The integrity shown by the Public Utilities Commission and their willingness to do the hardwork necessary to see this deal through was the greatest asset the people of Maine had in the exhaustive review of the Fairpoint-Verizon deal.
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Integrity ray? C'mon, the commissioners practically brokered the deal themselves. Fairpoint and Verizon continually undercut the process.
It wasn't until the last second when Gene promised his first born that the deal had a chance. And even then Kurt said, "Consumers in Maine are still taking a huge chance on this deal with Fairpoint"
And both other commissioners voiced more their lack of support for Verizon than they showed support for Fairpoint. Hopefully, NH and Vermont will kill this deal and save the rest of New England from the follies of the Maine PUC.
Why wasn't "integrity" enough to push this deal through the first two times they offered a deal?
Because they didn't offer enough integrity.
Integrity=money
As I said to you repeatedly in our previous conversations, I think the integrity of the Maine PUC was the most important part of this whole deal.
They were not going to allow a deal to occur that did not make sense to them, or that was not in the best interest of the Maine people.
It is not as though any of these folks have a personal, financial interest in this deal, so if they were not acting from a place of integrity, what would have motivated their approving the deal?
Self interest was not a criteria from their standpoint.
So much for their exhaustive review. The Maine Public Advocate has petitioned the Puc to reopen this case due to agreements made in Vermont. If the Maine PUC had taken the time to review the last minute proposal instead of rolling over to Fairpoints lies, they may have noticed this issue and not cost the taxpayers of this state more of their hard earned tax dollars.
Makes you wonder how many other issues they have over looked.
Such as the agreement made with the New Hampshire Public Utilities to remove Verizons 6,464 double poles, which must be done within 36 months of the closing and without cash from Verizon, which will also adversly effect their financial viability.
(It is not as though any of these folks have a personal, financial interest in this deal?) I would be willing to bet an investigation into this would prove differently.
Oh i forgot this.
Mike Parshley
Self-Employed Truck Driver
Non-Union Member
Concerned Taxpayer
Why is it that there cannot be a simple disagreement on this issue?
Why do you result to attacks on the integrity of the board when this is a simple disagreement on how the facts of this case are read?
You have now suggested that an investigation would show that the PUC Commissioners have a financial tie to this deal and would personally benefit from it.
This is typical rhetoric from the side that loses. It can never be that two people reviewed the same information and came to different conclusions. It must be that they lack integrity and are seeking to enrich themselves with such a deal.
I know the Chairman of the PUC personally. He is a good man, a very intelligent man and a person who exudes integrity.
Keep in mind, in his previous life, he was the cheif legal counsel to a democrat Governor and we disagreed very strongly on many issues when he was in that capacity. It is not as though he is a crony of mine who believes the same basic philosophy that I do.
He is, however, a straight shooter, a creative thinker who has an open mind and is willing to listen to all of the sides of the the issue, not simply walk into a room with his mind made up.
It is insulting, but typical, to suggest that just because he disagreed with your position, he is somehow financially tied to deal.
So I guess if he had voted against the deal, his integrity would be in tact in your eyes?????
That is kind of like the 2006 elections. In 2000 and 2004, the democrats hollered "Voter fraud" at every venue and screamed that the elections were rigged.
They did not utter a word in 2000. Kind of amazing that with the same people in charge in 2000, 2004 and 2006, that all the voter fraud was suddenly gone and the elections were "clean" because of course, the right side one and that certainly had to be the truth.
The Maine PUC, after an exhaustive review, viewed the facts of this case differently than you did and came to a different outcome than you would have liked.
They did this, lets be clear, with hesitation, as they stated on vote day.
You owe them an apology for attacking their character, an attack you made I am quite certain, without knowing any of them personally.
Should have read, "They did not utter a word in 2006 (the year they won).
Where do I begin. Ray Ray, you make my case for me when you mention that Kurt Adams used to work for Bald-Archie. Add to that the fact that the Fairpoint lobbyists Preti Flaherty Beliveau and Satan helped Baldy get elected with 38% of the vote no less, and you have cronyism that would make King George Bush blush. The PUC is stuffed with Bald-Archie pals and appointees, and he even replaced the head of the Maine OPA with his personal legal advisor. Uhhh, do you think we folks who oppose this deal are all stupid? Here's a few facts for ya dude. Fairpoint has a negative net worth, negative retained earnings, has to borrow to pay their junk bond dividend, is 75% leveraged before the deal, is rated as a junk bond or distressed stock (potential bankruptcy) by every major investment analyst out there, unless you have a pal who loves Fairpoint in spite of the facts like you do. Landlines are disappearing at the rate of 7% a year, and landlines are going the way of print newspapers in case you don't believe in evolution like many other Repulsivecons. Even Morgan Stanley (FRP investor) says this deal is necessary for Fairpoint to even stay afloat. I believe a YES vote on this deal will hasten the process, not prolong it, Fairpoint is a bad financial risk, and a bad risk to Maine telecommunications. I am still trying to figure out how the Maine PUC got from their advisory staffs list of must have conditions of October, to this watered down stipulation, which raises more questions than it answers. So that is why I suspect there is a lot more to the PUC YES than any careful analysis of fact. In fact, the facts seem to play no factor at all, but politics sure do. So I will close this with an equal opportunity bash, Bush is a Repulsivecon but Bald-Archie and crew are Dumbascraps. OK - I confess, I voted for the little weasel, but I am man enough to say, I am sorry Maine. I am also dropping out of the Democrap party and going Independent. I don't know about you, but neither party says much that makes me think they are going to do anything about the mess King George and his Viet Nam Vet bashing pal Karl Rove have gotten this great country in to. Hope Cheney and Halliburton got enough dead presidents to make the dead soldiers worth the cost. George Bush once said, "You can fool some people all the time, and those are the ones you want to concentrate on." Seems that Gene Johnson found you and you let em use your bully pulpit to lie from, or should I say, Bullcrap pulpit.
