VERIZON, FRONTIER MAKING CLOSING ARGUMENT FOR DEAL IN W.VA.

摘要

Verizon and Frontier laid out for West Virginia regulators extensive arguments in a filingnsumming up the companies' case for approval of their proposed transaction. The deal wouldngive Frontier ownership of Verizon landlines in 14 states. It ran into resistance last week whennan administrative law judge with the Illinois Commerce Commission recommended againstnapproval, saying consumers would be ill-served. Illinois, West Virginia and Washington are thenonly states that haven 抰 reached decisions on the transaction. "Frontier has unequivocallynexpressed its commitment to West Virginia and has pledged significant human and capitalnresources to provide quality telephone service, to expand broadband, and to maintain Verizonnservices, rates, terms and conditions," the companies told West Virginia 抯 Public ServicenCommission. West Virginia, where Frontier already has about 144,000 lines in 76 wire centersnin 38 counties, will be a "strategic focus" and a new regional headquarters, the companiesnsaid.