CHARLESTON, W.Va. — State Attorney General Patrick Morrisey has announced a $119.5 million settlement with Altice–the parent company of Optimum and Suddenlink–after a nearly four-year investigation.
Morrisey, who becomes West Virginia’s 37th governor on Monday, said the company promises to make capital investments, address the attorney general’s concerns and build out and upgrade its infrastructure.
Some customers will get a $25 credit on their cable and internet bills.
“This is years in the making and a big win for the consumers in West Virginia,” Morrisey said. “My office worked tirelessly to resolve this to ensure consumers in the state receive the service from providers they deserve.”
Altice entered what’s called a Assurance of Voluntary Compliance which allows for the settlement without the company admitting that it violated the state’s Consumer Credit and Protection Act.
The settlement is in addition to a $2.2 million fine the state Public Service Commission placed on Altice in 2022.
Morrisey said his office received 2,300 complaints about Suddenlink and then Optimum from 2020 to 2023.
According to the Attorney General’s Office, since initiating the investigation, Altice has or will agree to invest a total of $119.5 million to West Virginia to resolve the AG’s investigation without litigation:
–$75 million in investments in WV since 2021
–$40 million in investments for 2025-2027
–$4 million in consumer credits
–$500,000 payment to the state
The 2022 PSC order said found the company, had failed to provide safe, adequate and reliable service to its West Virginia subscribers of its cable, internet and phone service.
The PSC also determined that Suddenlink intentionally reduced its maintenance work and budget, reduced the number of full-time employees, changed its method of communicating with customers and ignored thousands of customer complaints.
Story by Jeff Jenkins, MetroNews