I have found most rumors around Verizon, end up having some basis in fact. I have yet to hear a rumor that did not turn into a fact, maybe the details were a bit off, but the basic premise has always held to be true, The buyout was rumored weeks before it was actually announced. We heard it was coming, had to have 27 years of service, then we heard 20, with various caps. The buyout was eventually announced and all you needed was 1 year of service. The underlying rumor of a buyout ended up being true. I am not saying the Cap removal is true, but the Verizon rumor mill always has some semblance of being factual !