YOUR COMMENTS

I think Fairpoint has done a great job so far and I truly believe the best is yet to come from this company.
- Tom, Concord

No company is ever going to meet peoples expectations because all they want is "more".

I'm more than happy with phone service, sure i have their DSL because it's affordable and I don't tie up another line.

I couldn't afford comcast thats why i signed up for fairpoint and its fine for me to see what the UL has for news online as well as WMUR, CNN, and some of the other local media outlets.

Why ask for more when they will just cost more.
- Jack Alex, Manchester

I wrote emails and letters to the PUC, Verizon, Fairpoint, the Governor and my state reps to stop this sale. Many people spoke out at the town halls in NH. They were 5 in this state in 2007. On the PUC website the Verizon Fairpoint sale documents are there for everyone to see. There is no reason for anyone to be floating conspiracy theories about this sale, we have right to know laws in this state. Check this stuff out, it is worth it.
- Chris, Merrimack

PUC should be held responsible for this and they should be the ones who answer all of the complaints in ME, NH and VT. Where was the due dilligence? Any one in the private sector would be removed for approving that so why do we allow these morons to continue in the public sector?
~Jason
- Jason, Portsmouth, NH

Kyle--a lot of us were very active in opposing the sale. I wrote to the Gov twice, the Speaker once, and the PUC several times. Their responses were pretty much the same: trust the PUC to do the right thing.
- adds, Portsmouth

I can only say one thing. Where were all of you & your valid opinions & points of interest when the sale of Verizon was going through? Why do you wait until the last minute to voice your concerns?
We were warned by the employees (lower level management, union employees, & the unions) that this deal was not good for us. The company however snowballed us to believing this was the best thing since sliced bread.
And for all of you who are jumping ship going to a different provider for internet, I hope you have a cable company in your area. Because even if you go to a Clec like (GWI, EarthLink, AOL, etc) you are still using FairPoint facilities & equipment. FairPoint owns all off the copper phone lines on the poles. The only exception would be for the cable company & the independent telephone company areas.
- Kyle, goffstown

I ditched Verizon when they started thinking about selling to Fairpoint and I am not a Fairpoint customer. What a great idea this was... approving the sale of the phone system to a company with a crummy service record and questionable financial backing.
- Kenny, Rochester

What are you complaining about?? At least your telephone has push buttons for faster dialing than the rotary dial phone you had before...and now a new feature - calling Manchester from Nashua no longer involves an operator coming on the line saying: "Your number please???..."
- Larry, Nashua

I'm confused with the anger by some towards the union workers. If I recall, the unions fought hard to prevent this sale and warned about exactly what is happening right now. Since FariPoint has filed bankruptcy, they can void their contracts with the union.

This deal was bad to begin with and everyone, except apparently the NH PUC could see it from the start. FairPoint was crushed under taking on too much debt and poor timing from the market crash. The sad thing is the market was crashing before the sale went through and the PUC allowed it anyway...what fools!
- Lou, Atkinson, NH

Fairpoint is pushing outdated services...DSL?? That is so 1999. That would be like if they were still providing Wometco Home Theatre, StarCase, Preview, ON-TV, SelecTV, Prism, Z-Channel etc. in this day and age. The buggy whip industry is dead.
- Larry, Nashua

I hope the new owners of Fairpoint visit Ralph of Merrimcack and have a little chat about customer service, his job, and his "lol" way of thinking. Ralph, and employees like him, still do not grasp the new reality; there is no more "phone company".. Each day, new technology appears such as high speed internet, wireless connections. This is just the beginning, the first generation of non wire communications. Before you laugh at your customers, Ralph, you might want to speak to folks who, like yourself, felt safe, immune to the ups and downs of the broader economy, such as those in the Newspaper industry. Go ask the employees of the Boston Globe, I doubt they are sending our postings with an "lol" .
- Thomas, Manchester, NH

Love the Lynch & Getz statement...I needed a good laugh...where was the protection when this silly sale was being proposed!

