Frontier Communications (NYSE: FTR) appears to be keeping to its promise to make, in many cases, long-overdue network upgrades in its West Virginia wireline network.
After taking over Verizon's (NYSE: VZ) rural lines in 14 states in July, Frontier reported to West Virginia state regulators that it spent $59 million to improve its traditional PSTN network. In addition to improving the state's PSTN network, Frontier invested another $8.3 million to expand DSL service to an additional 28,233 homes in the state.
Dana Waldo, senior vice president of Frontier's West Virginia operations, told the Charleston Gazette that "Broadband is key to turning up the economic engine in West Virginia," adding that "we are keeping our commitment to the state, to our customers and to rural America."
Despite Frontier's efforts to improve West Virginia's telephone network, one that Verizon itself neglected for years, Byron Harris, the state's public utility consumer advocate, said that the service provider isn't out of the woods yet.
"We're still waiting for Frontier to meet its commitment in terms of improving service quality," Harris said Monday. "Their service quality has not even been up to the level of Verizon's. They still have a ways to go--a long ways to go."
For more:
- The Charleston Gazette has this article
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