Verizon Seeks Urgent FCC Help After FPL Threatens To End Telco's Pole-Attachement Rights

Verizon asked the FCC for "prompt assistance" after Florida Power & Light threatened to disrupt service to Verizon's customers by terminating its pole-attachment rights over a payment dispute, the telco said in a filing posted Wednesday in docket 15-73 that included a Jan. 29 letter from FPL. Verizon said FPL also notified Frontier Communications of its "service disruption plan in yet another transparent attempt to use the pending transaction as leverage in this ongoing rate dispute." (Frontier's buy of Verizon's wireline systems in Florida and two other states awaits final approval.) In its letter, FPL said Verizon has been paying the electric utility only 25 percent of a rate agreed upon in a contract. "If Verizon wishes to continue to enjoy the benefits of access to FPL's poles, Verizon must comply with the contract," FPL said. Unless Verizon makes full payment within 60 days, it will be in default and FPL will terminate the telco's "rights to attach to any of its poles," the utility said. Verizon said it was not in default because it's appealing a Florida state court order on the contract dispute. "Verizon cannot be in default until this proceeding is resolved," it said. Verizon said FPL is trying to delay FCC action on a Verizon pole-attachment complaint, and it urged the commission to resolve the matter as soon as possible. FPL didn't comment.