PHOENIX — The Arizona Attorney General’s Office on Wednesday announced a settlement with Frontier Communications Inc. and Verizon that will help the Navajo and Apache communities get increased internet and phone service.
The agreement terms in the settlement include “enforceable commitments to invest in rural broadband infrastructure, fix(ing) public safety-related service outages and protect(ing) ratepayers from unfair costs.”
Attorney General Kris Mayes said this settlement is “a big step” in providing these community members with “the high-quality service they deserve.”
“For too long, residents in Navajo and Apache counties have suffered from unreliable internet and phone service that has jeopardized public safety, hurt local businesses and put lives at risk during emergencies,” Mayes said in a press release.
On Tuesday, Mayes traveled to a town hall meeting in Apache County to discuss a portion of the settlement, which features Frontier Communications and Verizon pouring in a combined $8 million to address internet bandwidth, with about $4 million to “improve fiber network reliability” between the following areas:
Holbrook
Snowflake
Show Low
St. Johns
Concho
Springerville
Vernon.
The remaining $4 million of the investment will target the internet connection of homes, businesses and other public institutions.
Other details of internet settlement in rural Arizona
Besides the financial settlement, Verizon must “identify and fix the root causes of public safety and 911 outages in the region” and “implement enhanced maintenance practices.”
Also, customers of Frontier Communications, which was purchased by Verizon in May, will not have their rates increase until 2027. They will be eligible for “low-income service plans.”
Mayes emphasized any deviation from the settlement agreement will force her hand to bring non-compliance to court.
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