Several New York City government officials are weighing diverse options set at penalizing Verizon for not meeting obligations related to FiOS buildout, one of which include a possible lawsuit.
"We want them to make it available to everyone in every ZIP code and on every block so that everyone can get online, to do research, to do their homework," Mayor Bill de Blasio's chief lawyer Maya Wiley recently wrote in a New York Times article.
"We need our residents to get online."
The American broadband and telecommunications company, however, is planning on working alongside city officials to avoid a lawsuit and correct issues concerning FiOS connectivity across the metropolitan area. In recent years, Verizon has taken heat from city officials for delaying projects such as optimizing fiber-optic service for television and improving mobile phone reception in certain areas.
Earlier this month, Verizon officials announced plans to simplify its smartphone package deals, which will begin with offering customers a fixed cost for unlimited talk, text and data usage.
The company will also eliminate subsidies and service contracts, MacWorld reports. Verizon users will pay $20 monthly per each smartphone line to the aforementioned features included in the package deal.
The traditional "family plan" package has been eliminated.
Verizon has also made headlines for its expansion plans pertaining to its cable service. Earlier this year, NBCUniversal, Walt Disney Co. and 21st Century Fox officials vocalized their opposition to Verizon's newest FiOS television service, which provides lower-priced and customizable packages for customers.
The company's "channel packs," which are separated according to viewership age and interest, have been subject to criticism by Verizon's industry rivals.
"We reject Verizon's view that it can pursue the new packaging scheme it announced yet still comply with our agreements," Fox officials said in a statement, according to the Los Angeles Times.
"Verizon's announced 'Custom TV' package does not comply with our existing agreement," NBCUniversal officials added.
Verizon Communications was founded as Bell Atlantic Corporation in 1983 and later renamed in 2000.
