Instead of rolling out fiber-optic networking, which can be both extremely fast and resistant to storm damage, they're trying to push customers in parts of NY and NJ damaged by Sandy to crappy-arse wireless "phone" and Internet service.

Bruce Kushnick: Fire Island Erupts Over Verizon's Wireless Voice Link: New York AG Claims Verizon Violated Agreement

Sorry, if I want to have a business conversation that doesn't sound like dung, I want to either have it over a copper phone line, a phone line running over fiber, or VoIP running over a nice, fast, low-latency, hardwired or FiOS link. Staticky cell phone connections affected by atmospheric interference or a butterfly flapping its wings in Madagascar needn't apply. Hope the NY Attorney General sticks it up their arseholes and twists till they squeal like pigs. They took public funds to roll out fiber -- they'd better deliver.

If the damaged areas are to be rebuilt and be "on the grid" at all as far as electricity, connecting fiber to concentrators isn't a huge problem.