Verizon, Frontier to Invest $8M in Arizona Settlement
Verizon and Frontier agreed to invest $8 million in Arizona's Navajo and Apache counties as part of a settlement with the attorney general's office, AG Kris Mayes (D) said Wednesday. The agreement includes enforceable commitments to "invest in rural broadband infrastructure, fix public safety-related service outages and protect ratepayers from unfair costs," said a news release.
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The settlement stems from a complaint filed Monday in Maricopa County Superior Court. The state alleged that Frontier, which is being acquired by Verizon, "engaged in deceptive and unfair acts and practices" by not providing customers with certain advertised speeds.
Mayes said the "settlements will hold Frontier and Verizon accountable to the communities they serve, bring major investments in broadband infrastructure, and represent a big step in ensuring that residents in these rural areas receive the high-quality service they deserve."
Also as part of the settlement, Verizon will be required to "identify and fix the root causes of public safety and 911 outages in the region, conduct a full network audit, make investments necessary to ensure adequate and reliable service for customers, and implement enhanced maintenance practices." In addition, Frontier customers won't see rate increases until 2027, and low-income service plans will be available. The Corporation Commission must still vote to approve the settlement.