FairPoint's Chris Alberding to Speak at COMPTEL PLUS

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Aug. 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- FairPoint Communications, Inc. (NasdaqCM: FRP), a leading provider of advanced data, voice and video technologies in 17 states, today announced that Chris Alberding, vice president of product management, will be speaking at the COMPTEL PLUS Fall 2013 Convention & EXPO, taking place Monday, September 23, through Thursday, September 26, at the Gaylord Palms in Orlando.

Alberding will be a featured speaker in the panel presentation and discussion on "Small Cell Performance: The Evolution of Backhaul Solutions" on September 25 at 9 a.m. The session offers a look at low-power, short-range small cells as the technology of choice for improving mobile network coverage and capacity.

One of the most important factors that affect the mobile customer experience is the quality of an operator's backhaul transport network. With the largest MPLS-based Carrier Ethernet network and more than 15,000 miles of fiber in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, FairPoint is the leading wireless backhaul provider to major wireless carriers in the region and its network reaches more than 95 percent of all business addresses in its territory.

"The growth of wireless network technologies and the proliferation of smart phones and tablets have fueled an unprecedented demand for wireless coverage," said Alberding. "Consumers do not want to be without connectivity, even in rural areas.  Small cells are a fast-growing market segment because they can be used to increase the capacity of 4G networks, but can also be used to deliver service in hard-to-serve markets with challenging terrain and economic constraints."

Speakers also will discuss challenges for Wi-Fi deployment, the impact of fiber, network performance and new technologies.

Alberding is a seasoned executive with responsibility in the high-tech IT service and telecom industry. He combines strategic and tactical expertise in operations, sales operations, product marketing and product management with planning and executing strategic product visions across multiple channels. Prior to joining FairPoint in 2012, Alberding worked for EarthLink, Deltacom and AT&T in a variety of product management, marketing and sales positions.

For more information about the COMPTEL PLUS Fall 2013 Convention & EXPO or to register, visit www.comptelplus.org.

About FairPoint Communications, Inc.
FairPoint Communications, Inc. (NasdaqCM: FRP) is a leading communications provider of broadband Internet access, local and long-distance phone, television and other high-capacity data services to customers in communities across 17 states. Through its fast, reliable fiber network, FairPoint delivers high-quality data and voice networking communications solutions to residential, business and wholesale customers. FairPoint delivers VantagePoint(SM) services through its resilient IP-based network in northern New England. This state-of-the-art fiber network provides carrier Ethernet connections to support the surging bandwidth and performance requirements for cloud-based applications like network storage, disaster recovery, distance learning, medical imaging, video conferencing and CAD/CAM along with traditional voice, VoIP, video and Internet access solutions. Additional information about FairPoint products and services is available at www.FairPoint.com. You can also connect with FairPoint on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/fairpoint) and Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/myfairpoint).

About COMPTEL PLUS
The COMPTEL PLUS Convention & EXPO is the preeminent networking event for innovative communications companies and their supplier partners. Held twice a year, COMPTEL PLUS attracted more than 200 exhibitors and more than 4,100 attendees to the 2012 conventions. COMPTEL PLUS provides attendees with the opportunity to learn about new products, services and industry trends; meet potential customers and do business. In addition, COMPTEL PLUS offers comprehensive educational programming led by experienced industry speakers. COMPTEL PLUS is produced by COMPTEL, the leading industry association representing competitive communications service providers and their supplier partners. Follow us at www.comptelplus.org or on Twitter at @COMPTELPLUS and #COMPTELFall13.

SOURCE FairPoint Communications, Inc.