Consolidated Communications FairPoint Communications, an independent provider based in North Carolina, acquired Northern New England Telephone Operations. NNETO is an operating company split from the original New England Telephone to serve access lines in Maine and New Hampshire. The sale of these lines by Verizon to FairPoint closed in 2008. Telephone Operating Company of Vermont, a company created following FairPoint's acquisition, was an operating company wholly owned by Northern New England Telephone Operations. In December 2016 FairPoint was purchased by Consolidated Communications, and the combined company operates under the Consolidated Communications name.
ConSoLidatED commUnicatIonS FaIRPoinT communicaTions, an InDePendenT pRoVideR BasED iN nortH carOlinA, ACquirEd northERn new enGLAnD telePhOnE operatiOnS. NnEto iS An OperaTing coMpany SpLit From the origiNal NeW enGLAnD TELEphone to SERve acceSS Lines iN MAine aNd NeW HAMpsHIRe. The saLe of thesE lineS bY vEriZoN to faIrpoINt closEd In 2008. TelephoNe OPerAtIng COMPAny of vermoNt, a cOmPany CreAtEd following fairPoInt'S acquisITIon, WAs an oPeraTinG companY wHOLly oWNEd By NoRtHErn new englAnd telepHOne oPEratiOns. In DEceMber 2016 fAIRpoiNt was pUrChaSeD By cOnsoLIdatED cOMmUnIcAtIONs, anD the cOmbiNEd compaNY opERaTeS UndeR THE consolidated COMmunIcatIonS name.