https://arstechnica.com/information...adband-networks-to-settle-investigation/

"Verizon has agreed to fix failing copper networks and boost fiber deployment in New York, two years after state officials began investigating the quality of Verizon landline phone and broadband service.

A settlement with Verizon "will require the company to repair 54 central offices across the state, replace bad cable, defective equipment, faulty back-up batteries, and to take down 64,000 double telephone poles," the Communications Workers of America (CWA) union said last week. "The agreement also includes increased broadband buildout to major apartment buildings in New York City and more than 30,000 homes across the state."

Verizon reached the proposed settlement with the union, staff at the New York State Department of Public Service, and the Public Utility Law Project of New York. The four-party settlement is still subject to approval by the state Public Service Commission (PSC)."

On a related note, Consolidated Communications (formerly Fairpoint, Verizon, Bell Atlantic, etc) seems to be finally doing some construction and rehab work around these parts. Really nice to see double poles go away. I always thought they were tacky looking.

I wonder if this will trickle down to other Verizon territories. VA, DC and MD also have horrible plant and facility issues. At one point, they abandoned so much in favor of FiOS, but now that it's not the golden egg that they expected, they need to do something.

I have heard about this, I know 2 people who all of a sudden when their western electric 554 suddenly stopped working and had worked before, I was wondering if this did not have something to do with this.

Thats not what Verizon is telling us on Long Island.

They sent out notices that Copper POTS service will be discontuned end of 2018.

Our local Fire Dept that I used to work for and my son still does is required to move their Dispatch Center off POTS and go to FIOS

Their is a meeting set for next week with the Network Engineers to see how they are going to pull this off without interrupting the public access to emergency services during the cut over.

Will keep you guys posted