CWA Facing Off with Verizon in Va. over Deregulation

In hearings this week in Virginia that Verizon hopes will end the state's telecom oversight, CWA is arguing that the company wants the freedom to pursue its fiber-optic FiOS network at the expense of the copper network that provides telephone and Internet service for most of Virginia's rural and inner-city areas.

"Verizon is not providing quality service to the customers who rely on its copper network and has no intention of providing quality service to these customers in the future," CWA's Charlie Buttiglieri testified before the State Corporation Commission in Richmond. "Verizon seeks deregulation to reduce its obligation to maintain the copper plant so that it can focus all its resources on FIOS network, which is only being deployed in select areas."

Verizon is arguing that there is enough telecom competition in Virginia now that the market, rather than the state government, should determine prices. But some state officials and opponents say the company is exaggerating the amount of competition.

As the hearings began Monday, about 15 red-shirted CWA Stewards Army members from locals across Virginia gathered to protest Verizon's attempt at deregulation. CWA District 2 Representative Carol Summerlyn told reporters that the union supports FiOS "but not at the expensive of other customers."