While copper lines rot, AT&T and Verizon put focus on the future

Don’t expect Verizon or AT&T to come out and declare that they are turning their backs on customers in less profitable regions, but a rising chorus of customers complaints and citations from state level regulators appears to be pointing to a clear trend: Someone is going to pay for the eroding fixed-line business, and it seems the rural customer is on the hook.

The New York State Public Service Commission recently listed a series of failures by Verizon in meeting customer phone line repairs. The company failed to meet state requirements in over 60% of cases during the summer this year.  The common belief in New York is that Verizon is ambitiously focused on its FiOS, fiber to the home, buildout and is simply not making the investments the carrier used to make in copper-line maintenance, including investing in training of personnel.
Regular complaints are also coming out of the state of Florida and West Virginia where Verizon also provides services. AT&T is facing similar charges as it tries to evolve into a largely wireless and broadband provider.