WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-FairPoint Promises Internet Expansions

FairPoint Promises Internet Expansions

Ferrisburgh, Vermont - September 30, 2008

For centuries, the Grange Hall was where people in Ferrisburgh connected.

The CEO of FairPoint Communications said that's why company officials chose the newly rebuilt hall to announce plans for connecting people in the 21st century.

"When the telephone network was originally designed, it really wasn't designed as broadband network," Gene Johnson said. "As a result of that, it's very difficult for us to reach all the customers with a broadband network."

Johnson said that by next summer, all of FairPoint's customers in Ferrisburgh will have high-speed, broadband internet access. It's one of 51 communities expected to have full access by the end of 2010.

"Our goal, specifically, across the state now is to significantly increase broadband coverage across the entire state, not just in the big cities," he said. "Not just communities we've been in for a long time, but areas that have been underserved for so long here."

FairPoint took over Verizon's landlines and internet service in March, giving it 300,000 access lines in Vermont.

In the beginning of 2008, 65 percent of its Vermont customers could get broadband service. That will rise to 75 percent by the end of this year and 80 percent by the end of 2010. That's far less than Gov. Jim Douglas's stated goal of having 100 percent broadband access across Vermont by 2010, but the governor welcomed the news of expansion.

"We need to be sure an entrepreneur who wants to start a business here or grow one in Vermont can do that with the telecommunications infrastructure that's necessary for success in a 21st century economy," Douglas said.

Local officials in Ferrisburgh and neighboring Vergennes said people in rural areas like these have waited a long time for broadband. They expressed excitement about the announcement, but said they don't want to count on it just yet.

"I don't want to start ramping up a business response to something if by chance it doesn't happen," said Diane Lanpher, a member of the Vergennes city council. "We don't need to be putting the cart before the horse."

"I just hope FairPoint can come through with the time frame they've offered," said Loretta Lawrence, chairman of the Ferrisburgh select board. "We're all keeping our fingers crossed."

The list of all communities FairPoint says will have full broadband access by 2010:

Addison

• Middlebury 382, 388, 443
• Salisbury 352
• Vergennes 877

Bennington

• Dorset 867
• Manchester 362, 366

Caledonia

• Concord 695
• Lunenburg 892

Chittenden

• Burlington 338, 651, 652, 654, 655, 657, 658, 660, 859, 860, 862, 863, 864, 865, 951, 985
• Essex Junction 288, 878, 879
• Milton 893
• Underhill 899

Essex

• Island Pond 723
• Norton 822

Franklin

• East Fairfield 827
• Enosburg Falls 933
• Fairfax 849
• Richford 848
• St Albans 524, 527
• Swanton 868

Grand Isle

• Grand Isle 372

Lamoille

• Stowe 253
• Morrisville 888
• Waterbury 241, 244

Orange

• Newbury 866
• Washington 883
• Williamstown 433

Orange/Caledonia

• Wells River 757

Orleans

• Barton 525
• Craftsbury 586
• Derby 766
• Derby Line 873
• Greensboro 533
• Morgan 895
• Newport 334
• North Troy 988

Rutland

• Brandon 247
• Castleton 468
• Fair Haven 265
• Poultney 287
• Proctor 459
• Rutland 747, 770, 772, 773, 775, 786
• Wells 645

Washington

• Barre 461, 476, 479
• East Calais 456
• Montpelier 223, 224, 229, 371, 828
• Plainfield 454

Windham

• Jamaica 874

Windsor

• Weathersfield 546
• White River Jct. 280, 281, 295, 296, 452
• Windsor 674
• Woodstock 457

Kate Duffy - WCAX News