The state Public Service Commission is expecting a lot of interest in Tuesday's evidentiary hearing on the proposed sale of Verizon's landline phone service to Frontier Communications.

Because the case involves two large companies and hundreds of telecommunications workers here in West Virginia, it's garnered a lot of media attention.

Sarah Robertson with the PSC says they're planning for a big turnout.  "We fully expect this will be a very well attended hearing and we're doing everything we can to try and accommodate for that," she told MetroNews.

The PSC hearing room can seat 56  Twenty additional folding chairs can be set up along the wall, bringing the total occupancy of the room to 76.  If that isn't enough space, the PSC has a second hearing room where people can watch the hearing on closed circuit TV.

Robertson says they haven't finalized anything yet.

"It's just something we're going to have to look at tomorrow (Tuesday) and see how many people do show up."

The first part of the hearing will be for public comments.  The PSC has already received dozens of written comments from those for and against the project.

"They [the PSC] do kind of have a gauge as to what a lot of public comment is: the good, the bad, the ugly, etc..."

If you want to speak at the hearing, you'll need to sign up before the hearing starts. Robertson says depending on how many people want to voice opinions, the PSC may have to limit comment.

If you can't attend the hearing but want to follow it, you can log on to the PSC website at www.psc.state.wv.us and watch the proceedings.  The hearing gets underway at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.

It's expected to last through Thursday.