The Federal Trade Commission has tentatively fined Connecticut-based Frontier Communications $8.5 million for failing to deliver promised internet speeds to customers.
Under a proposed order with the FTC and two California law enforcement agencies, Frontier will be prohibited from misleading customers about the speed of its DSL service. Frontier also must allow customers to cancel for free and will be required to support its speed claims in the future.
Last year, the FTC sued Frontier alleging that the company charged many customers more expensive and higher-speed service than it provided.
“Frontier lied about its speeds and ripped off customers by charging high-speed prices for slow service,” said Samuel Levine, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.
Connecticut-based Frontier advertises and sells DSL internet service based on download speed. Many subscribers are in rural areas with limited choices for internet service.
Some customers complained that it was difficult to use the internet with the plan they purchased due the slow speed, according to the FTC.
Read the proposed order below:
