FCC Approves Verizon-Frontier Deal

The FCC approved the transfer of 4.8 million lines in primarily rural and smaller-city areas to Frontier Communications from Verizon Communications.



The FCC believes the transaction will help advance the goals of the National Broadband Plan by bringing broadband to millions of consumers, small businesses, and anchor institutions in 14 states across the West, Midwest, and South.


To gain the approval, Frontier has committed to deploy broadband with actual speeds of at least 3 Mbps downstream to at least 85 percent of transferred lines by the end of 2013, and actual speeds of at least 4 Mbps downstream to at least 85 percent of the transferred lines by the end of 2015, with all new broadband deployment offering actual
speeds of at least 1 Mbps upstream.


In addition Frontier will launch an anchor institution initiative to deploy fiber to libraries, hospitals, and government buildings, particularly in unserved and underserved communities.
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