CWA, TURN, and Cal Advocates secure commitment from Frontier to invest in network enhancement, retain statewide workforce

Frontier Communications along with CWA, The Utility Reform Network (TURN), and the Public Advocates Office at the California Public Utilities Commission (Cal Advocates) announced a proposed settlement to gain the California Public Utility Commission’s (CPUC) approval of Frontier’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy plan. The settlement includes conditions requiring the carrier to commit to strengthening its workforce to meet service quality standards and expand fiber deployment across the state. 

As part of the proposed settlement, Frontier will be required to spend at least $1.75 billion over the next four years on service quality and network enhancement projects, as well as provide a detailed plan with input from CWA, TURN and Cal Advocates that identifies needs like plant repair, maintenance, hiring, and how Frontier intends to address them. Under this settlement, Frontier has committed to deploy fiber to the premises to 350,000 locations within the next six years.

CWA also secured a commitment from Frontier to maintain its total employee technician staffing in California over the next three years, and to maintain ten call center locations across the state. Within a year of emerging from bankruptcy, Frontier will also be required to provide expanded training to its employee technicians in California on mixed generation technologies to help prepare them for the changing digital landscape.

“Today’s settlement proposal speaks to the importance of having regulation and accountability in the telecommunications industry,” said CWA District 9 Vice President Frank Arce. “California is a leader in ensuring companies like Frontier that are so critical to business, education, and everyday life, are held accountable. We look forward to continuing to work with Frontier to empower its workers and build a network that provides services throughout our communities.”

This proposed settlement has been submitted to the CPUC. Approval by the CPUC is required before the terms of the settlement become effective.

Links:

California secures commitment from Frontier to invest in network enhancement and retain statewide workforce (CWA, Dec. 28, 2020)