Press Releases

08/31/2022
Lawyer Common Tong Announces Settlement With Frontier Communications to Expand Large-Velocity World-wide-web Access, Finish Hidden World-wide-web Fee, and Shield Consumers From Unacceptable Advertising and marketing and Gross sales Techniques
Monetary and Injunctive Conditions Value About $60 Million
(Hartford, CT) – Lawyer Standard William Tong currently announced a settlement with Frontier Communications truly worth above $60 million to considerably increase entry to superior-velocity web for Frontier prospects in economically distressed communities, end a concealed monthly $6.99 world wide web surcharge, and force sizeable enhancements in Frontier’s marketing and advertising and client service. The settlement resolves a joint investigation by the Business office of the Attorney Basic and Department of Purchaser Security into regardless of whether Frontier deceived or misled individuals in the marketing and advertising and revenue of net providers.
In this investigation, the offices jointly reviewed more than 1,400 purchaser grievances concerning Frontier. These grievances anxious prices for machines currently returned, weak web quality, unsatisfactory client assistance, charges that exceeded promised charges, and charges that ongoing immediately after solutions had been cancelled.
“Frontier unsuccessful Connecticut individuals. Their DSL online high-quality was slow and unreliable, and their buyer assistance was unacceptable. They tacked on hidden service fees, charged households for returned tools, and stored charging prospects even after solutions experienced been cancelled. That ends now. Our settlement necessitates Frontier to spend in high-high-quality, substantial-velocity fiber for communities without adequate world-wide-web options right now– bringing entry to 40,000 homes most harmed by the company’s sub-par DSL company. In addition, Frontier has agreed to overhaul their buyer company, and to stop the concealed $6.99 monthly net rate that price tag Connecticut people $84 very last year alone. Frontier must pay a different $1 million to the point out, and set up $200,000 to directly compensate people who have been wronged,” mentioned Legal professional Standard Tong. “We intend to keep Frontier accountable to each and every term of this agreement. If you carry on to have any complications with Frontier, we want to listen to from you.”
Shoppers continuing to have issues with Frontier web provider should file a criticism online with the Office environment of the Lawyer General right here: https://www.dir.ct.gov/ag/criticism/.
“Internet is a crucial utility for most persons, particularly by way of the issues of the past numerous years,” explained DCP Commissioner Michelle H. Seagull. “Improving purchaser company and ending concealed service fees is a beneficial consequence for everyone, and the enhanced access to large-velocity world wide web promised by this settlement will advantage our most economically distressed communities. Thank you to the hardworking workers at DCP and the Attorney General’s Workplace for their exertion in examining hundreds of issues and reaching this settlement that will reward Connecticut people.”
Today’s settlement involves Frontier to devote $42.5 million about the up coming 3.5 decades to improve existing, outdated DSL internet service to fiber net. The agreement calls for that at least fifty percent of those people upgrades be made in economically distressed communities, urban and rural, bringing large-speed, additional dependable world-wide-web to as a lot of as 40,000 family members in want. The settlement delivers protections for consumers available the update, which includes a 45-working day interval to come to a decision whether or not to changeover to fiber world-wide-web, protections versus early termination or disconnection expenses if they elect to cancel Frontier services, accessibility to new customer marketing premiums, and info about net subsidies as a result of the Economical Connectivity Application (ACP). The ACP supplies a price cut up to $30 for every thirty day period on the price tag of internet service for eligible low-income people.
The settlement also forces Frontier to cease amassing a hidden $6.99 month to month “Internet Infrastructure Surcharge” which price tag all those buyers levied the surcharge about $84 for each yr and an estimated $16 million statewide previous 12 months. The settlement even more requires Frontier to make a $1 million payment to the condition and place up $200,000 for credits and refunds to buyers who submitted grievances setting up in 2019.
The agreement imposes a thorough record of accountability steps for the up coming 6 decades, together with new cost and billing disclosures, ad disclosures that deal with the company’s DSL representations, necessities that the corporation provide promised speeds or offer options for shoppers who do not obtain promised speeds, assurances that the company will implement transparent and truthful cancellation and gear return procedures, and much more. Must the corporation fall short to adhere to its higher-speed world wide web upgrade commitments, the Office environment of the Lawyer Typical has the correct to request $6 million in penalties.
Paralegal Specialist Casey Rybak, Legal Investigator Caylee Ribeiro, Assistant Lawyers Basic Lauren Bidra, Brendan Flynn, John Wright, and Jose Rene Martinez, and Deputy Associate Legal professional Standard Mike Wertheimer, head of the Purchaser Safety Area assisted the Attorney Standard in this make a difference.
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- Twitter: @AGWilliamTong
- Fb: CT Attorney Typical



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