BY JARETT LEWIS
CHARLESTON — Copper theft is becoming more of a common occurrence in West Virginia.
In fact, Jason Fields, senior vice president of operations with Frontier Communications, said the state of West Virginia is now the worst state that Frontier operates in regarding stolen copper from their equipment. Frontier serves 25 different states.
“We’ve seen a 70% increase in West Virginia in the number of times our cables were stolen,” Fields said.
Those numbers are for 2021-2022. From last year into 2023, there’s been a 13% jump on top of the 70%, according to Fields.
Frontier officials met with the state Public Service Commission on Wednesday in Charleston for a general service update. Frontier told the PSC about their fiber network installation that’s happening across the entire state, but also about the rise in copper being stolen.
“It’s almost to the point where every day there is at least one cable in the state that’s been stolen,” said Fields.
Frontier Communications is currently working to install fiber all across the state of West Virginia to completely cover the state with faster, more reliable fiber broadband to more homes and businesses. The company is investing $100 million this year to replace the old system with a new fiber optic technology. The money and work invested is a part of their partnership with the West Virginia Economic Development’s Office of Broadband to deploy fiber to the more underserved and unserved areas in West
Virginia.
Just a few weeks ago, Frontier was made aware of a complaint from customers that they were without service for over a week. It was discovered that a large amount of cable was stolen from the area. When Frontier returned the next day after replacing the stolen cable, the new cable was also taken.
Cell coverage is tough in some areas of the state already and with Frontier cables being stolen at a greater rate this year than in years prior, Fields said a lot of customers are affected by the theft.
“The biggest impact to a customer is the inability to call 911,” said Fields.
Of course, it affects Frontier too. The theft is taking a hit on company’s timing and costs with installing the new cables.
“We’re building fiber across the state and as we do that, we have to pause in that area and take the same crews that are building the new network, to go and fix the stolen cable.”
To combat this, Fields said they have hired security to patrol areas where they have seen repeat occurrences. They have also placed AirTags on their cables to track the location of them if and when they are stolen.
The company is also offering a $5,000 reward to those who bring forth information about stolen cables, which then leads to an arrest being made. Fields said they know a lot of their cables have been taken across state lines.
Frontier is also backing legislation that addresses the rising copper theft. HB 3006, is expected to come up again before lawmakers that will strengthen the penalties for those who steal Frontier cables. Fields is hoping the legislation will “cross the finish line” during the next regular session in 2024.
Since 2020, during the time of covid, Fields said they started to see the uptick in the cables and other Frontier equipment that was being taken. Ever since then, the cases have grown, much to his
surprise.
“I thought it would slow down but it has not slowed down,” said Fields. “I’m hopeful that the
legislation will have some impact.”
Anyone who sees someone stealing copper is asked to call 1-800-590-6605 or local law enforcement.