Heres just a little more fodder for why Fairpoint is going down if they take over the lines in Maine. Verizon is expanding its wireless broadband coverage in our great state.
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Press Release Source: Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless Expands Wireless Broadband Across Maine
Friday January 11, 8:00 am ET
High-Speed Network Enhancements Give More Maine Customers Access to Fast Wireless Internet, E-mail, Mobile Music, and Videos
WILMINGTON, Mass., Jan. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless today announced the further expansion of wireless broadband service across several Maine counties through a recent network enhancement. Now more Verizon Wireless customers in the Pine Tree State can access e-mail and the Internet on their laptops and PDAs, and download video and music to their wireless phones.
Verizon Wireless' high-speed wireless data network is now available within the following communities:
-- Androscoggin County -- Auburn, Greene, Lewiston, Lisbon Falls, Poland,
Sabattus, and Turner
-- Aroostook County -- Ashland
-- Hancock County -- Dedham, Ellsworth, Orland, and Verona
-- Kennebec County -- Augusta, Benton, Chelsea, China, Clinton,
Farmingdale, Gardiner, Litchfield, Monmouth, Oakland, Randolph, Sidney,
Vassalboro, Waterville, and Winthrop
-- Knox County -- Camden, Owls Head, Rockland, Rockport, Thomaston, and
Warren
-- Oxford County -- Bethel, Gilead, Greenwood, Newry, Norway, Oxford,
Paris, Rumford, and Woodstock
-- Penobscot County -- Bangor, Brewer, Carmel, Enfield, Etna, Hampden,
Hermon, Holden, Old Town, Orono, Orrington, Plymouth, and Springfield
-- Somerset County -- Palmyra and Pittsfield
-- Waldo County -- Belfast, Belmont, Frankfort, Liberty, Montville,
Palermo, Prospect, and Searsmont
In addition, the new coverage is available along portions of:
-- Route 1 between Rockland and Ellsworth
-- Interstate 95 between Richmond and Old Town
-- Route 3 between Augusta and Belfast
"Our product lineup is stocked with best-in-class multimedia phones, all running on the nation's most reliable wireless network," said Ken Dixon, president of Verizon Wireless' New England region. "This latest network investment provides more Maine residents and visitors the ability to surf our high-speed wireless network, send and receive e-mail and take their desktop experience with them on-the-go."
Verizon Wireless' high-speed wireless service, which powers its BroadbandAccess Internet and V CAST multimedia applications, is based on the company's Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) Revision A network technology.
BroadbandAccess
The company's flagship data service, BroadbandAccess, provides average download speeds of 600 kilobits per second (kbps) to 1.4 megabits and average upload speeds of 500-800 kbps, which means customers can download a 1 Megabyte e-mail attachment -- the equivalent of a small PowerPoint® presentation or a large PDF file -- in about eight seconds and upload the same-sized file in less than 13 seconds. Verizon Wireless' BroadbandAccess service allows customers to download files approximately 10 times faster than customers of other wireless service providers that use different broadly deployed network technologies.
V CAST: Video and Music
The company's high-speed network also enables its V CAST multimedia services, offering customers the ability to download full-song tracks, play cutting-edge 3D games and stream video clips straight to their phones. With content updated daily, customers can watch dozens of on demand videos, including breaking news, weather, sports highlights, and the hottest entertainment clips.
With V CAST Music, Verizon Wireless has built a massive full-song mobile music store that contains more than 2.5 million songs from well-known and independent artists that customers can download over-the-air, right onto their V CAST Music-enabled phones.
Since 2000 Verizon Wireless has invested more than $2 billion to enhance wireless capacity and coverage throughout the six states of New England. Nationally the company invests more than $1 billion every 90 days to stay ahead of the growing demand for Verizon Wireless voice and data services. The company's ongoing network investment now totals more than $40 billion nationally since it was formed.
For more information about Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 63.7 million customers. The largest U.S. wireless company and largest wireless data provider, based on revenues, Verizon Wireless is headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 68,000 employees nationwide. The company is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ - News) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD - News News). Find more information on the Web at www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.
Ain't free enterprise great? Verizon ditches its fully deprecitated copper lines on Fairpoint, then gets a Reverse Morris Tax break of $600 million, and Fairpoint has to adjust its rates to pay back the Verizon overcharges of the last 5 years. Then Verizon turns around and eats Fairpoint for lunch by offering far better internet speeds in the same area the landlines are in. This deal has also put the hold on some other litigation out there waiting for Verizon and Fairpoint, but why not address those issues before the PUC votes? Somebody is hiding something, and that shows a complete lack of the integrity you falsely bestow upon them. Stop being a Fairpoint shill and look at the facts for a change, because aside from your attempts to emulate Rush Limbaugh and Glen Beck you dont have much of an act. Bet if I hid your Ann Coulter book on how to talk to liberals you wouldnt have an act at all. Kinda funny aint it. You make your living touting King George and Fairpoint and bashing folks like us, and then you call us bashers when we look at the facts and say Fairpoint should be called Fraudpoint, or Foulpoint, or Failpoint, or Brokepoint, or . . . gosh this is too easy and way too much fun. I laughed out loud when I saw you refer to our posts as rhetoric, oh man, that's your bread and butter dude, not ours.
