Vermont DPS, IBEW Seek State Conditions on Consolidated/FairPoint
The Vermont Department of Public Service supported OK of Consolidated Communications' buy of FairPoint, but only if the Public Service Board conditions the deal on requiring Consolidated to invest in the Vermont network. “The merger should result in a healthier,…
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better managed company, which should lead to greater investments in the Vermont network and improved service quality for Vermont businesses and residential consumers,” DPS Director-Telecommunications and Connectivity Clay Purvis said in testimony dated Wednesday (docket 8881). The department “is concerned that Consolidated does not have a full understanding of the condition of FairPoint’s network, especially with regard to the last mile,” he said. In other testimony, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers sought a condition requiring Consolidated to commit to network investment and defend any proposed job cuts as not hurting reliability or safety of telephone service. Separately, a financial analyst working for IBEW urged the Vermont PSB to “defer ruling on this transaction until Consolidated provides much more information about its plans for Vermont.” Similar conditions were proposed at the Maine Public Utilities Commission (see 1703160040). FairPoint expected but was disappointed by the IBEW testimony and looks forward to filing a rebuttal to refute the criticisms, a spokeswoman said. "We appreciate the Department’s recommendation the Board approve the proposal, and we look forward to completing the regulatory process."