Verizon is major area provider of phone service. However, local telephone service is now competitive in New York State. For instance, eLEC Communications might be a less expensive alternative for phone service in many cases. Many of the major long distance carriers (AT&T, MCI, etc.) also have local calling plans for the Ithaca area. In addition, those seeking high speed Internet access via DSL may find that they are forced to choose a specific local phone company. If you decide to shop around for local phone service, be sure to find out how much the company charges to establish new service. Verizon charges about $35 to setup new service; some companies have been known to charge as much as $150.
As elsewhere in the United States, tele-marketers can become a major annoyance to anyone with a phone service. Fortunately, the state of New York has set up a ``No Call" registry, and enacted legislature forbidding commercial tele-marketers from making unsolicited calls to any phone number listed in that registry. The registry is free, available online, and is highly effective in eliminating unwanted tele-marketing calls. Visit CLICK HERE to learn more.