Bell Canada approved to acquire parent company of LocalTel

LACEY — The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission has approved the transfer of ownership of Ziply Fiber Northwest, LLC — which owns LocalTel in East Wenatchee — from Northwest Fiber Holdco, LLC to Bell Canada’s BCE Holding Corporation. The decision follows a settlement agreement between the companies, commission staff, and public counsel.

The commission found the agreement meets the “no harm” standard required for such transactions. Ziply Fiber will retain its name, make no changes to regulated services or billing for one year, and continue broadband expansion in Washington. The company committed to investing at least $80 million in fiber upgrades by 2030, with $50 million spent by the end of 2027. It also agreed to maintain both fiber and copper networks, provide automatic service quality credits for extended outages, and file detailed reports on network performance, staffing, and investments.

Public comments reflected mixed views, with concerns about foreign ownership and potential rate increases. The commission determined the transaction will not harm customers and may provide benefits through infrastructure investment and reporting transparency.

Ziply Fiber provides high-speed internet to more than 1.3 million locations in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. Bell Canada is the largest telecommunications provider in Canada.