Local telephone service companies are regulated by the DTC (as of April 11, 2007). As the result of a consumer lawsuit against NYNEX (now Verizon), the DPU (which previously regulated phones) created a set of rules which directly governs Verizon’s practices and must be used as a model for other companies’ procedures. A copy of these rules (D.P.U. 18448) can be found at https://www.mass.gov/info-details/residential-billing-and-termination-practices. The rules provide certain protections against disconnection of service and refusal to restore service. Other wireline companies are supposed to adopt similar rules, but you will probably have to ask the company to provide you with a copy of those rules as they may not be publicly available. Note that the telephone rules discussed in Chapters 14 and 15 do not apply to wireless service or unregulated fiber optic service.