FAIRPOINT TO PROVIDE 100 PERCENT BROADBAND COVERAGE IN 51 VERMONT LOCALITIES
FERRISBURGH, Vt. (September 30, 2008) - More Vermonters will be able to quickly e-mail photos, download music and surf the Internet because FairPoint Communications today announced it will provide 100 percent broadband coverage to its customers in half of its Vermont telephone exchanges by December 31, 2010.
FairPoint acquired 99 telephone exchanges (in several cases exchanges cover multiple towns and prefixes) in its March 31, 2008 acquisition of Verizon's wireline business in Vermont. The locations of the 51 exchanges with full coverage are divided among all 14 Vermont counties.
"FairPoint is in a unique position to bring broadband coverage to nearly every corner of the state," said Gene Johnson, CEO of FairPoint. "We are pleased to work with agencies like the Vermont Telecommunications Authority in this initiative. We are committed to providing Vermonters with excellent customer service and a reliable network."
Governor Jim Douglas said FairPoint's expansion is an important contribution to his e-State Initiative-a plan to make Vermont the first state with universal access to quality cellular coverage and high-speed broadband technology.
"Increasing access to high-speed broadband is strengthening our economy, creating jobs and encouraging innovation. This new infrastructure is the platform for growth and job creation across every sector of our economy," said the Governor. "As a result of FairPoint's commitment, we are moving much closer to becoming the nation's first e-state where affordable broadband and wireless technology is available to everyone and where no one is left behind," he added.
In order to provide complete coverage in these exchanges, FairPoint will continue to expand the existing wired network as it has been since April and will also integrate wireless technology (WiMax) to extend the reach of its network to less densely populated areas.
To enable this integrated approach, FairPoint is also building a new IP-based next generation network. This 100 percent fiber-based core network is extremely flexible and capable of integrating multiple access technologies including DSL (digital subscriber line), WiMax and fiber to the premise. This means that FairPoint wil be able to meet the broadband needs of its customers well into the future and be able to offer multiple services across the same secure network platform.
WiMax delivers high-speed Internet service to customers over high-speed wireless connections by placing a small WiMax terminal at the customer location that enables access to the FairPoint next generation network.
"FairPoint will be the first company in the United States to deliver a combined wireless and wireline solution over an IP-based network on such a large scale," said Michael Brown, vice president of broadband and access engineering for FairPoint. "With the advanced capabilities of our new next generation network, WiMax was the obvious technology choice to complement our wired technology and quickly expand high-speed Internet service to customers in less densely populated areas."
Today in Vermont, FairPoint currently offers high-speed Internet service using DSL technology - a wired technology solution that provides high-speed Internet service over the phone wires that already exist at a customer's location.
About FairPoint
FairPoint Communications, Inc. is an industry leading provider of communications services to communities across the country. Today, FairPoint owns and operates local exchange companies in 18 states offering advanced communications with a personal touch, including local and long distance voice, data, Internet, television and broadband services. FairPoint is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol FRP. Learn more at www.FairPoint.com.
This press release may contain forward-looking statements by FairPoint that are not based on historical fact, including, without limitation, statements containing the words "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates" and similar expressions and statements. Because these forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, there are important factors that could cause actual results, events or developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Such factors include those risks described from time to time in FairPoint's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including, without limitation, the risks described in FairPoint's most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q on file with the SEC. These factors should be considered carefully and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. All information is current as of the date this press release is issued, and FairPoint undertakes no duty to update this information.
Source: FairPoint Communications, Inc., www.fairpoint.com.
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