopolies (fewer than five sellers). Strategic planning by oligopolists always involves taking into account the likely responses of the other market participants. This causes oligopolistic markets and industries to be at the highest risk for collusion.

Short of government-regulated monopolies (why IS the average download speed in Japan 25 times as fast as in the US?), I'm afraid our only way out of this particular box will be a new technology: wireless broadband.

[dtd]

I own an office building on 15-501 near I-40, and in conjunction with the road widening project a team of workers has been laying fiber optic cable up and down the boulevard. Note the bundles of orange pipe sticking up every 100 yards or so... who is installing this cable?... the workers don't know or won't say.

[KP]

I hate Verizon, but i'm not willing to switch to TW for anything at this point. I've been having trouble with my line lately and when I called today to complain they offered me the 7.1mbps, which was somewhat humorous because the sales guy acted like he'd never heard of that before and had to go check to make sure it wasn't a fluke. So 7.1 is coming to my house (off 55 near 40) next week, we'll see how it goes, it might get Verizon back into my good graces..probably not..

[K]

Orange Pipe? If that is indicative of fiber optic cable being laid I saw them doing this off of Scott King Road and Herndon Road.

[Trisha]

Can anyone tell me the name of the contracting companies VZ uses in the Durham area?
Thanks