Vermonters Say ‘No’ to Verizon Sale

by James Parks, Nov 15, 2007

The drive to stop the proposed sale of Verizon’s New England landlines to FairPoint Communications is mushrooming. This week, a group of elected officials, first responders, seniors, small business owners and telephone workers delivered more than 2,600 postcards in a wheelbarrow to Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas (R), urging him to oppose the sale.

Verizon wants to sell its northern New England landlines to FairPoint for $2.7 billion. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the states of Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine must approve the sale. If they do, Verizon will be allowed to abandon its so-called low-value residential customers in the three states—primarily rural customers—while keeping its more profitable customers, including Big Business and wireless users.

Under the deal, Verizon would qualify for a $600 million tax break and would control 60 percent of FairPoint. FairPoint is a small, highly leveraged North Carolina-based firm that can provide only dial-up Internet access or, at best, DSL service, a technology widely regarded as already outdated and inadequate for rural economic development.

If the deal goes through, residents of the Green Mountain State could find their safety jeopardized. Matt Vinci, president of the Professional Fire Fighters of Vermont/IAFF, told a state capitol press conference:

When seconds count, Vermont’s citizens depend on firefighters and emergency medical technicians. We depend upon a high-quality information superhighway to obtain [reliable information]. The proposed acquisition of Verizon’s northern New England properties poses risks that your firefighters do not want to take. Years ago we had “Ma Bell” then we had the “Baby Bells.” Firefighters in this state are concerned that if this acquisition goes through, then we are going to have “Tinker Bell.”

Seniors also have strong concerns. Says John Block, vice president of the Vermont chapter of the Alliance for Retired Americans:

Especially in Vermont, long distances often separate friends and family. For seniors, both physical and financial concerns can make long trips difficult. High-speed Internet connections can help connect us to friends, family, medical and social assistance and the larger world.

James Haslam, director of the Vermont Workers’ Center/Jobs with Justice, says the public is against the sale:

We went to state fairs and shopping malls to talk with the public and gather signatures for many of these post cards. We found that the majority of people still hadn’t heard about the proposed sale. When they did, they understood just how risky FairPoint could be and were eager to sign.

Last month, New Hampshire workers delivered 5,000 postcards to Gov. John Lynch (D), asking him to oppose the sale. Maine workers delivered 5,000 to their governor, John Baldacci, in September.

For more information about why citizens are mobilizing to stop the Verizon sale to FairPoint, click here and here.

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