FairPoint Meets Broadband Expansion Commitment in New Hampshire

MANCHESTER, N.H., Feb. 27, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- FairPoint Communications announced it has met its goal to increase broadband access to 95 percent of its access lines in New Hampshire by December 31, 2013.

Since April 2008, FairPoint has invested over $700 million in its communications infrastructure and technology to reach new customers, upgrade its network and expand broadband in northern New England, including building thousands of miles of new fiber across the region, offering customers a better, faster way to communicate.

This aggressive and far reaching broadband expansion provides the robust infrastructure to allow more Granite Staters to capitalize on the increased availability and better use the Internet.  FairPoint has invested more than $72 million in New Hampshire alone on broadband expansion efforts. 

"Broadband availability is essential to making New Hampshire a leader in the innovation economy.  Access to broadband will help attract and grow businesses and ensure that those who find success, including small start-ups, stay and always call New Hampshire home," said Governor Maggie Hassan.  "FairPoint's investment has helped expand the region's access to broadband and their network will help enhance and support economic development throughout our state."

Over the course of the five-year effort, FairPoint has turned up new high-speed Internet in more than 215 communities across the state making broadband available to more than 100,000 additional homes and businesses in New Hampshire.

"FairPoint has been working hard to increase broadband availability and improve our telecommunications and data services network in New Hampshire," said Pat McHugh, FairPoint's New Hampshire state president. "We are very pleased to announce that we have met the target to expand broadband to 95 percent of our access lines by the end of 2013. Broadband access is fundamental to the state's future economic growth, job creation, expanding innovation and remaining globally competitive."

FairPoint's investment also resulted in an upgraded and improved network infrastructure. This fiber-based, high-capacity network delivers the critical bandwidth, data, and carrier Ethernet services that positions New Hampshire to compete in a technology-dependent world.

"We commend FairPoint for its investment in New Hampshire. Expanding broadband benefits the entire state as it connects New Hampshire businesses to customers and markets around the globe," said Jeff Rose, Commissioner of the Department of Resources and Economic Development. "Affordable and accessible broadband is vital to future economic growth and reaching 95 percent access through the Granite State is a major accomplishment."

FairPoint's network's dedicated bandwidth can support multiple users and bandwidth-intensive applications like video conferencing and e-learning.  Additionally, FairPoint offers a reliable and protected network with a full-range of communications services, which is essential to meeting the current and future demand for high-speed bandwidth in northern New England.

"FairPoint promised to expand broadband availability and they have made the investment needed to reach the target," said Chairman Amy Ignatius of the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission. "This expansion has significantly benefitted rural areas by bringing broadband to many New Hampshire consumers living in remote, hard to reach areas. We are very pleased that FairPoint has met its broadband commitment to the state."

To find out if you are eligible for FairPoint's high-speed Internet and to obtain information about prices and bundled plans, residential consumers can call 1.866.984.2001 and 1.866.984.3001 for businesses or visit www.FairPoint.com.

About FairPoint Communications, Inc.
FairPoint Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq: FRP) is a leading communications provider of broadband Internet access, local and long-distance phone, television and other high-capacity data services to customers in communities across 17 states. Through its fast, reliable fiber network, FairPoint delivers high-quality data and voice networking communications solutions to residential, business and wholesale customers. FairPoint delivers Internet services through its resilient IP-based network in northern New England. This state-of-the-art fiber network provides carrier Ethernet connections to support the surging bandwidth and performance requirements for cloud-based applications like network storage, disaster recovery, distance learning, medical imaging, video conferencing and CAD/CAM along with traditional voice, VoIP, video and Internet access solutions. Additional information about FairPoint products and services is available at www.FairPoint.com. You can also connect with FairPoint on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/fairpoint), Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/myfairpoint) and LinkedIn (http://www.linkedin.com/company/fairpoint-communications).

SOURCE FairPoint Communications, Inc.