Copper land line shut down, being moved to fiber. What should I expect?

[Old Verizon Guy]

Verizon, without any warning or anything, shut down our old, copper
land line. They say they are moving us to fiber optic. I thought that
this might just be something where they switch stuff around on their
end and nothing really changes for us, but now I've read something
about a router. We are not going for FIOS, so why would we need a
router?

In a chat session the Verizon rep rather gleefully told me that
Verizon would install a battery in my small apartment, which I think
could be a problem. We live in an apartment building, wouldn't they
have all of that in the building's basement? Do I have to buy a
battery from Verizon? Can I do without a battery, and live with any
power outages? Is there a reason why I couldn't buy a battery from
some other vendor, or can Verizon force me to buy their battery?

I'm sure they'll try to upsell me on FIOS, but I'll resist that. Is
there anything I should be aware of before this switch-over happens in
a couple of days? Thanks for any help.

[David Lesher]

Post by Old Verizon Guy
Verizon, without any warning or anything, shut down our old, copper
land line. They say they are moving us to fiber optic. I thought that
this might just be something where they switch stuff around on their
end and nothing really changes for us, but now I've read something
about a router. We are not going for FIOS, so why would we need a
router?

Like it or not, you are being forced onto FIOS. If you are
getting telephone service and only that, you won't need a
router.

They will install a ONT
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_interface_device#Optical_network_terminals>
in your home, and run fiber to it. You have to provide power for
it. They connect your existing phone jacks to it.

When the power fails, you are supposed to plug in a holder with
8 D-batteries.

[Old Verizon Guy]

On Wed, 24 Mar 2021 00:04:42 +0000 (UTC), David Lesher

Post by David Lesher

Post by Old Verizon Guy
Verizon, without any warning or anything, shut down our old, copper
land line. They say they are moving us to fiber optic. I thought that
this might just be something where they switch stuff around on their
end and nothing really changes for us, but now I've read something
about a router. We are not going for FIOS, so why would we need a
router?

Like it or not, you are being forced onto FIOS. If you are
getting telephone service and only that, you won't need a
router.

Okay, thanks. I didn't think we would, but Verizon sent us some
message about it. I'm thinking they'll try to upsell us on it.

Post by David Lesher
They will install a ONT
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_interface_device#Optical_network_terminals>
in your home, and run fiber to it. You have to provide power for
it.

So that power comes off our electrical power connection? And it's
going to show up on our electricity bill? I've looked at the page you
supplied above and I don't see how they're going to get the
electricity for the ONT. Is the ONT something that can be plugged into
the wall for power? Are they going to start digging into the apartment
wall to get at wiring? The big problem there is that the building is
very old and from what I've seen of the electrical wiring the
insulation on it is all falling apart. Lots of issues there.

Post by David Lesher
They connect your existing phone jacks to it.

And those are located in a closet where the old copper came up from
the basement about 90 years ago. No electrical power in there at all.

Post by David Lesher
When the power fails, you are supposed to plug in a holder with
8 D-batteries.

I've seen that there are two battery options, but do we have to buy
the battery stuff from Verizon? I could probably get a better deal
elsewhere.

This is all looking like a big problem. I wish Verizon had just left
the copper alone.

[Dan Espen]

Post by Old Verizon Guy
On Wed, 24 Mar 2021 00:04:42 +0000 (UTC), David Lesher

Post by David Lesher

Post by Old Verizon Guy
Verizon, without any warning or anything, shut down our old, copper
land line. They say they are moving us to fiber optic. I thought that
this might just be something where they switch stuff around on their
end and nothing really changes for us, but now I've read something
about a router. We are not going for FIOS, so why would we need a
router?

Like it or not, you are being forced onto FIOS. If you are
getting telephone service and only that, you won't need a
router.

Okay, thanks. I didn't think we would, but Verizon sent us some
message about it. I'm thinking they'll try to upsell us on it.

Of course.

The FIOS internet and TV are great options.

Post by Old Verizon Guy

Post by David Lesher
They will install a ONT
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_interface_device#Optical_network_terminals>
in your home, and run fiber to it. You have to provide power for
it.

So that power comes off our electrical power connection? And it's
going to show up on our electricity bill? I've looked at the page you
supplied above and I don't see how they're going to get the
electricity for the ONT. Is the ONT something that can be plugged into
the wall for power? Are they going to start digging into the apartment
wall to get at wiring? The big problem there is that the building is
very old and from what I've seen of the electrical wiring the
insulation on it is all falling apart. Lots of issues there.

They put the ONT near one of your outlets.
The amount of electricity FIOS uses in minuscule.

Post by Old Verizon Guy

Post by David Lesher
They connect your existing phone jacks to it.

