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FairPoint Communications Declares Bankruptcy

October 28, 2009

Union Vows Effort to Protect Customer Service, Good Jobs

WASHINGTONEdwin D. Hill, International President of the IBEW, issued the following statement after FairPoint Communications Inc. announced today that it plans to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection:

“This is the result we feared all along when FairPoint, a small carrier with scattered operations, assumed an enormous debt load and a sprawling telecommunications operation in northern New England. Even without the recession, FairPoint would have been hard pressed to meet its obligations and maintain the best telecommunications and broadband service in Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire.

“Still, the workers at FairPoint have done everything in their power to make their new company succeed, and they’re not done working to help the company restore financial and operational stability, improve customer service and expand broadband. The IBEW remains committed to supporting telecommunications customers and employees in northern New England and the other states where we represent units of FairPoint, and preserving good jobs in communities throughout these areas.

“As companies like Verizon continue efforts to dump regional landline services in these tax free deals that are contained in tax loopholes like the Reverse Morris Trust, this case in northern New England should serve as a cautionary tale. It takes technological and administrative resources – not to mention sufficient capital – to provide these services. Good intentions alone are not enough.”

 

 




The IBEW is an international labor organization that represents approximately 750,000 workers in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Republic of Panama. The IBEW has members in construction, utilities, manufacturing, telecommunications, broadcasting, railroads and government.