Unions Want Verizon Investigated For Neglecting Taxpayer-Funded Broadband Networks, But Nobody Cares
from the ill-communication dept
Labor unions would like it very much if somebody would investigate Verizon for its neglect of the company's aging DSL lines. As we've noted previously, both AT&T and Verizon are busy trying to walk away from aging DSL lines they no longer want to focus instead on profitable (read: usage capped) wireless. The problem historically has been that both companies have received billions in tax breaks and subsidies to not only build and support DSL, but to upgrade those lines to fiber. Instead, in case after case, we've shown how Verizon simply took the money and then convinced state lawmakers to forget about the obligation.Last week, the Communications Workers of America (CWA) wrote letters to six state regulatory agencies and the FCC, urging somebody to launch an investigation into Verizon's "neglect" of its DSL customers. According to the CWA, Verizon's own filings suggest the telco spent "just" $200 million to maintain its copper network in eleven states and DC over the last seven years. Basically, argues the union, Verizon DSL customers pay an arm and a leg for barely-adequate service Verizon can't be bothered to maintain (or repair very quickly when it breaks) because they no longer care about these users:
"Across the Verizon landline footprint, residential and single-line business customers pay between $300 and $370 a year for basic voice service and about $400 a year for DSL service. Even using our conservative calculations, Verizon spends less than one percent of the rate it charges for basic voice service and less than half a percent of the rate it charges for a voice/DSL bundled service on the upkeep of its copper network."And while the CWA is only looking after its own interests here (it's currently negotiating a new contract and is using community angst for leverage), the union is absolutely correct. For years, Verizon has been literally trying to drive these paying customers away with the clever one-two punch of apathy and rate hikes. Elsewhere, Verizon employees have been complaining for years that they aren't given the tools necessary to do their jobs in these unwanted areas. Classier still, Verizon has consistently been using natural disasters like Sandy as cover, simply refusing to repair storm-damaged customers, telling them wireless service (usually very expensive if it's even available) will have to be good enough.
Basically, Verizon's letting millions of DSL users rot on the vine. If these users don't flee on their own accord, Verizon ultimately sells them to a rotating crop of
Here's the thing the CWA doesn't get: nobody in state or federal government cares about any of this. Nobody cares that Verizon promised both Pennslyvania and New Jersey symmetrical fiber for all in exchange for subsidies and tax cuts, then walked away from the promises. Nobody in state or federal government cares that Verizon promised to deploy fiber to all of New York City in exchange for a lucrative franchise agreement, only to balk at the obligation. Sure, local communities care that Verizon has a long, rich history of ripping off taxpayers and leaving work unfinished, but both the federal and state governments have shown repeatedly, consistently and indisputably that they really couldn't care less about Verizon's penchant for fraud.
And here's the rub: even if you were to see a significant audit and investigation of Verizon, in many instances you'd technically find that the telco adhered to the law. And that's quite often because companies like AT&T and Verizon have so much political power they're literally able to change the law after the fact (much like they did when their role in wholesale NSA spying was revealed). Verizon convinced both Pennsylvania and New Jersey to simply look the other way when Verizon took state taxpayers for a ride, and now Verizon's kindly asking many states to look the other way while it neglects millions of taxpayer-subsidized DSL lines. And, loyal to the last, state and federal government are happy to oblige.
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Filed Under: broadband, dsl, fiber, investment, labor unions, taxpayers, unions, wireless
Companies: verizon
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Fraud
Saying that, if they sell all of their dsl networks to a big broadband supplier with money , someone like google, it would be much cheaper and easier for google to install fibre.And with 1gb fibre to the house i am sure everyone would be more than happy to allow 2mb or even 50 mb to be used for wireless cover in their area.
Just imagine that Google could cover not only wired but also wireless and take all of that profit from wireless away from the likes of verizon and allow customers to get complete coverage vial google wireless customers everywhere they are.
As google spreads across the country they could really take everything from the likes of verizon and comcast, ensuring people have unlimited fast wireless free of charge or for just sharing a very small part of their broadband connection.
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It's based on CIA's Economy of Suffering theorem.
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They're wholly a Gov creation and exist only because a Gov says they can.
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While I'm not a democrat the only good thing about Trump, that I may look forward to if he does happen to win, is that at least he has money and so can't easily be bought and paid for. He can base his decisions on what he wants to do (which sounds bad) and not based on what his corporate sponsors want. Because elections are so expensive for him to really want to become president and be willing to spend so much of his own money on the matter he is, in all likelihood, much better off financially if he hadn't run for election to begin with because corporations aren't going to give him an ROI that's equal to what he needs to spend to win elections (or an ROI that he cares about). What, are they going to persuade him with a few million dollars? Lol. This is often an argument that people make for why wealthy people should be in office. They're already wealthy, they're hard to bribe. Not that I think it's necessarily a good argument.
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EU is facing the very problem they created now with migrants. People are already rushing into the USA at crazy rates...
We just simply are NOT going to survive it and he is the only candidate taking a big stand against it.
No nation on earth can ever or will ever survive a migrate influx of this magnitude and the EU is proving it already, all of these people will only bring in greater economic strain, criminal and civil unrest.