Before you even mention it lets talk about those new jobs Fairpoint is promising. They keep touting the 675 new jobs they are bringing to the NE, but when I looked at their business plan in detail it appears they are predicting a 4% decrease per annum which is tied to their predicted decrease in landlines. The figure right now is 7% decrease, but Fairpoint says they can reduce that to 4% through new products etc. Verizon wireless and the cable companies are gonna eat Fairpoint DSL up like otters at a fish fry. I did some calculations regarding the $70 million in "synergy savings" Fairpoint is predicting, and using the most conservative approach, it looks like Fairpoint is going to be eliminating 875 jobs there. I know you work for Fox so I will help you do the math, 675 less 875 is a net job LOSS of 200 positions. The new jobs Fairpoint is touting are mostly telemarketing or transition type jobs, so you can probably count on half of the 675 disappearing in a couple of years. This time you do the math.
As to your comment on "rhetoric from the side that loses". Fits Gene to a T - when he came on your show and blamed all opposition to this deal on the unions. I am not a union member, nor are many other concerned folks out there. So I guess it's OK for you and Gene to use loser rhetoric but no one else. I was wondering how many ads Fairpoint had to run on your station before he got to do such a fluffy interview. Good lawd, you guys threw one softball after another at him, and did everything but kiss his butt, or maybe that was off camera. All that was lacking on that show was a disclaimer saying "this is a Fairpoint op-ed advertisment, and does not reflect the actual facts of the Verizon sale."
Fox Talk Radio Maine - Fairpoint and Unbalanced.
I am curious, did you even listen to Gene Johnson, or did you just get talking points from central office?
Gene did not blame the union, I did. Gene said he was not "against the union." I said I am against the union.
Gene was very clear that he looked forward to working with the union.
I made the negative comments about the "union."
It is me who does not like unions, not Gene Johnson, of course you would have had to pay attention, listen to understand, not listen to respond to know that.
By the way, how long did it take you to come up with you slogan?
I realize paying attention is not a strong suit for you, but it is FOX News that says, "Fair and balanced."
We are the Fox Morning News. We do not have an official slogan.
I, unofficially, refer to us as "Fair and biased."
Fair, because we allow all sides in the dicussion.
Biased, because it is an opinion show.
By the way Otter, why do you care what I think? You apparently have the answers. Why would my "opinion" matter?
As far as the ad stuff goes, Fairpoint is running ads on many stations.
We have the largest "home-grown" signal in Maine.
Why does there have to be a money angle with you guys? Why can't it just be someone's educated opinion who simply disagrees with yours?
I know why. You all are arguing from a place of self-interest. You all are allowing your judgement to be clouded by your personal worries over you job and pension security.
As such, you cannot imagine that someone with an interest in this deal could be doing it from any place other than self-interest, because self-interest is the entire reason for opposition.
I have ZERO financial interest in this deal.
Kurt Adams has ZERO financial interest in this deal.
We simply want what is best for Maine and its future.
Speaking for myself only here, Verizon ain't it.
Verizon is hurting Maine and its future.
Verizon needs to go .... and it appears they will.
Ray,
you're not being truthful when you say that you allow all sides in the discussion. You allow Fairpoint reps unfettered access to your station, but people like myself somehow need to be vetted and prove to you that we are good enough or important enough to go on your show.
Todd,
I thought you and I had gotten past the rhetoric.
What you just wrote is completely untrue.
Gene Johnson, the CEO of Fairpoint has been on my show twice. Once on the phone and once in person.
The Local Union head has also been on (in fact, she was on first).
No one else has been on to discuss the Verizon deal other than Kurt Adams (who was in for another issue) who gave a rough timeline for completion and Fred Staples who DID NOT discuss the merits or lack thereof of the Fairpoint deal, but talked about workplace harassment.
There have been no other reps from either side.
You all make it sound like I have had a long line of pro-Fairpoint guests. It is not true.
Gene and Gene only.
With respect Todd, he is the CEO of the firm making the acquisition.
Ray said,
"I know why. You all are arguing from a place of self-interest. You all are allowing your judgement to be clouded by your personal worries over you job and pension security."
My reply,
I do not work for Verizon or Fairpoint and never have.
I am not a Union member, nor have i ever been a Union member.
Ray said,
"As such, you cannot imagine that someone with an interest in this deal could be doing it from any place other than self-interest, because self-interest is the entire reason for opposition."
My Reply,
If the fact that being a taxpayer means that i have a self-interest in this issue, then Yes i do have a self-interest.
Im tired of seeing companies such as Verizon come in and steal our tax dollars thru the allotment of government subsidies and not being held to their agreements to supply the services that were promised.
By allowing this sale to go thru Verizon not only gets to walk away from their obligations to the taxpayers, but by choosing Fairpoint as the buyer they get a 600 million dollar present in the way of the Reverse Morris (more of our tax money gone with nothing to show for it).
Now as far as Fairpoint goes, even your own PUC as stated that it is a subtantial risk to allow this merger to go forward.
What happens if Fairpoint cannot deliver on the promises that they have made? The 3 State PUC's fine them. None of them show a very good track record of ever collecting these fines.
So who pays for this in the end? The taxpayer!
Fairpoint proposes to keep thier current lines and businesses in these states seperate from this merger. Why? Because they will lose subsidies that they are paid thru the USF fund(more taxpayer money).
What does Fairpoint choose to do with this money? Instead of using this money to invest in infastructure, They payout dividends to their shareholders with this money!
Who pays for this? Once again its the taxpayer!
Ray said,
"Verizon needs to go .... and it appears they will."
The Maine OCA recently petitioned the Maine PUC to re-open this case due to agreements made with Vermont that will change Fairpoints financial viability substantially.
http://mpuc.informe.org/easyfile/cache/easyfile_doc202348.DOC
Vermont still has not ruled on this case.
New Hampshire has not ruled on this case, and doesnt appear that they will anytime soon.
