Collins Demanding Answers From Windstream

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR Radio, Lavonia

U.S. Congressman Doug Collins is calling for a Congressional oversight committee to find out why Windstream Communications is providing such poor service to customers in Northeast Georgia.

Collins said he has received “hundreds upon hundreds” of complaints from angry Windstream customers in the 9th District.

“I have to say that of a regular complaint that’s non-governmental, by far, out the door, we get more complaints about Windstream than any other complaints that we get in our office,” Collins said.

Recently, Collins’ office issued a copy of a letter the Congressman has sent to Windstream requesting information on why their service continues to underperform in Northeast Georgia, despite the federal government’s involvement.

In 2014, Windstream received millions in federal taxpayer money from the Phase II Connect America Fund to upgrade their system to fiber optic from copper and improve their Internet speeds.

They also received preferred tax status from the IRS resulting in a savings for the company of some $3 billion.

Still, Collins contended Windstream continues to offer substandard phone and Internet service to Northeast Georgia customers, even after agreeing to a $600,000 settlement in a class action action suit in Georgia in 2014 for false advertising about its Internet speeds.

Collins said he wants answers and in his letter, threatened hauling Windstream officials before a Congressional oversight committee.

“We sent a letter a few weeks about to Tom Wheeler at the FCC about this and now a letter to Tony Thomas at Windstream,” Collins said. “In this situation the government does have a role. There is some issue of rights here. We’re giving taxpayer money to Windstream to do certain things and we believe they need to be held accountable.”

Collins asked Windstream to provide detailed documents on the company’s progress of upgrading its copper lines to fiber broadband.

The congressman also asked for documentation on what percentage of the fees Windstream is charging Northeast Georgia customers is being used to upgrade its equipment.

The Better Business Bureau said it has logged over 1,700 complaints from consumers about Windstream’s poor Internet service and false advertising.