And if everyone wants their poles replaced?
And where do you get $30M/month? Even at $5/account, that would mean 5M accounts. That is the total number of all Verizon subscribers.
Here is their explanation:
This surcharge Verizon claims is to recover a portion of the expenses Verizon incurs for the relocation of its facilities that are in the public rights-of-way to prevent interference with streetrepairs, public construction projects or other activities required for public health, safety or convenience.
Here is info from a filing:
New York common law generally requires a utility to relocate, at its own cost, facilities that are in public rights-of-way if such relocation is necessary to prevent interference with street repairs, public construction projects, or other activities required for the public health or convenience. In 2012 Verizon New York Inc. ("Verizon") incurred costs of over $90 million for such facilities relocation work in the State, and those costs are expected to increase to over $100 million in 2013. That was calculated to be $31+/line/year (or $2.50/month) And that was 5 years ago. I'm sure subscriber counts have continued to drop.
Yes, we all hate paying taxes and fees. But it certainly seems as though Verizon is incurring expenses within NY they don't have in other areas. And just like the RSNs being different based off costs, Verizon is adding a fee to recover costs rather than making those who aren't covered by the costs from subsidizing those who are.