The FCC is the only ones that have ruled in favor of this merger, and that was only a 3-2 vote.
So how do you figure this appears to be a done deal? What facts do you have to make a statement such as this?
As to why I came here to rant - you say the reason Gene got on your show was because he is the CEO of Fairpoint. So he gets to present his case and put on a dog and pony show to convince Maine he and Fairpoint love us. I came here to rant and post some facts that dispute his claims. You still havent responded to those. Since nobody representing our side has been on your show the only way to get the facts out is to post on this basically unread blog. Hmmm - you have a point Ray, what am I doing here. I did not get my orders or rants from Central - like you guys at Fox do - heh. As to our suspicions about the process in this deal, you should read some facts before you try to marginalize ours. The conditions set out by the advisors to the Maine PUC and OPA last fall are a far cry from the final stipulation. The final stipulation came about after visits to Bald-Arhies office by Ivan Seidenberg and the Fairpoint lobbyists and execs. My problem with this is, that it took months of testimony and study for the staff advisors to come up with the "must have" conditions, and one week to come up with the final watered down version. You are being disingenuous if you claim that it is just a matter of interpretive disagreement. It smacks of politics, in what should be a cut and dried case of fact vs fact. I am surprised that a Conservative like you would fall for Genes pitch like a bass going for an artificial lure.
As to why I came here to rant - you say the reason Gene got on your show was because he is the CEO of Fairpoint. So he gets to present his case and put on a dog and pony show to convince Maine he and Fairpoint love us. I came here to rant and post some facts that dispute his claims. You still havent responded to those. Since nobody representing our side has been on your show the only way to get the facts out is to post on this basically unread blog. Hmmm - you have a point Ray, what am I doing here. I did not get my orders or rants from Central - like you guys at Fox do - heh. As to our suspicions about the process in this deal, you should read some facts before you try to marginalize ours. The conditions set out by the advisors to the Maine PUC and OPA last fall are a far cry from the final stipulation. The final stipulation came about after visits to Bald-Arhies office by Ivan Seidenberg and the Fairpoint lobbyists and execs. My problem with this is, that it took months of testimony and study for the staff advisors to come up with the "must have" conditions, and one week to come up with the final watered down version. You are being disingenuous if you claim that it is just a matter of interpretive disagreement. It smacks of politics, in what should be a cut and dried case of fact vs fact. I am surprised that a Conservative like you would fall for Genes pitch like a bass going for an artificial lure.
Ray - were you around here when Bath Iron Works came to Portland? Back in the late 90's Bath Iron Works approached the city of Portland about setting up a drydock operation here. They promised all sorts of jobs and stimulus to the economy, but of course they needed a TIF so they could afford to do the deal. Chambers of Commerce and business folks and politicians were all over it like flies on merde. Basically not one of the promises BIW made came to pass, and they took the TIF and bolted. Portland taxpayers are still paying that one off I believe. To add insult to injury BIWs parent company declared one of the best profits in several years, so why did they need a TIF to begin with? Pardon me if I am skeptical of this Fairpoint deal, because it looks and smells an awful lot like the BIW one, only this deal doesnt just affect the people of Portland but the entire state. Fairpoint has made an awful lot of promises to an awful lot of folks, like the jobs, which I showed to be questionable, but you didnt respond to that did you? So the old saying goes, fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me (love the way King George screwed that quote up once). One thing I have noticed about several folks who have posted pro Fairpoint letters and articles is, they all use Comcast or cable or something besides Verizon or Fairpoint. I have had both services and Verizon is the better price and speed. I have asked those folks that since they are using Comcast now, and seem to love Fairpoint so much, are they going to change carriers should Fairpoint pull this scam off. Fred Kocher of the NH BIA was man enough to respond to my letter, but never did answer my question. I had also challenged him on why he supported Fairpoint in light of the facts. Ray - you should read some of the PUC and OPA testimonies if you want to know why some of us are so upset at the way the process is going. I don't know about you, but when things don't make sense, and regulators say one thing and do another, I wonder what is going on. But I guess Gene is such a nice guy the facts dont matter to you do they?
Ray, what I did say was completely true, not rhetoric (which seems to be your new favorite word). I volunteered to come on your show to represent an employee that knows the facts, and could see this sale from another view.
You told me that I would have to earn my way on to your show.
I don't even know why I'm back here, other than to point out why you and so many others are wrong.
Why is it that "your" facts are the right ones and the "facts" Fairpoint has provided the PUC are the wrong ones?
Isn't the PUC supposed to sort through all of this and determine the truth as they see it?
Since I assume your Mama did not name you Otter, I have to take you at your word that your only interest in this deal is as a Maine taxpayer. Good, then your interest is the same as mine .... doing what is best for our state.
I know that Verizon is not good for Maine.
I believe Fairpoint will be good for Maine.
The first statement is a statement of fact from my perspective.
The second statement is an educated guess based on the homework I did before I came to a conclusion.
Wht is it that irks you all so because we disagree?
I have always been very clear, here, in my column and on the air.
I am not a telecommunications industry expert.
I am not a financial analyst.
I sought guidance from those that I know who are. Since I trusted them enough to ask, I trusted the advice they gave me.
We disagree on this one.
By the way, I am not sure what kind of traffic I get to this audio blog. Fox set it up and runs it for me.
I suspect, however, with the amount of emails I am getting in response to what is here from those who do not want to publicly post their thoughts, it has risen over this issue.
Why do you all keep parroting that "the other side" can't get on the show.
The union was on first.
Johnson was on twice.
There have been no other guests who have been on to discuss this issue solely.
From a guest standpoint, this has been very balanced.
I do not, however, bring in people to balance me. This is the Ray and Ted show, "give everybody a voice because we are nice guys" show.
