I had them out to fix it at least once but it didn't work. There was no FIOS service to my residence at the time. I eventually got annoyed and switched it to cable. Verizon will do anything to get you to stay. Sometimes you even have to cancel to get them to fix something.

That said, FIOS should be a nice performance increase.

The connection IMPROVED after I got the FIOS contract. It hasn't been connected yet.

I feel like I was scammed, that Verizon purposely sabotaged my service to trick me into getting a product I didn't necessarily need.

If you're happy with the service you have, call Verizon and cancel the new service. It hasn't been connected get, so you probably still can.

If they won't do it, cancel everything.

But if the price of FIOS is the same or better, it might not be worth worrying about.

I have a two-year introductory contract that is only $4.00 more per month than I'm paying.

And for all I know, were I to cancel the FIOS, I'd either be hit with a cancellation fee and/or a return to intermittent DSL and phone service.

You make sense.

You have more leverage that way. This is one of those annoying decisions that comes up. I hate every minute I spend having to deal with these types of issues, so I get where you're coming from.

Have you been told how much I goes up after the first year or two?

They wouldn't tell me. Said I could negotiate.

Here's the problem: if I cancel, I'll bet the static returns and I lose reliable DSL internet services.

I smell a rat.

Forget about 2 years from now. What is it today?

What you were told about the lack of maintenance of copper facilities by Verizon is true.

I live in an former Verizon area that was later sold to Frontier. After the sale many of our cable techs work overtime trying to get the copper facilities back to a workable level.

Just a thought, did they replace the protector i.e. the equipment where the outside cable connects to your house wiring? I had a problem with an older one which once replaced cleared up a problem I had with static.

None the less consider yourself lucky you have the FIOS option. Verizon is not expanding FIOS to new areas. The non-FIOS exchanges however have the same shitty lack of maintenance on their copper facilities.

I just called and was told after 2 years, it will be $79.99 monthly.

It's not fair though. Five years ago, I would pay $21.99 for a dial tone and $17.99 for DSL internet. It's now $59.99 monthly and in two years $79.99 and that's without cable TV.

I just don't see any other choice. I could cancel my order as the FIOS hasn't been installed, but:

1) what Verizon gives, it can take away. In other words, more static and poor internet service, and
2) if I return to asking again for FIOS, I may incur the charges they've waive (installation and activation fees costing $150.00).

BTW, I need a landline because I have a law office.

I know I'll be getting reliable service; I just don't like the price.

It is a struggle. (My mother was elderly and sick for several years and I wanted her to have phone service in case of a power outage.)

No matter what Verizon says they do have a copper maintenance department and by law they have to have a certain quality of voice transmission. They don't like hearing it but they will eventually sent out a technician from the copper division. Note: Only for voice quality. So you won't have much luck complaining about DSL but when the voice static is solved the DSL improves.

DSL dropouts are often a sign of the router going bad. Were the dropouts still there with the new router/modem?

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Overall it is a major pain trying to get them to service your copper wires. They will eventually just quit offering the service to get out of regulations saying they have to maintain their wires to a certain quality. You may be better just switching. As you said they have raised DSL rates and will continue to do so to make it so unaffordable that people will switch over for faster service at a "fairer" price. I know that since my mother passed away recently that I will just give in the next time I need service on my copper wires. Not really worth the fight a couple of times a year.