LEWISTON, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- Maine's Public Utilities Commission is hosting a series of meetings across the state on Fairpoint landlines.
Changes are being made to the cost of a specific type of landline service because a law deregulating it is about to go into effect.
The rates in seven specific cities where Fairpoint provides landline coverage is based on competition for service.
The phone company and Maine's Public Utility commission are making it clear Fairpoint will still provide landline service across Maine no matter what.
Maine's AARP says it will be keeping a close eye on the company to make sure consumers are protected.
Some people who attended the meeting were concerned the PUC and others aren't sure exactly what will happen when the deregulation starts.
“Of course it bothers me,” said Phyllis Deringis, of Auburn. “I’ve been a Fairpoint customer for many years and if we're going into this communication wilderness, I'd hope there'd be some guides along the way.”
The commission says the public shouldn't worry about not having access to telecommunications services.
“There are viable options and [some people] may not be entirely comfortable with some of those options but that's just the technology change and we should reassure people that the service telecommunications service is still going to be there for them,” said Richard Kania, a senior utilities analyst, for the Maine PUC.
Other municipalities will be added to the seven that will experience changes in August.
To find out if your community will be affected, you can visit the Maine PUC's website.