then there was MCIs announcement this week about The Neighborhood...

http://www.techknowtimes.com/jump/v5i16005.html

Now, you may at first blush think that about $50 or $60 per month is not so
hot. But, here's a little math exercise. Add up what you're paying now
for local phone service. Then add in what you pay in a month for any type
of toll call within the United States - that includes calls to other
states, calls within your home state, "local toll" or "zone" calls if you
get charged for them - in short, any call that you get charged extra for
within the U.S. For many people, you're over $50 per month already. But
then ask yourself - can I put a value on never having to worry that a call
is costing too much? On never having to yell at my kid to get off the
phone with grandma because it's running up the phone bill? On never having
to stop and think, even for a moment, what a particular call will cost, as
long as you know it's in the United States?