Verizon is not accepting funding of $144 million total per year for six years to expand broadband in the rural areas it serves from the second phase of the FCC's Connect America Fund , fueling new rumors that it's considering a sale of another large piece of its wireline asset portfolio. According to a Broadband DSL Reports article, speculation has emerged that Verizon is in talks with an unnamed service provider to sell more of its wireline assets, with a deal that could be announced early next year.