Verizon says CWA created a false impression of the state of its copper network

Verizon has fired back at the Communications Workers of America's (CWA) claims that it has turned its back on its existing copper networks in its wireline region. In a Federal Communications Commission filing, Verizon said that the CWA misinterpreted a statement it made in a July letter to the FCC about how much it invests on its copper network.

"As we explained in that letter, Verizon takes reasonable steps to ensure its copper network remains healthy and, contrary to CWA's suggestions, has not engaged in widespread 'de facto' retirement of copper," Verizon said. "As part of that discussion, we wrote that Verizon since 2008 has spent more than $200 million on its copper network. CWA has seized on that comment, taken it out of context, and tried to use it to create the false impression that this was all of the money that Verizon has spent to keep copper in service." Verizon contends that the "more than $200 million" it referenced does not relate to all of the capital dollars the company has made in maintaining its copper network.