CETF Urges FCC To Place Broadband Expansion Requirements on Proposed Frontier, Verizon Wireline Transaction
The FCC should impose broadband expansion requirements on Frontier if its proposed buy of Verizon's wireline services in California, Florida and Texas (see 1502050059) is approved, the California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF) said in a filing posted Thursday in docket…
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15-44. In its comment, CETF -- a nonprofit established by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) -- suggests public benefit requirements be placed on Frontier's transaction with Verizon to ensure rural broadband expansion to unserved and underserved areas, plus broadband adoption. CETF said in the filing it doesn't have an opinion on whether the transaction should be approved, but urged the commission to "put teeth into vague promises by [Frontier] as to public interest benefits from this transaction." CETF proposed several transaction conditions, including a stand-alone wireline broadband offer to eligible low-income households in Frontier's coverage area at "about $10 per month," a low-income broadband adoption performance goal spanning three years, immediate and periodic network upgrades, and submission to monitoring by a national oversight committee. CETF also suggested a commitment be required of Frontier to ensure broadband adoption until 80 percent of eligible, low-income households in targeted communities are connected. "CETF is participating in the review process at the California PUC and filed substantially the same document with the CPUC," a Frontier spokesperson told us Friday. "Frontier will respond to the CETF filing in the course of the regulatory approval process."