Ohio consumer advocate wants phone deal assurances

CLEVELAND (AP) — Ohio’s state government consumer advocate wants to make sure customers aren’t hurt if Frontier Telephone buys Verizon landline assets in Ohio as part of a 14-state deal.

Ohio Consumers’ Counsel Janine Migden-Ostrander has asked the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio to make sure that Frontier can maintain and improve residential customer service.

Frontier says the Verizon deal should benefit consumers. Senior vice president Steve Crosby says the company wants to bring broadband Internet to at least 92 percent of its 435,000 new customers in 77 counties across Ohio.

About 60 percent of Verizon customers in Ohio now have broadband access through the company.

Public hearings on the Frontier deal will take place in three Ohio cities next month.