Indeed what you wrote is true, Ed. However, the customers still have a play in their pocket: Cell phones. If the LEC (Verizon in this case) jacks prices up too much then customers can viably leave them and have no home phone at all. I could also leave their TV and internet if I wanted to as I am on a month to month payment rather than a year contract. Also with the competition of "digital phone" and internet packages from the cable companies Verizon should hopefully be kept in check....

Steve