Verizon workers’ union wants investigation of forced fiber upgrades

(credit: Virginia Tech)

A union representing Verizon workers has asked the Federal Communications Commission to investigate the company’s copper-to-fiber upgrades, saying Verizon is pressuring customers to switch even when they don’t want to.

The complaint stems from Verizon’s “Fiber is the Only Fix” program, in which Verizon automatically sets up copper-to-fiber upgrades when customers with copper-based landline phones call for repairs twice in 18 months. Though many customers welcome the shift to fiber because it brings more reliable and faster Internet access, some prefer to keep copper-based landline phones because they can remain in service during long power outages.

The union, the Communications Workers of America (CWA), claims Verizon is violating a ban on deceiving consumers and a requirement that customers be given 90 days' notice before retiring copper networks.

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