NYC vs Verizon: City Files Lawsuit Over Fios Agreement

New York City filed a lawsuit against Verizon for failing to offer Fios to residents across the city. The telecommunications company made an agreement in 2008 with the city to install additional wiring infrastructure and offer the service citywide by 2014. NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio released a statement Monday expressing disappointment over Verizon‘s lack of availability for city residents and addressed the lawsuit. Fios is only available in selected areas, allowing Time Warner (Spectrum) to become a monopoly in some city neighborhoods.

“Verizon must face the consequences for breaking the trust of 8.5 million New Yorkers. Verizon promised that every household in the city would have access to its fiber-optic FiOS service by 2014. It’s 2017 and we’re done waiting. No corporation – no matter how large or powerful – can break a promise to New Yorkers and get away with it.” Mayor de Blasio said in a statement released by his office.

Verizon’s lack of New York City Fios offerings caused the company other problems in 2016. The company negtiated a deal with the Communications Workers of America and affiliated unions to end a nearly 45-day strike in April 2016. The CWA accused Verizon of unfair wages, sending jobs overseas and failing to complete FiOS installations in areas where workers would benefit from the wages. The strike affected operations primarily on the East Coast, which included New York City.

In spite of trouble with New York City, Verizon continues to expand its Fios services. The company now offers prepaid Fios service and Fios Instant Internet with enhanced speed, for customers in NYC and across the East Coast.