Processing Your Payment

Please do not leave this page until complete. This can take a few moments.

October 3, 2016

High usage leads to FairPoint’s ‘cost recovery’ fee

FairPoint Communications says that an added monthly charge of $2.97 to its customer’s bills is needed to keep up with the heavy use of bandwidth by an ever-increasing number of connected devices.

FairPoint spokeswoman Angelynne Beaudry told the Bangor Daily News that the company informed its customers of the “broadband cost recovery fee” on its website and in a mailing sent out last month.

But that hasn’t stopped a few customers from calling the Public Advocate Office, which represents Maine utility consumers in matters covered by the Public Utilities Commission, for clarification. Timothy Schneider, Maine’s public advocate, told the BDN that officials were worried that the wording of the fee may lead some to believe it came from regulators.

“This is an unregulated service. There’s not really anything we can do about it. It’s not within our jurisdiction,” Schneider told the BDN. “Our primary concern is that customers may have signed up for service being promised at one rate, and now with this additional charge, it’s another.”

Read more

FairPoint eyes telecom deregulation as a path to move forward

Regulators investigate FairPoint’s 2015 quality performance

Service changes to FairPoint landlines raising concerns

FairPoint acquires Falmouth communications company

FairPoint strikers win victory in Maine's business court

FairPoint contests $500K PUC fine

FairPoint to lay off more than 110 in New England

Sign up for Enews

Related Content

Comments

Order a PDF