Some Verizon customers are fuming that the company removed copper wiring when they installed the FiOS fiber-optic service. From the Associated Press:

Once the copper is pulled, it's difficult to switch back to the traditional phone system or less expensive Digital Subscriber Line service. And Verizon isn't required, in most instances, to lease fiber to rival phone companies, as it is with the copper infrastructure. What's more, anyone who owns [Long Island, N.Y., Verizon customer] Powderly's house in the future will face higher bills with FiOS than another home with copper. … Besides limiting options down the road, the switch to FiOS can have other implications. Unlike copper-connected phone service, FiOS doesn't work during power outages once a backup battery goes out -- not even for emergency calls. Home-alarms and certain other devices work best with copper. Rabe, the Verizon spokesman, said the company will restore copper to homes if the customer insists, but Verizon would rather not reconnect the copper and will try to persuade the customer to agree.