The idea that a nation unwilling to take on the people as wrong is stupid on its face, its like saying a Nations own children are worth less to itself than those of another. We must secure unto OURSELVES our OWN PROSPERITY, we should not AND cannot do it for others, it is just not possible ever!
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BS! They're people fleeing tyranny and war, trying to find peace where they can live in peace and raise their children as productive citizens.
You're a fearmongering xenophobe.
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You are MORE EVIL THAN THE EVIL THEY FLEE FROM!!!
If you are so concerned about the plight of these people then trot your smarmy ass down there and do something about it, NOT sit back and the comfort of your privileged ass berating others!
If they will not take a stand to resolve the problems in their own country then they are directly attempting to bring their problems to mine!
Calling this xenophobic is pure intellectual dishonesty and EVIL AS HELL!
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Where did I say that? Are you listening to voices inside your head? I can't hear them from where I am you know?
Many nations are (in theory) fighting that terror, while others (including the USA) are fomenting that terror. ISIS was created by the USA, Saudis, and Israel, all in a proxy war attempt to destabilize Iran and Assad's Syria. If I had my way, we'd blockade Syria and starve the terrorists. Damned right we should be taking in refugees!
Not everyone's a trained warrior or is free to abandon their families to take on bad guys, nor should they have to! No one wins in war. The winner only loses less than the loser.
Back at ya! Would you prefer racist or escapist or NIMBY or just hiding your head in the sand like the proverbial ostrich? Leaving civilians in the crosshairs of fanatics doesn't speak well of you. Nor does building walls to keep out the hordes of refugees. Would you prefer those children grow up in the hands of ISIS, or that they should learn civilized behavior instead?
You need to re-think this hate mongering you're into. It won't bring anything positive to anyone. There are *good* things that could be done instead.
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The native Americans might agree with you, but the US state was built by immigrants and nobody but immigrants.
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We did not give those migrants a bunch of safety nets and welfare, the were welcomed in as long as they made their own way!
I would not have a problem with open borders either if we got rid of the welfare state. The two simply cannot coexist and its not a great mystery why either!
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And that's not even counting the slaves brought into the US.
The lie of immigrants stealing jobs or needing to pull their own weight is an endless joke. People born here are all taught that they're better than low end jobs, and the only people willing to fill them are the migrants who just want work.
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Slavery is an entirely different issue, already illegal, and not on par with the scope of this argument, despite the very little attention that human trafficking does get which is shameful. We would rather focus on punishing a down-loader than rights violator.
And is it not an endless joke, it is just reality. Refuse to see it at your own peril but do not expect me to except such foolishness. The system is rife for abuse and no one is batting a fucking eye all the while saying we need to import more of the abusers.
These people want what is best for their family and as long as it is easier to lie cheat and steal from society than it is to work and earn from it you bet the problem remains. This is human nature, you like so many other foolishly think that your one very limited view of humanity is what exists. Some of these people have been raped, seen family murdered, lived in the actual dirt, and suffered inhumanly, yet you think they would just show up and be salt of the earth good folk following the laws they just willing broke to enter and not look at all the people they cannot even converse with as an enemy?
Dood, please!
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Imagine what would happen to the US' agriculture industry if it couldn't rely on cheap Chicano labour. Millionaires would be lining up at food banks, or more likely emigrating elsewhere.
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Absolutely! Those banksters getting trillion dollar bailouts from taxpayers to save their greedy asses from their stupidity riles me to no end! Think of all the poor children we could put through college if those parasites weren't bleeding us dry.
Or, did you mean something else? You should cut down on the koolaid they've been feeding you. That stuff rots your brain and your teeth.
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Migrants: it's generally not the migrants that take advantage of safety nets and welfare; they've already fought hard to get to a new country -- do you think they're going to suddenly stop and live at a near-poverty level when they have the opportunity to make it big? Most migrants I've known (and I've known a number from all over the world) are workaholics who start off as taxi drivers, gas station attendants and janitors while getting re-accredited during night school because the degrees they held in their original countries aren't worth squat here. So you've got lawyers, engineers, doctors, teachers, etc. working minimum wage in Subway so that at least their children might have the chance of living the kind of life they were aiming for in there homeland before they were forced to leave. Their CHILDREN on the other hand, sometimes end up in the welfare system.
Open Borders/Socialism: Look at the rest of the world; most of the developed world has a developed social safety net and much looser immigration policy than the US -- and they're generally doing OK.
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What magnitude, the 12 million people in the US? Or do you mean the immigration that has been slowing down for the last few years?
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Which might include attempting to revive Atlantic City and slapping Nevada around (last time I checked Nevada would not give him a gaming license).
Yeah that sounds bad.
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Response to: Anonymous Coward on Sep 10th, 2015 @ 6:29am
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http://www.dailytech.com/Verizon+Sues+Union+in+5+US+States+Over+Strike+Offers+Reward+to+Combat+ Vandalism/article22423.htm
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They make deals, give them cash and then no one makes them uphold their end of the bargain. If regular people cut deals like this, we'd be accused of money laundering. Contracts left unfulfilled, yet no attempt to enforce it or get back the money.
Given the history we've seen it doesn't seem to take much to get legislators to give millions away for a few silver coins.
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