BTW, the PUC had 100% control in this sale, Verizon was a regulated company and being regulated Verizon has little to zero choice with their actions if any state PUC doesn't like it! I know this because I was one of the main architectures of the inter-exchange agreements in NH with CLEC's after the telecom act of 96 passed.
- Mike, Epping

Fairpoint can ditch all its debt, but it can't ditch its reputation as a company that provides lousy service to its customers and expands outdated DSL technology when the customer wants more.
- Chris, Merrimack

Gee we are must be doing pretty good here in New Hampshire, we bankrupted a major utility.
- Jack Alex, Manchester

So who thinks the union will step in and save the jobs.
- Mike, Concord

Ralph in Merrimack,

When I said "good riddance" to Fairpoint, it's because I switched service to another company that finally became an option in my area, after much frustration with Fairpoint. Amazingly my internet service immediately improved (after Fairpoint held my number hostage for an additional month after the request was submitted.) By improved I mean rather than having to reset my internet service up to 47 times a day and never less than three times in a day, I haven't had to a single time in the more than a month since switching.

Just note that many of the "good riddances" are said by those who like myself have switched service due to receiving zero service from Fairpoint.
- Lynne, NH native now in Maine

I think Jay is right--VZ wasn't going to install any more fiber because NH didn't exactly roll out the welcome mat. For VZ to introduce FiOS TV, it would have had to negotiate franchises with every town and municipality, which would have been very time consuming and frustrating (as in MA). I think it was the NJ legislature that enabled VZ to by-pass the towns--something which the cable companies obviously opposed. So, I think our legislature and governor bear some responsibility for not doing what they could to make NH more attractive to VZ. Other parts of the country were falling over themselves trying to woo VZ to install FiOS, and we did not grasp what an opportunity we had.
- adds, Portsmouth

I've had a couple of contacts with FairPoint since they took over, the customer service has been great, I was very impressed.
But I could be the exception.
- Greg, Walpole

People that post good riddance to Fairpoint needs to repost. Fairpoint is not going anywhere, they are filling Chapter 11 to restructure, pay attention to the word RESTRUCTURE so they can stay in NH, ME and VT to torture you.. lol

I love working for FAIRPOINT.
- Ralph, Merrimack, NH

It is obvious to anyone, that for Fairpoint to emerge from bankruptcy, it must change the way it has been doing business. One part of the UL story jumped out at me, "FairPoint said it has approximately 4,140 employees, including approximately 2,700 who are represented by labor unions." That is one management employee for every 1.8 workers. 1440 management employees? A little top heavy? What about the associated expenses, such as their auto/truck fleet, buildings? I hope they are not doing this work "in house".
It looks like FP has been operating like it is 1966, they are part of Ma Bell, and the Princess Phone is the rage.
- tommy, manchester,nh

PUC really dropped the ball on this one, this transaction was doomed from the beginning. Fairpoint has no idea what they are doing.

We switched our phone to digital through out internet provider, Fairpoint kept sending us a bill for 94 cents for months, although on the invoice it always said, "this is not a bill, do not send money", yet they kept sending it every month regardless. finally wrote a check for 94 cents on the "non-bill", and the foolishness stopped. thought my 94 cents would keep them out of bankruptcy, guess not.
- Erik, Holderness

I didn't see anyone else mention this, but Verizon is Fairpoint's majority owner-about 60%-Verizon never made any money off residential phone service-it was business, fax lines, data, etc. This was a way for Verizon to dump the landlines in Northern New England-I'm quoting some unknown wiseguy here-"Ma Bell decided to have an abortion."
- Jim B, Mannchester

Wow, what a surprise. erizon is going to come in and buy them out at a portion of the cost and make money while buying their own business back What a brilliant move on Verizons part. Pure genius!
- J. Melanson, Manch

I love how everyone bashes the Fairpoint employees, like it was really their fault? Like they really wanted this? Because every worker no matter where they work want their company to go through issue like this. Without the union employees, everything would have gone downhill a lot faster than it has. They have done the best they could with the "new" systems that they were given to use.

I also have news for all those that think life with Verizon would have brought an expanded fiber network.... you're all wrong. Verizon had NO intention of expanding fiber beyond what it had already because it was too much of a pain to get licensing approvals from each town. Instead they took their fiber and money and went to states that gave out statewide franchise agreements.
- Jay, Manchester

Lynch and Getz who were supposed to protect the communications infastructure and the consumer now promise to "protect the interests of New Hampshire businesses, consumers, and workers." More hollow promises from the empty suits.
- Chris, Merrimack

It's never a surprise when the union bashers come out from under their rocks to blame the failure of a company on its workers. If the workers are so responsible for Fairpoints issues why weren't they compensated as much as the decision makers? You can't have it both ways. If the upper managers deserve their massive compensation packages because they are so important to the success of the company, then don't they deserve the blame when the company fails?

