The West Virginia Public Service Commission has denied a request from the agency’s Consumer Advocate Division to reconsider the sale of Verizon landlines to Frontier Communications.

The CAD criticized the proposed sale, pointing to earlier failures of similar transactions in Hawaii and northern New England which harmed consumers and businesses in those areas.  The consumer advocate sought a formal independent audit of the deal and increased safeguards to protect service quality and the customers soon to be served by Frontier.

The PSC claimed the CAD didn’t supply any new evidence in its filing justifying a reconsideration of its earlier order approving the sale.  It turned the request down on Monday.

Both Verizon and Frontier had asked the commission to reject the CAD’s request.