Verizon asks FCC to accelerate Philadelphia copper retirement to accommodate new bridge construction

Verizon has asked the Federal Communications Commission to accelerate its request to retire some of its copper facilities in Southern Philadelphia (PA) due to two bridge replacements being conducted by Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT). In its request to the FCC, Verizon said that SEPTA and PennDOT planned to replace two bridges in Philadelphia: the Allens Lane Bridge in Verizon’s Chestnut Hill, wire center and the Woodland Avenue Bridge in its Saratoga wire center. SEPTA’s and PennDOT’s bridge replacement work will sever some of Verizon’s copper facilities in these areas. Instead of replacing the copper wiring, Verizon will put in new fiber facilities.