You can't have it both way Spike and company. You love to blame the only people that actually add tangible value to a company. I await your response-which I know won't be coming seeing as you never respond to me Spike. Go back to listening to your preacher, Rush Limbaugh.

I was one of the many people that said this sale should never have happened. It all but guaranteed that NH would not develope the fiber-optic infrastructure that will be vital to our future economy. I wish I had been wrong.
- Bob, Bedford

Fairpoint cant even print out customers bills accurately. Since their inception they have demonstrated that they are not a viable option over Comcast. Never mind building business with new clientel, their existing business is running away with numerous unsolved problems. They can't close their doors and go under fast enough for me. Good Riddance.
- John Mc, Hooksett, NH

Right now I'd love to hear the thoughts of former PUC commissioner Morrison, who was the only one of the three commissioners to vote against the original deal, for all of the reasons so many people opposed it. If only one of the two remaining commissioners had voted differently, the deal would have collapsed, probably in all three states since it was all or nothing. Good work, Getz and Below. Hmm, I wonder why Morrison is no longer at the PUC? And why didn't Lynch twist some arms? Biggest failure of his term. Two Democrats on the FCC in Washington opposed the deal. According to written dissent from Commissioner Michael Copps, "Petitioners promise that they will invest in bringing broadband to (rural) areas, increase jobs and increase quality of service. In contrast, there is sizable information in the record to show that FairPoint may be limited by the terms of their agreement in its ability to deliver on its promises. If the seller is not committed to ubiquitous broadband deployment, then letting someone else with more commitment do the job makes sense. But if the buyer is shackled by the costs of the agreement, it becomes more difficult to see how the public interest is served. As a result of this particular transaction, FairPoint may be unable to meet its broadband promises, have less reliable service, employ fewer people over time and meet its other commitments due to its heavy debt load and historically high dividends." Couldn't be any clearer than that.
- adds, Portsmouth, NH

"There will be no service issues,” IBEW Local 2320 business manager Glenn Brackett said.

That's not hard to believe...

There's no service, ....period...
- Joe, Auburn

Good job "Guv."
- Don, Exeter, NH

Its funny how people are claiming this is the unions fault. the employees are the same ones from your beloved Verizon, The company that wouldnt pay to get with the times, the union did not cause this. the union fought against this. The employees didnt get extra money when fairpoint came over. That guy you saw sleeping in the truck was probally on hold with someone inside trying to fix a problem with Cap gemini who should be blamed for problems. The UL's doom and gloom stories of all the effected people was on 10 % of the population. Yes that is high. but it seems as though the UL liked to mislead the public acting as though everyone was affected. The UL is also responsible for what has gone on, their stories of the poor man or woman who couldn't pay thier bill by phone becauste the internet was down. Notice the union leader had no problem taking the money to run fairpoints ads. The union did not cause this. Blame the PUC
- Peter, Manchester

Hardly anyone was in favor of verizon selling to fairpoint because it was obvious verizon was bailing out of a dying market by putting the load on a shill company so they would not have to own the obligations as the market died. The public outcry against the sale was ignored by the PUC. It is clear to whom the PUC owes their allegiance. Thanks so much PUC you have shown that you're just another corrupt gov't org.
- mark, hooksett

Hundreds of people bombarded the PUC with information and testimonials regarding Fairpoint’s history detailing their inability to provide good and reliable service. From a financial standpoint their ability to handle taking over Verizon’s landline service on such a large scale was questionable as best. The result is we've gone from a reliable and excellent service provider to a clearly inferior one that is now seeking bankruptcy protection. I cannot help but wonder and ponder that there's a good possibility that some at the PUC may have been enriched by allowing the deal to go through? Perhaps an investigation of the matter is in order?
- Rob, Manchester

