News & Features
June 2006

Brewer negotiates fee waiver with Verizon

Sen. Stephen M. Brewer (D-Barre) successfully negotiated an agreement with Verizon to waive all fees that the company was charging the town for the hanging of American flags on utility poles from Memorial Day through July 4.

The fees included $425 for a one-time agreement processing fee, $423.50 for a one-time charge to survey the 25 poles, a yet-to-be-determined annual fee per pole based on square footage, and an annual mandatory liability insurance fee of $50.

“As Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs, I was outraged – as many other citizens were – that Verizon would charge a town to hang American flags in recognition of the great sacrifices made by our Veterans,” said Brewer. “It is unseemly for a multi-billion dollar corporation to charge fees to municipalities looking to honor citizens by hanging the American flag. Verizon has recognized the error in its initial decision and has appropriately decided to absorb these costs. I commend Verizon for its logical reconsideration of this matter.”