News Release

Media Contact:

Angelynne Beaudry

207-210-3079

FairPoint Upgrades Broadband Service 840 locations in Penobscot County

Upgrades allow for improved internet access and speeds in Carmel, Hermon, Lincoln, Medway and Woodville

PORTLAND, Maine (April 27, 2017) - FairPoint Communications1 announced today the completion of broadband expansion projects in Penobscot County that extend and enhance FairPoint’s approximately 18,000 mile fiber optic network, which is the largest, fully-owned and managed fiber-based network in northern New England. As a result of these completed projects, improved broadband speeds are available to more than 840 locations in Carmel, Hermon, Lincoln, Medway and Woodville – providing broadband service to some locations for first time.

“High speed internet access fuels Maine’s economic engine by unlocking new ways to be more productive, compete for business far past the storefront, and enable learning beyond the confines of a classroom,” said Mike Reed, Maine state president for FairPoint. “Our team has been extremely busy over the past year completing these broadband projects that bring critical improvements to the “last mile” of FairPoint’s network to increase broadband speeds to these unserved and underserved areas. These projects provide immediate benefit to the locations impacted enabling those in more rural and remote areas to take full advantage of the digital age.”

To help support expansion and operation of broadband services in high-cost areas, in 2015 FairPoint accepted Phase II of the Federal Communication Commission’s Connect America Fund (CAF). The projects in the following communities are funded through CAF Phase II and the Company’s own significant direct investments.

In Carmel, portions of the following streets have been upgraded:

ASH HILL RD
BANGOR-NEWPORT RD
BEMIS RD
BIRCHWOOD LN
BOYLE DR
BROOKSIDE DR
CAMPGROUND DR
CHURCH ST
CINNAMON LN
COOK RD
CYR LN
DAMASCUS RD
DRAGONFLY LN
DYER RD
EAST CT
ERIN WAY
ETNA POND LN
FIVE RD
FULLER RD
GRIST MILL RD
HAMPDEN RD
HEATHS WAY
HOMESTEAD LN
LILAC LN
LUCE ALLEY LN
MAIN RD
MILL LN
MOLLY DR
NOVELTY DR
NUTE LN
OLD STATE RD
ORCHARD LN
PATRIOT DR
PELLETIER LN
PENNY LN
PLYMOUTH RD
POOH LN
RING HL
S SLOPE DR
SCOTTS WAY
SPRATT RD
WOODLAND DR

In Hermon, the portions of Bangor-Newport Road, Dyer Road, Fuller Road, Hampden Road and Newburgh Road; in Lincoln, portions of Day Road and Rout 116; in Medway, portions of Jones Road, Pattagumpus Road, Route 116 and Tilcon Pit; and in Woodville, portions of Day Road, Kimball Road and Woodville Road have been upgraded.

These locations will now qualify for download speeds of up to 15 Mbps2, 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.

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.