Whistle-blowers in the US state of Virginia claim that the network is "deteriorating badly" and "stretched to the limits."
Verizon managers are apparently telling workers to stick band-aids on the copper network while concentrating their efforts on new fibre optics systems.
Evidence has been presented before state regulators by Verizon's union just as Verizon wants to free itself from some state price controls.
Verizon also wants the state should lower its standards on restoring lost phone service. It claims it is losing customers in droves to cable services and needs to install fibre to compete.
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