Press Release

PUC Schedules Initial Set of Public Input Hearings on Proposed Acquisition of Frontier Communications by Verizon Communications

Published on 1/27/2025

Filed under: Telecommunications

In-Person and Telephonic Input Hearings Scheduled for Mid-February

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today announced a series of in-person and telephonic hearings to gather public input regarding the proposed acquisition of Frontier Communications (Frontier) by Verizon Communications (Verizon).

The joint application submitted by Frontier and Verizon seeks PUC approval to transfer control of Frontier and its wholly owned subsidiaries to Verizon.

PUC Public Input Hearings

The PUC public input hearings for this case will be held at the following times and locations:

• Monday, February 10, 2025
  In-Person Public Input Hearing starting at 6 p.m.
  George A. Smith Middle School (Auditorium)
  645 Kirkwood Pike
  Quarryville, PA, 17566
  
  
• Thursday, February 13, 2025
  In-Person Public Input Hearing starting at 6 p.m.
  Wellsboro Fireman’s Annex
  21 East Avenue
  Wellsboro, PA 16901
  
  
• Thursday, February 20, 2025
  Telephonic Public Input Hearings
  - Telephonic Hearing #1 will start at 1 p.m.
  - Telephonic Hearing #2 will start at 6 p.m.

NOTE: Additional input hearings are anticipated and information about those hearing dates and locations will be released in the near future.

Pre-Registering for the Telephonic Hearings

Registration to speak at a public input hearing is not required, but concerned parties are encouraged to pre-register with the PUC’s Office of Administrative Law Judge (OALJ). Those who pre-register will be called to testify at the hearing in the order in which they signed up.

To pre-register for a hearing, contact the OALJ by telephone at 717-787-4497 or by email at lakjackson@pa.gov and provide the following:

• Your first and last name.
• Your email address or phone number.
• The date and time of the public input hearing you wish to participate in.
• If you require an interpreter to participate in the hearing, the language of the interpreter.
• If you are registering for a telephonic public input hearing, the phone number you will use to call into the hearing.
  
  

Requests for Interpreters

If you require an interpreter, please pre-register as soon as possible. If you register too close to the hearing date, we may not have enough time to arrange for an interpreter. If you request an interpreter, the PUC will make every reasonable effort to have one present.

Hearing Exhibits

If you have any hearing exhibits to which you will refer during the hearing, please email them to the OALJ at lakjackson@pa.gov or call 717-787-4497 to arrange for submission of the documents. Exhibits must be received by the OALJ by 10 a.m. on the day before the hearing.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate (toll-free) at 800-684-6560 or consumer@paoca.org or the Pennsylvania Office of Small Business Advocate at 717-783-2525 or osba@pa.gov.

Offering Testimony at a Public Input Hearing

The PUC offers tips on how to participate in a public input hearing, including:

• Prepare what you are going to say beforehand. Even though it is not required, you may want to write out your statement, which can be read.
• Any formal testimony that is offered during the hearing will become part of the record on which the PUC will issue its final decision.
• Understand that parties in the case may want to ask you a question to clarify something you said.
  
  

About the PUC

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission balances the needs of consumers and utilities; ensures safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protects the public interest; educates consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; furthers economic development; and fosters new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner.

Visit the PUC’s website at puc.pa.gov for recent news releases and video of select proceedings. You can also follow us on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube. Search for the “Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission” or “PA PUC” on your favorite social media channel for updates on utility issues and other helpful consumer information.

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Docket No.: A-2024-3051925

Contact:

• Nils Hagen-Frederiksen
  Press Secretary
  717-418-2701
  nhagen-fre@pa.gov