Cable/Internet: Cox v. Verizon?

[New Hampshire]

Whew Saganista!

Must you contract for land phone, TV, and internet if you sign up with Verizon FiOS?

Can you have FiOS for internet and other providers for TV and land phone and keep the copper wiring for the telephone?

[gnu]

Originally Posted by New Hampshire

Whew Saganista!

Must you contract for land phone, TV, and internet if you sign up with Verizon FiOS?

Can you have FiOS for internet and other providers for TV and land phone and keep the copper wiring for the telephone?

I think it might be different depending on where you live. I only bought Verizon Internet. We have always had Verizon as our phone provider, so I don't know if we have to keep them or not, and we don't have TV from them.

I think Verizon disconnects the copper wiring leading from the street to your house.

I think the battery backup is only really there to power the phones in case you need to dial 911 or during emergencies.

[saganista]

Originally Posted by New Hampshire

Must you contract for land phone, TV, and internet if you sign up with Verizon FiOS? Can you have FiOS for internet and other providers for TV and land phone and keep the copper wiring for the telephone?

No, you can get the services a la carte as well, but the cost advantages of bundling all three are signficant, and as most people do want all three from somebody, getting them all from one place with one bill is a way that a lot of people decide to go. In my area, essentially the same deal has been on the table from Cox Communications for a number of years now. I've got their fiber optic TV and Internet service alright, but I've kept the good old Ma Bell landline for phone service throughout. The telemarketers seem to be happy with it...

[New Hampshire]

Originally Posted by saganista

and as most people do want all three from somebody

I gave up my land phone when I moved about five years ago and have never looked back. TracPhone Prepaid cell phone meets my needs just fine. They are automated - online or using a land line - so you rarely need customer service. On the rare occasions when you need customer service, customer service is courteous and professional and knowledgeable - and located in Canada and a Spanish-language country (I never bothered to ask what country, just recognize accent.)

The highest level internet service is, however, important to me. Hi def TV with an indoor antenna is a possibility for me in the future.

I dislike being captive to monopolies.