Verizon protests 64 Kbps voice unbundling requirement, says it may delay copper-fiber transition

As its traditional voice subscriber base continues to decline, it should be no surprise that Verizon is anxious to move away from having to provide an unbundled 64 Kbps voice-grade channel where it has transitioned to fiber and retired the copper loop. The service provider said in an Federal Communications Commission filing that the 64 Kbps requirement has "outlived any usefulness" as more of its customers have dropped their landline phone service in favor of either VoIP or wireless as their main calling device.

"Customer demand for legacy wireline voice service has dropped precipitously," Verizon said. "From 2003 to 2013, [incumbent local exchange carrier] retail switched access lines declined by almost 60 percent." Verizon added that "demand for unbundled analog voice loops from Verizon -- which the 64 Kbps on fiber channel replaces -- has declined by 65 percent." Although plain old telephone service (POTS) revenues continue to decline, the company said that providing 64 Kbps voice channels over fiber is becoming cost prohibitive and could potentially hold them back from retiring copper in other areas.