PSC settles with CenturyLink on maintenance, broadband

HELENA (AP) — Montana has reached a settlement with CenturyLink requiring the telecommunications company to improve maintenance response times and accept a federal grant to expand broadband in the state.

The Public Service Commission voted 4-0 Tuesday to approve the agreement. It includes a plan for reforming some maintenance practices and demands CenturyLink take the six-year, $90 million grant from the Connect America Fund.

The grant comes with tight deadlines and strict geographic requirements for making phone and Internet services more accessible to rural Montanans.

The utilities regulator threatened to sue CenturyLink last month for failing to promptly restore out-of-service landlines.

A group of residential customers argued that long periods without service undermined public safety by cutting off contact with emergency responders.

Commission spokesman Eric Sell says CenturyLink and the residents have also signed on to the agreement.