Washington regulators approve Frontier Communications sale

The Washington State Utilities and Transportation Commission recently approved a settlement in the sale of Frontier Communications to Northwest Fiber LLC.

The three-member commission approved the $1.35 billion sale Wednesday, subject to several provisions to protect customers, some of which include spending more than $50 million to increase broadband coverage in the state, supporting the statewide transition to Next Generation 911, and reporting on financial and quality measures.

“Frontier and WaveDivision Capital are pleased to have received the final regulatory approval and that the Commission has determined the settlement related to the Northwest Fiber transaction is in the public interest. We look forward to successfully completing the transaction,” Frontier Communications said in a statement.

Northwest Fiber LLC is the purchasing entity of Kirkland-based WaveDivision Capital and Searchlight Capital Partners, a global private investment firm.

WaveDivision Capital and Searchlight Capital Partners entered an agreement in May to purchase Frontier’s operations and assets in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana.

UTC staff reached a settlement in the proposed sale of Frontier Communications in December.

Regulatory agencies in Oregon and Montana approved the merger in January.

Northwest Fiber LLC was not required to file for approval in Idaho because its public utilities commission does not regulate broadband rates, Idaho PUD spokesman Adam Rush said.

Frontier Communications serves more than 150,000 residential and business customers in the state.