What "free" box?

I'm angry. We've gotten two calls from Comcast saying they want to send us "free" digital boxes. When I ask what the catch was, the folks on the phone simply said it was part of the switch over. I said I had previously turned down digital television because of the cost, the callers said the boxes were free. When I asked if my bill would go up, one said no but I needed the boxes. The other berated me for not wanting something for free. Late last week we got a letter saying our subscription rate would go up to $57.99! When we started, our extended basic service was something like $45.00. Then it was raised to $49 and change. In the summer of 2007, the rate was raised again to $54.97 and several channels including MSNBC were taken out of our plan just before the primary election. Now they are forcing anyone in the extended basic to digital for even more money! We got cable to get fast internet and because where we live has no over-the-air reception even with a good antenna. Our internet speeds drop in the evening to almost dial-up speed. I here that doesn't happen with FIOS.

Can someone tell me why I shouldn't go to Verizon FIOS for faster internet speed and lower rates?