Frontier: Telecom takeover led to outages in 3 states

(AP) — Frontier Communications blamed its takeover of another company for widespread phone, internet and television service outages in California, Texas and Florida at a legislative hearing Wednesday, saying Frontier inherited corrupt data in its $10.5 billion acquisition of certain Verizon businesses last month.

Frontier West Region President Melinda White told California lawmakers that the data issue caused outages during the transition and an outpouring of complaints that its technicians weren't yet trained to handle.

California lawmakers on the Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee questioned Frontier after thousands of customers in three states complained to state and federal regulators about spotty service since the April 1 takeover.

The committee chairman, Assemblyman Mike Gatto, D-Los Angeles, and vice chairman, Assemblyman Jim Patterson, R-Fresno, said the PUC should shoulder as much blame as Frontier for the outages because the agency approved the takeover and has been slow to address service issues.