UTC staff approve transfer of control of Ziply Fiber Northwest to Bell Canada

Media contact: 360-664-1116 or [email protected] Docket number: UT-240951

LACEY, Wash. - On July 28, an administrative law judge for the Utilities and Transportation Commission issued an initial order approving the transfer of ownership of Northwest Fiber Holdco, LLC (doing business as Ziply Fiber) to Bell Canada's BCE Holding Corporation. On July 30, the initial order became final after all interested parties waived their ability to appeal.

In December 2024, Northwest Fiber Holdco and BCE sought the commission's approval to transfer Ziply Fiber's ownership from Northwest Fiber to BCE. Following this filing, all parties agreed to address their concerns and reached a mutual agreement to resolve all issues discussed during the process.

The settlement aims to ensure a seamless transfer for Ziply Fiber customers. Ziply Fiber will keep its operating name and initiate no changes to regulated services or billing for one year. Ziply will also continue to deploy broadband to Washingtonians, maintain its networks, provide service quality credits automatically to customers who experience outages of certain lengths, and report on various topics to the commission. The administrative law judge approved the settlement agreement after they found the transaction poses no harm to the public.

Current customers with additional questions can call Ziply Fiber at 866-326-0560.

Kirkland-based Ziply Fiber Northwest, LLC provides high-speed Internet to over 1.3 million fiber locations across Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. Bell Canada is Canada's largest telecommunications provider with nearly eight million fiber locations throughout the country.

The UTC regulates the rates and services of investor-owned electric utilities, telecommunications companies, natural gas and water companies, garbage-collection haulers, household-goods movers and passenger transportation companies, commercial ferries, pipeline companies, marine pilotage, and a low-level radioactive waste repository. The commission does not regulate the rates of broadband services, cellular, cable, or Internet service.

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