MIDDLETOWN – While everyone in the community knew the phone company that serves Western Orange County and the East Fishkill area of Dutchess County as Frontier Communications, its corporate name has been Citizens Communications.

The company announced Thursday that it has officially changed its corporate name to Frontier Communications. “By aligning our corporate name with the brand name used throughout our markets, we will increase the visibility of our company with shareholders, leverage the strength of the Frontier brand, and make the financial community more aware of our accomplishments in the communities we share,” said Maggie Wilderotter, chairwoman and CEO. “Using the name Frontier Communications is appropriate for our company since 100 percent of our customer interactions involve that name.”

The company Thursday also announced its board has declared a regular quarterly cash dividend payment of 25 cents per share of common stock, payable on September 30.