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Verizon Revises ISP Terms of Service

By BetaNews Staff, BetaNews

October 11, 2007, 3:54 PM

Following AT&T's lead, Verizon said Wednesday it will also change its terms of service policy to remove language that would have enabled the company to disconnect those who criticized it online. AT&T was roundly criticized for adding in a provision that would have allowed them to do so earlier this month, however it decided to rephrase it to indicate that the company wouldn't disconnect service due to a customer simply expressing their opinion of the company.

"We've decided to eliminate the language from the policy," Verizon's John Czwartacki wrote on Verizon's company blog. "The intent of this provision; which, as I mentioned, has been in our policy for nearly a decade -- has always been to stop anyone who might represent themselves as Verizon in an attempt to do harm." Regardless, the company wants to avoid any criticism similar to that experienced by AT&T.

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By robmanic44

posted Oct 15, 2007 - 1:00 PM

I have these people as my ISP and they are seriously lousy. My contract is up and I'm moving to cable. Their speed has gone in the tank and the phone service is expensive and it's crummy as well.

Score: 0

By WABBIT_TOONZ

posted Oct 12, 2007 - 12:50 PM

I guess the only option any one that uses the service can do is wait for your contract run out if you have one , in the mean time look for something else to use.then when its time to change and if your asked why are you leaving ?...dont tell them .
I think that when anyone calls out problems that may sound that there agaist the service and its top people do not want to know why until you leave (but your not giving a reason)can cost the company alot more money in the long run .
examples i have seen
calling support and gettig someone with an attude.
some one who wants to push you off on some one else
not understanding some ones accent on the phone for help

let them do it .

If it were me i would let you all talk out loud and speak your mind. i feel its the best way to keep in touch with your customers.

Score: 0

By kbsoftware

posted Oct 11, 2007 - 11:33 PM

"has always been to stop anyone who might represent themselves as Verizon in an attempt to do harm."

I don't buy that line at all, I think it's pr with a load of b.s.
There is such a big difference between someone who is pissed at at Verizon for whatever reason and telling your story on a blog or whatever and someone committing fraud by claiming they are a Verizon employee and using social hacking to get information for not doubt criminal intent.

But then who am I, just a pion :)

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

edited Oct 13, 2007 - 10:46 AM

Pion?

In particle physics, pion (short for pi meson) is the collective name for three subatomic particles: ?0, ?+ and ??. Pions are the lightest mesons and play an important role in explaining low-energy properties of the strong nuclear force.

....did you perhaps mean "Peon', or should we start calling you 'Particle Man'.

....doin' the things that a particle can.

Score: 0

By kprovance

posted Oct 13, 2007 - 3:18 PM

TMBG is an awesome band.

Score: 0

By ThaCHEESE

edited Oct 14, 2007 - 3:17 PM

triangle wins...

Score: 0

By TomA102210

posted Oct 11, 2007 - 10:53 PM

"I would think that as a citizen of the United States Freedom of Speech would be Right no matter which ISP you may choose to use."
---------------------------------
If AT&T and Verizon were democracies, which they are not, you would be right, but they are not.

Score: 0

By sjc001

posted Oct 12, 2007 - 10:16 AM

True, but neither is the USA a democracy either. Its a Constitutional Republic.

https://www.cia.gov/libr...d-factbook/geos/us.html

If it were a democracy the people would have far more of a real say than they actually do.

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Oct 13, 2007 - 10:45 AM

Yes. That's called Mob Rule, Tyranny of the Masses.

If you don't think "the masses" can all be easily fooled, you haven't been watching the news lately.

Score: 0

By sacaripasa

posted Oct 12, 2007 - 12:22 AM

You missed one very important point here, Yes this is the United States, but Freedom of Speech is no longer a right. I think its been about 2456 days now since it was taken away.

Score: 0

By sjc001

edited Oct 12, 2007 - 10:04 AM

Americans now only have the illusion of freedom since the Corporate took over. The best way to control a population isn't through violence and fear, but through bread and circuses.....

I once had an American tell me that they were free because they had a choice in the products they can buy... That's not real freedom being able to buy all of the cheap consumer crap you want.....

Score: 0

By dougau

edited Oct 11, 2007 - 5:30 PM

I would think that as a citizen of the United States Freedom of Speech would be Right no matter which ISP you may choose to use.

Score: 0

By TheBobJones

edited Oct 11, 2007 - 7:20 PM

Even if free speech wasn't currently limited by governments, it doesn't apply to private companies.

