CWAers Rally at FCC against Verizon-Frontier Deal

About 200 CWAers from West Virginia, plus supporters from IBEW and the AFL-CIO, rallied outside the Federal Communications Commission, letting regulators know that the proposed Verizon-Frontier Communications deal is a disaster waiting to happen.

Verizon Communications wants to sell landlines in West Virginia and 13 other states to Frontier so it can take advantage of a tax loophole.  Similar deals by Verizon in other states have ended in bankruptcy, lost jobs, the loss of high speed broadband access and overall reduced service quality.

"This deal will pad the pockets of Wall Street executives while only deepening the digital divide," said CWA District 2 Vice President Ron Collins.

Following the rally, CWA President Larry Cohen, Collins and a group of CWA members met with FCC Commissioner Michael Copps. Collins  and other CWAers also met with the chief of staff for FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski and other FCC officials.

Inside the FCC, CWA presented Commissioner Copps with letters from 71 West Virginia legislators who oppose the deal; letters expressing concern or opposition from 18 county commissions, and petitions from more than 5,000 West Virginia citizens calling on the state Public Service Commission to reject the deal. 

The FCC can block the deal if it determines that the sale isn't in the public interest.  In March, an Illinois administrative law judge recommended that the state Commerce Commission reject the deal; the West Virginia Public Service Commission staff and the state's consumer advocate also strongly oppose it.

CWA or IBEW have intervened in state regulatory proceedings on the proposed sale in West Virginia, Illinois, Ohio, and Washington. The FCC will take up the case after the states have concluded their reviews.

For more information, go to www.verizonfrontierdeal.org.

Photo Caption: CWA Pres. Cohen, District 2 VP Ron Collins and CWA members meet with Commissioner Copps.