News Release

Media Contact:

Angelynne Beaudry

207-210-3079

FairPoint Communications upgrades broadband service to more than 5,600 locations in 30 Vermont towns

Projects improve internet access and available speeds in Orange County

South Burlington, VT (June 16, 2017) - FairPoint Communications1 announced today the completion of broadband projects impacting more than 5,600 locations in 30 Vermont towns that enhance the Company’s 18,000 mile fiber network in northern New England. In Braintree, Newbury, Randolph, and Tunbridge this project brings customers download speeds of up to 25 Mbps2 -- providing broadband service to some areas for the first time.

“The wide-ranging benefit of broadband access, especially in rural communities, is significant and recent projects are yielding speeds of up to 50 Mbps in parts of the state,” said Mike Reed, FairPoint’s Vermont state president. “For local businesses, broadband access can reduce costs, expand reach and increase revenue while families benefit from faster access to the internet to complete schoolwork, contact friends and access entertainment. Today’s announcement reflects our continued commitment to bringing improved broadband access to the Green Mountain State and furthering the reach of faster speeds.”

Some of these projects are funded through Phase II of the Federal Communications Commission’s Connect America Fund, which is designed to help support expansion and operation of broadband services in high-cost areas, as well as the Company’s own significant direct investments. The 30 towns in Vermont are:

BARNARD

BRAINTREE

BROWNSVILLE

BURKE

CHARLESTON

COLCHESTER

DERBY

EAST HAVEN

FERRISBURGH

GUILFORD

HARTFORD

HARTLAND

HOLLAND

IRASBURG

LOWELL

MONKTON

MORGAN

NEWARK

NEWBURY

POMFRET

RANDOLPH

SHELBURNE

TUNBRIDGE

W CHARLESTON

W WINDSOR

WESTFIELD

WHITE RIVER JUNCTION

WILLISTON

WINHALL

WOODSTOCK

Residential and business customers in these communities will now qualify for up to 25 Mbps based on the distance from the customer location to FairPoint’s servicing equipment, which is more than sufficient speed to smoothly stream high-definition video, browse the web or participate in online gaming. Portions of the following streets in these towns have been upgraded:

BRAINTREE
BENT HILL RD
BRAINTREE HILL RD
CONNECTICUT CORNERS RD
ROLLING ROCK RD
SUMMIT RD
THRESHER RD
NEWBURY
CHAPEL ST
COOKMAN RD
CROSS ST
DEPOT RD
EVERGREEN DR
FULLER RD
MAIN ST
MAIN ST S
MONTEBELLO RD
MOORE HILL RD
OLD COUNTY RD
OXBOW RD
PINE ST
PULASKI ST
ROMANCE LN
ROUTE 5
ROUTE 5 N
ROUTE 5 S
SCOTCH HOLLOW RD
SOUTHVIEW RD
RANDOLPH
CLAY WIGHT RD
CROCKER RD
DAVIS RD
DUGOUT RD
E BETHEL RD
KINGSBURY RD
RED MAPLE LN
SOUTH RANDOLPH RD
ROUTE 14 S
TUNBRIDGE
ASHWORTH MEWS
DUGOUT RD
GIFFORD HILL RD
KELSEY MOUNTAIN RD

Since April 2008, FairPoint has invested more than $900 million in its communications infrastructure and technology to bring broadband to northern New England, including building thousands of miles of new fiber optic network across the region. FairPoint’s fiber-based, high capacity network offers customers a better, faster way to communicate.

To find out more details, including internet service speed eligibility, information about prices and bundled plans, or to schedule a professional installation of services, residential consumers can call 1-866.984.2001 and business customers can call 1-866.984.3001.

About FairPoint Communications, Inc.

FairPoint Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq: FRP) provides advanced data, voice and video technologies to single and multi-site businesses, public and private institutions, consumers, wireless companies and wholesale re-sellers in 17 states. Leveraging an owned, fiber-based Ethernet network — with more than 22,000 route miles of fiber, including approximately 18,000 route miles of fiber in northern New England — FairPoint has the network coverage, scalable bandwidth and transport capacity to support enhanced applications, including the next generation of mobile and cloud-based communications, such as small cell wireless backhaul technology, voice over IP, data center colocation services, managed services and disaster recovery. For more information, visit www.FairPoint.com.

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1 Services are provided through operating subsidiaries of FairPoint Communications, Inc.

2 Maximum Internet speeds referenced are only available in select areas. Internet speed claims represent maximum network service capability. Actual customer speeds may vary and are not guaranteed. Actual speeds vary based on a number of factors including site traffic and congestion, components within your computer such as processor speeds, memory and hardware and software configuration, content provider server capacity, internal network management factors and customer device capabilities.