Reasons why you can’t order Verizon FiOS TV
April 5th, 2010, 11:36 am · 20 Comments · posted by Tamara Chuang, a.k.a. The Gadgetress
Last week, Verizon gave Orange County the most detailed information to date on where its elusive FiOS TV and Internet is offered.
The company listed 19 zip codes in area cities that may qualify for the fiber-optic services that boasts Internet speeds of 50 megabits per second and a slate of the most HD channels nationwide. But as I mentioned in the original post, this doesn’t mean that EVERYONE who lives in those zip codes can order FiOS TV and Internet service. Jon Davies, with Verizon, offered the zip codes to help readers, not frustrate them.
“I was hoping it would help readers get a better sense of where we are — I didn’t mean to cause frustration! But, as you know, the biggest challenge we’ve always had with FiOS is making it available to everyone who wants it,” Davies said.
So, to help clarify availability in those zip codes, I’m listing reasons why you may not be able to order FiOS for your home.
1. You live on the wrong side of the zip code. Zip codes don’t conform to the boundaries of Verizon’s footprint so some customers in these areas may be AT&T customers. Verizon is targeting its existing wired telephone base first before it expands outside its territory.
2. You’re part of the 52 percent in Verizon territory who can’t order service. Verizon hasn’t deployed fiber everywhere in its footprint, so that may be why some residents can’t get FiOS. In its last earnings report, Verizon said that 48 percent of people living within the Verizon service area (typically those who can order landline phone service from Verizon) — or 12.2 million premises — can now order FiOS capable. But of those, only 24.5 percent of potential customers do. That penetration rate, however, continues to grow. Last year, it was 20.8 percent. (Read the earlier story, “48% of people served by Verizon can order FiOS but most don’t.”) It’s also looking less likely that the remaining 52 percent will ever be able to order FiOS as the company has put expansion plans on hold in many cities nationwide. But we’ll have to wait for the company’s next update.
3. You live in an apartment or condo. Verizon is stepping up an effort to win over landlords and condo associations. Without them, there’s no way those residents can order FiOS. Here’s an older story about the topic, “Verizon FiOS TV heavily targeting apartments, condos in O.C. and more.” If you are a tenant, you should check with the owners. My personal story? I rent and asked my condo’s owner to check with the board for FiOS. The next thing I know, I’m getting free Showtime and a digital box from Time Warner Cable. The cable provider is just as aggressive with keeping existing customers.
4. Verizon’s FiOS availability database is not up to date. Verizon hasn’t confirmed this but I’ve had complaints from readers who plugged in their phone number or address to check availability and were told they live in Menifee, Ca. Or were told it wasn’t available even though a neighbor just ordered it. I suggest calling Verizon and getting someone on the line to verify whether you can get FiOS or not. That number is 1-888-591-6076.
More reasons? Comment below. I’ll add to the list. Thanks!
More on Verizon FiOS:
- Verizon says FiOS now available to 1.2 million in SoCal March 6, 2010
- Time Warner toys with raising Internet pricesMarch 2, 2010
- New soccer channel debuts on Dish, DirecTV and FiOS March 1, 2010
- 2 Verizon phones can now turn on the TVFebruary 19, 2010
- National Geographic Wild starts in March, replaces Fox Reality February 15, 2010
- Verizon FiOS gets high-def MSNBC TV February 11, 2010
- How to get Google’s new 1 Gbps Internet service to launch in your cityFebruary 10, 2010
- Verizon adds paperless coupons for phone, FiOS TV users February 4, 2010
- 48% of people served by Verizon can order FiOS but most don’t January 26, 2010
- Verizon FiOS Internet upload speed hits 35 Mbps! January 19, 2010
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they dont wanna do business with losers
#3 I thought FIOS was over phone lines?
Am I wrong?
Is it over Satellite?
Is it over a small antenna?
If it is over phone lines how is the landlord going to stop you from getting it?
I would love to get something other than overpriced Totally Worthless Crap
Or scare them where I could get a more fair $45 a month instead of the ripoff $70 for very basic digital
I wish I could hook up my Dish
I really miss it
It’s not over phone lines. It’s fiber optic cable technology (AT&T’s U-verse uses a mix of phone lines and fiber). So, Verizon has to dig up the ground to get the fiber to your door. If Verizon already has fiber in your street, then there’s a greater chance you can call and order it. If there’s no fiber in your neighborhood, then you might as well stop waiting for FiOS.
OK
My apartment has all overhead utilities (power, phone and Totally Worthless Crap)
If Fiber is on the pole it only a matter of them stringing it into the building and installing the support electronics (boosters, splitters and converters) in the phone room
Would they use twisted pair to each apartment or fiber strands?
