No FiOS In Boston? We'll Make an Ad Anyway

Zott writes "The Boston Globe has a front-page story about Verizon's FiOS that recounts what many of us here in Boston and some surrounding urban areas know already: Verizon won't invest in the physical plant and actually offer the fiber optic Internet and TV service here in the 'hub of the universe.' This hasn't stopped Verizon from launching a new advertising campaign with Donnie Wahlberg (member of New Kids on the Block, actor, and well-known Boston native) standing in Copley Square and the Charlestown neighborhood touting the product. It goes even further, though — according to the Globe's article, '"This is New England, where people tell it straight," says Wahlberg... "No phonies, no fakers, no shortcuts."' Except for the shortcut in the fine print that's presumably in the ad somewhere: 'FiOS not available in all areas.'"

From Boston, over FiOS.

[csumpi]

Posted from Boston, plugged into 50MBps Verizon FiOS. It was already installed in the house when we moved in. Also had FiOS at our previous Boston residence, which was over two years ago. It was installed within 24 hours there.

Later tonight I'll watch the Redsox game, in HD, over FiOS.

I have no idea what this article is talking about.

You're one of a tiny few.

[SuperBanana]

Posted from Boston, plugged into 50MBps Verizon FiOS. I have no idea what this article is talking about.

Years ago, Verizon rolled out FiOS to a handful (literally) of customers in Boston, same as they did in Cambridge and other municipalities. It was probably done as some sort of token measure to claim they were offering the service everywhere, or justify commercials like these.

For all practical purposes Verizon does not, and has not ever, offered FiOS in Boston, Cambridge, or Somerville. If you don't believe me, plug in a friend's phone number and address into their "can I get FiOS?" tool. You won't succeed.

This is well documented in discussions on DSLreports and other forums if you just bother to plug in "Boston FiOS coverage". Go look at the DSLreports maps for self-reported service coverage. There are a couple of dots of FiOS customers in the Boston area, and a sea of them elsewhere.

They still sell service, just not run new fiber

[mrnick]

I live in the Boston area, Marlborough, and FiOS is still in business and selling FiOS. What they won't do is run new fiber to a building that doesn't already have it. They still advertise trying to get people to connect that do have the fiber already ran.

I have moved twice and have been able to purchase FiOS is both locations.

So, unless the commercial talks about running cable the argument doesn't make much since.

Re: Um

[OECD]

South Jersey is a different planet from North Jersey.

Re:A FiOS

[RealGene]

This is, of course, a completely bullshit stance by Verizon. As any FiOS user knows, Verizon just passes any local taxes back on to the user, via the "Verizon Surcharges and Other Charges" section (actual charges from my last bill):

• Verizon Property Tax Recovery Charge ..... $2.29
• License Fee ..... $0.11
• Franchise Related Costs ..... $1.80

..and more.