Verizon is sending out an e-mail to DSL customers telling them that there's been a change in the company's terms of service starting November 20. In particular, the updated TOS informs DSL customers that -- once their network is upgraded to FiOS -- the company reserves the right to stop serving them with DSL. From the new TOS:Fiber infrastructure is cheaper to maintain, so it makes sense to get users off the old infrastructure as soon as possible. Then again, customers who are happy with $15 DSL (some "for life") might not be happy to learn they're being forced to upgrade to costlier service and speeds they may not use.

We've fired off an inquiry to our contacts at Verizon to see if they're going to immediately apply pressure on users who stick with DSL -- or if this is just a legal CYA for dealing with upgrade laggards several years from now.

Whether Verizon fully yanks copper after a FiOS install has been discussed extensively. Verizon recently explained their position on the practice:CLECs have been concerned that Verizon would yank copper and then be uncooperative should a homeowner downgrade back to POTs (or a new homeowner wanted DSL). That's probably not an unreasonable worry for those familiar with the CLEC/ILEC installation dynamic in the earlier days of DSL.

We've seen a number of CLECs successfully reconnect customers. We've also seen customers stuck in a tug of war between CLEC and ILEC -- told that they needed to pay $3,000 to replace a removed NID to roll back to DSL service.