CenturyLink Fined 133,000 by Washington Utilities Commission for Violations

The Washington state Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) has imposed a $133,000 fine on CenturyLink due to multiple regulatory violations related to response times and documentation. CenturyLink was cited for a total of 178 violations, including 169 breaches of WAC 480-07-175(2)(b), which requires that business documents be available for commission inspection, and nine breaches of WAC 480-120-133(2)(c), which mandates timely connections to live representatives. These infractions occurred over two periods, from March 2022 to November 2022 and from March 2023 to February 2024. Each violation incurred a penalty of $750, leading to a total fine of $133,500, which CenturyLink must pay by December 30. As the largest local telephone provider in Washington and part of Lumen Technologies, CenturyLink's compliance issues raise significant concerns about customer service and operational standards in the telecommunications sector.

The UTC's role in regulating utilities is crucial, although it does not oversee broadband or cellular service rates. This incident highlights the importance of regulatory compliance in ensuring service quality and maintaining consumer trust.