(BE SURE TO READ THE 1/4/06 & 1/8/06 UPDATES NEAR THE END!) 
The "F" keeps on dancing (click on it to see), as "My FiOS New Customer Experience" continues from my first call to Verizon on 7/18/05. I say this because at the end of my last FiOS related post on 10/30/05 ("Update On My Overall Verizon FiOS Experience"), I said: "I also await the answer from Verizon on a more fair, in my opinion, compensation for my time, trouble, Buffalo tech education, and my detailed, time consuming, customer feedback."
Well, on 11/9/05 that FiOS tech support supervisor finally called me back from our 10/28/05 phone conversation that included her having to talk to a manager about this request of mine. I had left a phone message for her on 11/6/05 and 11/8/05. I now specifically asked for a "more fair" compensation of two Verizon FiOS D-Link devices. One of these (Verizon's wireless router) was already offered to me by her. But, I thought there would be a Buffalo wireless compatibility issue, and so I previously declined the offer. I must interject here that I have also previously said that I would keep the terms of my "more fair" compensation confidential. I am not going back on my word as I was only offered (and given) that previously offered D-link device (the "special firmware" D-link wireless router). There was NO "MORE FAIR" compensation offered!
So, I can only assume that Verizon FiOS believes that my, now, over 20 hours of time spent on tech support phone conversations, and trying to deal with FiOS wireless connectivity and 1.5 MBps to 3.5 MBps (out of a possible 5 MBps) speed issues, is only worth about $95 (full retail pricing on device and one month's free service). Let's see, that works out to about $4.75 per hour. Of course, that's just for my time, and has nothing to do with my FRUSTRATION in trying to tell numerous Verizon people from the beginning, that I had a UNIQUE SITUATION with my 9 Buffalo Tech wireless devices (a unique access point bridging set up). I kept being told what I wanted to hear; "no problem, we have experienced tech reps in the engineering dept. who will call you."
It is not that I am ungrateful for what I did get, as I'm sure many other people will spend a lot of their time in dealing with an effective transition from DSL wireless service to FiOS wireless service. I say this because it was finally disclosed to me on 11/5/05 by a FiOS tech support rep that "Verizon does not support an all wireless network!" That is why only D-Link USB Adapters are sold by Verizon vs. totally wireless "repeater-access points" like I now have with Buffalo. The degree of wireless local area network knowledge that a person has will determine how much time they spend, in my opinion. Of course, if you do not have a wireless "LAN" and only hard wire one or more computers to the FiOS, your FiOS experience should be great.
When my D-Link wireless router was dropped off by a Verizon FiOS field technician yesterday, he tried to convince me to buy a D-Link PCMCIA card for one of my three laptops. He said that it is more compatible for high speed than the Buffalo PCMCIA card that I am now using. While I'm sure he meant well, this only reinforced my opinion that Verizon knows darn well that many people may have to switch out one or more of their current wireless products for what they sell. This is another initial decision making factor that is important enough to be disclosed up front, in my opinion, but isn't. The Verizon wireless router has special firmware that is internet upgradeable, and that same firmware manages the bursts of high speed that the fiber cable produces. I was told this by many FiOS support reps, along with the fact that you can't even buy that special firmware DI-624 wireless router from D-Link or any online or offline reseller!
Since that nice FiOS tech support supervisor took so long in getting back to me (probably not her fault), and since my 12 Noon to 2 PM appointment window for the field tech support rep to deliver and initially set up the DI-624 wound up being more like 5:15 PM (due to a dispatch paperwork "computer glitch"?), I decided to not spend a lot more of my time last night in configuring my new, part Buffalo Tech devices, D-Link wireless router local area network. You never know what you are going to run into once you start the configuration. Besides, I now have an e-mail into that nice FiOS tech support supervisor requesting the phone support time of one of their two more knowledgeable tech support reps who I'm already familiar with. I wonder how long it will take me to get an answer?
By the way, my 30 Days Guarantee is up, and since I don't have time right now to shop for a new ISP, and I'm assured of the same pricing as my former DSL pricing for the first year, I've decided to keep FiOS for now.
ATTENTION - 1/4/06 UPDATE: Since this is my latest post on FiOS, I wanted all to know that I just found out that the Verizon FiOS for Home FAQ part of their web site has been changed (at "Equipment and Networking" and "What other equipment is needed for Verizon FiOS Internet Service") to say "As part of your Verizon FiOS Internet Service, you will receive a wireless router." This makes my day, since when I was dealing with the FiOS tech support people (I HAVE A PRINTED OUT SCREEN SHOT) it said (at "About Installation" and "What if I want to connect more than one computer?"): "You will receive a free wired home networking 4-port router with your FiOS Internet Service." It goes on to say: "If you would like to connect your computers wirelessly, you can upgrade to a wireless router for the discounted rate listed below." (This was $64.99). This part of their web site was changed also, I now see, to offer the wireless router for free.
