Systemic problems at Verizon

Verizon is continuing to have network problems. http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A12557-2001Feb15.html Although Verizon's spokesperson may be correct, it may not be a systemic network-wide problem. However, it does seem to be evidence of a systemic management problem. Are things as bad in Verizon country as they got in Ameritech country? Eventually the various state PUC's had to intervene in Ameritech's service problems.