Verizon Rejects Proposed DC Copper Rules
Sharpening proposed copper abandonment rules in the District of Columbia would make a bad idea worse, Verizon said. The Public Service Commission proposed rules requiring notification by any telco planning to abandon its copper facilities (docket RM27-2016). In comments last…
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month, the Office of the People's Counsel and the Communications Workers of America suggested tweaks to strengthen the rules (see 1607260027). In replies Monday, Verizon said the recommendations of the OPC and CWA "could turn the copper retirement process into a lengthy approval proceeding for the District alone, negating federal and District policies encouraging fiber deployment.” The PSC “should reject these recommendations and not move forward with the proposed copper retirement rules,” it said. The Fiber-to-the-Home Council, with members including network equipment vendors, supported the telco. FCC rules mandating battery backup power and requiring retail customer notification for planned copper retirement ensure that a uniform set of rules applies to all providers, it said. "A state-by-state approach will only serve to confuse customers, be duplicative, and create a patchwork of rules."