Good riddance Fairpoint. I was lucky enough to be able to switch to GWI when they opened for business in my area. Amazingly my inernet service went from dropping up to as many as 47 (yes that's correct) times a day with never a day less than 3 times, to not having dropped once since switching over a month ago. Fairpoint couldn't see to fix the issue (insisted it was in my lines in my home.) Obviously not. Repeatedly having to deal with outsourced represenatives that were difficult at best to understand, thankfully those days are gone. All GWI service is in state (Maine) telephone customer service included.
- Lynne, NH native now in Maine

Who in the world didn't see this coming??
- Joe, Manchester

The PUC made a bad decision. They knew Fairpoint wasn't up to the task (I attended one of the early, local hearings) but they caved to lies and promises. Sorry Fairpoint but SHAME ON THE PUC....
- cathe polonsky, bedford

I smell a dime-on-a-dollar firesale coming.
- The Other Jake, Manchester

On the one hand, FedGov gives trillions with no-strings-attached to Goldman Sachs, Bank of America and the other mega-buck shylocks, and this form of give-away socialism is justified in the interests of the national "good."

On the other hand, Verizon scurries away from the state and dumps its NH communications infrastructure into the hands of an incompetent, fly-by-night outfit, but stopping Verizon as it laughs all the way to the bank would be interfering with the free market, and such a "socialist" measure would be unthinkable and BAD.

It's time to to rein in the marauding, socially irresponsible corporations and conglomerates that want to "free-market" the American- and NH people into oblivion and penury in the pursuit of corporate profits. Verizon should not only have been FORBIDDEN to leave NH, VT and ME, but it should also have been ORDERED to upgrade its land lines to bring broadband internet service to the whole of these states, especially their more rural and poorer areas (like Coos and Sullivan Counties in NH) as well as other regions that have very little going on economically.

This real form of "stimulus" would have greatly helped the chronically economically depressed and the newly unemployed seeking to start business of their own, and thus would have helped ensure the basic economic SURVIVAL of many NH citizens.

The FedGov could have (but never would have) weighed in and told Verizon it could consider this part of the cost of doing business in the USA as a whole.

The Fairpoint fiasco is just another example of what is actually a national and systemic problem: As it is, there are no watchdogs protecting the interests of the outsourced, off-shored and H1B'd American PEOPLE, who are being dumped onto the national unemployment rolls at the rate of 500,000 a month, and who often can't even rely on a dependable communications network to do business for themselves.

For the average American, the current political and "business" culture of the USA is similar to a race that requires its contestants to run a three minute mile - but only after first having a leg broken with a sledge hammer at the start line. The corporate gangsters, on the other hand, get to "run" the race in stretch limo, and those curious "bumps" in the road are the bodies of American citizens who are just obstacles "in the way" of ever larger profits.

Enough is enough!
- Jack, Bradford

Our business switched over to small, but local company in Manchester about a year ago...Glad I convinced my boss to make that change...service has been practically flawless since and according to them they own their entire infrastructure...no Fairpoint involved.

The latter was a problem I had with the CLEC's who tried to sell us services...end of the day they still had to buy their links wholesale from Fairpoint!
- Bob, Manchester

Judgment day has arrived. The PUC commissioners who voted for the sale, Thomas Getz and Cliff Below(Lynch appointees). The lone Commissioner in all of Northern New England who voted against the sale was Graham Morrison a Benson Appointee. Governor Lynch is the man standing behind the NH PUC. It is time for him to be accountable as well as the PUC for this monumental failure. Everybody who opposed this sale, who wrote letters and emails, spoke out at PUC town hall meetings and called their representatives and the Governor have all been proven right today. Former Fairpoint CEO Gene Johnson, Former Congressman Dick Army and Freedomworks and Executive Councilor Ray Burton now have egg dripping from their faces. Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg is laughing all the way to the bank.

Art
You are so wrong about no other companies. Century Tel and Citizens Communications wanted in on this deal, but Verizon didn't want to sell to them because they wouldn't be able to take advantage of the Reverse Morris trust tax write off.

