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.
|