FairPoint Files for Bankruptcy
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, October 26, 2009 · 
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Fairpoint Communications announced today that it has voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
Based in Charlotte, N.C., FairPoint owns and operates phone companies in 18 states with a total of 1.65 million lines. Its largest holdings are in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. In fact, FairPoint purchased Verizon Communications’ landline and Internet operations in those three states just 18 months ago. At the time critics were skeptical about Fairpoint’s ability to weather the economic storm, and successfully complete the technology transfer from Verzion’s systems to its own. Indeed FairPoint has been plagued with customer-service, order-fulfillment and billing problems, resulting in increased costs and a shrinking customer base. Read more
Fairpoint Applies for $37M in Stimulus Funds
Posted by Jesse Ward on Monday, August 24, 2009 · ·
In an effort to bring broadband to unserved and underserved and areas in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, FairPoint Communications filed grant applications with the Broadband Initiatives Program and Broadband Technology Opportunity Program.
The regional telco submitted five applications totaling $37.8 million. In Maine, the service provider applied for grants of $9.8 million grant to improve service in its Aroostook County market and $5.9 million to upgrade its Washington County regions. In New Hampshire it applied for both a $9.4 million grant for its Coos County properties and $1.4 million in funding grant for its Grafton County regions. Finally, in Vermont FairPoint applied for a $7.3 million grant to expand service in the state’s Essex and Caledonia counties. Read more
