The CPUC will be holding a series of Public Participating Hearings throughout March 2011 to discuss the definition of basic telephone service as telephone services have changed since the definition was first established many years ago.

Some of the proposal include changing to receiving unlimited incoming calling, access to emergency services, and lifeline services. You can review all of the currently proposed changes here.

Consumers interested in commenting can do so by attending one or more of the Public Participation Hearings. The San Diego hearing is on March 23 from 2pm to 7pm at the Al Bahr Shiners Center on Kearny Mesa Road. See the entire schedule here.

Consumers can also submit comments online or email comments to the public advisor at public.advisor@cpuc.ca.gov. You can also call the Public Advisor’s Office at 415.703.2074 or toll free at 866.849.8390. Comments can also be mailed in to the CPUC, PAO at 505 Van Ness Ave. San Francisco, CA 94102. All correspondence should refer to R.09-06-019.

Here at UCAN, when we aren’t out escorting little old ladies across the street and saving kittens from burning trees, we like to read the terms of service of the various telecom companies. Terms of service, customer agreement, terms and conditions are all wonderful names for those multi-page documents you read every single word of and then sign saying that you have read and understand the thousands of words. What? You mean you don’t read every single word and understand it before signing things or clicking ok? Well, that’s alright, because not very many people do. However, terms of service (TOS) can hold the key to avoiding a charge or getting out of your contract. These documents govern your relationship with the telecom companies

As a new feature to our blog, we’ve decided to start the “Fun TOS Feature.” To us, Fun TOS sounds like a great carnival game you would play as a kid on a hot summer day at the boardwalk. But instead of being swindled out of your meager allowance by an oval basketball hoop and an overinflated basketball, our version of the game will give you some fun little nuggets that we’ve found during our extensive and exhaustive reviews of TOSes (TOSi?).

This edition of Fun TOS is brought to you by the letter Verizon. You may have seen our guide on how to cancel your cell phone, but selfishly these blogs are always from the consumer’s point of view. We never take into consideration how the company feels or if it wants to get out of the contract. Frankly, we didn’t know that these big companies wanted to break its contract with you. But, if the vibe just ain’t right, Verizon does reserve the right to cancel your contract.

That’s right, Verizon can break up with you! And it doesn't have to pay you an early termination fee (ETF) or even take you out to a nice dinner. Listed below is our favorite reason Verizon can use to dump you, but we must caution you that this is for entertainment purposes only and we don’t endorse using this method to coerce Verizon break up with you.

What Are Verizon Wireless' Rights to Limit or End Service or End this Agreement?

“We can, without notice, limit, suspend or end your Service or any agreement with you for any good cause, including, but not limited to: ... (2) if you, any user of your device or any account manager on your account: (a) threaten, harass, or use vulgar and/or inappropriate language toward our representatives.” http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/globalText?textName=CUSTOMER_AGREEMENT&jspName=footer/customerAgreement.jsp

Again, this is for entertainment purposes only, so don’t go calling up Verizon and harassing them with vulgar or threatening language. Seriously, it’s better to take the high road and treat all reps with dignity and respect, no matter how frustrating it can be to deal with them. 

But, on the other hand, there is something vulgar about being stuck in a two-year service contract, isn't there?

Has Verizon or any of the other wireless phone companies broken up with you? Let us know in the comments.

As any good running back knows, you need to exploit any weakness in the defense. In football, this means the smallest opening in the defensive line could mean a game-winning touchdown. In the realm of cell phone service contracts, a small rate change could be the opening you need to get out of your seemingly impenetrable contract. T-Mobile just might be the next cell phone company to give up a touch down.

To be fair, this issue probably should have had a comparison to hockey, since T-Mobile’s rate change has to deal with text messages to Canada. But, I don’t know squat about hockey and would probably end up insulting somebody who regularly wields a large stick, so I’ll stick with football.

