Changes to local phone service proposed
Published on Wed, Nov 4, 2009 by Beckye RandallRead More Local News
Pending approval by the Federal Communications Commission and state regulators, local residents' bills for home phone service may soon carry the Frontier Communications Corporation brand instead of the Verizon trademark.
In late October, state officials in California, Nevada and South Carolina approved the acquisition of Verizon's local wireline operations serving residential and small-business customers in those states by Frontier Communications Corporation.
These state regulatory approvals follow an Oct. 27 announcement by Frontier that its shareowners approved the transaction, which will result in Frontier owning Verizon's wireline operations in all or parts of 14 states.
"Regulators in California, Nevada and South Carolina have acted in the best interest of consumers in approving the acquisition," said Timothy McCallion, president of Verizon's West region. "This transaction will further each company's strategic focus, and it holds numerous benefits, including increased broadband availability, for consumers and small businesses in the states whose operations are being acquired by Frontier.
Verizon announced plans in May to divest its local wireline operations serving residential and small-business customers in predominantly rural and small to medium-sized areas in 14 states, and that Frontier would acquire these operations.
The operations involved include all of Verizon's local land-based territories in Arizona, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin. In addition, the transaction will include a small number of Verizon's exchanges in California, including those bordering Arizona, Nevada and Oregon.
Frontier, based in Stamford, Conn., has a successful track record of acquiring, operating and investing in rural communications properties, including assets purchased from Verizon between 1993 and 2000. Frontier had approximately 2.3 million access lines in 24 states as of Dec. 31, 2008, and provides an array of services, including local and long-distance voice, broadband data and video.
The Federal Communications Commission and state regulators in Washington must approve the transaction. In addition, Frontier has received cable television franchise approval from 10 of the 41 communities the company will serve in Oregon and Washington state.
In late October, state officials in California, Nevada and South Carolina approved the acquisition of Verizon's local wireline operations serving residential and small-business customers in those states by Frontier Communications Corporation.
These state regulatory approvals follow an Oct. 27 announcement by Frontier that its shareowners approved the transaction, which will result in Frontier owning Verizon's wireline operations in all or parts of 14 states.
"Regulators in California, Nevada and South Carolina have acted in the best interest of consumers in approving the acquisition," said Timothy McCallion, president of Verizon's West region. "This transaction will further each company's strategic focus, and it holds numerous benefits, including increased broadband availability, for consumers and small businesses in the states whose operations are being acquired by Frontier.
Verizon announced plans in May to divest its local wireline operations serving residential and small-business customers in predominantly rural and small to medium-sized areas in 14 states, and that Frontier would acquire these operations.
The operations involved include all of Verizon's local land-based territories in Arizona, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin. In addition, the transaction will include a small number of Verizon's exchanges in California, including those bordering Arizona, Nevada and Oregon.
Frontier, based in Stamford, Conn., has a successful track record of acquiring, operating and investing in rural communications properties, including assets purchased from Verizon between 1993 and 2000. Frontier had approximately 2.3 million access lines in 24 states as of Dec. 31, 2008, and provides an array of services, including local and long-distance voice, broadband data and video.
The Federal Communications Commission and state regulators in Washington must approve the transaction. In addition, Frontier has received cable television franchise approval from 10 of the 41 communities the company will serve in Oregon and Washington state.
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