And those are located in a closet where the old copper came up from
the basement about 90 years ago. No electrical power in there at all.

They'll figure out where to put everything. They just need to hook into
your existing wiring.

Post by Old Verizon Guy

Post by David Lesher
When the power fails, you are supposed to plug in a holder with
8 D-batteries.

I've seen that there are two battery options, but do we have to buy
the battery stuff from Verizon? I could probably get a better deal
elsewhere.

Not sure why you are talking about batteries. They initially did my
installation with batteries but have since removed them. Batteries
are for backup when you lose power and they are optional.

Post by Old Verizon Guy
This is all looking like a big problem. I wish Verizon had just left
the copper alone.

Verizon wants to get rid of 100 year old technology. Given how much
better fiber is, I'm happy they're tearing down all that copper.
The picture on my TV has never been better and high speed internet
is wonderful. Can't stop the damn telemarketers from barraging my
land line though.

Somehow, I've managed to also become an old guy but maintain
a positive outlook.

[Ant]

Dan Espen <***@gmail.com> wrote:
...

Post by Dan Espen
Verizon wants to get rid of 100 year old technology. Given how much
better fiber is, I'm happy they're tearing down all that copper.
The picture on my TV has never been better and high speed internet
is wonderful. Can't stop the damn telemarketers from barraging my
land line though.
Somehow, I've managed to also become an old guy but maintain
a positive outlook.

I'd totally go to fiber too if my area gave me that option, but nope
they won't upgrade the old copper line and system here. :(

[David Lesher]

Post by Old Verizon Guy

Post by David Lesher
Like it or not, you are being forced onto FIOS. If you are
getting telephone service and only that, you won't need a
router.

Okay, thanks. I didn't think we would, but Verizon sent us some
message about it. I'm thinking they'll try to upsell us on it.

I am SURE they will do THAT.

Post by Old Verizon Guy
So that power comes off our electrical power connection? And
it's going to show up on our electricity bill?

Yes, but it's only a few watts. Replace one incandescent lamp
with a LED in your house and you'll be ahead.

Post by Old Verizon Guy
I've looked at the page you supplied above and I don't see how
they're going to get the electricity for the ONT.

Basically a big wall wart. Where to put it is their issue.

Post by Old Verizon Guy

Post by David Lesher
They connect your existing phone jacks to it.

And those are located in a closet where the old copper came up
from the basement about 90 years ago. No electrical power in
there at all.

Again, their issue. If you have NO outlets anywhere in the
basement it may get ...interesting....

Post by Old Verizon Guy

Post by David Lesher
When the power fails, you are supposed to plug in a holder
with 8 D-batteries.

I've seen that there are two battery options, but do we have
to buy the battery stuff from Verizon? I could probably get a
better deal elsewhere.

They previously supplied battery backup units. They stopped
doing that and now give/sell you a holder for your own
D-batteries. You plug them if when the power goes down. You
must remove them when you get power back. Keep a flashlight
handy.

BTW, letting them retire the copper plant is only a fraction of
their savings. They also want to junk the central-office switch;
the recurring license fees for those are significant. Your FIOS
calls instead go to regional faux central office; a few boxes in
a 19" rack handle tens of thousands subscribers.

[Robert Peirce]

Post by Old Verizon Guy
Verizon, without any warning or anything, shut down our old, copper
land line. They say they are moving us to fiber optic.

You may be lucky. Verizon, without notice, changed my basic phone from
$30/mo to $70/mo (plus tax and additional charges). Apparently they
can't install FIOS in my area, at least not yet. Fortunately, I get my
internet connection from another vendor who only charges $28 for phone
service. For $2/mo it wasn't worth the aggravation of switching. For
$42/mo it is.

[Old Verizon Guy]

On Sat, 27 Mar 2021 11:22:55 -0400, Robert Peirce

Post by Robert Peirce

Post by Old Verizon Guy
Verizon, without any warning or anything, shut down our old, copper
land line. They say they are moving us to fiber optic.

You may be lucky. Verizon, without notice, changed my basic phone from
$30/mo to $70/mo (plus tax and additional charges). Apparently they
can't install FIOS in my area, at least not yet. Fortunately, I get my
internet connection from another vendor who only charges $28 for phone
service. For $2/mo it wasn't worth the aggravation of switching. For
$42/mo it is.

We got a letter from Verizon recently saying that our basic phone bill
was going to increase by more than $30 a month. This was when we had
the copper based setup. I have to contact them now and see if they're
still going to do that. We're already paying about $70 a month. It'll
be ironic if after getting this fiber based phone line installed that
we end up dumping Verizon because they are trying to gouge us even
more.

