In some areas VZ will leave the copper in place if you simply ask, and in some places you must forcefully "insist." I'm aware of a case in the Tampa area where a subscriber had to "insist." While he did wind up keeping his POTS lines intact, while adding a second feed in the way of fiber for Internet access (and video, if it ever gets/got there?), alone, he advised me that this involves maintaining two accounts with Verizon. And naturally, this means two monthly bills, as well. One bill will be for the FiOS service(s), which is(are) the Internet and TV service being offered by Verizon.net, and the other account (the subscriber's original account) for POTS. If you suspect that the telco in doing this is merely trying to keep its business functions separated along the lines of switched circuit vs. IP, and for all of the regulatory reasons having to do with positioning that that implies, then you'd be 100% correct. Frank A. Coluccio DTI Consulting Inc. 212-587-8150 Office 347-526-6788 Mobile ---------------------------------------

In (at least) the Long Island, NY market, Verizon FTTH/FIOS installers physically cut and decommission the copper upon fiber install. Bye-bye DSL competition. Since they won't bring back the copper even you don't like the FIOS service, it's permanent. ISTR that the fiber doesn't carry the same restrictions on Verizon as copper did, which is a big incentive (for them) to roll out FIOS that way.

My understanding is that there is a fairly small number of pots circuits (2?) that they can bring in over the B-PON, and that moreover ISDN BRI and hicap (eg. repeatered or HDSL DS1 service) are entirely incompatible. In Virginia, there's anecdotal evidence that suggests that they'll leave the copper upon request, and won't even try to remove it if you still need it for service. Guess you know what to do. :) ---rob