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.

[boat_guy64]

Our phone died a little over a week ago. (2nd time in the past 3 months) I called and was told we are guaranteed to be up and running by the 21st. On the 21st, I got a computerized call (on my cell phone) that stated that Fairpoint would be unable to meet their obligation. As of tomorrow, land line phone service will be cut to both houses.

This pathetic, bankrupt company never should have received government approval to acquire these lines. They have proven it over and over. As of tomorrow, they won't exist anymore from my point of view. My guess is that soon enough, they won't exist at all.

[HellRaZoR004]

songkrai has it completely correct! I've never had a landline - why spend the money when you have a cell phone?

[chipj29]

Originally Posted by HellRaZoR004

songkrai has it completely correct! I've never had a landline - why spend the money when you have a cell phone?

I have the Comcast bundle (phone/internet/CATV). I wanted to cancel the phone service, since I don’t really need it. My Comcast bill would have gone up $20 a month.
So in my case, it is cheaper to keep the home phone.

[Greene's Basin Girl]

Originally Posted by chipj29

I have the Comcast bundle (phone/internet/CATV). I wanted to cancel the phone service, since I don’t really need it. My Comcast bill would have gone up $20 a month.
So in my case, it is cheaper to keep the home phone.

The same situation happened to me with Time Warner. It would cost me more to cancel the phone because I have a bundle. I now have the landline unplugged. I love it when telemarketers call. I see the telemarketers phone number on my television, but the phone doesn't ring.

[chipj29]

Originally Posted by Greene's Basin Girl

The same situation happened to me with Time Warner. It would cost me more to cancel the phone because I have a bundle. I now have the landline unplugged. I love it when telemarketers call. I see the telemarketers phone number on my television, but the phone doesn't ring.

My phone rings, but the fax machine picks it up. All the caller hears is that lovely screeching sound.

[upthesaukee]

Originally Posted by HellRaZoR004

songkrai has it completely correct! I've never had a landline - why spend the money when you have a cell phone?

now at my house, I do not have good cell coverage. Friends have zero coverage at their houses. Hence, the need for landlines,

[PaugusBayFireFighter]

Originally Posted by upthesaukee

now at my house, I do not have good cell coverage. Friends have zero coverage at their houses. Hence, the need for landlines,

Another reason...Lots of people like the security of having a landline in case they need to call 911. Enhanced 911 would send help to the phones address where a cell won't. In the event you couldn't talk, just dialing 911 will cause police to respond.

That being said...I haven't had a land line for 10+ years.

[BroadHopper]

Originally Posted by PaugusBayFireFighter

Another reason...Lots of people like the security of having a landline in case they need to call 911. Enhanced 911 would send help to the phones address where a cell won't. In the event you couldn't talk, just dialing 911 will cause police to respond.

That being said...I haven't had a land line for 10+ years.

E911 in NH has the ability to locate a call from a cell phone to within 100 feet of a phone providing the phone is on.

See http://www.nh.gov/safety/divisions/e...nfo/index.html

There is a wealth of information here regarding 911. If you have love ones with a disability or mobility issues, please have them fill out an ALI form. This program is unique to NH.