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Blackfoot Finalizes Idaho Expansion, Announces Fremont Communications & Welcomes Employees
MISSOULA, MT, Feb 01, 2013 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) --
Blackfoot Telecommunications Group (Blackfoot) today announced it
has completed the acquisition of Fremont Telcom Co. and Fretel
Communications, LLC, which were the Idaho properties of FairPoint
Communications, Inc., a publicly traded service provider
headquartered in Charlotte, NC. Both companies will now be
collectively called Fremont Communications (Fremont).
Bill Squires, Blackfoot's chief executive officer, said, "I'm happy
to announce this closure so we can move forward and welcome both
former Fremont and Fretel customers and employees into the Blackfoot
family. We're excited about the opportunity to start earning trust
from local businesses and residents as Fremont Communications, part
of Blackfoot Telecommunications Group."
Squires continued, "We have strategic transition teams in place who
are dedicated not only to ensuring consistent voice and data services
for customers, but also to helping all local employees throughout the
process. There's a terrific group of well-qualified Fremont
employees, now part of Blackfoot, who are ready to ensure continuity
for customers in all the same locations. We're pleased that the
Fremont team will continue to be led by longtime Operations Manager,
Corey Packer."
Packer said, "I'm looking forward to the seamless merger of our two
companies and networks. My goal is to maintain customer confidence by
helping deliver the same quality of services from Fremont
Communications while helping my eastern Idaho neighbors benefit from
the world-class services that Blackfoot offers. I am excited about
the future."
Fremont Communications will continue to serve homes and businesses in
Idaho Falls, Rexburg, St. Anthony, Teton, Ashton, Island Park, with
possible expansion in the future. Blackfoot's top tier IP network
will add significant opportunities for advanced enterprise services
throughout the region.
This expansion is part of Blackfoot's "Smart Growth" initiative and
positions the company as the business and technology leader for the
Rocky West. This acquisition is Blackfoot's third smart growth
initiative this year and also includes a minority investment in
Syringa Networks, LLC, which is a rapidly growing fiber transport and
related services business. Blackfoot just completed the acquisition
of Cutthroat Communications, a communications services provider
offering wireless and fiber optic technologies. In early 2012,
Blackfoot also purchased Modwest, a global web hosting company,
headquartered in Missoula, MT.
More information: Blackfoot Expands In Idaho (Press Release)
Blackfoot Telecommunications Group (Blackfoot) offers advanced
telecommunications solutions to customers in Western Montana
including voice, data, IT and security services. Named after the
Blackfoot River running through much of the territory it serves,
Blackfoot was originally established in 1954 as Blackfoot Telephone
Cooperative and is headquartered in Missoula, Montana. Today, the
Blackfoot family of companies include Blackfoot Telephone Cooperative
-- a member-owned cooperative; Blackfoot Communications -- a
competitive local exchange company; and TeleSphere Software, Inc. a
wholly-owned subsidiary offering professional services to the telecom
industry. Read about Blackfoot products and services at
www.blackfoot.com. Learn about Blackfoot in our communities on
Facebook at www.facebook.com/BlackfootTelecomm.
FairPoint Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: 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. 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).
Media Contact
Joel Block
VP of Customer Operations & Marketing
Blackfoot Telecommunications Group
V: 406-541-5400
M: 406-532-5400
Email Contact
SOURCE: Blackfoot Telecommunications
http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/emailprcntct id=3B546B8B66845C53
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