VOIP speed effected by number of processes running?

After a long chat session with Verizon trying to determine why I was getting terrible test results and no usable VOIP service on a dedicated dryloop DSL connection the tech took control and said I had too many processes running. I think I've been handed a snow job. My test results are all over the map from 233kbps down or less to over 600 on a 768kbps rated line. Up is 77 0r less to 177 or so. The higher numbers are what I'd expect for the service I'm paying for ($30 a month for dry loop slowest option). Jitter is also terrible. Multiple resets of both the router and modem have not made a difference. The best results are the most recent so I hope I'm over the problem. VOIP service seems OK for now also. I have two machines connected both report 70 to 100 processes active but most are not using any resource. I cannot see how processes on either machine could effect the VOIP modem. Heavy downloads would but that's not happening. So am I right that the tech was blowing smoke?