Verizon was a leader in delivering next generation broadband with their FiOS product with fiber to homes in many areas across the country. Speeds well over 100mbps and adoption rates as high as 70% demonstrate the demand for fiber is real.
Verizon was given tax incentives for nearly a decade from several states including New Jersey and Pennsylvania to deliver high speeds across their entire service area. However, Verizon did not meet their obligations in New Jersey and were recently given a pass to not deliver and still keep their tax incentives.
Verizon did something similar in Pennsylvania, promising the state full 45 Mbps broadband coverage after taking billions in subsidies and tax cuts, then simply being pardoned when they failed to follow through. Again, this kind of cozy relationship between regulators and industry is precisely why the United States continues to be the poster child for mediocrity when it comes to most global broadband rankings.
via New Jersey Lets Verizon Off the Hook on Broadband Obligations.
Although Verizon FiOS is not available to the Dayton region (nor anywhere in Ohio), our government leaders should not be giving tax incentives to major ISPs without solid delivery on their promises.
Leigh Sandy is the founder of Extra Mile Fiber and has been building and operating networks connected to the Internet since 1995.