Dialing down your home-phone costs: bills are on the rise. We'll help you find a lower-cost option that works for you.(Long Distance)(Buyers Guide)

With all the fuss over cell phones, you'd think consumers had gone completely wireless. But 95 percent of American households have landlines. And their costs are going up.

Sure, every time you turn on your TV, carriers are vying for your business. But they aren't offering much. Long-distance charges are rising as the troubled telecommunications industry tries to make up lost revenue. Savings are hard to come by on local and in-state phone services, which residential consumers use most. And, local rates have been rising with inflation, not falling, as many deregulation proponents had hoped.

Paring your costs and getting decent service require creative ...