CWA Maintains Strong Presence at PSC Meetings

Telecommunications does not function in a vacuum; federal and state regulatory boards can have a giant effect on communication companies and the lives and livelihoods of CWA members with their decisions. The big communications companies employ large legal teams to deal with public service commissions, but CWA matches it with our own vigilance and dedicated attorneys.

Near the end of 2010, the West Virginia Public Service Commission opened an investigative review into the cutover process and future plans to improve retail service quality. The findings of the WVPSC could have a major impact on Frontier employees, both beneficial and detrimental. Therefore, CWA attorney Vincent Trivelli filed a motion to intervene in the investigative review.

CWA files motions to intervene in regulatory matters because it gives workers a voice in the process. Once CWA is granted status as an “interested party” in a matter before a regulatory body, it means the views and opinions of CWA members will be taken under consideration in all pending matters. This gives the workers an equal voice, alongside the corporations and industry representatives, in front of regulatory bodies.

This is not just about lawyers and legal motions. When CWA goes before regulatory bodies on behalf of workers, we want our members there. Seeing the people who work in the industry day in and day out at the regulatory meetings gives weight to our arguments and allows us to get vital input from our members.

So the next time CWA is representing workers at a regulatory meeting in your state, get out there and get involved – together we can make a big difference.

Source: Frontier Frontline Newsletter, January 2011