CHARLESTON, W.Va. — About 36 percent of Frontier’s Communications customers have higher internet speeds following a $160 million settlement reached two years ago with State Attorney General Patrick Morrisey’s Office.
Frontier agreed to pay $160 million for slower than promised internet speeds back in Dec. 2015. The settlement called for Frontier to put $150 million into infrastructure improvements throughout West Virginia while reducing monthly customer bills by $10 million over three years.
“My office continues to closely monitor Frontier’s compliance with our settlement,” Morrisey said in a statement. “This agreement improves connectivity for thousands in West Virginia. It’s also crucial to helping the state compete in this ever evolving world of digital technology.”
The Attorney General’s Office received customers complaints about slow internet speeds between 2013 and 2015, noting they were promised internet with 6 megabits per second but the speeds were more like 1.5 Mbps or lower.
According to a news release, Frontier denied any wrongdoing and entered into the settlement to resolve disputed claims.
Since the settlement was reached, Morrisey said Frontier has spent $72.6 million to increased internet speeds to 9,910 customers throughout West Virginia, according to the company’s most recent quarterly report filed with the AG’s Office.
The discounted monthly rate was set at $9.99 for about 27,500 affected customers — a reduction expected to cost Frontier $6.25 million per year.