How Verizon lets its copper network decay to force phone customers onto fiber

This seems to be the trend for the demise of the PSTN and POTS service.  The FCC and PUCs don't seem to be interested in protecting consumers interest in this rush to new technologies.  Granted there are advantages, but there are also major disadvantages such as uninterrupted power from the central office during power outages.  Also regulations are not in place to protect universal coverage and prevent arbitrary price hikes: 

http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2014/08/why-verizon-is-trying-very-hard-to-force-fiber-on-its-customers/