News Release

Media Contact:

Angelynne Beaudry

802-951-1524

FairPoint Upgrades Broadband Service in 4,500 locations throughout Vermont

Upgrades allow for improved internet access and speeds in 25 Vermont towns, including more than 800 locations in Windsor County

SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT (April 10, 2017) - FairPoint Communications1 announced today the completion of broadband expansion projects in 25 Vermont towns 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 4,500 locations throughout Vermont. In Barnard, Bethel, Brownsville, Pomfret, Reading, Royalton, West Windsor and Windsor, more than 800 locations have been impacted – providing broadband service to some locations for first time.

“High speed internet access fuels Vermont’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, Vermont 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 25 towns are funded through CAF Phase II and the Company’s own significant direct investments:

ALBANY

BARNARD

BETHEL

BROWNSVILLE

CRAFTSBURY

DOVER

GLOVER

JAMAICA

LONDONDERRY

LYNDON

MENDON

POMFRET

READING

ROYALTON

RUTLAND

STRAFFORD

STRATTON

SUTTON

WEST DOVER

WEST WINDSOR

WHEELOCK

WILLISTON

WILMINGTON

WINDSOR

WINHALL

In Windsor County, portions of these streets have been upgraded in the following towns:

BARNARD
LIME POND RD
SAYER RD
BROWNSVILLE
HOTEL RD
MTS EDGE RD
ROUTE 44
SKI TOW RD
SKYHAWK LN
VILLAGE LN
BETHEL
ARCTIC CAT LN
CHERRY LN
CHRISTIAN HILL RD
MAIN ST
MCCULLOUGHS RUN
N MAIN ST
ROUTE 107
S MAIN ST
SANDERS RD
SCAMMELL LN
VERMONT CASTINGS RD
WHEELOCK RD
WILSON HILL RD
WOOD HILL RD
POMFRET
BROAD BROOK RD
SKYLINE DR
TWIN POND RD
WEBSTER HILL RD
READING
BROWNSVLLE-HARTLND RD
ROYALTON
ARCTIC CAT RD
MCCULLOUGH RUN
ROUTE 107
WHITE OAK LN
WEST WINDSOR
BASCOM FARM DR
BROOK RD
BROWNSVILLE HARTLAND RD
CEMETERY RD
COACHING LANE EXT
COACHING LN
COON CLUB RD
DEER RUN RD
EDSON BURKE RD
HANNAH RD
HARRINGTON RD
HOTEL RD
JOHN MEYERS RD
JOHNSON RD
LEMIRE RD
MOUNTAINS EDGE RD
MOUNTAINSIDE DR
OLD BARN LN
PIERCE HILL RD
ROKEPA RD
ROUTE 44
S KNOB HILL RD
SEEMS RD
SHEDDSVILLE RD
SKI TOW RD
SKYHAWK LN
STRAWBERRY HILL RD
TRAFTON RD
VILLAGE LN
WINDSOR
HUNT RD

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.