People tune in because they hear stuff on our program they do not get from any other media source in Maine. Some of it they agree with. Some of it they think we are crazy over.
Either way, it provokes thought and discussion about the important issues facing our state and region.
I cannot figure out why you all continue to say, "Ray will not let the other side on."
The Union and Johnson have both been on.
The Union for a half hour, Johnson for 45 minutes.
Pretty even, if you ask me.
Keep in mind, this is talk radio on television. This is not your nightly news cast that is supposed to be devoid of opinion.
Todd,
The union came on the show first to tell me and the audience why this was such a bad deal for Maine. Has a new development occured that would alter their position?
They presented much of the same info you have presented here.
More importantly, this deal is done in Maine, from what I can tell.
Lets start with some of your points Ray.
Ray:
Why does there have to be a money angle with you guys? Why can't it just be someone's educated opinion who simply disagrees with yours?
I know why. You all are arguing from a place of self-interest. You all are allowing your judgement to be clouded by your personal worries over you job and pension security.
Otter:
So you are saying that Faipoint has no self interest financial stake in this deal, but the rest of us do because that is the only reason anyone would oppose the noble selfless Gene and company? Oh please. I told you once I am not union, nor is Todd, but you dismiss us with your anti-union rhetoric.
Ray:
As such, you cannot imagine that someone with an interest in this deal could be doing it from any place other than self-interest, because self-interest is the entire reason for opposition.
Otter:
If Fairpoint makes this deal happen the Fairpoint execs divvy up a $16 million dollar mission accomplished bonus pie. Before the latest stipulation Fairpoint planned to spend $16.1 million on upgrades in Maine, not a bad deal, they get a buck for every dollar they selflessly spend on us poor rural Mainers. Fairpoint wouldnt even be at the bargaining table if they didnt fit the narrow rules of a thing called a Reverse Morris Trust, which gives Verizon a $600-700 million dollar tax break. So who do you think is going to make up that tax break? We the taxpayers. And you have the nerve to say we who oppose this rotten deal do solely because of financial of self interest. Let's get real for a change, Good Ole Boy Gene and Verizon are the ones with the most to lose if they dont flim flam their way into this deal.
Ray:
I have ZERO financial interest in this deal.
I am not a Verizon employee or union member, but I am a Verizon customer. Verizon overcharged us customers to the tune of $130 million over the past 5 years, and I want them to pay me back, not get rewarded for neglecting us, and taking all the tax breaks meant for rurals and using em in the Verizon Wireless areas. Part of the latest stipulation calls for Fairpoint to cut rates as a way to repay a small part of what Verizon owes to the customers Fairpoint is buying. I don't want Fairpoint, so why do I have to become a customer to get the money Verizon owes me. Fairpoint is so financially strapped we taxpayers and ratepayers may end up having to bail em out when they go broke. So I guess you could say I have a financial interest in this. And although you may not think so, you have a financial interest in this also, you do pay taxes don't you?
Ray:
Kurt Adams has ZERO financial interest in this deal.
Otter:
Oh please. For one you have no idea what if any finacial or personal interest Kurt (Harriet Meiers) Adams has in this whole mess. I suppose the fact that the Fairpoint lobbyists Preti Flaherty Beliveau and Satan are Bald-Archie campaign supporters, and Kurt Adams was Baldys personal legal counsel, mean they have no financial interest in this deal? It may not be tranparent, but you can bet there are campaign funding considerations out there, and many folks in regulatory or political postitions end up as industry lobbyists at some point. I worked for an RLEC one time, and we had a favorable rate case in Maine, and then we hired a retiring PUC member as a lobbyist, right after he retired. Once again you are being purposefully disingenuous if you say you know Kurt Adams has no financial interest in this deal.
So to sum it up. You accuse people who disagree with you of being motivated by self-interest and financial interest but nobody else does. I find it interesting how you bash unions for their financial interests and greed I guess, but I have never heard you mention the outrageous gap between executive and workers pay, that has developed over the past three decades. At least be consistent. It appears to me you are a corporate shill, and dont care a darn about the working men and women of this country. CEOs get air time to spread false information, but working folks get no voice on your show. Oh I forgot, Fred Staples, another embarrassment to the human race. Did you ever have an opposing view to his drama queen performance?
"More importantly, this deal is done in Maine, from what I can tell."
So what you are saying is that the petition submitted by the Maine OCA on 01/11/2008 carries no weight with the Maine PUC.
Did the Maine PUC not state as part of the stipulation that if any agreements with Vermont or New Hampshire that adversly effected the financial aspects off this approval would be reviewed by them and possibly nullify the approval?
When the Maine Commission approved the Amended Stipulation, it did so only on several additional conditions. One of those conditions concerns the effect of orders in other jurisdictions, and states. “The approval [of the Amended Stipulation] is conditioned on orders issued in other jurisdictions approving the transaction not causing a material adverse impact on FairPoint’s financial condition.” The Public Advocate urges the Maine Commission to determine that the terms of the Vermont stipulation will have a material adverse impact on FairPoint’s financial condition.
The Public Advocate is concerned that, under the terms of the Vermont stipulation, funds that were intended to be used to reduce the amount of FairPoint’s debt will be used for other purposes. In negotiating the Amended Stipulation filed here in Maine, the Public Advocate did not seek additional funds from Verizon in order to provide funds for FairPoint to do Verizon’s “Overdue Pole Work” in Vermont. Those Verizon funds are intended to provide dollar-for-dollar debt reduction for FairPoint, thereby protecting the interests of the customers that FairPoint is hoping to serve.
