PSC Resolves Complaint Approves Remediation Plan for Windstream

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PSC RESOLVES COMPLAINT APPROVES
REMEDIATION PLAN FOR WINDSTREAM

Lincoln, October 16, 2024- The Nebraska Public Service Commission
(PSC) has issued an Order (911-078/DC-104/C-5596) approving a
stipulated agreement with Windstream and dismissing the
department complaint against the telecommunication carrier
concerning three separate 911outages/disruptions.

"Through this agreement Windstream has committed to improving
public safety communications by investing more than one million
dollars into its network reliability and diversity, "said Commission
Chair Dan Watermeier. " The agreement provides for civil penalties
if Windstream does not complete the agreed upon enhancements
and improvements by the end of 2025."

The agreement includes a 911 Remediation Plan, in which
Windstream has agreed, among other improvements to:|

• Enhance its back up systems to address power outages.
  
• Provide an additional layer of reliability and protection
  against outages by adding a new network path. This
  additional path creates three separate network paths for
  traffic into and out of Nebraska. This third path has the
  capacity to carry all of Windstream's traffic in Nebraska
  should the other two paths go down and repairs need to
  be made.
  
• Engage a third-party auditor to complete a system
  reliability and engineering review of its Nebraska network.

The stipulated agreement follows an investigation involving three
separate Windstream service disruptions which occurred on
September 2 & 3, November 28, 2023, and January 13, 2024. As
part of its investigation the Commission conducted data requests,
held a public hearing, and sought analysis from outside experts on
network infrastructure specifically in the area of 911 network
requirements. As a result of the investigation a complaint was filed
by the State 911 department. The department complaint resulted in
the stipulated agreement and the remediation plan approved by the
Commission.

Commissioner Watermeier said, "The Commission and the public
demand accountability from our telecommunications carriers. While
we appreciate Windstream's willingness to work with us, we will
continue to monitor the company's progress to confirm that it is
complying with the agreement."

With the Order dismissing the complaint and approving the stipulated
agreement, a hearing will not be held. A copy of the Order as well as
the Remediation Plan can be found on the PSC website at <
https://psc.nebraska.gov/state-911/windstream-911-outage-investigation >.
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Contact:
Deb Collins- Communications & Media Mgr.
(402) 471-0226
[email protected]

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