Local residents are concerned about an impending $2.7 billion transfer by Verizon to FairPoint Communications in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont that is arguably the most significant telecommunications issue in a generation.

A public hearing hosted by the Maine Public Utilities Commission was held Tuesday, Sept. 25 in Portland where supporters and opponents took the floor to voice opinions.

Verizon is looking to hand over operations of 1.6 million residential and business phone lines in three states to Georgia-based FairPoint, which is a relatively small, independent telecommunications company. Many have speculated that Verizon wishes to free up some of its assets in order to allocate money for investments in larger urban markets.

Supporters of the deal say that FairPoint will be able to provide broadband Internet access to rural areas that may not have it presently. But FairPoint uses DSL, which many feel is a step back for Mainers from high-speed Internet access.

Standish resident Terry Norton believes that he and others in the community are at a disadvantage because FairPoint is their only choice for telephone service. He and his wife have lived in Standish for 10 years, and FairPoint has been their provider for the majority of those.

“There’s no competition in this town,” said Norton.

Norton attended last week’s Public Utilities Commission. He said that high monthly charges for local calls and additional charges for long-distance service make him wish he had the option of using another provider. He is also skeptical of the new technology FairPoint says they will use.

“They’re very vague in the ads and commercials as to what these new technologies are that they’re going to be bringing to all three states,” said Norton.

The new technology Norton refers to is a fiber-optic networking system that FairPoint has announced plans to build, if the sale is approved by the Public Utilities Commission. But Pam Joy, a spokeswoman for FairPoint, stressed that they have no plans to change any of the services Verizon currently offers its customers. She added that they have agreed to honor employee contracts in Maine.

Joy said FairPoint feels prepared to take on 1.6 million residential and business phone lines, a huge leap from the 300,000 lines it currently operates in 18 states. She said the takeover will take 24 months.

“We’re doing a lot in preparation for (the merger)…we’re working at implementing state of the art technology, hiring executives that have worked at AT&T and other large companies,” said Joy.

FairPoint has provided service to Maine communities, including Standish and Raymond, for years, and Joy believes that this gives the company an advantage in the state.

“We’re here, we know the market, and we know what it’s like to do broadband (in Maine). So, for us, it’s a great fit,” said Joy.

Though the deal certainly has its critics, some area residents are happy with their services, and believe that the sale will bring positive change to those affected.

Devin Fahie calls himself “a huge supporter of the acquisition.” He owns Sebago Signworks, with locations in Standish and Raymond. His businesses are covered by FairPoint, but his home in Limington is covered by Verizon. Fahie said he would prefer to use FairPoint at his home, just two houses beyond FairPoint’s coverage area in Limington.

“Once in a while, I would like to work from home. If I had DSL, it would be a lot easier to do the books and work from home,” said Fahie, who said that Verizon has been saying they will provide him with DSL for three years, to no avail.

Because of the stakes in the sale, and the level of concern from residents, the Office of the Public Advocate has stepped in, and is representing workers and residents before the Public Utilities Commission. Public Advocate Dick Davies said that though his office has not gathered enough information to say whether it approves of the deal, he is focusing on worries from Verizon workers, and consumers about the takeover process, employee contracts, directory and emergency services, and the new technology FairPoint has talked about.

“We want to make sure that new system is going to work on day one, 100 percent,” said Davies.

Davies added that FairPoint will have to be flexible, as the deal will likely have to meet conditions specified by the Public Utilities Commission.

“If (this merger) gets approved at all, it will be approved with a number of conditions,” Davies predicted.