You essentially have no rights so say whatever you want on their property, through their service, etc ... like we don't here at BetaNews.

Its part of their freedoms to control what is said on their property/service.

Score: 0

By dougau

edited Oct 11, 2007 - 8:18 PM

Actually AT&T revised their TOS again it seems. This is from DslReports:

"We feel that the clarifying language better reflects our actual long-held policy, which respects AT&T’s customers' rights to freely voice their opinions and concerns," says the company."

THE OLD:
"AT&T may immediately terminate or suspend all or a portion of your Service, any Member ID, electronic mail address, IP address, Universal Resource Locator or domain name used by you, without notice, for conduct that AT&T believes … tends to damage the name or reputation of AT&T, or its parents, affiliates and subsidiaries.

And now the revised entry sent to us by AT&T's Brad Mays:

5.1 Suspension/Termination. AT&T respects freedom of expression and believes it is a foundation of our free society to express differing points of view. AT&T will not terminate, disconnect or suspend service because of the views you or we express on public policy matters, political issues or political campaigns. However, AT&T may immediately terminate or suspend all or a portion of your Service, any Member ID, electronic mail address, IP address, Universal Resource Locator or domain name used by you, without notice, for conduct that AT&T believes (a) violates the Acceptable Use Policy; or (b) constitutes a violation of any law, regulation or tariff (including, without limitation, copyright and intellectual property laws) or a violation of these TOS, or any applicable policies or guidelines. Your Service may be suspended or terminated if your payment is past due and such condition continues un-remedied for thirty (30) days. Termination or suspension by AT&T of Service also constitutes termination or suspension (as applicable) of your license to use any Software. AT&T may also terminate or suspend your Service if you provide false or inaccurate information that is required for the provision of Service or is necessary to allow AT&T to bill you for Service."

Score: 0

By DotNet_Coder

posted Oct 11, 2007 - 6:43 PM

One would think that, huh? Strangely enough, that is rarely the case. For instance, a local man was arrested for discussing his dislike of a local candidate running for office in his church group. The "offical charges" were "Disturbing the peace" and "Intent to incite a riot"... go figure

Score: 0

By TomA102210

posted Oct 11, 2007 - 10:58 PM

"For instance, a local man was arrested for discussing his dislike of a local candidate running for office in his church group. The "offical charges" were "Disturbing the peace" and "Intent to incite a riot"... go figure"
========================================
Yeah, and I have a bridge I want to sell you in Brooklyn,NY.You may get a little kid to believe this story or some extremely naive adult, but please,don't expect any one else to.

Score: 0

By bill

edited Dec 3, 2007 - 11:24 AM

You think this type of thing never happens? It's a big country with a lot of different police agencies. You are naive.

And I'm not selling the bridge.

Score: 0

By zenarcher

posted Oct 12, 2007 - 10:17 AM

Could I have an independent inspection done on that bridge before I buy it? I'm concerned that, like most of the other bridges in the country, maintenance money has been stolen to run a couple of losing wars in the Middle East.

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Oct 13, 2007 - 10:43 AM

I know you were just trolling for fun here, but in reality, our transportation budget has been more than ample to take care of the bridges in Minnesota. The problem is that we have a guy up in Duluth (Representative James Oberstar) misappropriating 75% or more of those funds for walkways, bike trails, and "scenic" walking/biking bridges.

You heard me right. An area with less than 25% of the states traffic has been getting 75% of the transportation budget, and wasting it on non-roadway related BS.

Okay, back to trolling the current administration and the war in Iraq:

Hey, did you hear Rush is selling Mr. Reid's letter to the CEO of ClearChannel regarding the "Phony Soldiers" comment on eBay? Current bid: $17,900.

Score: 0

By TomA102210

posted Oct 12, 2007 - 2:02 PM

"Could I have an independent inspection done on that bridge before I buy it? I'm concerned that, like most of the other bridges in the country, maintenance money has been stolen to run a couple of losing wars in the Middle East."
-------------------------------------------
Of course you can. Schedule the appointment through d*** Cheney's Office.

Score: 0

By zenarcher

posted Oct 11, 2007 - 5:06 PM

How about that. Someone at Verizon must have found a pre-2001 copy of the Bill of Rights.

Score: 0

By sacaripasa

posted Oct 12, 2007 - 12:24 AM

Good point there. Not too many people know the B.O.R. was updated, replaced.. LOL!

Score: 0

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