FairPoint has completed broadband expansion projects in 25 Vermont towns, thanks in part to funding from the FCC’s CAF-II rural broadband expansion program.
By completing these broadband expansion projects, the service provider will offer higher broadband speeds to over 4,500 locations throughout the state. In towns like Dover, Jamaica, Londonderry, Stratton, West Dover, Wilmington and Winhall, over 2,200 locations have been impacted, providing broadband service to some locations for the first time.
RELATED: Consolidated, FairPoint shareholders greenlight merger
“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,” said Mike Reed, Vermont state president for FairPoint, in a release.
Each of the locations that were upgraded will now qualify for download speeds of up to 15 Mbps. Being a copper-based DSL technology, actual speeds will depend on the distance from the customer location to FairPoint’s DSLAM equipment at the nearest CO or remote terminal (RT) site.
In 2015, FairPoint accepted CAF-II funding from the FCC to help support expansion and operation of broadband services in high-cost areas. Consolidated, which is in the process of buying FairPoint, said in an FCC filing (PDF) that it will continue to meet FairPoint’s CAF Phase II broadband support obligations.
Outside of Vermont, FairPoint accepted a $36 million grant in New York and has committed $9 million in matching funds to extend broadband in areas not covered by CAF Phase II.
“Historically, Consolidated increases the percentage of homes passed in its territories by approximately 2% year over year,” Consolidated said. “Consolidated hopes to continue [a similar] expansion in FairPoint territories.”
The service provider added that while it “plans to meet its goal of providing at least 20 Mbps to 90 percent of broadband customers in FairPoint territories, it does not have a specific time frame to do so.”