This condition was one of the “Additional Conditions Arising from Deliberations” that the Maine Commission adopted on January 3, 2008. The language for this condition appears on page 3 of the attachment to the January 7, 2008 (2:21 p.m.) e-mail filing of Joseph Donahue (on behalf of FairPoint) in which he presented “Additional Conditions and Clarifications” that resulted from the hearing and deliberations on January 3.
Obviously you do not follow your own advise. I would suggest you go back and listen too or read the information pertaining to the agreement made by the Maine PUC before you make statements such as this.
To my knowledge the Maine PUC has not ruled on this petition.
The only way you could possibly know any different is if you have had contact with members of the PUC and they have told you how they intead to vote on this issue.
Otter,
Do you ever listen to my show or are you just guessing about what I believe and talk about every day?
One, I never, ever suggested, implied or anything else that "FAIRPOINT" did not have a financial interest here. Of course they do, I did not realize I had to point out the absurdly obvious.
I specifically said I do not have a financial interest and said so in other threads on this issue.
I also said Kurt Adams has no financial interest in this issue. Do you know him? I bet you don't because if you did, you would know that had he a financial interest in this issue, he would have recused himself from the deliberations.
Do you know Gene Johnson? I bet you don't, because if you did, you would see a decent, honest man who is committed to Maine and Northern New England.
If you listened to my show, you would know that I do not make personal attacks against individuals. I assail their idiotic policy making, or their collective actions as a governing body or union, but I do not personally attack people. It is not up to me to judge their personal character if I do not know them and frankly, that is not what I look at. What I look at is their actions as they impact public policy.
I have read the Verizon-Fairpoint board at little, admittedly not lately, but it is simply full of personal attacks against the individuals, people I am sure most of those on that board have never even met, or if so, it was at a public hearing and nothing more than a hello.
What would be the rebuttual to Fred Staples? Was the person that did what Fred told us going to go on air and explain how it was all a misunderstanding?
Was the person who did this going to claim they did not do it? Fred did not name a name, he simply told our audience what happened.
Fred has worked there 20 plus years. In your eyes, does he have enough time in to be considered someone who would understand the issues? Oh wait, you addressed that question already when you attacked his character.
By the way, loved the Harriet Meiers comment regarding Kurt. I saw that coming a mile away.
At least you are consistent. We have not met, or engaged other than through this board and I had you pegged, your philosophy that is.
If you want, truly want, what is best for Maine, then you do not want Verizon.
Verizon is not good for Maine's future.
With Verizon, Maine and its economy will continue to lag the nation and our citizens will continue suffer from a lack of sufficient infrastructure.
I worry about the average working person every day and spend most of my time seeking to influence public policy that will empower and lift up the working class in our great state.
If you doubt that statement, you know nothing about me or what I believe, but I am sure those things do not matter to you all.
Beating Fairpoint at all costs is the only thing that apparently matters.
By the way, if this deal falls through, I hope you have thought beyond today. Tomorrow is coming and Verizon is our ally, that means we have people fighting for the other side against our interests.
But hey, a few union jobs will be saved and you might get ten bucks back from their over-billing.
I guess ten dollars and a few unions jobs are worth Maine's future .... and I still wonder why we are where we are.
ole dopey me
"The only way you could possibly know any different is if you have had contact with members of the PUC and they have told you how they intead to vote on this issue."
Micpman
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Nice try .... Sorry, no one has told me how they are going to vote. I have not asked, they did not tell
Did you miss the part about my belief in the integrity of the PUC's Commissioners?
I think this is a done deal. Maybe I am wrong.
If they kill it, I guess I am.
If they don't, I guess I was right.
Watching how stuff like this occurs over the years, I think this is basically going to happen.
What, you disagree? Okay, prove me wrong right now. Show me where the deal has been killed.
Can't, can you?
Neither can I prove my statement.
I think this will happen based on what I have observed. It is an educated guess, just like my conclusion that this is a good deal for Maine .... it is an educated guess.
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Lets say this deal does go through and now we are five years later.
The Union jobs were preserved with wage and benefit parity. Broadband access was increased throughout Maine and Fairpoint is doing well financially ..... Will any of you admit you were wrong?
I doubt it, you will probably still be fighting to overturn the deal.
If I am wrong, I say I am wrong. I do not pretend to walk on water.
Ray,
If this deal should go thru, I hope i am wrong about Fairpoint, because if im not we are all going to pay.
Should Fairpoint make good on their promises and everything is fine 5yrs down the road or sooner, I would be more then happy to call into your show or state on this blog that i was wrong.
If im am right i would hope that you would do the same.
"The Union jobs were preserved with wage and benefit parity. Broadband access was increased throughout Maine and Fairpoint is doing well financially ..... Will any of you admit you were wrong?
I doubt it, you will probably still be fighting to overturn the deal."
Ray,
Why do you persist on lumping anyone that shows opposition to this deal as either a Union Member or an employee of the 2 companies?
As i have stated before i am not a Union member, or a Verizon or Fairpoint employee.
I am a citizen of the United States and a Resident and Business owner in New Hampshire and i form my own opinions from reading the facts of an issue. Not by being coeirced by outside influences. As i am sure many others that oppose this sale are the same.
If I am wrong, on this or any other issue, I will say I am wrong.
I do not have a problem admitting I make mistakes. I do not pretend to be perfect.
I have followed public policy and been involved poltically since I was ten years old (long story).
I look for the facts, I apply the philosophy that I have developed over the years and then I come to a conclusion.
I assume that is what everyone does, but lately, it is hard for me to believe.
I get over 2500 emails a day between my personal account, the radio and television accounts.
The opposition to Fairpoint emails all have the same basic theme. In some cases the same words.
How can I believe those are independently crafted ideas when they basically parrot the same argument, often with the exact same words?
