Verizon has struck a regulatory coup in Pennsylvania as the Public Utility Commission voted to deregulate the prices the telco can charge for basic phone service in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and three other regions, a move that critics say could raise service prices for consumers, reports philly.com . In a 3-2 vote, which included dissents from the commission's two Democratic members, the PUC gave partial backing for the telco's October request to have its landline voice service be declared "competitive" in these five markets via a state law that was passed with the goal of promoting competition in Pennsylvania's local phone and Internet markets.