Verizon Pulls Plug on Cincinnati

Verizon has announced that they are pulling out of Cincinnati after only 6 months.

Verizon has aggressively entered 26 markets with directories where they do not have local telephone service.

I think this may be the first of many markets that they retreat from. It's much harder being an independent than Verizon brass imagined. From what I hear, none of their new directories have had a serious impact on the competitive landscape.

In Cincy, the Old Cincinnati Bell was bought out by management three or four years ago. The management is very aggressive, and they're rocking and rolling. The other local publisher is Yellow Book, who is no cream puff either.

I think that it was pure arrogance on Verizon's part to go into Cincinnati in the first place. No market is served simply by having more directories.

Can you hear me now?

The Cincinnati Post