NYC landlords bar Verizon from post-Sandy fiber-optic cabling retrofit

The New York Timeshas reported that in the wake of Superstorm Sandy, in lower Manhattan -- where Verizon's aim is to replace ruined copper wiring with fiber-optic cabling for delivery triple-play broadband services -- the company is complaining that many landlords and building managers are taking serious exception.

Verizon claims that many facilities owners and managers have barred them access to their properties outright, while others are demanding "exorbitant fees" before cabling installers and technicians are allowed to enter. Verizon made the claims in a petition filed with regulators from the state of New York's Public Service Commission.

See also: Data centers vs. Hurricane Sandy

As reported by the Times,

A Verizon spokesman, John Bonomo, declined to say how much the landlords asked for, but cable-industry executives said building owners have sought as much as $150 per apartment in what are known as door fees. For a building like 11 Maiden Lane [in New York City's Financial District], that could translate to more than $10,000.

In its petition, Verizon cited an e-mail from DSA Management, the company that manages 11 Maiden Lane, mentioning its demand for 'compensation in exchange for allowing Verizon access to the building.'

Full Story: Landlords Are Blocking Rewiring of Cable After Hurricane, Verizon Says (nytimes.com)