A little twist in the Verizon/Vermont ordeal

The more we read about this issue of a Verizon monopoly in Vermont, the more interested we become. Now, we’ve seen that Verizon is turning on new towers, which is good, and they are trying to divest some of their interests in the area, which is also good — in theory. From what we gather, both through news reports and Vermonter friends, it appears that Verizon isn’t exactly divesting any of its hot commodities. Instead, it’s in the process of selling their DSL service in Vermont to Fairpoint Communications. So while we like divestment in this case, it seems lopsided for them to sell off DSL, a dying technology, while they hold better Internet technology in FiOS, which, given the potential monopoly, will likely become available in Vermont within the next year or so.

Vermont residents have until the end of this month to voice their concerns about the purchase which are centered on the monopoly creating poor service and higher rates in the area.

It’s our opinion that if they’re going to be the only cell carrier in the state that their prices should be regulated, possibly by a third party moderator. Too much regulation can, in some cases, be a bad thing, but we think that considering the circumstances here, it would be an apt idea.

Here’s our idea: Either you can have all the service, but have regulations on pricing, or you divest some of your cellular interests, not your DSL interests. We think that’s a fair set of options, at least as an outline. Surely it’s more complex than that, but hey, everything needs a starting point.

[DSL Reports]

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5 Responses

1. kb Says
   

   The top level management has spent very little on upgrading DSL. They are spending very little period. They want to sell so why spend money. Meanwhile … while were all waiting… the quality gets stagnated. Try to call and get ahold of construction for an answer about anything. We’ll get fiber optic in our town when donkeys fly. Over the barrel asume the position and gun to our heads are all apt phrases for what’s going on here. I am so sick of comcast and their latest price hike for the loest teir of service. Lets hope Burlington Telecom spreads like a wildfire over all those money sucking corperate jackels.

   
   Posted on November 26th, 2007 at 1:03 pm
2. dave Says
   

   I think you need to look a little further into the Verizon/Fairpoint deal. It’s not just DSL Verizon is selling, it’s all the landlines in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. As for FIOS coming to Vermont any time soon, I would keep dreaming. Unless your city or town has the time and money to do such a project you will probably never see it. Fairpoint has already said if they take over the will not pursue anything other than offering DSL, which is yesterdays technology. If Verizon keeps the three states it would take alot longer then a year for them to own up to there obligation as a regulated service provider, to start upgrading to FIOS.

   
   Posted on November 26th, 2007 at 1:08 pm
3. Stuart Says
   

   I understand that, dave, but landlines are seemingly on the way out, too. I’m not saying they’re obsolete now, or will be in the next five years. But the way we’re moving, I would bet that VoIP (such as offered by Verizon and Cablevision, to name two) will be the mainstream means of calling soon enough.

   Are you a Vermonter?

   
   Posted on November 26th, 2007 at 1:41 pm
4. A. Hasbeen Says
   

   I understand that VZW has been working on a plan to Divest this property since October some time. I ask myself, if the additional push by Burnney to offer a free phone upgrade to everyone is a small attempt to put a smile on voters faces?
   I thnk that divesting these properties in the form of a property exchange with an other carrier would be in everyones best interest.
   On a side note VZW has made it clear that they do not intend to dismantle the GSM equipment any time soon, which if these properties were still owned and operated by RCC, it could be phaysed out over time and replaced with CDMA just as easily as if an other carrier had it. I do not think that forcing this merger to stop completly will bennifit the state of Vermont at all, RCC is a very small company in the grand picture of communicatons.

   
   Posted on November 28th, 2007 at 11:54 am
5. AT&T adds to network, adds Edge | Going Cellular Says
   

   [...] The deal still has to pass through approval stages, which as we’ve found out from the Verizon and Vermont ordeal, isn’t always simple. The fewer choices consumers have in an area, the harder it is for deals [...]

   
   Posted on December 4th, 2007 at 9:42 am

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