Fairpoint Communications utterly imploded after regulators rubber stamped their acquisition of Verizon’s unwanted New England (Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire) DSL and landline networks, though the company insists they should be able to exit bankruptcy by the end of the summer. With everyone watching closely to see if the company can overcome its own dysfunction and provide things like reliable 911 service, Fairpoint has decided that now’s a good time to ask for government favors. After missing their broadband expansion commitments completely, Fairpoint recently stated they wanted to weaken previous broadband expansion promises.

Fairpoint is also now asking regulators to weaken their oversight of the company once they emerge from bankruptcy.

Link to the original article…

Earlier this year we noted how companies like Verizon are very clearly turning away from rural America, creating a new niche for smaller “rural super telcos” to thrive. The merger of CenturyTel and Embarq creates one such company, but Windstream Communications is also picking up speed in this sector as well. Windstream recently acquired NuVox Communications, and was also rumored to be sniffing around the assets of bankrupt Fairpoint Communications. Windstream continues the trend today by announcing they’re acquiring Iowa Telecom (and its 256,000 access lines, 95,000 broadband and 26,000 digital TV customers) for about $1.1 billion. Interestingly, the company has had money for acquisitions, but not for employees: the erosion of landline revenues recently resulted in a 3% workforce reduction.

Link to the original article…

[ Related: Windstream Acquires NuVox ] [ Related: Windstream Upgrades DSL Speed ]