Frontier disses Oregon regulators curious about FiOS TV plans

Frontier Communications' (NYSE: FTR) bizarre attempts to stop providing FiOS TV in Oregon now include declining an invitation by the Washington County Metropolitan Area Communications Commission (MACC) to explain why.

While not dropping FiOS outright, the telecom provider has implemented a $500 installation fee, announced higher monthly charges and is encouraging subscribers to move to DirecTV (Nasdaq: DTV). Among those subscribers, MACC administrator Bruce Crest said she was told she could pay a $500 installation fee at a new address or just move her phone and Internet and pay a $360 early termination fee for breaking her cable service contract.

That, alone, is the type of behavior that has regulators scratching their heads.

"We remain concerned about techniques Frontier is using with existing customers and we suspect others are having similar problems but don't know how to contact us," said Crest.

And so the push for more information goes on: "They declined to attend today, but we still want to know what the company's position is regarding its recent activity," said MACC policy advisor Fred Christ.

Apparently the regulators aren't the only ones in the dark. The Hillsboro Argus reported that "Frontier Senior Vice President Steven Crosby didn't return several calls ... for comment on missing the meeting."

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