Hi HC....from Norm over at Yahoo....interesting...perhaps the stars are aligning.
<This AM a VZ tech guy came to my office to fix a DSL problem. I asked him how the FIOS rollout was going (my NJ municipality is undergoing the FIOS rollout right now) not really expecting him to know much. He did.
First, he noted that FIOS is going live in the adjacent Township starting today and in my municipality on or about October 1. VZ announced FIOS rollout in both municipalities in early March, so the whole process for upgrading to fiber in my suburban area will have taken approximately 6-8 months. VZ will be doing a huge marketing blitz in each town will door-to-door sales solicitation.
Second, he noted a key part VZ's acquistion of MCI was to acquire key assets for delivery of fiber based triple-play services. Long ago, MCI had made its own plans to compete with cable and substantially built out fiber infrastructure and a video library. In fact, he noted that by acquiring MCI assets, VZ has the capability to offer cable TV service right now in NJ.
Third, he noted that VZ will begin offering its TV service in NJ as soon as pending legislation to grant a statewide TV franchise is adopted. That legislation (nearly identical to the recently passed Texas legislation) is expected to be voted before the end of this year. He noted that if it is not passed this year, it will happen next year because John Corzine, who seems a shoe-in to get elected Governor in November, is very close friends with Ivan Seidenberg, VZ's CEO.
Lastly, he indicated that VZ is essentially betting its entire future on FIOS. When I told him about my investments in TLAB's and MRV, he though they should really start doing well by the end of the year, just from what he nows about VZ's planned buildout.
Fourth, he indicated that VZ has already built facilities in our area to warehouse all of the FIOS equipment, including ONT's and triplexers. Ordering of the component parts is starting to ramp.> |
