More
than a year ahead of schedule, Frontier Communications has delivered on its
promise to make broadband service available to at least 85 percent of
households in the West Virginia markets acquired from Verizon in July 2010.
In
a recent filing with the Public Service Commission of West Virginia, Frontier
reported that broadband service has become available to an additional 158,000
Mountain State households since July 2010.
That
represents 86 percent of the households in Frontier's newly acquired service
areas, up from about 62 percent in July 2010.
At
the time of the transaction, Frontier pledged to exceed 85 percent by 2014.
Frontier
offers customers broadband, digital phone service, television, Frontier
satellite broadband, customer premises equipment and Web security/data backup
through the Frontier Secure suite of services.
"Frontier
has followed a defined strategic plan since July 2010 to extend broadband
service in West Virginia while enhancing broadband speeds and bandwidths to our
existing customers," said Dana Waldo, senior vice president and general manager
for Frontier in West Virginia.
"We
remain on course to keep our promise to make West Virginia one of the most connected
states in the nation," Waldo said. "We have brought broadband to more than 500
West Virginia communities, and many now have access to the Internet for the
first time. Other providers have declined to serve smaller West Virginia
communities, but Frontier has embraced our commitment to provide communications
services to rural America."
The
PSC report noted that Frontier made $109 million in capital investments last
year in West Virginia, including broadband-related investments. The 2012
investments brought Frontier's capital investment in West Virginia since July
2010 to $292 million. The company pledged in 2010 to invest $310 million in
West Virginia through 2013.
Waldo
added that Frontier has strengthened the network since 2010 to allow enhanced
broadband speeds in dozens of communities across the state.
Frontier
also has strengthened its middle-mile network to handle the increased speeds
and capacity demanded by its new and existing customers.
For
customers without access to land-based broadband, Frontier Broadband is a
satellite-delivered service that provides connectivity to residents and
businesses in the most remote areas of West Virginia.
Frontier's
work force provides local installation, customer service and support for the
satellite service, which ranges from 5 Mbps download/1 Mbps upload to 15 Mbps
download/2 Mbps upload depending on personal speed requirements, Waldo said.
While
developing its broadband network, Frontier also has continued to improve basic
telephone service, Waldo said.
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