CWA Weighs Options Following WVA Approval of Verizon-Frontier Deal

CWA is weighing all options following last week's decision by the West Virginia Public Service Commission to approve the sale of Verizon landlines in the state to Frontier Communications.

The PSC voted 2-1 to allow the company to proceed. West Virginia was the last state to grant approval to Verizon's overall plan to sell 4.8 million landlines in 14 states; the deal now goes to the Federal Communications Commission for review.

CWA District 2 Vice President Ron Collins said CWA was evaluating the decision and "we'll look at what we can do that will best serve West Virginia consumers and CWA members." There is a 10 day window to file a motion for reconsideration with the State PSC; following that, an appeal may be filed with the state's supreme court.

CWA's campaign has helped raise concerns about service quality and access to high speed broadband, and so far the PSC has required Verizon to put $72 million into an escrow fund to be used to address service quality issues.

"We are disappointed but we're heartened by the fact that one person on the three-member commission agreed with us and with the more than 80 legislators, several county commissions and a broad coalition of consumer, union and first responder organizations who said the deal is too risky and not in the public interest," Collins said.