The last I checked, FiOS is a paid monthly service. Marketing your customers to advertisers is a violation of customer trust and indicates the arrogant disregard and contempt you have for customers that PAY for your service. FiOS is a product. An arguably good product that I invest considerable funds in. To SELL me to advertisers is disgraceful.

When a service is FREE, that service commonly finances itself via advertising revenue (think Google, Facebook etc.). When you don't pay for a product or service, YOU are the product. However I PAY for FiOS. It is completely unacceptable for Verizon to even entertain further monetizing a service that I ALREADY PAY FOR, by sharing demographical data so that I can be exploited by voracious advertisers. Disgraceful. Here are some excerpts of the email I received today:

"

Verizon won't share any information that identifies you personally with advertisers as part of this program.

What information are we talking about?
The program will use:

• Your postal address
• Certain information about your Verizon products and services (such as broadband and video service features), and
• Interests and demographics information provided to us by other companies (such as gender, age range, sports fan, frequent diner, or pet owner)"

Postal address is not personally identifiable? Plus gender and age range?

"You will receive ads whether you choose to participate or not"

Actually, no I won't, because I know how to avoid your schemes. But's it's sad because most people do not. Being subjected to advertising and sharing of customer data for a paid service is petty and insulting.

"Your privacy is important."

Laughable.

I'm guessing there was no copy editing on this email as it is filled with contradictions. This program has no merit and only succeeds in violating customer trust and loyalty. You all should be ashamed. Deeply, deeply ashamed.

Dan

Full email text below:

Dear Valued Verizon Customer, 

Verizon participates in a program that helps advertisers provide you with online ads that may be more interesting to you.

What is Verizon's Digital Direct Marketing Program?
The program will use information about the area where you live, your Verizon products and services, and your interests and demographics to determine whether you fit into an audience an advertiser is trying to reach.

Verizon won't share any information that identifies you personally with advertisers as part of this program.

What information are we talking about?
The program will use:

• Your postal address
• Certain information about your Verizon products and services (such as broadband and video service features), and
• Interests and demographics information provided to us by other companies (such as gender, age range, sports fan, frequent diner, or pet owner)

What does this mean for you?
Certain ads you'll see while browsing the Internet may be sent to you based on this information so that these ads may be of more interest. National brands and local businesses will be able to tailor their online offers, coupons, and other incentives to specific audiences.

What are my choices?
You will receive ads whether you choose to participate or not. But, under this program, the ads you see may be more relevant to you. If you do not want to participate in this program, please let us know by clicking here. Please note that you will need your User ID and Password to access the opt-out page.

How does Verizon protect my privacy?
Your privacy is important. Verizon's privacy policy describes how we collect and use data and how we protect your personal information. You can learn about Verizon's ad practiceshere.

For answers to Frequently Asked Questions, click here.

Thank you for choosing Verizon. We look forward to serving you.

Sincerely,

Your Verizon Team

Hello, 

I have an intermittent problem with my FIOS internet.  I have the highest speed available and I am getting knocked off of Skype, Google Hangouts and my company VPN randomly but frequently.  

I have called support about 10 times.  The staff are friendly and see to be capable but they cannot find the issue.  Every time I call back I get another rep.  I have to re-explain.  The second rep has no context or frame of referent.  Deduction and elimination on a big scale are not possible with this model.    LIke Sisyphus, I push the rock up the mountain only to have it roll down again....

My only alternative unless I get some special help (Please!!) is to go to Comcast for my work internet and phone ( I work from home).  I pay a lot of money to Verizon and this I feel is unacceptable.

HELP 

My wife and I am moving from my current address, where I signed up for DSL service last fall, to a new address 6 miles away, within the same zip code (24066). I've been a Verizon and VerizonWireless customer for 10 years. After talking to several sales/moving reps, it appears that we won't be able to transfer  DSL service to the nearby new address.

