Schumer presses for Windstream approvals

Now that Windstream Corp. has committed to bring hundreds of jobs to the Midtown site, Sen. Charles E. Schumer is urging the Public Services Commission and Federal Communications Commission to act swiftly on the pending review of Windstream’s purchase of PAETEC Holding Corp.

When the proposed merger was announced this summer, Schumer immediately lobbied Windstream CEO Jeffrey Gardner to commit to keeping a major presence in the Rochester region and asked regulators to consider the impact on jobs before approving the merger.

Schumer, Gardner, Rochester Mayor Thomas S. Richards and other local officials announced Monday that Windstream will open a newly built regional office at Midtown and maintain the Perinton headquarters of PAETEC.

“With yesterday’s announcement, it’s absolutely clear that Windstream is committed to keeping hundreds of jobs right where they belong — in Rochester,” Schumer said in a release. “I welcome Windstream to Rochester, and wish them years of success in Upstate New York.”

The PSC and FCC must approve the merger for the agreement to be finalized. The PSC could take up the matter as soon as Thursday, according to the release, and Schumer is pushing for the FCC to consider the purchase as quickly as possible.