The Minn. PUC approved a negotiated settlement of charges against...

The Minn. PUC approved a negotiated settlement of charges against McLeod USA of inadequate service, violation of tariffs and improper assessment of termination penalties. The agreement (Case P5323/C-03-140), made with the Attorney Gen. and Minn. Dept. of Commerce, requires McLeod to implement a year-long service quality compliance plan. That plan requires that McLeod disclose the termination charges and the conditions under which those charges would be waived before customers signed a term agreement. If a customer has good cause for termination, such as excessive service failures or lack of timely response to complaints, penalties would be waived. McLeod also agreed to waive or refund penalties improperly assessed on customers between Jan. 2001 and Feb. 2003 and to pay a $40,000 penalty to the state.