[geeks] Why I hate Verizon Online

[Sridhar Ayengar]

James Rice wrote:
> Verizon FIOS has been rolled out in our neighborhood.  We are paying
> $44.00 for 5/15mbps with no bandwidth cap.  Our subdivision is new so
> FIOS was placed in service when all the other infrastructure was put
> in place.
> 
> When the FIOS installer came out, he installed the FIOS terminator
> box, did the POTS hookup, installed the UPS and then asked to see my
> computer to complete his install.  I pointed him to my Sgi Octane.  He
> sat down looked at the screen and said, "Look if you are using this
> thing, you are far beyond where my skills will take you.  If it's not
> Windows 2000 or XP, we don't touch it.  Here is the setup info and the
> router we provide.  You are on your own.  My pager number is on the
> back.  Call me if you run into problems and I'll try to get you in
> contact with someone in support who speaks Unix."  He handed me a
> three page printout of router, gateway and DNS info plus some
> provisioning stuff I didn't have a clue about and a new D-Link
> wireless router.  Then he got in his truck and left.
> 
> The FIOS service has been flawless.  I replaced the cheesy D-Link with
> my own VPN router and every things been cool since.  They haven't said
> a word about me running my own mail and ftp server at home.  There has
> not been a single second of downtime since it went online  June 7th
> and the speed is an honest 5/15.  We are considering switching our TV
> from Direct TV to FIOS later in the spring when our DTV contract is
> up.

The only problem I have with FiOS is that they won't allow local ISPs to 
connect to the FiOS network to provide internet service.  I'd *much* 
rather keep my current ISP than use Verizon as my ISP.

Does anyone know yet if static IP and blocks are available with FiOS?

Peace...  Sridhar