a Verizon Fios installation question

Drilling holes in the wall's not the worst of it: When Verizon comes, they insist on cutting the copper connection to your apartment, and therefore, in your case, the whole building. What's so bad about that? Well, copper lines run on their own power, but when you get fiber, for some reason, it needs an external power source to continue phone service. In case of a power outage, you get an 8-hour battery backup, and once that's gone -- no dial tone until the power comes back. What happens if there's an ice storm and the power's gone for days? Answer: One full complex of pissed-off tenants, and one even more pissed-off landlord!

Actually, because Verizon wants to cut off the copper (technically they don't have to -- they can keep customers on copper for phone calls and DSL -- but they want to cut it off, anyway), they might have to get permission from your landlord to get FiOS into the building.

So threaten to move out unless she allows FiOS -- nah, that won't work, she'll just find someone else to move in your place. Insist on her to consider putting a D* dish on the roof where nobody will see it (if she's that vain); if she still says no, you might as well find someone else to live.

"For some reason"? You need power to drive the laser.

Fios setup for apartments can be quite different from the usual arrangement, depending on the size of the building, etc. You might want to talk to them about it... and to your landlord. You can probably get the ONT installed inside. And your landlord should understand that having Fios available adds value to the apartments. (Of course the same would be true for satellite TV. I continue to be baffled by people who are offended by the sight of a dish.)

Have an area that's exclusively yours such as a balcony? Install your own dish, she can't legally stop you, there's a lil FCC law called OTARD that makes it illegal for her to do so.

Personally I'd work out having FIOS install though instead of trying to sneak it in while she's gone.