https://www.thehour.com/business/article/Bloomberg-Frontier-bankruptcy-a-possibility-this-14984275.php
Not hard to believe. Maybe one man’s trash wasn’t another man’s treasure?
15 replies (most recent on top)
I did splicing while on EWA because like 11 years prior somebody showed me how to do it once. It's not exactly hard work just a task that requires skill, care, and attentiveness like any of the other craft jobs. There's a procedure and you follow it, just more closely than regular FiOS tech work. The biggest difference is that if you get a fiber fragment in your finger or eye then you'll be super unhappy about it for quite some time. Safety first isn't some slogan, you have to be pedantic with your cutoffs and basically pretend you're doing surgery on ebola patients.
Yes, I really was an EWA doing occasional splicing work. No, they didn't teach that in the former Kodak building. Yes it was dangerous for me, but it saved my friends from having to direct traffic and lift cables over roads, stuff you really don't want EWAs doing.
Surprised they financed Frontier’s last purchase. Hard to believe those offering the loans would be fooled twice. Apparently not a smart purchase or at least bad terms.
Anything is possible but I think it's a long shot for Frontier to purchase any addition areas currently under Verizon. Verizon will move away from the Fios and copper facilities through simple migration into 5G as it is rolled out. That is currently under way with the Voice Connect product. With new video compression coming out and cutting the size of 4K video by over 50%, the 5G home product is more viable than ever. Once the migration is complete, the union is marginalized; if not completely gone. No one is getting fired or being sold off. Actually, Frontier and Verizon cut the deal for the purchase of other States which included Verizon buying stock in Frontier. I seriously doubt regulators would allow another deal/purchase between these two.
“ Wasn't the Sears / Kmart purchase pretty much just that?
Some big businesses manage to pull off stuff during & after bankruptcy that defies all logic.”
Are you saying that was a success? Wasn’t it just joining two sinking ships?
"Frontier will emerge from the ashes of bankruptcy and promptly plunk down several billion dollars on the Verizon wireline business"
Wasn't the Sears / Kmart purchase pretty much just that?
Some big businesses manage to pull off stuff during & after bankruptcy that defies all logic.
So never say never...
Sure, Frontier will emerge from the ashes of bankruptcy and promptly plunk down several billion dollars on the Verizon wireline business. Seems legit!
They’re been rumors in the office that after this process, frontier will buy all of Fios and Verizon will be just a wireless company.
This isn't really believable. If their debt drives them into bankruptcy reorganization, they are likely to have little cash to burn on such a large purchase. The wireline assets of Verizon in the northeast are still worth billions. Theoretically they could go into debt for the purchase, but who is going to lend them money to do so, when doing so is what put them into bankruptcy in the first place?
I swear, I am taking the EISP - I know some techs in frontier and they hate it.
@134CT27J-1kbs – this is a no brainer. Take the FIOS/fiber work. Known fact that the telco's can abandon copper in either 2023 or 2024, with a few exceptions. Copper is all but gone and the use for an IM / IR tech is to maintain the few priority copper circuits that the telco's cannot abandon, and to place wireless NIDS at a customer prem that chooses to stay with Verizon.
The construction downsize was for several reasons and one being the telco's are no longer plowing in new copper unless necessary. Get into fiber and stay there. If you do have to leave at a later date the fiber skill will be in greater demand than the copper skill.
@1kbs: I don’t think anyone can accurately predict what will happen over a 10 year period around here. I would say definitely apply for Splicing Tech. It’s a good raise, you will have additional skills that the Company pays you to get and I’m guessing there will be lots of OT when all the new fiber needs to be cut in. If you are needed back in the Service Tech role because of some service emergency or whatever remember you can do work down from your title but not up. I’ve been here a long time. I always said if there’s an opportunity for advancement take it. It doesn’t come up that often and you might not get the chance again. I know a guy that recently did exactly this same thing, Service Tech to Splicing. He didn’t like it at first, but he had time to retreat to his old title. He ended up staying and is glad he did. Take a shot, you never know if you will ever get this chance again. Go for it. Good luck.
Does anyone (not asking Verizon wireless employees) feel as Fios is safe for the next 10 years? I am a service tech out of MD and I’m thinking about applying for a splicer job. I understand it’s a CST position but will report to I&M and work copper and Fios. I’m wondering what’s going to happen when the 5G build is almost done in maybe 7-10 years. Some have had said to remain a service tech Bc it’s a safer position and they won’t announce a layoff like they did for construction around 2012. Again, just asking for some advice here, thanks.
Unions bankrupt corporations amd governments alike.
Splicing Techs, Switching Equipment Techs and System Techs are some of the titles that make more than $39 per hour.
Outside craft here. I hope it happens. We would make out with stock options from both companies.
39 an hour may seem alot, but i wouldn't deal with the bees, rain, snow, cold, hot, wind, dogs, heights, spiders, poison ivy and oak, ticks, irate customers, irate management, irate co-workers, our quarterly report cards saying how much we stink, sunburn, at al. Im here til aug2023 and then out, permanently.
They’re been rumors in the office that after this process, frontier will buy all of Fios and Verizon will be just a wireless company. They don’t the union, they are only focused on 5G. In the office, everyone is making about $35 an hour, where as any other call center is paying maybe $12 an hour, including Verizon wireless. The technicians make about $39 an hour, other cable techs make around $14-19 an hour. Makes sense....