T-Mobile sent out text messages to some of its customers in the end of January stating: “Beginning Feb. 23 messages to Canada from the US will be charged as international messages ($0.20 per message)." This is great information to have, but what does this mean to the consumer?

For those of you who’ve read our How to Cancel Your Cell Phone guide, you know that a change in your cell phone contract that is “materially adverse” to you can get you out of your contract without paying a hefty early termination fee (ETF). So is T-Mobile’s new text message change one that is “materially adverse” to you that will let you out of your contract? Maybe.

Why the wishy-washy answer? Because each company defines a materially adverse change differently. Here is T-Mobile’s take:

5. Our Rights to Make Changes.  This provision, which describes how changes may be made to your Agreement, is subject to requirements and limitations imposed by applicable law, and will not be enforced to the extent prohibited by law. Your Service is subject to our business policies, practices, and procedures, which we can change without notice.  WE CAN CHANGE ANY TERMS IN THE AGREEMENT AT ANY TIME. YOU MAY CANCEL THE AFFECTED LINE OF SERVICE WITHOUT AN EARLY TERMINATION FEE (if applicable) IF:  (A) WE CHANGE YOUR PRICING IN A MANNER THAT MATERIALLY INCREASES YOUR MONTHLY RECURRING CHARGE(S) (the amount you agreed to pay each month for voice, data and messaging, which does not include overage, pay-per-use or optional services (such as 411, or downloads), or taxes and fees);
(B) WE MATERIALLY DECREASE THE SERVICE ALLOTMENTS WE AGREED TO PROVIDE TO YOU FOR YOUR MONTHLY RECURRING CHARGE; OR  (C)  WE MATERIALLY CHANGE A TERM IN THESE T&Cs OTHER THAN PRICING IN A MANNER THAT IS MATERIALLY ADVERSE TO YOU.  WE WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH AT LEAST 30 DAYS’ NOTICE OF ANY CHANGE WARRANTING CANCELLATION OF THE AFFECTED LINE OF SERVICE WITHOUT AN EARLY TERMINATION FEE (WHICH IS YOUR ONLY REMEDY), AND YOU MUST NOTIFY US WITHIN 14 DAYS AFTER YOU RECEIVE THE NOTICE, OR AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN THE NOTICE. IF YOU FAIL TO TERMINATE WITHIN THE RELEVANT TIMEFRAME, YOU ACCEPT THE CHANGES. http://www.t-mobile.com/Templates/Popup.aspx?PAsset=Ftr_Ftr_TermsAndConditions&print=true

This sounds all fine and dandy, but the trouble lies with how T-Mobile characterizes the service. Just because T-Mobile changes its Canadian text message rates doesn’t mean that it necessary affects you. T-Mobile may take the stance that only its customers who text Canada will qualify to get out of their contract without an ETF. If you don't text Canada, it doesn't matter if the rate goes up to $1 a text (which hopefully it won't) because it doesn't increase your monthly recurring charges.

However, that shouldn’t stop you from trying to get out of your contract. When it's fourth and long with 5 seconds to go, you don't just give up! You fight until the end! Well, I guess you could punt, but that isn't the fighting consumer advocate way. Sometimes all it takes is finding the right customer service rep to work with you and is willing to put up with your whining, begging, and pleading long enough to cancel your contract.

So give it a shot and let us know in the comments if you were successful. And to carry the football analogy all the way home, get out on the field and give em all you've got! GO TEAM GO!

Eventually, we had to jump on board and talk about the Verizon iPhone. It is great that now consumers have a choice (which we love here at UCAN), but if you are a current AT&T customer does it make sense to jump ship and head to Verizon? Sure, Verizon is offering a couple of extras to sweeten the deal, including a trade-in program and an unlimited data plan (maybe).

But for the real story, check out this interview by our very own Wireless Watchdog Mike Scott.

Have you taken the plunge and switched to Verizon for your iPhone needs? Staying strong with AT&T? Let us know what you think in the comments.