Alexis Krell: CenturyLink, WA state regulators at odds over huge fine for 911 outage in 2018
News Tribune, Tacoma, Wash. 12/24/2020 Alexis Krell, The News Tribune (Tacoma, Wash.)
Dec. 24 Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission staff have recommended penalizing CenturyLink up to $7.2 million for a 911 outage in 2018.
Popular Searches In the investigation report filed today, UTC staff found that CenturyLink committed up to 72,015 violations of four state laws and rules, including 24,000 violations for failing to transmit 911 calls, a news release about the recommendation said Tuesday. Staff also alleged 15 violations for failing to promptly notify Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) of the outage.
The outage Dec. 27, 2018 lasted more than two days, impacted about 7.4 million people in Washington and affected 39 states.
Boomer Consumer
Utility regulators recommend fining CenturyLink $7.2 million for 911 outage By Rita R. Robison on December 23, 2020 at 1:55 AM
Staff of the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission are recommending up to a $7.2 million fine for CenturyLink’s role in the December 2018 911 outage that affected about 7.4 million Washington state residents for more than two days.
In the investigation report filed Tuesday, UTC staff found that CenturyLink committed up to 72,015 violations of four state laws and rules, including 24,000 violations for failing to transmit 911 calls. Staff also alleged 15 violations for failing to promptly notify Public Safety Answering Points of the outage.
As a result of the investigation, the UTC filed a complaint against CenturyLink recommending a penalty of up to $7.2 million for 72,015 alleged violations of telecommunications regulations and laws.
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Telecom Alert - Georgia PSC Pole Attachment Ruling; 2021 Q1 USF Contribution Factor; COVID Relief Package Broadband Funding; CenturyLink Pays $500K Settlement; C-Band Revenues -Vol. XVII, Issue 51 Monday, December 21, 2020
Georgia PSC Pole Attachment Ruling
Last week, the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) voted to adopt a six-year, $1/pole rate for any new attachments to Georgia electric membership corporation (Georgia EMC) poles located in portions of Georgia not yet served by broadband. It also adopted a $27.71 rate statewide for all existing cable company attachments to EMC poles. The Commission largely adopted the terms and conditions proposed by the Georgia EMCs, including an “imposition fee” of 25% on top of actual costs when the EMC must perform work the attaching entity was supposed to do, an unauthorized attachment penalty of $100 plus back rent, and a dispute resolution process, among others.