I am sorry to see this was not a Chapter 7 filing. This whole pig could be cut up and sold off.
Publius
Bring back your web site Verizon vs Fairpoint.
- Chris, Merrimack

Huh, another failed industry, another union problem. The union sabotaged Fairpoint from day one. Maybe one of you union hacks can explain the benefits of unions, for the consumer, not the union. Don't bother, there aren't any but you are so blinded by your high priced low quality work and your fat paychecks you can't see the truth.
- Allan, Rochester

As much as I despise Comcast, thank goodness I had a place to go for phone service when Fairpoint took over. My bills were wrong from day one and never got fixed.
- Sam, Henniker

What a statement. Yes, thank goodness Comcast was there as an alternative....begs the question:

I wonder how much influence on the PUC Comcast and the others that benefitted from this massive mistake had on their decision to let FairPoint in after all the experts said not to. Follow the money.

Hey UL, I see a story here. Or is the ad revenue from Comcast too much to risk exposing them???????
- Mike, Nottingham

Is that the sound of glasses clinking at the Union Leader and WMUR? Your non-stop coverage of their problems and burying news of their progress has finally succeeded.
- Joe, Merrimack

PS to Annie of Manchester--Yes, the state has a bunch of CLECs. But most towns, including mine, have exactly one to choose from. Excuse-making Ginny says to stop blaming the PUC, that "there were only two choices." Such limited choices are unheard of in American capitalism--except when government racketeers set the rules and enforce monopoly territories with threat of armed force.
- Spike, Brentwood NH

Art, and all those who believe we had to let Verizon leave. Please do a little research before posting. We DID NOT have to let Verizon go. NY State went thru the same thing. Their commision said NO. Verizon is still there. This absolutely could have been avoided.
- Cathy, Derry

Having been a phone company employee for a decade in another state...the employees EARN those benefits...neither the employees nor the customer (which includes the employees) should have to feel the impact of negligent Corporate mismanagement. But oh yeah.. we live in a society where no one has to take responsibility for their actions...I'm sure there will be bail out $$$'s for this as well.

Smacks forehead What was I thinking...???

This, as well as most other corporate issues , had to do with the almighty BUCK...and never about the needs of the consumer.
- Kelly, Tilton

This comes as a surprise to absolutely no one with the exception of the good folks at the Public Utilities Commission who do everything BUT regulate utilities.
Hey, PUC, next time take a lesson from Nancy Reagan and Just Say No.
- RC, Claremont

to Art, Portsmouth -

"Verizon Wanted Out and No One Wanted In Except Fairpoint!!!!

Stop blaming the PUC. The choice was Fairpoint or Nobody!"

Verizon would only sell to a small company to get their $700 million tax exclusion thru the Reverse Morris Trust Tax Loophole.

For years, Verizon did not maintain equipment in the central offices & or in the network.

Had the PUC refused the sale, Verizon would have sold to a bigger player who could have afforded the mess they left.
- Ginny, Manchester

Sorry, Art, but you're wrong. Other companies were interested and made higher bids than Fairpoint. Verizon went with the Fairpoint bid to excersize some tax loopholes (& ultimately net more out of the sale).
- Paul, Nashua

I've recently had both work and home phone issues, and I have to say Fairpoint techs kept at the problems until they were fixed.

Hey people - you seem to have forgotten something - Verizon Wanted Out and No One Wanted In Except Fairpoint!!!!

Stop blaming the PUC. The choice was Fairpoint or Nobody!
- Art, Portsmouth

When we found out Fairpoint was the potential buyer for Verizon land lines, many of us residents jumped ship and went to Comcast. I am so thankful there was an alternative to Fairpoint. There were many people who saw "the writing on the wall" but politics is always involved and the big conglomerates always get what they want. Verizon wanted out and out they went without regard for their long time customers. So Verizon has not any better than Fairpoint in the way they treat customers!
- Lyn, Manchester

joyce f, Londonderry -

You have misinformation.

Employees wait 7 years to get 3 weeks vacation & 15 years to get 4 weeks vacation.

There are 4 paid and one UNPAID personal days.

There is NO SICK TIME.

There is NO APPOINTMENT TIME. If you have a doctor's appt, etc., you have to skip lunch and breaks to compensate for the time taken.

Therefore, your whopping 2 weeks vacation & 4 paid personal days are your sick time & your appointment time. Oh & squeeze in a vacation, too, on all that time off!

All workers DO NOT drive company vehicles.

It has been this way as NYNEX, Bell Altantic and Verizon.

