How Fairpoint Plans To Pay For Verizon Deal > Overpriced.

Overpriced.

A good friend of mine was in the Litchfield/Sabattus Maine market and was paying for 39.95 service from Fairpoint. The first time she activated it was fine, but then went back to college, came back and activated again. Needless to say, it never worked right from then forward, constantly disconnecting at random several times an hour. Nothing changed in the house, phone line and phone number remained active.

Fairpoint enjoys a rural exemption for their current markets, which means you will never see DSL competition on their lines (with exception to the Fairpoint acquired Verizon markets, assuming it goes through). Basically you get to 'deal with it', hope cable is coming (or is there), or switch to satellite (which has its own problems). The rural exemption affects your ability to get unlimited LD service too, especially from a 3rd party such as IDT.

That's one of the other problems I have with the Fairpoint deal. Fairpoint has made it clear that they intend to keep these exemptions in markets they already have. The acquisition would not help your situation in the least.