FairPoint Communications has struggled with the loss of traditional telephone customers, labor unrest and customer service problems in northern New England. But Consolidated Communications sees an opportunity.
Consolidated Communications will begin laying out its plans for the merged company during meetings with federal and state entities that oversee and regulate its activities in coming weeks and months.
The company plans to submit documents with federal officials this coming week, and will file with regulators in 13 states including Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont by month’s end. The filings will include some details based on initial discussions with regulators, said Jennifer Spaude, company spokeswoman.
In northern New England, regulators stung by FairPoint’s performance when it took over Verizon’s landlines will give close scrutiny to details.
FairPoint bought Verizon’s landline holdings in northern New England for $2.3 billion in 2007 and filed for bankruptcy 18 months later after losing customers because of operational and integration problems. It has continued to struggle since emerging from bankruptcy in 2011. Federal entities regulating it sought to make FairPoint stick to promises to expand broadband and to meet customer expectations.
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