FiOS is supposed to be fiber all the way to the house, even if it’s coming over utility polls. Verizon, correct me if I’m wrong… Otherwise, it’s fiber to the node (essentially fiber to a spot in the street, then copper to the house, which is what U-verse is doing).
FIOS is fiber optic. They need to lay the lines to your neighborhood and then to your home. They also install a battery backup so if you don’t own you’ll probably need the owner’s permission. We have FIOS and it’s AMAZING!! There is no signal degradation from the source so it’s the purest, clearest, most beautiful HD signal you can get. I’ve lost count how many times people have looked at our tv and said “why doesn’t my HD look like that?”
TAMMY,
YOU MAY NEED TO EXPLAIN WHAT FIBER OPTIC IS TO THE TYPICAL AMERICAN.
THEY MAY THINK YOU MAY MEAN FIBER AS IN THE BRAN FIBER CEREAL THEY EAT FOR BREAKFAST THIS MORNING.
You’re right! This is the fiber I’m talking about: Photo and definition. Everything moves faster with fiber
If they’ve laid the fiber optic, they should make it available to other providers. Just like your electric bill has transmission charges separate from generation charges, the FCC and CPUC need to compel the telecom companies to work together in the best interest of the consumer. If you live on AT&T’s side of the train tracks you should be able to pick Verizon.
Unfortunately the potential downside of this is more chance of price fixing between the two providers but we already have that with each having rights to their own “turf.”
#5 – somehow my city let COX become a monopoly.
I wish I could get something other than Cox in Irvine. I’m not too happy with their internet service at the moment. Usually I’m a calm person but I found myself yelling at their customer service representative and her yelling back at me. I’m on the verge of canceling even if it means going to the local Starbucks for Wi-Fi.
Verizon won’t reveal the 70,000 homes/businesses in O.C. that can actually order FiOS service, but I bet that revealing those would, in some circles, increase property values. Someone, however, could manually type in every local address to check FiOS availability. Any volunteers?
Have AT&T’s U-verse and quite happy with it – so far. Much better than cable.
Tamara, I’m sure people would put the fiber-to-home info in any MLS listing for a home for sale. It’s the same as “upgraded cabinets”, more or less
Fiber is a complete game changer. Why ANYONE would ever go with another service if an all-fiber alternative is available is beyond me.
If I lived in an area with FIOS available, nothing any of the cable companies could possibly do would get me to stick with them. No cable company comes CLOSE to offering 50 mbps down/20 mbps up that Verizon offers (sure, Comcast and Cox may claim to offer those but the real-world experience with both ISPs is that they rarely deliver the speeds they promise, and are both restrictive in how much bandwidth you can use). No other carrier in the US offers the same level of internet speed and stability that Verizon offers except for a few local municipality-owned fiber providers popping up in areas around the country.
As for their TV service: Who cares? The future is not television. Television is a holdover from the 1950s-1990s, before interactivity and on-demand programming. We should be moving towards a single IP-based network where people can get all of their entertainment and do all of their business. Why is it that, while AT&T’s U-Verse lines can handle 60mbps down/20mbps up easily, the maximum they offer is 24/3 regardless of if you opt in for television or phone or not? Even Verizon is not fully utilizing their lines. Their new lines could easily handle 100-200 mbps symmetric connections (same speed up as down), yet they insist on forcing people to accept a slower connection to fit their TV signals in.
At times, I’ve put serious thought into moving solely for fiber internet. Anaheim is nice, but the internet options available here are horrid.
MIKE,
GO TO UCI AND TRY OUT THEIR GIGABIT ETHERNET!
YOU WILL BE BLOWN AWAY!
Indeed. I’ve spent time overseas at well. When I went to Sweden, the connections there were ASTOUNDING. 100/100 for less than most people here pay for a barebones 10/1 connection. No caps or regulations, either.
It’s about time we put forth more of an effort to give people a blank slate of a fast connection. Let the consumer decide WHAT content they want. Don’t tie them down to a system that gives them barely enough ability to download or stream video, forcing them to go to traditional media and having to deal with such things like having to abide by a certain TV schedule.
F Verizon. Biters. AT&T still rules the Roost.
Now that I had to downgrade from FIOS to Cox Cable, I really miss FIOS. I can REALLY tell the difference, but my only option is Cable or Satelite in Mission Viejo. boooo!
Maybe I’ll have to try sat tv and just use the cable for internet.
I agree with Mike’s sentiments above, but until city councils/associations stop pulling together sweetheart exclusivity deals for their fave ISPs, we consumers are at the mercy of our Overlords. Just send in your monthly association dues & stop whining.