Stamford-based Frontier Communications has paid a $5 million fine and will not challenge a notice of violation issued by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority last month alleging that the company jeopardized public safety through “reckless and inappropriate underground installations” of fiber optic cable.
An attorney for Frontier, Timothy Jensen, sent a letter to PURA Wednesday that said the company would not request a hearing regarding the fine. He enclosed a $5 million check payable to the state treasurer.
Frontier said its payment was “not a waiver of its right to challenge any other decision.”
On July 27, PURA cited Frontier for safety violations and ordered it to cease and desist its practice of using improper trenchless excavation methods.
The authority accused Frontier and its contractors of laying fiber optic cables in the public right-of-way using inappropriate design and construction standards, causing damage to underground natural gas and electric distribution facilities.
PURA’s examination found that Frontier failed to expose facilities being crossed in Ansonia, Enfield, Middletown, Wallingford, Meriden, Waterford and Stratford.
PURA has levied civil penalties ranging from thousands of dollars to as much as $30 million against Eversource — the maximum allowed by the state — in a decision last year.
