FairPoint using horses to bring broadband into Vermont's rural areas

Fresh out of Chapter 11 protection and back on the stock market, FairPoint (Nasdaq: FRP) is making progress with its promise to expand its broadband DSL service footprint in New England, even if it means going truly analog sometimes.

To reach its goal of bringing DSL service to 87 percent of Vermont's residents, the service provider is leveraging the power of horses to carry and deploy about 1,000 miles of fiber throughout the state by June. That's right, horses--they can draw heavy fiber cable through Vermont's rugged, currently snowy terrain better than vehicles.

Such improvements will likely be music to the ears of Vermont's regulators who at one point were considering revoking FairPoint's license to operate in the state. As of the end of 2010, FairPoint revealed it reached 80 percent of Vermont's home with broadband.

FairPoint reached similar goals in Maine and New Hampshire--its two other New England territories. FairPoint's DSL service is now available to 83.4 percent of Maine households and businesses and 85 percent New Hampshire households.

For more:
- Vermont NBC affiliate WCIE has this video

Related articles:
FairPoint reaches its broadband rollout goals in Maine
FairPoint can't shake the cobwebs off its tarnished New England image
Maine PUC approves FairPoint's reorganization plan
FairPoint's Chapter 11 plan gets support from creditors, lenders