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Frontier Communications Wins Rate Deregulation in Washington State

Phillip Dampier July 24, 2013 Competition, Frontier, Public Policy & Gov't No Comments

frontierFrontier Communications Northwest, Inc., has won an end to rate regulation, arguing sufficient competition exists between telecom companies in Washington State to make the oversight unnecessary.

The Washington State Utilities and Transportation Commission approved the request this week, adding it would allow more pricing flexibility for Frontier services in the state.

“Washington’s competitive classification statute requires that we examine the conditions in the marketplace to determine the level of regulation necessary to ensure that consumers have access to telecommunications services at fair, just and reasonable rates, terms, and conditions,” UTC commissioners said in the written order. “If alternative providers of telecommunications services exist and the company no longer serves a significant captive customer base, we will substantially reduce historic regulation, particularly economic regulation, in favor of the disciplines of an effectively competitive marketplace.

Although the majority of Washington is served by CenturyLink, which acquired the assets of Qwest, Frontier has 321,000 customers in Redmond, Kirkland, Everett, Bothell, Woodinville, and other smaller communities. Most of Frontier’s customers were acquired from Verizon Northwest in 2010 after the company exited the landline business in the state.

Frontier must still adhere to Washington’s consumer protection laws. Customers with unresolved problems with Frontier services, including its adopted FiOS fiber network, can call the Commission’s HelpLine at 1-888-333-9882.

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Stop the Cap!