Altice to spend millions on internet upgrades in settlement with West Virginia

Altice USA, the parent company of one of West Virginia's major internet providers, has settled with the state to address an array of consumer complaints. The settlement, announced by Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, requires Altice to invest $40 million in infrastructure upgrades in the state through 2027, provide $4 million in account credits to customers, and pay $500,000 to the state.

The agreement was made without Altice admitting any wrongdoing regarding its adherence to the state’s Consumer Credit and Protection Act. Attorney General Morrisey described the settlement as a significant victory for consumers in West Virginia after years of complaints and issues with service.

Operating under the Optimum brand, Altice faced scrutiny in 2022 when the state Public Service Commission imposed a $2.2 million fine on its previous brand, Suddenlink Communications. The PSC's investigation revealed that Suddenlink had disregarded customer complaints, reduced its workforce, and altered how it communicated with customers, effectively diminishing service quality.

Morrisey noted that since 2021, Altice has invested $75 million in upgrading its infrastructure in West Virginia. The agreement stipulates that Altice must complete the current upgrades by 2027, or it could incur additional fines of up to $40 million.

As part of the settlement, current customers who qualify will receive $25 credits on their accounts. Furthermore, former customers may submit claims to determine their eligibility for cash refunds, as outlined in the statement from Morrisey's office.