FairPoint to award $50K to Maine nonprofits, seeks applicants
FairPoint Communications unveiled this week a recognition program that will award $50,000 in total to three nonprofit organizations dedicated to connecting and serving Maine residents and communities.
Three nonprofit organizations will be selected to receive $16,000 each and a technology package valued up to $1,000 in the new FairPoint Connected Communities program, the company said in a news release.
Applications are being accepted through June 16.
FairPoint Communications invites any 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Maine to apply to be one of three recipients. The application requires a short narrative on how the organization connects people and improves the lives of residents within their communities, and how use of the internet contributes to their mission.
FairPoint Communications will announce the winners in early July and visit each organization to present the awards throughout the summer months.
“We are excited to introduce the FairPoint Connected Communities program to recognize and support Maine organizations that provide people in Maine’s 16 counties with much-needed services and resources,” said Mike Reed, Maine state president for FairPoint.
Broadband expansion continues in 2017
FairPoint (Nasdaq:FRP) announced in late March that its shareholders had approved a merger with Consolidated Communications Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: CNSL) in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $1.5 billion, including debt. The proposed merger is now undergoing federal and state regulatory approvals.
Since 2008, it has invested more than $50 million to extend broadband service in Maine which is now available in more than 88% of its service territory in the state. In 2016, FairPoint’s network investments impacted more than 60,000 locations in Maine, many of which are in rural areas, with new or upgraded service.
The company’s 2017 projects are expected to impact an additional 30,000 locations in the state through its own investments as well as with support from Phase II of the Federal Connect America Fund.
FairPoint said its next phase of upgrades, which bring local access to broadband technology for the first time or a significant upgrade over previously available speeds, includes projects in more than 100 towns.
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