Frontier Transfer Proceeding (A.20-05-010/D.21-04-008)
On May 22, 2020, Frontier Communications Corporation and its California local exchange and long-distance subsidiaries filed an application to transfer the control of these companies (Frontier). Frontier has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which proposes to reorganize its corporate structure among other things. California law requires the California Public Utilities Commission (Commission) to weigh in on situations when there may be a transfer or encumbrance of utility property. The Commission opened a proceeding, Application (A.) 20-05-010 to review Frontier's application and decide whether to reject or approve it.
On April 20, 2021, Decision (D.)21-04-008 was approved for Frontier's corporate restructuring.
On October 7, 2021, Resolution T-17734 adopted an Enforcement program to ensure compliance of the Frontier companies with the Decision (D.21-04-008) that approved their corporate restructuring.
- Decision 22-05-030: Order modifying resolution T-17734 and denying rehearing as modified.
Relevant California law: California Public Utilities Code Chapter 4 Article 6 Sections 851-857
Frontier offers broadband, video, phone, and other services and products through a combination of fiber and copper-based networks to business and residential customers. Frontier also provides a range of access services that allow other carriers to use Frontier's facilities to originate and terminate their local and long-distance voice-traffic.
In California, the Commission authorized Frontier to operate as an Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier (ILEC) and a Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC) pursuant to Public Utilities Code Section 1001. The Commission also authorized Frontier ILEC companies as a carrier of last resort (COLR), which means Frontier is obligated to provide basic phone service on a non-discriminatory basis.
Additionally, the Commission granted authority to Frontier to provide interexchange services as a non-dominant interexchange carrier (NDIEC). An NDIEC is a competitive carrier who does not have monopoly or market power such as long-distance providers and/or phone card providers pursuant to Public Utilities Code Section 1013 of the Public Utilities Code Frontier also holds an Interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) registration pursuant to Public Utilities Code Section 285.
Together, Frontier's service territory includes urban and suburban areas in Southern California as well as suburban and rural areas in Central and Northern California. Other Northern California areas they service are Elk Grove and Susanville and mostly rural areas in Southern and Eastern California.
- Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers (ILECs):
- Frontier California Inc. (U-1002-C)
- Citizens Telecommunications Company of California Inc. (U-1024-C)
- Frontier Communications of the Southwest Inc. (U-1026-C)
- Non-Dominant Interexchange Carriers (NDIECs):
- Frontier Communications Online and Long - Distance Inc. (U-7167-C)
- Frontier Communications of America, Inc. (U-5429-C)
- Interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
- Frontier Communications of America Inc. (U-1548-C)
Pursuant to D.21-04-008, Frontier is required to comply with all ordering paragraphs and settlement agreements. Below are the Public Quarterly Reports filed by Frontier:
- Fact Sheet (corrected as of 10/28/20)
- Communications Division Report about Frontier: Collection of Facts (corrected as of 10/28/20)
- Maps related to Frontier
- Rural Locations in Frontier's Telephone Service Area (link updated on 10/28/20)
- Rural Low-Income Areas within Frontier's Telephone Service Area (link updated on 10/28/20)
- Status of Availability of 6-1 Mbps Fixed Broadband Service in Frontier's Telephone Service Area (link updated on 10/28/20)
- Competition Level in Frontier's Telephone Service Area for Fixed Broadband Services (link updated on 10/28/20)
- Locations of Frontier's Deployment of Fixed Broadband Service at Various Downstream Speeds (link updated on 10/28/20)
- Low-Income Areas where Frontier is the Only Service Provider Offering POTS or VoIP Services (link updated on 10/28/20)
- Locations of California LifeLine Participants by Frontier's Utility Number (link updated on 10/28/20)
- Locations in Frontier's Telephone Service Area with Median Household Income Over & Under $50,000 (link updated on 10/28/20)
- Competition Level in Frontier's Telephone Service Area for POTS or VoIP Services (link updated on 10/28/20)
- Frontier's Telephone Service Areas (link updated on 10/28/20)
- Frontier's State-Issued Video Franchise Territory (link updated on 10/28/20)
- California High Cost Fund B Program Census Block Groups by Frontier Utility Number
- Tribal Lands in Frontier's Telephone Service Area
- Carrier of Last Resort Territory in California
- California Advanced Services Fund Program Approved Projects for Frontier
- Frontier County Average Outage Duration 2019
- Frontier County Average Out of Service Repair Rate 2019
- Other Related Topics
- Service Quality Reports- Telecommunications Service Quality Reports for Wireline Carriers pursuant to General Order 133-D
- Network Exam- Examination of the Local Telecommunications Networks and Related Policies and Practices of AT&T California and Frontier California
