An op-ed by W.Va. Attorney General Patrick Morrisey
Our recent $160 million settlement with Frontier Communications marks the largest consumer protection action of its kind in state history and represents a major step forward for improved Internet access and service for West Virginia.
Routine email and web surfing can be adequately served with yesterday’s dial-up speed of 56 kilobits per second, but today’s world is much different. The new era depends upon video capabilities and large data transfers at work, in addition to streaming entertainment at home.
For instance, satisfactorily watching just one, high-definition movie can require a connection of 5 megabits per second – a speed many West Virginians thought they were obtaining after they purchased high-speed Internet service.
Through this landmark settlement we seek to enhance speeds and increase connectivity. The agreement reduces many consumers’ bills and over a three year period ensures heavy investment into our state’s Internet infrastructure.
Between 2013 and 2015, our office received multiple complaints from consumers who paid for Frontier’s high-speed service, which advertised speeds up to 6 Mbps.
We took those complaints seriously, initiated a comprehensive investigation and then brokered an agreement for approximately $160 million – the largest independently negotiated settlement in West Virginia’s history.
Simply put, this represents a major victory for West Virginia consumers without the cost of extensive and uncertain litigation. I appreciate that we have been able to work out an agreement with the company.
