Verizon FiOS in New York: Bronx Public Forum on Verizon's FiOS Rollout

NEW YORK, NY (09/18/2015)(readMedia)-- Common Cause/NY, Consumers Union and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. are co-sponsoring a public forum on September 21 exploring Bronx residents' experiences with Verizon FiOS. The purpose of the forum is to hear from residents of the Bronx about their experience obtaining FiOS service, explore any impediments to obtaining that service, and hear about the experience of customers once they have obtained it. This is the second in a series of public forums which Common Cause/NY and Consumers Union are organizing exploring New Yorkers' experiences with FiOS. A public forum in Quens will take place on Septmber 28 and a Brooklyn public forum in will take place on October 15.

In 2008, Verizon promised to wire all of NYC with high-speed optical fiber cable and make FiOS available to any New Yorker who wants it. Expecting that increased competition would both improve telecom services and bring down prices, NYC gave FiOS a franchise in exchange for Verizon's obligation to finish building out optical fiber throughout the city by mid-2014.

In June, New York City Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications issued an audit of the build-out which revealed that Verizon "substantially failed to meets its commitment to the people of New York," according to Mayor De Blasio.