A CityNet dispute with Frontier Communications in West...

A CityNet dispute with Frontier Communications in West Virginia over Frontier’s business practices will go before an administrative law judge Jan. 27, the West Virginia Public Service Commission said Monday (http://bit.ly/1xXoBYM). CityNet had asked the PSC to investigate its claim that Frontier was impeding competition by not leasing unused portions of its fiber infrastructure in the state to competitors. The PSC referred the case last week to an administrative law judge, saying CityNet’s claims didn’t warrant a general commission investigation because the issue “is not a general issue affecting public utilities.” The PSC also suggested CityNet and Frontier use mediation to settle the dispute before it goes before an administrative law judge (http://bit.ly/1s4q1yp). The PSC set an Oct. 15 deadline for CityNet and Frontier to submit any mediation requests. If the parties choose not to pursue mediation, the dispute will go before an administrative law judge at 9 a.m. Jan. 27 at the PSC’s Charleston headquarters. The PSC is seeking a ruling in the case by April 3. Both CityNet and Frontier said the PSC’s decision was a positive development.