@294
Any tech in the twin cities metro that finds themselves out of work look on indeed and apply to Blackbox, MP Nexlevel, or Wizard Communications.
They are all hiring and building the data center in Rosemount for Meta. This is a Union Job for IBEW locals 110 and 292.
Now is the time to get in.
41 replies (most recent on top)
Our VSPP offer was retracted and a new VSPP was offered to only the construction Network Technicians that didn’t accept the forged fiber offer. Let me know if this is the same as your local.
@2fn it came from a all hands Garage meeting in big metro .. the managers name is “Wim Thite” if you can figure out who that is.. they have been here for 25 years or more!
@2e1
I’ve never heard anyone say that. Must be managers with zero telco background. Which is about all they’ve hired the last 10 years
The same managers who told everyone two years ago, that our fiber to the home competition would go broke and out of business, that lumen would buy up their plant for pennies on the dollar… are the same people telling the technicians that Copper is still profitable and is needed to fund the Enterprise build out!! The idea that the company can make copper profitable again is a pipe dream
@263
Exactly. All driving quantum fiber branded vans.
@294
Depends how long they have til they retire einstein. Here's one since were just making stupid comments....Anyone who thinks theyll have a job with either company in 3 years has already slapped themselves silly.
@244 💯
@1wp There won’t be copper to work on.
Channel Futures reported in January 2025 that new FCC commissioner Brendan Carr might look favorably on copper retirement. And sure enough, Carr on March 20 announced changes at the Wireline Competition Bureau to "accelerate the transition." The announcement stated that incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs) could take advantage of "streamlined procedures more often" when applying to retire copper services. Carriers previously needed to offer standalone replacement voice services in areas where they retired copper networks; now the carriers can offer bundled replacement voice services. Additionally, the FCC dropped "unnecessary requirements" for when carriers grandfather legacy services, and is waiving certain requirements for carriers to disclose network changes.
Lumen is offering enterprises bundled cloud based Specialty Lines for things like elevator and fire alarm lines, and vendors are rapidly working with customers to replace their lines with what they are calling POTS IN A BOX. It is plug-and-play just requiring the analog device to be plugged into the device and power. The vendor or customer does it all, no need for Centurylink to pay AT&T. If they decide to remove the cooper it could be completely done by the contractors. AT&T wants to have all their copper retired by the end of 2027, and I am sure Lumen will want as much gone by end of year.
Check out this CL page showing all network disclosure decommission notices already complete and pending.
https://www.centurylink.com/aboutus/legal/network-disclosures.html
It was reported that all legacy Qwest sites will be retired. The CEO said some sites may remain, but that may have been before the FCC’s latest mandates. Qwest union employees are way more expensive than the other areas making it less profitable to keep any. Only Lumen former Level 3 will remain. The FCC mandates are to force the companies to upgrade equipment which they have been slow to do in some areas. The ILEC’s started sending notices to work with channel partners to migrate services or prices would go up, with reports of a single PRI $19,000 and T1’s $2500 a month.
I say there will be no copper in legacy Qwest sites in 1-2 years, and may keep 1-2 techs, if that until the end.
@1v1 They already started. Many customers have received letters with the date they will be disconnected and to find another service on their own.
Did anyone watch the Global Townhall? What do you think of the future of Lumen?
@294 3years.
Anyone who thinks the copper will be around long enough to retire with. You better slap yourself silly and wake up.
@25f lol not hardly, still seeing the same Dead wood … just laying around in the garages, fiber huts and CO parking lots!
@244
Fortunately a lot of the dead wood followed their job
The VSPP will come and go, and the Dead wood will remain! Some folks think that copper is still good for a few more years of employment and are going to ride it out.. I don’t see that happening,
Best guess most everyone will be gone in 12-18 months.. there will come a point that lumen terminates its relationship with the few remaining enterprise customers on copper!
And in 24 months the support agreement terminates with AT&T, after that the only fiber splicer's remaining will be on the national side of things!
After all It’s not hard to break a union that has no more members!
Heard it was offered in my state but not in my city. Don’t know the details. 25 years ago we got notices every 3 months but now that I want an offer to leave i can’t even fall into one. Pretty done with following tweakers and pinching pairs down in modules. Day after day after day………….
@1ve 2 separate company’s.
@1v
Soooooooo, att is going to pay their techs to work on lumens copper plant? Lmao
@1v0 probaby because they will cut loose as many Lumen techs as they can, and have AT&T techs to do the clean up work.
Lumen finished the sale of the Quantum fiber to Att.
Lumen will start on the plans to ki-l POTS and DSL. The SpaceX Starlink and Amazon Leo are the most likely partners to work with Lumen.
A couple cities in IA as well. Net and broadband techs. Interesting how we have not heard what they are looking for in numbers: to take the vspp or needed for sunsetting work
The ones left will be shutting the lights off on copper transmissions.
CO, WA, OR and UT offered some cities.
Call you local and ask for the info.
@1rs yes offered Vspp in Arizona yesterday net tech. Broadband tech.
@1j5 I can find nothing on this enhancement on district 7 or the CWA contract on the HR site, Is this legitimate?
Yesterday Florida i/r
@1pa was offered yesterday morning in Phoenix.
No official VSPP for AZ or NM yet...
@1jv Vspp in Arizona as well.
@1j5
Offers on the table? Nothing in my neck of the woods yet. Want to do a quick job swap?
2500 up to 55k 2 years cobra subsidiary NM
@1av
promises promises
@1ak
How so? You either keep working or take what they offer. I dont know. Maybe youre special and theyll buy you out for half a million.
Stay tuned. Monday morning.
2500 a year? Its going to take a lot more than that to shut me up. Either way they are going to fork up a lot more money.
If there is a VSPP ever, the company agreed to 2500 per year up to 55k now. (Legacy Qwest)
@kj
Agree. The next one will be “by whatever date” 500 (or whatever number) employees will be off the payroll. Maybe get an enhanced buyout at that point……but I don’t believe theyll walk it back as in years past. Theyll follow through from now on. I’m just waiting for something to happen myself. This is my last year no matter what but a little extra to leave would be nice.
Probably will not happen again, involuntary could be possible.
@fr
LOL
I doubt anymore VSSP will be offered.
They'll most likely to show you the door first thing Monday morning or send you text.