Frontier Must Lease Fiber to Citynet, West Virginia PSC Rules
The West Virginia Public Service Commission ruled that Frontier Communications must lease part of its broadband service to rival Citynet, said a PSC order last week in case No. 14-1295-T-C. The commission upheld most of an administrative law judge’s decision…
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
Timely, relevant coverage of court proceedings and agency rulings involving tariffs, classification, valuation, origin and antidumping and countervailing duties. Each day, Trade Law Daily subscribers receive a daily headline email, in-depth PDF edition and access to all relevant documents via our trade law source document library and website.
requiring Frontier to lease unused fiber to Citynet in several rural communities (see 1410070052). Citynet filed a complaint with the PSC in August 2014, accusing Frontier of trying to shut out competition for high-speed Internet connectivity by not honoring an agreement. Citynet didn't comment Monday. The PSC's order gives Frontier a framework for business moving forward, said a company spokesman Monday. He said there are some cases where Frontier has leased dark fiber to other providers, depending on need and provided there's an existing agreement to do so. "We provide broadband and voice services to all providers, including Citynet, in nearly every area of the state," the spokesman said. "In other instances, including the earlier ruling on a Charleston route that the Commission left undisturbed, Citynet will be expected to make its own investments in fiber optic facilities, just as other providers across the state do for their networks.”