Congratulations Verizon! This is a step in the right direction along with what appears to be more upfront disclosure about the customer using his own wireless network components. Maybe my 20 hours of "phone work" with FiOS tech support people did help educate them to the many possible, and some unique, networking set ups that are out there now. (1/15/06 UPDATE = New Verizon & Belkin deal to make routers and do tech support for Verizon may be the reason for the "free wireless D-Link router" change in policy? See "Verizon Fiber Optics" 1/5/06 forum post.) My existing wireless network has a a wireless 802.11g Buffalo router and many access points that have somewhat of a "proprietary" bridging system set up between access points, according to Buffalo tech support.
But, when will Verizon change the FAQ page at "Is there a money-back guarantee with Verizon FiOS Internet service?" under "Billing". It doesn't have to be put there, but this is the FAQ section that led me to believe that I had "everything to gain and nothing to lose" by upgrading from Verizon DSL service to FiOS service. I didn't know, upfront, that I might have to spend my time shopping for a new DSL service supplier and DSL pricing plans, if I wanted to cancel FiOS within the 30 day guarantee.
Again, I feel that all prospects for FiOS that upgrade from Verizon DSL service should be told, upfront, on the phone and on the FiOS web site (I can't find anything about this after looking good again), that Verizon won't let them go back to their former Verizon DSL service if they decide "FOR ANY REASON" to cancel FiOS! Now, Verizon may have good technical (I'm still not sure about that aspect) and marketing reasons for having this "NO Turning Back to their DSL" Policy. All I'm saying is that they should have clear, conspicuous, complete, and comprehended upfront disclosure about it, as it could affect the initial "trial buying decision" of current Verizon DSL customers. (See 4/5/06 Update "FiOS Does Inconspicuous "No Turning Back To DSL" Disclosure "
As for the marketing reasons, I'm not sure, but I've heard rumors of Verizon FiOS "packaged pricing" that bundles phone, internet, and TV-Video services together at a lower price than buying the three separately from three different vendors. This will help Verizon take revenue from the cable and satellite TV companies, in my opinion.
ATTENTION - 1/8/06 UPDATE: I have just found "Verizon FiOS Insures Future Monopoly" on Om Malik's Blog from 10/14/05. Om asks "Why rip out the copper?" There are many great comments to read, but Benedict Evans says: "If you go and look at Verizon’s investor presentations at the time they launched FOIS, they made the point that half the benefit of FTTH is the lower maintainance costs - local loop fibre has lower maintainance costs than local loop copper (partly because with fibre there’s no powered equipment between the exchange and the customer premises). If they (Verizon) leave the copper in place they don’t get that benefit."
This is in partial conflict to what I have in writing from Verizon. They told me "..that once fiber service is installed at the customers' premises the copper NID (Network Interface Device) is made inactive or removed." I'm not a tech guy, so I don't know if removing the NID (ONLY) is the same as removing all of the copper wire? (1/15/06 UPDATE = Definition & Photos of NID's)
But, one other commentor on Om's post separates "aerial copper drops" from "underground copper installations": "Knowing how telcos think, I’m sure that someone at Verizon sat down and calculated the cost of removing aerial and underground copper drops in FiOS installs, calculated the expected incremental cost of maintenance activity due to inactive copper drops, and concluded that the most cost-effective decision was to remove aerial drops when they do FiOS installs." See the DG Lewis Comment, as this makes sense to me.
In my opinion, and only as far as I am concerned, as long as Verizon doesn't raise their rates too much and too frequently after their "One Year Term Plan for Promotional Pricing and Free Installation Offer" for FiOS service" on their "monopoly" for their "last mile" of control of fiber optic Internet service, I believe that Verizon is providing a valuable service (See pricing details in the "fine print" at the bottom of this FiOS "Packages & Prices" web site page). I must admit, though, I have seen many introductory offers before in other industries, and invariably prices go up to the amount that the seller feels the market will bear. ONLY TIME WILL TELL IF VERIZON WILL FOLLOW SUIT!
However, the main things that I believe should be done ASAP are for Verizon FiOS to have clear, conspicuous, complete and comprehended upfront disclosure by phone reps and on the FiOS web site about "No Turning Back To Verizon DSL Service" during the money back trial period. This lack of upfront disclosure is "DECEPTIVE ADVERTISING" in my opinion. The other thing is that it would be good to disclose their battery replacement cost upfront as being about $40.00 (if you buy from Verizon, if not, then about $25.00). Battery replacement frequency depends on many things, but I was told that between 1 to 3 years is a good range.
Animated "F" courtesy of www.artie.com
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