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Verizon at least five years away from installing FiOS in Batavia

By Howard B. Owens

Every once in a while somebody asks me if I know when Verizon is going to install FiOS in Batavia.

FiOS is supposedly the fastest broadband internet service available.

When speaking with John Bonomo, a spokesman for Verizon out of New York City, about manhole covers, I asked him, "what about FiOS?"

He said it would be at least five years before FiOS is installed in Batavia.

Right now, Verizon has its hands full, he said, upgrading networks in cities where Verizon has the cable franchise.

"We have to get the work done where we have agreements," Bonomo said. "We've got to complete these upgrades first."

Batavia's cable franchisee is Time-Warner.

Frank Collins

We have FiOS out here in Poughkeepsie and it is awesome. Time Warner will not be able to compete when that arrives in Batavia. It's hard to believe how long it's going to take, though.

May 15, 2011, 2:09pm Permalink
Jeff Allen

Howard, I think you got the most honest answer. Whenever I ask a Verizon person about it, I get 2-3 years and that has been the same answer for 2 years.

May 16, 2011, 12:39pm Permalink
Gabor Deutsch

I contact Verizon at least every 9 months for the last 3 years for service calls. I find the service technicians they send out to be more honest. I just had my line replaced from the house to the pole. I was told that it was around 50 years old and could not handle my phone and internet service. (it was rotted). I have been told that they are constantly patching the old pole to junction lines in Batavia and if Fios ever makes it here that most of the lines will need to be upgraded to fiber optics. Then most of the old pole to house lines will need replaced too. That definitely will increase the price no matter what the demand.

May 16, 2011, 12:55pm Permalink

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