Verizon hints at usage based billing for FiOS and DSL

Verizon (NYSE: VZ) has been the lone holdout in implementing usage based billing on their broadband services, but it appears that they haven't completely ruled them out.

As revealed in a Broadband DSL Reports post citing a recent Tampa Tribune article, the telco is "continuing to evaluate" broadband usage caps for its DSL and FiOS service.

"We're continuing to evaluate usage-based pricing for our wireline broadband customers," Verizon said in a statement. "At this point, we've not implemented any usage controls or broadband caps. We'll continue to evaluate what's best to ensure our customers get the highest quality broadband service for the best value."

Implementing usage based billing in its Florida market, one where Verizon has had several problems on its traditional billing systems, would instantly drive customers to cable broadband alternatives like Bright House Networks, which said it has no plans at all to implement UBB on its broadband subscribers.

Despite moves by fellow ILECs AT&T and Frontier as well as Canadian service providers such as Bell Canada, Verizon has yet to implement any kind of UBB plan, arguing that it can battle the problem through further network expansion and reminding heavy users of their Terms of Service (TOS).

For more:
- Tampa Bay Online has this post

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