MARSHALL — The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission will be looking for public comment on CenturyLink phone service at a series of hearings this month, including a hearing in Marshall. The hearings are part of proceedings started by a formal complaint from the Communications Workers of America.

A hearing will be held in Marshall at 6 p.m. July 26, at the Southwest Minnesota State University conference center, the city of Marshall said in a notice Monday. Virtual hearings will also be held July 21 and July 24.

The CWA had filed a formal complaint in 2020, alleging that CenturyLink had failed to meet telephone service quality standards. According to the complaint, the allegations included failure to maintain equipment, delays in service installations and repairs, and service interruptions.

The PUC referred the matter to the Minnesota Office of Administrative Hearings for a contested case proceeding to examine the service quality concerns. The hearing notice said the case is only focused on phone service, and not on broadband or internet services.

Members of the public are encouraged to give comments on CenturyLink phone services at a series of public hearings around the state. The PUC said it will consider all the comments received during the hearings when making their final decision.

The in-person hearings start next week, with hearings in Thief River Falls and Hibbing, according to the PUC notice. Hearings will be held in Marshall on July 26, and Owatonna on July 27.

Virtual hearings will also be held July 21 at 10 a.m., and July 24 at 6 p.m. The public comment period on the case will be open until 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 31.

The PUC said members of the public can get more information on the proceedings by contacting Sally Anne McShane, at sally.anne.mcshane@state.mn.us or 651-201-2224 or Marc Fournier at

marc.fournier@state.mn.us or 651-201-2214.

The full case record of the proceedings is available online at mn.gov/puc/edockets.