Fairpoint was in no way prepared, or financially able, to take on Verizon's land lines and the mess that Verizon left things in.

Why do you think we worked so hard to "Stop the Sale"? Verizon paid someone off so the sale went through.

Try getting your facts straight
- Ginny, Manchester

As much as I despise Comcast, thank goodness I had a place to go for phone service when Fairpoint took over. My bills were wrong from day one and never got fixed.
- Sam, Henniker

I just want to say that our PUC commission was warned and told that this is what was going to happen. Great job listening to the warning and watching out for the NH consumer PUC commission. Maybe with the NH budget being at an all time mess. Our Governor should have chosen to eliminate this disfunctional department.
- Brian, Franklin

Mike in Epping, the guy you saw sleeping in his truck was also possibly waiting to get through to his supervisor or technical support group. Technicians in the field have the same problem as customers do. I'm sure by now that every tech has a celphone. Having spent 17 years in the field the frustrationn felt by customers is also felt by techs.How many would want want to be on hooks in zero degree weather "on hold"?The company name has changed but its business as usual except that Fairpoint isn't large enough of a company to hide all its screw ups.
Ron in Florida
- Ron Houle, Citrus Springs,Florida

Another large corporation allowed to file bankruptcy on their customer's backs while they continue to pay union wages and benefits including paid health care, 3 to 5 weeks of vacations, 10 to 15 personal days off a year, tuition reimbursement, workers get to drive company vehicles with company purchased gasoline to and from their jobs and their homes, and the list goes on and on. Does this sound fair to consumers? Guess who ultimately pays for all of this????
- joyce f, Londonderry

the employees earn everything they get...now, can the same be said for YOU?! i bet you couldn't even pass the test to get in the door!
- fpc, bedford

Where were these three governors when their PUC's approved the sale while most of the people were warning against it? If they really want to the right thing, they should fire the PUC members- then the voters should fire the governors!
- sally, candia, nh

Spike -

Check out the CLECs in your area... they usually offer better rates, and always offer better customer service.

(CLEC - Competitive Local Exchange Carrier)
- Annie, Manchester

I think the unions told everyone this would happen now what? business as usual?????????????????
- tom, belmont

Spike in Brentwood is right on. This whole idea of giving one company a monopoly on telephone service is insane (not to mention the perversion of calling it "deregulated"). Probably the only reason Fairpoint is still in business (hanging on by a thread) is that they are protected from competition.
- R.P., Kingston, NH

Isn't this what the folks that were vetting this purchase were worried about before the sale was approved, and that FairPoint said was not a problem?

So it's business as usual? So folks will still not get through to a live body; still get bills for service they canceled and don't have or never got; and email will still not work right?

Sounds great. Glad I don't have it.
- RG, Manchester

This change of ownership will not affect customer service any more than the previous change of ownership. The emphasis inside the often-renamed New England Telephone will continue to be seniority and union grievances, not the customer.

We are entering our second decade of legally mandated "communications deregulation," competition without competitors. Land lines should not a "public utility." We can deal with the possibility of multiple phone cables on existing utility poles. I want to buy service from a responsive company, perhaps Walmart. Get the PUC out of the picture.
- Spike, Brentwood NH

Another large corporation allowed to file bankruptcy on their customer's backs while they continue to pay union wages and benefits including paid health care, 3 to 5 weeks of vacations, 10 to 15 personal days off a year, tuition reimbursement, workers get to drive company vehicles with company purchased gasoline to and from their jobs and their homes, and the list goes on and on. Does this sound fair to consumers? Guess who ultimately pays for all of this????
- joyce f, Londonderry

we tried to tell the people in concord that allowing this buyout was going to be bad for consumers. true, NH was the last holdout but somebody caved in.
- gary white, farmington

Did I win the pool? I kept saying by October 30th of this year!

Well, no one is shocked by this news other then the PUC.

And why a hearing was never convened on the PUC to determine why they approved this transaction is beyond me!

Anyway, hopefully this doesn't have an extreme impact on NH residents employed by the company. Although the Fairpoint dude I saw sleeping in his truck the other day might want to update his resume!
- mike, epping

FairPoint will tell you anything you want to hear.

At first I thought the picture of the vigil on the front page was for FairPoint
- Harry, Atkinson