Verizon recently announced a $200 million dollar "investment" into western Massachusetts, to supposedly expand and fill most of the unserved towns with DSL internet access. I personally feel that it's another farce on Verizon's part to undermine all of the small, local private internet companies that have been working hard with the towns in western Massachusetts to make a variety of broadband solutions available. Verizon had conveniently made this announcement just before a major forum [which was cancelled] that Berkshire and Pioneer Valley Connect organized on March 1st concerning broadband, and just after the February 14th legislative hearing on the $25 million broadband initiative. 

I feel that local towns should completely ignore Verizon's efforts to undermine everything that our citizens have accomplished where broadband is concerned. For example, our town has been working with the local wireless internet provider, WiSpring, for well over a year now, to cut through legal red tape and to get towers up. I plan on joining and supporting WiSpring's service, despite whether or not Verizon ever runs DSL service by my own house.

In our town, we've learned not to trust Verizon. For example, entire sections of town lose phone service every time it rains or there is a snow storm. Also, in every single one of our phone bills since Verizon bought out the last phone company, Nynex, they have falsely advertised DSL availability to us, despite the fact that we cannot receive it at all. And, since our town started a broadband committee, Verizon has played games with us numerous times, giving us wishy-washy answers, saying that we cannot get DSL, that we might get DSL, and that we will get DSL some day, etc, etc.

Also, I'm very upset with state leaders, and local media services like the Berkshire Eagle, who so blindly take Verizon's press release as the answer to the broadband problem. I mean, it couldn't be more obvious that Verizon is doing all they can to subdue the competition. Verizon would be great at gambling in Vegas, they play dirty pool, fancy card tricks, then they beat you up and mug you in the parking lot. Let's hope they don't pay off the state politicians for a "get out of jail free" card.