I usually take people at face value, kind of "you have my respect until you do something to no longer warrant it" approach, but the opposition thrown at me (can't imagine what has been thrown at Fairpoint) makes me wonder how much of this is parroting and how much of this is sincere thought and concern for the future of each state.
NOTE:
Not all of the emails are about the Fairpoint - Verizon deal.
Usually a couple hundered a day depending on how much air time I have devoted to the subject.
Ray,
Lets just agree to disagree. I appreciate your candor on this issue and lets hope that everyone makes out no matter how it ends up.
My information is important because its backed up by facts. something that I find woefully lacking in statements made by those for the deal.
You, and others like you throw out generalizations and unfounded statements that primarily blame everything that is wrong with this deal, or could go wrong with his deal on the unions. I personally find that sort of narrow minded thinking disgusting.
Heh - the Harriet Meiers thing was otterly whacky warnt it? I do know Gene by the way, he aint what you think. I used to watch your show many mornings with my brother in law, but Gene's show about did it for me. I have actually enjoyed some of the shows, although my brother in law and I do not share the political views you express, for the most part. There are some things we agree on, but Fairpoint is not one of them. If the PUC had been doing its job over the past two decades Verizon would not have gotten away with the neglect and would have had to have given us back something for what they got in benefits, both from running a monopoly and from the various tax breaks etc. Do you see why I might be PO'd over them using Fairpoint to get an additional tax break? You dont seem to have noticed my posts on Fairpoints bad financial state, and why that makes me suspicious about how the PUC got from their first list of conditions to the latest. At least the opponents of this deal should get their experts to review the latest developments and present their side, rather than have the PUC rush to judgement. I have been involved in a rate case against Fairpoint in 2003 and provided some numbers and areas of concern to the Maine OPA who acted on the info. The facts were against Fairpoint, but all of a sudden Joe Donahue and and the PUC had lunch without the Maine OPA or me present, and pretty soon after that Fairpoint got most of what they wanted. Since then, the Fairpoint projections have come under scrutiny, and a 10 Person Complaint has been filed by Fairpoint customers. The numbers Fairpoint used to make their case are pretty far off what reality is. So now we come to this deal, a much bigger issue, and once again if you take a look at the facts from both sides, Fairpoint was in no position to make this work, even if they wanted to. That is why the advisors to the Maine PUC and OPA, not the experts from Fairpoint or the union, came up with a very long list of conditions that were absolutely necessary to make the deal work. Then comes the meeting in Baldaccis office, which at least the OPA got to attend, but the unions wanted no part of, and for good reason. Just as in 2003 the last minute meeting deal stipulation whatnot gives Fairpoint a greenlight. At least the Maine PUC has decided to reopen the case in light of promises Fairpoint is making to Vermont, above and beyond the ones to Maine, which impact Fairpoints ability to run a post deal company. So if the deal is that shakey, and even the Maine PUC is having second thoughts, doesn't that lend some creedence to the concerns we have that you dismiss as union party line? If Verizon wants out, let em drop the Reverse Morris Trust route, and Fairpoint, and go back to the table with a couple of fiscally sound companies that expressed interest in the lines, but did not fit the RMT. To be honest, we in this household are most likely going to switch to Verizon Broadband (I posted their annoucement on the Maine expansion plans on this site yesterday) as soon as it becomes available.
Before I rant myself to sleep. Thank you for taking the time to reply to our posts. I was wondering how you had the time to keep on top of this and other issues. Heh - I know some folks who know Kurt - and bet he hears that one. I still believe that politics is playing as much of a factor in this deal as facts and expert testimony. Maybe its the Democrats trying to be pro-business for a change, but why this business? I still get a kick out of all the Fairpoint cheerleaders who use Comcast and cable to voice their support of Fairpoints state of the dark ages arts DSL. Well, at least the Independent thinkers of NH will bail us out of the jam the Maine PUC is trying to put us in. New Hampshire has a lot more to lose than Vermont or Maine, and they are letting the NH PUC know it. It only takes one NO vote to kill this deal, and although we disagree on what should or would happen, I would hate to have to see Fairpoint try to run things and fail to prove I am right.
Ray - you fit the profile of many Fairpoint supporters who use the media to do their cheerleading. You dont use Verizon and most likely will never use Fairpoint.
I went over your posts with Publius et al from 2007, and wondered who the heck your "financial experts" are that said Fairpoint was a viable company financially. It certainly wasnt anyone of the top investment firms who deem Fairpoint a junk bond who needs this sale to stay alive. Perhaps it was one of the Fairpoints accounting clerks in Kansas, and as we all know, folks in Kansas dont believe in evolution.
As to the unions stacking the public meetings, uhhhh, how about all those buses of Green shirted Fairpoint employees? We may have differing views on the deal, but you are spreading misinformation with your anti union hatred.
That is why I asked you if you supported the working men and women in this country, to which you replied yes. I guess you only support the non union ones. So where on your show have you ranted in the same way against CEO pay? You bash working folks who try to make a decent wage, but leave out the greed of the managers. You are obviously not for the working man or woman, or you would let them decide their own future, by organizing or not. It was anti union sentiment like yours that led to the Sago Mine disaster. If you think by busting the unions Fairpoint will pass the limited savings on to the customers, uhhh, wake up. Its going to go to the fat cat execs who Good Ole Boy'ed they way into your heart, via Gene. Gene has no integrity, but you wont see that unless Fairpoint takes over I guess.
Well - time to go skiing - forget about Fairpoint - and hug my granddaughter, cause in the long run, Verizon or Fairpoint will have no landlines, and I will follow your lead and go wireless and cell.
Otter,
My positions have been completely consistent ... I think that is one of the things people don't like about me. I am the same today as I was ten years ago, although ten years older.