[Bit Twister]

Post by Old Verizon Guy
On Sat, 27 Mar 2021 11:22:55 -0400, Robert Peirce

Post by Robert Peirce

Post by Old Verizon Guy
Verizon, without any warning or anything, shut down our old, copper
land line. They say they are moving us to fiber optic.

You may be lucky. Verizon, without notice, changed my basic phone from
$30/mo to $70/mo (plus tax and additional charges). Apparently they
can't install FIOS in my area, at least not yet. Fortunately, I get my
internet connection from another vendor who only charges $28 for phone
service. For $2/mo it wasn't worth the aggravation of switching. For
$42/mo it is.

We got a letter from Verizon recently saying that our basic phone bill
was going to increase by more than $30 a month. This was when we had
the copper based setup. I have to contact them now and see if they're
still going to do that. We're already paying about $70 a month.

Hehe, sounds like Frontier. Neighbor disliked the new increase in cost
to $180+. so called in to cancel TV shows. Since he un-bundled new bill
was 120+. I talked him into getting a VOIP phone provider. So he switched
to Spectrum cable for $25 a month for Internet, and $18 a month for
phone from http:WWW.PhonePower.com/

PhonePower sent him an voip adapter which we used an Ethernet cable to
connect to Spectrum router, then ran phone wire in attic where phone
was connected to Frontier ONT back to PhonePower adapter. PhonePower
submitted paperwork to switch phone number from Frontier to them.

Went to BestBuy and bought TV rabbit ears and tv signal amplifier to get
free over the air TV and is now enjoys TV, Internet, and phone for less
than $45 a month here just outside of Dallas TX.

[David Lesher]

Post by Old Verizon Guy
We got a letter from Verizon recently saying that our basic
phone bill was going to increase by more than $30 a month. This
was when we had the copper based setup. I have to contact them
now and see if they're still going to do that. We're already
paying about $70 a month. It'll be ironic if after getting this
fiber based phone line installed that we end up dumping Verizon
because they are trying to gouge us even more.

I'd assume they bait&switched you into their unregulated VOIP
product. You can do far better for far less. I use CallCentric
but there are several others such as VOIPms. I don't recommend
any heavily promoted consumer-aimed VOIP carriers. Callcentric
costs about $4/month in base charges and $0.01 - $0.015 per
minute, outbound and incoming. If you do the math, it's
not much.

You can likely get FIOS TCP/IP connectivity for $50/month.
If you are crazier than I am, you can let VZ directly drain
your bank account and spend $10 less. I won't do that.

[Old Verizon Guy]

This is really a reply to everyone who helped, especially David and
Dan.

The installer came, and the experience wasn't that bad. He had to
drill holes, but he even cleaned up after that.

He put in the ONT and it has a power supply attached to it. It's
plugged into one of the wall sockets, so we now have one fewer of
those to use for other purposes. We have two phones coming from the
central entry point of the copper based phone line from long ago. The
two lines branched out from that central point. One phone was closer
to the hole they drilled. So they set the ONT up there and shorted the
old wiring at the central entry point so that the other phone could
get to the ONT.

I noticed that he used a simple double headed line splitter because
the ONT apparently only has one phone jack. Odd to see that old sort
of thing, which I've handled so many times myself, on this all black
ONT.

I made it clear right away that I wasn't going to buy anything and the
installer didn't try to push any products after that.

So we have a telephone again. Both phones work, and the answering
machine and caller ID still work.

Now I have to go fight with Verizon about the bill. They had our phone
line down for weeks, and they are fully charging us anyway!

So thanks to all who helped.

[Dan Espen]

Post by Old Verizon Guy
This is really a reply to everyone who helped, especially David and
Dan.
The installer came, and the experience wasn't that bad. He had to
drill holes, but he even cleaned up after that.
He put in the ONT and it has a power supply attached to it. It's
plugged into one of the wall sockets, so we now have one fewer of
those to use for other purposes. We have two phones coming from the
central entry point of the copper based phone line from long ago. The
two lines branched out from that central point. One phone was closer
to the hole they drilled. So they set the ONT up there and shorted the
old wiring at the central entry point so that the other phone could
get to the ONT.
I noticed that he used a simple double headed line splitter because
the ONT apparently only has one phone jack. Odd to see that old sort
of thing, which I've handled so many times myself, on this all black
ONT.
I made it clear right away that I wasn't going to buy anything and the
installer didn't try to push any products after that.
So we have a telephone again. Both phones work, and the answering
machine and caller ID still work.
Now I have to go fight with Verizon about the bill. They had our phone
line down for weeks, and they are fully charging us anyway!
So thanks to all who helped.

Now your phone is compatible with Nomorobo.
Nomorobo is free and reduces the number of telemarketing calls that get
through.

https://nomorobo.com/