Dismiss the New York attorney general’s Voice Link...
Dismiss the New York attorney general’s Voice Link concerns, Verizon told the New York State Public Service Commission in comments filed Thursday night (http://bit.ly/12qxKbC). Wednesday, the office of Attorney General Eric Schneiderman alleged Verizon is violating a May PSC order…
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by deploying and promoting Voice Link beyond Fire Island, an area where the regulator had officially sanctioned the fixed wireless service as a sole offering (CD June 27 p6). “Despite its alarmist title and extravagant claims, the Attorney General’s ‘Emergency Petition’ fails to provide evidence of any violation of a ‘Commission directive,’ much less of any emergency,” the telco said, its comments signed by Verizon New York Counsel Joseph Post. Verizon acknowledged offering Voice Link in Monticello, N.Y., as the AG showed with an affidavit from a resident there, but the telco argued it was presented as an optional service, fully permissible and not at all forbidden by the May PSC order. “Indeed, the Order specifically excludes optional offerings from the limitations (including geographic ones) imposed on ‘Voice Link only’ offerings -- a fact that the Petition fails to mention, despite its detailed discussion of other provisions of the same tariff,” Verizon added. It said any balanced read of the situation or contacting Verizon could have avoided the filing of such a petition, lacking in “factual or legal support.” The AG’s attached affidavit indeed proves Verizon’s operating procedures in the Catskills, it argued, explaining that it has begun offering Voice Link to customers currently served by copper who encounter persistent trouble, but does not force the option.