FairPoint Cutover Disrupts E-mail Service

A FairPoint Communications Inc. (FRP) service cutover has disrupted e-mail service and angered customers, who claim that the transition of assets from Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) to the smaller carrier in northern New England has been rough, according to a report.

FairPoint paid more than $2 billion for Verizon's landline network in Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire. The problems are said to have arisen when Verizon e-mail customers were switched over to FairPoint, and couldn’t establish the new accounts.

The news underscores the complexity of service cutovers and customer transfers and the disruptive effect even the slightest hitch can have on what are considered to be basic services.