FairPoint

[songkrai]

Originally Posted by ericnh

I felt bad for Fairpoint, can't understand how NH govt allowed Verizon to dump its Nh, Me and Vt business on a company that is clueless and immediately went into a financial tailspin.... and bankruptcy protection.

Well, it's a tad complicated.
All very little to do with VT and NH governments.
Verizon.
Formally New England Telephone and then later Nynex.

With deregulation. New England Telephone had a monopoly - regulated.
With the breakup of AT&T. Came the baby bells. New England Telephone/Nynex became Verizon.

In short - Verizon saw the handwriting on the wall with cell phones.
Verizon sold the phone book business. Verizon sold the telephone poles.
Verizon ultimately sold the land line business.

The investors/management of FairPoint - just didn't get it all along.

Young people now don't have a land line. And throw in cable/internet phone - and FairPoint is on a dead end street.