FCC approves FairPoint/Verizon deal

In a 3-2 vote, the Federal Communications Commission has approved FairPoint Communications' proposed $2.7 billion acquisition of Verizon Communications properties in Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire. Democrat agency members Jonathan Adelstein and Michael Copps voted against approving the deal. Adelstein is usually the champion of small telcos like FairPoint, but he said the deal has no special measures in place to ensure ongoing broadband deployment and service quality.

That's what regulators in Maine and Vermont had been saying, but FairPoint made some adjustments and commitments to specific broadband investment, and the deal has since been approved in Maine and is likely very close to approval in Vermont. Did the Adelstein and Copps get the same paperwork as everyone else?

For more:
- see this story from the Associated Press

Related articles:
- The deal received endorsement from Vermont's Public Services Dept. this week
- Kucinich rallies against deal Article
- FairPoint waits for approval Article