RICHMOND — The State Corporation Commission (SCC) has found that Verizon was not in compliance with one of the Commission’s service quality standards. The standard requires that 80 percent of out of service trouble reports be cleared within 24 hours, and 95 percent within 48 hours, per calendar month.

The SCC staff filed a “rule to show cause” motion in May 2007. The motion alleged that Verizon was not in compliance with this particular service quality standard during a time period stretching from 2005 through early 2007.

The Commission rejected Verizon’s defense that the standard was vague or merely aspirational. It also rejected Verizon’s explanation that Verizon’s effort to install fiber optic lines to the home (“FIOS”) in some parts of its service territory justified Verizon’s failure to meet the standard.

While the Commission found that Verizon was not in compliance with the standard, the SCC also found that the regulation did not specify a penalty for non-compliance and thus no penalty could be imposed in this proceeding.

The Commission stated that it intends to initiate a rulemaking, which will review and clarify its service quality rules.

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Case Number PUC-2007-00040    View Order
Case Number PUC-2007-00041    View Order