Verizon Complains Cable Operators Slowing Switch to Fios

TheLancinator · 03-27-2008, 03:54 AM

Verizon Complains Cable Operators Slowing Switch to Fios
Grant Gross, IDG News Service

Verizon, in a filing with the Federal Communications Commission Monday, accused cable operators of not meeting FCC standards when customers request to transfer their telephone numbers from cable-provided VoIP (voice over IP) service to Verizon service.

The FCC has required local number portability between wireline carriers since 1997, and typically requires that the port be completed within three business days.

Competing providers met a 24-hour deadline to respond to a telephone number transfer request just 40 percent of the time between last March and September, Verizon said in its FCC filing. Cable companies have routinely ignored the FCC deadlines, Verizon said.

The problem is a "broad" one not limited to a few cable operators, said David Fish, a Verizon spokesman. "We've heard from customers and know that it's a wide-ranging problem," he said.

In addition, Verizon filed a second complaint Wednesday, saying cable companies were not allowing competing providers to file disconnect notices for consumers. This creates "extra work and confusion" for customers, Verizon said in a statement.

The FCC allows a customer's new telephone company to file a disconnect notice with the current provider, but not when a customer is switching television providers, Verizon said.

Switching video providers is "cumbersome," Verizon said in its filing. "Cable incumbents... require the customer to contact them directly to cancel service after choosing a new video provider and to return any equipment. This significantly complicates the process of switching video providers for the customer, thereby entrenching the cable incumbents' dominant market position."

Verizon offers its own package of voice, Internet and television services under its Fios brand, in competition with many cable operators offering the same package of services.

A spokeswoman for Comcast, the largest cable operator in the U.S., wasn't immediately available to comment on the Verizon complaints.

KevinShinnick · 03-27-2008, 04:00 AM

I don't know much about the business but I have a mate here in the New York area who was running pretty fast Internet on a major cable provider when I visited his home just before Christmas. He switched to Verizon Fios and when I visited there two weeks ago his connection was lightning fast. Probably the best home Internet speed I have ever seen. I know these companies fight and argue all the time but they should be compelled to do whatever is necessary to give every consumer the widest range of choice in providers.

TheLancinator · 03-27-2008, 04:05 AM

Comcast is supposed to roll out speeds up to 25 times faster than what they are offering right now (according to their press releases late last year) but until that happens, even the fastest cable connection can't compete with FIOS. I think that's why the companies are dragging their feet because they know if they lose the customer now, even if they get speeds to match later this year, they won't get their customers back.

I wish they offered FIOS here

KevinShinnick · 03-27-2008, 04:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thelancinatorZ

Comcast is supposed to roll out speeds up to 25 times faster than what they are offering right now (according to their press releases late last year) but until that happens, even the fastest cable connection can't compete with FIOS. I think that's why the companies are dragging their feet because they know if they lose the customer now, even if they get speeds to match later this year, they won't get their customers back.

I wish they offered FIOS here

I wish I could get anything decent instead of this awful hotel wi-fi. I must get knocked off and have to log back on at least 10 times every evening.

**Harpoon** · 03-27-2008, 01:37 PM

Fios is great...

TheLancinator · 03-27-2008, 01:40 PM

Oh shush!

**Harpoon** · 03-27-2008, 01:44 PM

That shit always works Lance.. Free wireless router.. hell my wireless laptop does 12 mbps..

TheLancinator · 03-27-2008, 01:47 PM

They don't even offer it in Colorado

I really can't complain too much about Comcast other than price. I almost never have outages and I connect at pretty high speeds for cable...depending on the site and current traffic, I can get from 10 to 20 mbps, but average around 6 to 8 which isn't all that bad...I just wish it was cheaper. The 8 mbps package I have now is $52/month after the 6 month discounted period

03-27-2008, 04:00 AM	#2
KevinShinnick Say Hello to rudi for me! Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Guildford Posts: 83,771 Thanks: 460 Thanked 5,116 Times in 1,025 Posts	I don't know much about the business but I have a mate here in the New York area who was running pretty fast Internet on a major cable provider when I visited his home just before Christmas. He switched to Verizon Fios and when I visited there two weeks ago his connection was lightning fast. Probably the best home Internet speed I have ever seen. I know these companies fight and argue all the time but they should be compelled to do whatever is necessary to give every consumer the widest range of choice in providers. __________________

03-27-2008, 01:37 PM	#5
Harpoon Porkys Disciple Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: On top of the Heap Posts: 50,857 Thanks: 50 Thanked 22 Times in 13 Posts	Fios is great... __________________ .

03-27-2008, 01:44 PM	#7
Harpoon Porkys Disciple Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: On top of the Heap Posts: 50,857 Thanks: 50 Thanked 22 Times in 13 Posts	That shit always works Lance.. Free wireless router.. hell my wireless laptop does 12 mbps.. __________________ .