Frontier Communications got off to a tough start in Connecticut. Its purchase of AT&T's wireline business took effect Oct. 25. With only two months left in 2014, Frontier still managed to take the year's top spot in the number of complaints received by the state Department of Consumer Protection, more than 1,400.

Being the subject of the most complaints is not a distinction that any business should want. Some customers, viewing the company's buffalo marketing mascot, were wondering if they'd been buffaloed. The number one complaint involved interruptions in high-speed Internet after Frontier took control from AT&T, followed by disruptions in the TV service package. Customers were also unhappy with the long waits experienced when calling or going online for service help.

Interestingly, those old reliable telephone landlines made the transition with nary a problem or complaint.

During a visit with the editorial board last week, an upbeat Paul Quick, Frontier's senior vice president and general manager for Connecticut operations, said problems and complaints have dropped dramatically, now trending less than before Frontier's takeover of the operation. I tried a couple of times last week to get updated complaint numbers from the Office of Consumer Counsel, but calls were not returned. In other words, poor service from the consumer counsel.

Frontier, Quick said, anticipated there would be some technical problems with the handoff of operations, but underestimated how many. When complaint calls came in at 47 percent above what AT&T had been handling, Frontier did not have an adequate number of call-center employees ready to address them. Compounding the situation was the fact that Frontier had not yet had the chance to train AT&T call-center employees about Frontier operations, Quick told the state Public Utilities Regulatory Authority at a December hearing about the problems.

Despite the bad press surrounding the takeover, Quick told the editorial board that the number of complaints were small in relative terms, with only about 10,000 of 1.2 million customers experiencing service issues. That surprised me, because it sure seemed at the time many customers were complaining.

Quick expressed confidence that Frontier will begin picking off high-speed Internet and video services from competitors. Some may be weary of Frontier, but they are convinced they don't like their current provider.

"Talk to most people and they say 'I can't stand my cable company,'" Quick said. That provides the opportunity for Frontier to win converts by providing good service at competitive pricing, he said.

Part of that plan for good service involves New London. Frontier is reopening the call center on State Street previously closed by AT&T and expects to have about 100 people working there by mid-April. Zachary Tomblin, area general manager for eastern Connecticut, said part of Frontier's approach to service is to keep it local, so that those dealing with customers know the area.

The union representing Frontier workers in Connecticut - Communications Workers of America Local 1298 - appears happy with the new bosses after years of rancor with AT&T. Frontier expects to add 560 jobs across the state, another reversal of years of a shrinking AT&T workforce.

Frontier operates in 28 states, with Connecticut now the largest operation, representing nearly 20 percent of revenue, Quick said. Its headquarters are in Stamford. Connecticut's pre-eminence won't last long, however.

Last month came word that Verizon was selling its wireline services in California, Texas and Florida - including the Los Angeles, Fort Worth and Tampa operations - to Frontier Communications for $10.54 billion.

The divergent visions of the future are striking. AT&T and Verizon are rapidly divesting of their legacy businesses to focus on competing in the wireless market. Frontier is convinced there is still a bright future in providing high quality digital services over fiber-based networks.

It is good news for consumers that Frontier appears ready to work hard to win new customers in Connecticut. More competition should mean better pricing and a wider variety of service choices. No one should be complaining about that.

Paul Choiniere is the editorial page editor.

Twitter: @Paul_Choiniere