I agree FTTP is the holy grail but I doubt FairPoint has the capital resources to invest in fiber. Right now they are working hard to expand broadband DSL to under-served rural areas.
There is a Network NH now project to upgrade middle-mile infrastructure. That should help reduce the cost of deploying high speed access but it is really focused on business and municipal anchor buildings.
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networknhnow.org/I think FairPoint has an even bigger problem. I just switched my phone/DSL from FairPoint to G4 Communication. Cheaper and double the DSL speed. That is something FairPoint needs to address in the short term, make the best possible use of what they already have in place.
ILECs are hemorrhaging landlines. We went from three POTS lines and dry loop 512/512 SDSL ten years ago to a single POTS/ADSL line today. In the heyday of dial-up it was not unusual to have multiple phone lines. Get serious about maximizing DSL speed over existing copper and offer multi-line bonded DSL at reasonable cost for those who need higher speed.
Copper is not going anyway any time soon, especially in rural semi-rural areas. Telcos need to figure out how to deliver reasonable speed at reasonable cost.
/tom