Frontier Communications and Lumos Networks have settled a three-month dispute over a high-speed Internet project, but Lumos wants assurances that the same problems don't happen again, according to documents filed with the state Public Service Commission.
In April, Lumos alleged Frontier workers cut down Lumos' fiber cable attached to 49 poles in Nicholas County, after the local school board decided to drop Frontier's Internet service and signed a contract with Frontier.
Last week, Lumos notified the Public Service Commission that Frontier has agreed to pay Lumos for replacing and reattaching the fiber. That payment is expected "shortly," according to a letter sent to the PSC.
"Frontier and Lumos were able to fully review the situation and create an improved facility for the benefit of our customers, and to also build a stronger bond with our partner Lumos in connecting West Virginians to the global network," said Frontier spokesman Dan Page.
Lumos has asked the PSC to establish "formal guidelines to prevent a repeat of the actions" that prompted the phone and Internet provider to file a complaint against Frontier. Lumos wants a heads up if Frontier has a problem with Lumos' fiber network.
Lumos also has proposed that Lumos and Frontier have periodic meetings to "discuss and resolve" substantive issues.
"Lumos does remain keenly interested in seeing to it that proper safeguards...are put in place to ensure that a repeat of the Nicholas County incident does not occur in the future," said Steven Hamula, Lumos' regulatory affairs director in a letter the PSC.
In 2011, Lumos and Frontier signed an agreement that allows Lumos to attach its fiber Frontier's poles, provided Lumos gives written notice and pays for "make-ready" work to prepare the poles for new cable lines.
Last year, Nicholas County's school system awarded a contract for high-speed telecommunication services to Lumos. Frontier had provided Internet and phone service to Nicholas schools for years.
Lumos requested to use Frontier's poles in June 2013 and paid Frontier $103,000 to prepare the poles for additional fiber cables, according to a filing with the PSC. But Frontier never did the work. So Lumos hired a private contractor whose workers rearranged cables on the poles and attached Lumos' fiber.
On April 7, Lumos workers reported that Frontier crews were yanking down the fiber. Two days later, Lumos filed a complaint with the Public Service Commission. The commission's staff ordered Frontier to stop taking down Lumos' fiber, pending an investigation.
Days later, A Frontier engineer threatened to call police and have Lumos employees arrested, if they tried to re-install fiber on the poles, according to Lumos.
Frontier countered that Lumos' pole-to-pole fiber installation was "woefully substandard" and created numerous safety hazards.
A Lumos spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The PSC staff has recommended that Lumos' complaint be dismissed because the two companies have resolved the dispute. The PSC staff also urged the companies to "continue to work on developing their ongoing relationship..."
Reach Eric Eyre at ericeyre@wvgazette.com, 304-348-4869 or follow @ericeyre on Twitter.