contributions to D.15-12-005. The condition of Verizon’s The Decision noted serious concerns Because The assets and the costs of about the current state of Verizon’s Greenlining Institute repairs and/or upgrades, if assets that were the subject of the did not timely file the any. transaction. Decision at p. 66. The request for Decision particularly noted the compensation, the Greenlining noted that the comments of speakers at public Commission did not Frontier would acquire a participation hearings, Verizon’s reach the question of company that was statements that repairing all of its GO 95 whether the approximately four times as deficiencies would cost as much as ten Greenlining Institute large as Frontier’s existing million dollars, and Verizon’s consistent made substantial company, creating concerns failure to meet the Commission’s contributions to that the new company would standard for OOS repair intervals raised D.15-12-005. or improve the “maintain serious concerns about the state of the expanded Frontier’s financial network. Decision at pp. 66-67. The condition or maintain or Decision also noted that Verizon would improve the quality of the have significant financial incentives to expanded Frontier’s service.” pass the cost of repairs on to Frontier Protest at pp. 4-5. during the period between approval and closing. Decision at p. 67. As a result, the Decision requires Verizon to either make the necessary repairs to its network or place funds in an escrow account to offset Frontier’s costs to repair the network. Decision at p. 72. The Decision specifically noted that the funds in escrow would that “ensure Frontier would have the financial means to address the network problems after the Transaction closes.” Decision at p. 50. In finding that the transaction maintain or improve the new company’s service quality, the Decision stated that its part, Frontier promised to “[f]or increase significantly the number of local service personnel, to upgrade the network through the use of Connect America funding from the FCC and its own resources, and to focus without distraction on maintaining and operating a wireline network (including broadband) without concerns about the relationship between that network and a
contributions to D.15-12-005. The condition of Verizon’s assets and the costs of repairs and/or upgrades, if any. Greenlining noted that the Frontier would acquire a company that was approximately four times as large as Frontier’s existing company, creating concerns that the new company would “maintain or improve the expanded Frontier’s financial condition or maintain or improve the quality of the expanded Frontier’s service.” Protest at pp. 4-5. The Decision noted serious concerns about the current state of Verizon’s assets that were the subject of the transaction. Decision at p. 66. The Decision particularly noted the comments of speakers at public participation hearings, Verizon’s statements that repairing all of its GO 95 deficiencies would cost as much as ten million dollars, and Verizon’s consistent failure to meet the Commission’s standard for OOS repair intervals raised serious concerns about the state of the network. Decision at pp. 66-67. The Decision also noted that Verizon would have significant financial incentives to pass the cost of repairs on to Frontier during the period between approval and closing. Decision at p. 67. As a result, the Decision requires Verizon to either make the necessary repairs to its network or place funds in an escrow account to offset Frontier’s costs to repair the network. Decision at p. 72. The Decision specifically noted that the funds in escrow would “ensure that Frontier would have the financial means to address the network problems after the Transaction closes.” Decision at p. 50. In finding that the transaction maintain or improve the new company’s service quality, the Decision stated that “[f]or its part, Frontier promised to increase significantly the number of local service personnel, to upgrade the network through the use of Connect America funding from the FCC and its own resources, and to focus without distraction on maintaining and operating a wireline network (including broadband) without concerns about the relationship between that network and a Because The Greenlining Institute did not timely file the request for compensation, the Commission did not reach the question of whether the Greenlining Institute made substantial contributions to D.15-12-005.
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