Staff Report
Published Oct. 30, 2009

The Public Service Commission of South Carolina has approved Frontier Communications Corp.’s pending acquisition of Verizon Communications’ local wireline operations. Frontier is based in Stamford, Conn.

The transaction, announced May 13, includes Verizon’s local exchange businesses in 14 states, including parts of California, and certain customer relationships for long-distance services, broadband Internet access and broadband video.

On Tuesday, Frontier’s stockholders voted overwhelmingly to approve the merger agreement and related proposals.

Frontier has also received approvals from the California Public Utilities Commission and the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada. On Sept. 1, the transaction received early termination of the waiting period required under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976.

After the transaction, Frontier will have approximately 7 million access lines in 27 states, 8.6 million voice and broadband connections, and approximately 16,000 employees. The transaction is expected to close during the second quarter of 2010.