Larchmont Issues Stop Work Order on Verizon Boxes;
Village-Verizon Meet

by Judy Silberstein

(October 28, 2004) Village of Larchmont residents may have noted a sudden drop in the population of Verizon workers, who until recently had been swarming residential streets and attaching large metal lockers to telephone polls. Their disappearance is due to an October 14 “stop work order” issued by the Village Code Enforcement Officer, Frank Blasi, investigating on the request of Mayor Ken Bialo.

There was concern about the impact of the boxes and the possibility that Verizon was planning to use the boxes to offer cable television services without meeting their obligation to pay a tri-municipal franchise fee. Verizon's normal maintenance was not impacted by the order.

Work on the boxes stopped by October 16, and by October 21, senior representatives of Verizon were meeting with Mayor Bialo to discuss the problem of the boxes and their location, which the order called “hazardous to pedestrians and motorists and visually blighting.”

By then, Verizon officials had admitted that the boxes were part of a major new deployment of what they call “fiber-to-the-premises” that will use fiber-optic wire to bring an array of broadband technology to residences and businesses in parts of six states, including New York. An October 21 press release stressed the company's ability to offer high-speed computer connections, but delivery of cable television service is another possibility. Earlier in the month, a company spokesman was only willing to say the new equipment was for managing and increasing capacity of the existing network, even though Verizon workers were enthusiastically spilling the beans about fiber-to-the-premises. (See: New Verizon Boxes Appear on Old Poles.)

According to Mayor Bialo, three things came out of the meeting. First, Verizon recognized their obligation to obtain a cable franchise before providing cable services. “They were very firm on that,” said Mayor Bialo.

On the issue of location, Verizon wanted to move the boxes further up the pole, which they’ve already done in some locations in the Town of Mamaroneck. The mayor wanted them to put the boxes underground. “We agreed that I would look at the one that was moved up the pole, and they would look into burying the boxes,” said the mayor. ‘That they recognize that there’s a problem with the boxes, that’s a plus,” he said.

Verizon will also be looking into the possibility of using smaller boxes that would be less intrusive.

Third, they addressed next steps. “How are we going to get to a solution? That needs more attention and I accept that they are going to look into it,” said Mayor Bialo. “You don’t have to sell me on the technology, that’s not my bailiwick,” he added. “Modern innovation – great; competition – terrific, but you have to follow the rules,” he said.

Verizon spokesperson Daniel D. Zapata confirmed that Verizon had met with the mayor. “The meeting was cordial. The company is presently working with officials to address all concerns,” he said.