Mark Lloyd wrote:
On Fri, 14 Sep 2007 14:54:46 -0500, Uncle Monster
wrote:

Seth Goodman wrote:
In article m, on Fri,
14 Sep 2007 04:03:42 -0700, wrote:

If you avoid the ripoff bundled services and keep standard phone line
you will still have copper. I would only get internet and TV over
FIOS,
Step 1 of *any* Verizon FIOS install is to move your phone line(s) from
copper to fiber, even if you're not changing your phone service. I've
read reports that a few people were able to convince the installer to
leave the copper in place, but I don't think that's official Verizon
policy.

Another reason not to go off copper:

If you have FIOS, during a power outage, the battery in your network
interface box is your only backup. Two hours or so in, you'll lose
phone service. The old copper lines are mostly backed up by generators
at the central office. I've never lost phone service during a power
outage.

Correction, the main backup at phone company central offices
is banks of batteries. There are generators but the battery
banks can keep the phone service up for days. If anyone wants
to know about storage batteries, the phone companies have a
great deal of knowledge and experience. The battery rooms at
at phone company central offices would astound you. An example
of what is in them is he

http://tinyurl.com/2e6z9d

They have some BFB's, (Big Freaking Batteries)

[8~{} Uncle Monster

I got to see the (phone co. battery room) in Fort Worth about 25 years
ago. They had a lot of big batteries, some of which came out of old
submarines.

Most people have no idea of what's in those nondescript
buildings and under the streets and sidewalks of their
cities and towns.

[8~{} Uncle Monster