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Verizon-Frontier phone deal opposed by consumer advocates

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Staff Report 10:42 AM Tuesday, September 22, 2009

WASHINGTON — Federal regulators should reject a proposed merger of the landline telephone operations of Verizon Communications Inc. and Frontier Communications Corp. because it isn’t in the public interest, a nationwide organization of utility consumer advocates said.

If the Federal Communications Commission does decide to approve the deal, the FCC should attach conditions to ensure that there are sufficient improvements to local telephone facilities and broadband access to ensure that customers receive quality service at reasonable rates, the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates said Monday, Sept. 21.

Frontier and Verizon have said the deal will be in the interest of consumers.

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio is inviting public comment on the proposed deal at hearings around Ohio, including an Oct. 6 hearing at 6 p.m. in Troy, at the Miami County Safety Building, 201 W. Main St.

Verizon’s Ohio service area includes parts of Montgomery, Greene, Clark, Darke, Miami, Warren, Clinton, Preble and Highland counties.

It would be part of an $8.6 billion transaction that Verizon and Frontier announced in May, which would involve rural wireline operations in 14 states.

The deal does not include Verizon’s wireless telephone business.

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