Verizon Woos Snowbirds

Looking to keep its telephone and high-speed-Internet customers from jumping to rivals such as Bright House Networks and Time Warner Cable, Verizon said it is offering part-time Florida residents the ability to temporarily disconnect their service at no extra charge.

The offer, targeted at consumers that spend their winters in Florida for the warmer weather, allows Verizon telephone and digital-subscriber-line customers to disconnect service and restore it up to six months later free-of-charge.

Verizon previously charged monthly fees and installation charges to consumers who temporarily disconnected phone and high-speed-Internet service.

The telephone company noted that its Florida rivals, including cable distributor Bright House, still charge fees for temporary disconnections.