News Release

From the Office of Chairwoman Márquez Peterson

For Immediate Release | 06-2-2021

Media Contact | Nick Debus

Direct |  602-542-0728

E-Mail | NDebus@azcc.gov

Investigation In Response to Over 130 Hours of 9-1-1 Outages Across Arizona 

PHOENIX - Arizona Corporation Commission Chairwoman Lea Márquez Peterson submitted a letter on June 2, 2021, asking the Commission’s utilities compliance and enforcement division to conduct a thorough investigation of Frontier Communications for multiple service outages that affected Arizonans’ ability to contact 9-1-1 operators. 

Frontier Communications is a telecommunications and internet service provider that consists of three separate entities: Frontier Communications of the White Mountains; Citizens Utilities Rural Company; and Navajo Communications Company. Collectively, the companies provide service to tens of thousands of Arizonans throughout the state, particularly in rural areas and communities such as Bullhead City, Lake Havasu, and Show Low, among others.  

Recently culled data demonstrates that Frontier Communications had multiple service outages, which prevented Frontier customers from reaching emergency responders when they dialed 9-1-1 in times of need. Some outages were as short as just over an hour, while others lasted for as long as nearly 35 hours. In sum, reports show a total of 19 outages since April 2020 in eleven different communities, totaling over 130 hours of outages for Frontier Communications customers.

“These outages are egregious and unacceptable,” said Chairwoman Márquez Peterson. “They represent a clear risk to public health and safety.”

“Residents of affected communities deserve much better. The lack of accountability is especially concerning. We must get to the bottom of this.”

The request to investigate Frontier Communications will be discussed at the Commission’s next open meeting, on June 8, 2021. More details will be provided as they become available.