Verizon Sells Off Rural Lines

ffejie writes "Verizon has announced that it will be spinning off rural assets to FairPoint Communications. These include all assets in the states of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. The deal will close sometime in 2007 and is worth $2.7 billion. 1.6 million phone lines, 234,000 DSL subscribers, and 600,000 long-distance customers will be moved to FairPoint in Verizon's effort to shed its low-margin lines in rural areas. The sale has been rumored since the summer at least. With Verizon aggressively rolling out high-speed FiOS (FTTP) in its service area, what will happen to the consumers stuck with a smaller telco like those moving to FairPoint?"

Oh, lovely!

[greg_barton]

Great! Now I'll have to go all the way to Fairpoint Station to pay my bill. That's way out in the boonies!

Re: FairPoint Station

[User 956]

Great! Now I'll have to go all the way to Fairpoint Station to pay my bill. That's way out in the boonies!

Not to mention you could be put on trial for humanity's crimes, by an omnipotent super-being.

Maine's Governor comments

[markhb]

Maine Governor John Baldacci (D) has commented [maine.gov] on the proposed selloff. As is his wont, the comment said absolutely nothing.

Meow!

[Anonymous Coward]

Bob Newhart over in Middlebury, Vermont can forget about ever getting Fiber service.

Hi. I'm Larry form L.D.&D. Telecom.

We at L.D.&D. Telecom are patently offended by your assertion and you will be hearin' form our legal beagle (as soon as he is finished chewin' my slipper). In achewal fact, my brother Daryl and my other brother Daryl and I are very busily cuttin' down trees 'n' we kin ashure you that said trees will allow us to give the Inn in rural Vermont more Fiber service than a truckload of Metamucil.

Good day to you all.

Re:Meow!

[AKAImBatman]

Hi. I'm Larry form L.D.&D. Telecom.

So close. It would have been perfect if you'd written it as, "Hi. I'm Larry from L.D.&D. Telecom, and this is my brother Daryl and my other brother Daryl." :P

Re:Oh, lovely!

[ObiWanKenblowme]

But hey - you'll get all the delicious apples you'd ever want!

Or you get two types of customers:

[xtype2.5]

Those waiting on a phone, those waiting on a dialtone!