The reps confirmed that DSL has been discontinued in our area, and that while customers can keep their current DSL, while no new DSL can be added.

Given my history with the Verizon company, I think it would be reasonable to be willing to transfer the DSL service I currently have to the new nearby address. The DSL capacity and/or port clearly exists, since I am using the DSL at my current address.

I understand that services change, but in this and similar situations, I suggest that Verizon make more of an effort to provide flexible service to its loyal customers. After this, I will be more open to offers from other companies, as it seems that Verizon's commitment to customer service is slipping.

Sincerely,

{edited for privacy}

I love Verizon and I think you guys are great. My complaint is simple, my are does not have fios and only carries DSL which to me is very slow and disappointing at times. I was wondering if you all can consider Cable Modem in that area. 

I was told that Fios won't happen for a while and the DSL service... just plain sucks out here. I live in Freemansburg PA and it would be appreciated if it was considered. Thank you much.

                                                                                                                                             {edited for privacy}

Verzion.com's webpage has completely forgotten about providing an access link to the users of the personal webspace.  The webpage interface used to provide a link to - Personal Website - to gain access to your SITE BUILDER to manage my web site.  As a customer, I pay Verizon each month use your system to host a website.  I expect I should have access as a paying customer to the tools to manage the service you provide.  Please update your new Verizon internet interface to allow me to login and go to my services and select "Manage Personal Web space".

I currently have to do a website search to even find a link to Site Builder.  If you are not planning on supporting personal webspace services then please tell me.  I will gladly stop paying you and move onto a more customer oriented service provider.

You need to add to the DNS Servers, DNSSEC.

Thanks

 With the technology that fios uses(networking the router with the set top boxes) there should be a lot more data capabilities, at least with the 500G DVR. A simple application and an installed web cam is all you need to video chat. I mean, imagine watching TV and a message pops up in the corner "video chat request from John Doe-Accept or Deny" All you guys have to do is utilize the technology you already have. You guys waste your time with all of those useless widgets! How about expanding it, more like an app store and having way more variety there for the consumer. Have a home page with apps when you turn on your TV. I can choose fios TV or Pandora or Netflix, etc. Oh BTW, why is there no Netflix widget? How a bout an internet browser? Give us more data interaction with the TV so fios can really set itself above the competitors!

It's past time over six years, and FIOS Internet (not even higher speed DSL) is available to all of mid sized Camarillo, CA

specifically 3905 Via Rosal street which has over 300 homes, yet Fios is in surrounding neighborhoods. It's time to offer it on this street, (Just because your customer service rep says it hasn't been requested by enough residents, doesn't mean people do not want it, we just haven't had the offer made to us, many don't know how to request you get it done.

I've requested it every year for six years FIOS has been in Camarillo.

It's time and please let me and our neighborhood know you are connecting us.

Thank-you 

Please bring back the 25/25 Mbps Internet package or something similar.  I hope it is not just me, but the lowest tier 15/5 Mbps package is not quite enough bandwidth for my needs, but I simply can't afford to pay for the 50/25 Mbps package.  After all, there is a large bandwidth gap between the 15/5 and 50/25 packages.  Perhaps offering a 30/15 Mbps or 25/10 Mbps package would be more beneficial for some users.  More options and freedom to pick different plans is always a good thing. 

I hava novel idea. Why doesn't Verizon stop selling email addresses to spammers and internet marketers. My verizon email gets all kinds of crazy marketing emails now, and they are only sent to the verizon address, which used to be my primary email address. I can no longer use this address and have now switched over to another email address carrier. Since switching to a differet email, I have no issue with spam or getting unsolicited emails whatsoever. 

The idea of putting internet monitoring on a device is outdated since people are on multiple devices -- iPads, laptops, gaming systems, etc.

If a parent wants to have effective control of internet content in the home, the only reasonable way to do this is at the router level, or at the account level -- i.e., through Verizon.

You need to provide this kind of service. "Parental controls" that download to a single machine are simply useless.