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Contact: Marty Berkowitz
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OCC: Consumers should benefit from the Frontier-Verizon merger

COLUMBUS, Ohio – February 11, 2010 – More access to broadband and improved service quality are some of the benefits for Ohio residential customers as a result of the merger between Frontier Communications Corp. and Verizon Communications, Inc., according to Consumers’ Counsel, Janine Migden-Ostrander.

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) today approved an agreement filed Dec. 8, 2009 among the Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel (OCC), the staff of the PUCO and the two companies.

“The merger between Frontier and Verizon will benefit customers, allowing them access to expanded broadband services with no increase in basic service rates,” Migden-Ostrander said. “Ohioans in the rural areas served by Frontier will now have the opportunity to gain the benefits of broadband, including the availability of Internet-based telephone services.”

Specifically, the agreement requires Frontier to:

• Deploy broadband facilities in 85 percent of Verizon’s current Ohio service area by the end of 2013 based on a plan to be developed by Frontier, the OCC and PUCO staff;

• Cap basic local telephone rates at their current levels until broadband deployment reaches 85 percent;

• Invest in service upgrades in each of the next three years;

• Submit reports detailing the company’s annual service performance, including how it handles outages; and

• Allow the OCC and PUCO staff to monitor the transition of Verizon customers to Frontier’s operations.

Upon completion of the merger, Frontier will become the second largest local telephone provider in Ohio. About 435,000 residential customers in 77 counties will be transferred to Frontier, which serves 480 residential customers in Williams County. Currently, Frontier serves about 2.3 million customers in 24 states, and will add 4.8 million Verizon telephone lines in 14 states when the merger closes. Frontier and Verizon filed their merger request with the PUCO in May 2009.

About the Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel

The Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel (OCC), the residential utility consumer advocate, represents the interests of 4.5 million households in proceedings before state and federal regulators and in the courts. The state agency also educates consumers about electric, natural gas, telephone and water issues and resolves complaints from individuals. To receive utility information, brochures, schedule a presentation or file a utility complaint, residential consumers may call 1-877-PICKOCC (1-877-742-5622) toll free in Ohio or visit the OCC website at www.pickocc.org.