I find some of what you are saying a little hard to believe. Generally local service is regulated, and in Maryland, that is done by the Public Service Commission (PSC), so I doubt it is quite as simple as your post suggests. Any increase in the basic service rates would have to be approved by the PSC. However at $45 a month, you are obviously getting more than basic service, and some of those services may not be regulated. If you have questions, you might want to contact the PSC. Is the 'upgrade' to the external wiring? DOes the new price include maintenance of on premises wiring? DSL is an unregulated, so Verizon can change the price, and product without any involvement of the PSC. Is Verizon trying to upgrade your DSL service? In general, Verizon is legally responsible for everything beyond the point at which the wiring connects to the NIB or connection block at your house, and I cannot imagine the PSC or the FCC allowing that to change. However unless you have inside wire maintenance from Verizon, anything that happens on your side of the NIB or connection block is your responsibility, and it's been that way for a long time.So in theory, you could be responsible for some repair charges, but ONLY the problem was in your equipment or wiring on your side of the NIB/connection block. So it isn't clear to me what Verizon is trying to sell you. Unless the price increase includes some additional services that you aren't getting today (or you have fallen off the end of a contract), I don't see how Verizon can simply increase your basic charges for regulated services. Any increase in the basic charges would have to be approved by the PSC, and I doubt you would have any option.
