Connecticut OKs Verizon/Frontier Deal
The Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) approved Verizon's $20 billion all-cash purchase of Frontier, saying in a Wednesday decision (No. 24-11-06) that the proposed deal "is in the public interest." The approval imposed several obligations on Verizon (see 2505160066), requiring it to submit annual reports on fiber deployment for four years, present a plan regarding its role as "custodian of the communications space on all Connecticut utility poles" and ensure its toll-free number is accessible to non-Verizon customers for reporting unsafe conditions. Under the decision by Commissioners Marissa Gillett, David Arconti and Michael Caron, Verizon is also required to supply free battery backup units with D-cell batteries to customers transitioning from copper to fiber services.
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In addition, the approval included a settlement agreement between the carriers and the state's Office of Consumer Counsel (see 2503260070). "This is a huge business and a significant acquisition that warrants strong consumer protection measures and ongoing oversight, reflected in PURA’s final approval today," said Attorney General William Tong (D). "We will continue to scrutinize Verizon’s practices in Connecticut and expect that they will faithfully honor all commitments and obligations to customer service, low-income consumers, cybersecurity, and local control."