I am not supportive of unions. I do not, however, believe they should be legally dissolved. I respect the right of individuals to collectively bargain and use that power to influence the process.
I do not respect the fact that they deny what they do with their power, attempt to intimidate those who disagree with them and I especially do not like that they force people to join simply to have a job and support their family.
I know countless people who have belonged to unions who cannot stand them, but did so to make sure their family was fed.
I wish they would go out of existence, however, I DO NOT want that to be legislated. I want it to happen because people wised up and realized the negative consequences of belonging.
Enough of that .............
Answer to your question.
The union has been the biggest source of opposition to this deal. You can deny that statement, but if you read the newspapers, watch the news and look at the organized efforts to defeat this deal, it has come from the union.
Please don't pretend that there has been a massive citizens group formed to fight it.
Yes, there have been voices of dissent, but other than the union, they are not organized voices.
So, the unions want to kill the deal. I want it to go through.
Is there any wonder about why I am against them and they are against me?
By the way, I do not begrudge the CEO who makes a ton of money. The shareholders put these type of people in place to do a job and they bargain for pay packages that both sides can live with.
This is not different than what the union does. It bargains with management for pay packages.
Yes, the money may be larger for the CEO, but the concept is the same.
I am all for anyone making all they can. If the pay package is bargained for in good faith, that means both sides know what they are getting into.
Very few people become successful without a lot of hard work. Yes, a few are born into it, but most pay their dues.
I know many people who are considered to be rich. Every single one of them worked hard to earn what they have. They were not born into wealth.
I do worry about the average, middle class family. Their financial life is made more difficult everyday, mostly do to idiotic policy crafted by pandering politicians who have never had real jobs and most assuredly have never signed both sides of a pay check.
That is why I am constantly talking about policies that would provide the opportunity for all citizens to flourish and not punish their success when they do.
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You guys have it all wrong, but you would have to be willing to truly understand my position to understand what I think.
I FULLY respect the men and women of the IBEW who get up each day, go to work and help make our state a better place to live and work.
I FULLY appreciate their concerns about their jobs and their pensions.
I DO NOT want to see anyone of them lose their job or the retirement they have worked so hard for. They have earned and they deserve it.
I completely respect their contributions to making Maine the wonderful place that it is.
WITH THAT SAID, I do not respect their organization. I do not like the way they position themeselves or how they treat their members who disagree with the stance they take.
I do not respect the IBEW.
It is just that simple.
Ray - I was once faced with joining a union, but I felt it would limit me in the pursuit of my goals, so I was blackballed at several venues I wanted to play. You might think I would hate unions but I dont. I still believe in the right to collective bargaining, and believe if not for the unions we would have more Sago mine disasters, and even non-union workers would suffer in the wages arena. I see you believe in the unions rights to bargain, but dont like them, we disagree on that.
As to rich folks. I have many relatives and friends who fall into that category and I have no problem with people making huge piles of money. I am disturbed by the increasing gap between CEO and workers pay, and am totally disgusted when I see some greedy CEO mismanage a company, then put on his golden parachute, while his employees go on unemployment. Over the past 30 years CEO to worker pay has gone from a top of about 70x multiple to 300-500x multiple. Don't you find it odd that the president of the United States makes far less than about any Fortune 500 DEO?
The gap between the haves and have nots in this country will lead to its demise long before Al Quaida does. Greed is not good, whether it comes from big business, the unions, or your oil dealer down the street, or your banker or . . . Greed is not good, as Michael Douglas said in the movie Wallstreet. While I remember, you said you like Gene Jbecause he was polite and well dressed or somesuch. Thats what a lot of folks probably said about Ken Lay. Don't judge a snakeoil salesman by his cover.
We might agree on this though. I am disgusted that our representatives in DC can vote themselves pay raises, even when they screw up the job we sent em there to do. It is also a greater crime to shoot a politician than some kid in high school. The politicians have great benefits and health care and pensions, while the rest of us dont for the most part. So to me this smacks of a modern day "royalty: class. Those suckers in DC are supposed to be our servants, not the other way around. I also find it disgusting that hardly one rep in DC has a kid fighting in Iraq. When asked why his 5 sons were not in the military, Mitt Romney replied, "because I need them to help with my campaign". The fighting over there is done by poor and middle class kids, who probably dont have much alternatives for jobs stateside. I say lets have a draft, with no deferments for any reason whatsoever. Lets see how many trumped up wars we get into then.
This country is supposed to be for all the people, not just the nouveau royalty.
Hey - I put aside my Gene nausea and caught you guys on the air today. I like your idea about the school plans and spending more on science and computers and real life education type things, but disagree that the laptop programm is ineffective.
Thank you for indulging me here - and have a great day.
OK - I just have to say one last thing - Send The Harlots Back To Charlotte. Heh - sorry. The Maine OPA and PUC have reopened the Fairpoint case in light of all the promises Fairpoint made to Vermont after the Maine stipulation. I hope this time they take the time to really go over the numbers that got em from the must have conditions to the watered down stipulation. I am sorry, but it just doesnt add up, and I smell cronyism, even if you dont.
Have a great day anyway - heh.
I was looking for Teds blog, didnt find one, what, is he chopped liver? I was gonna give him props for trying, i said trying, to keep you in line.
It appears that the Maine PUC gave in alittle to soon.
Verizon's $297.5 Million Financial Contribution: (a) Verizon will contribute $235.5 million to the working capital of Spinco immediately prior to the closing, and FairPoint shall use the $235.5 million to repay permanently within 30 days of closing the term loan or Spinco securities issued or incurred at closing; (b) Verizon will contribute an additional $25 million to Spinco's working capital just prior to closing and a further $25 million contribution to FairPoint's working capital on the second anniversary of the closing, to be used for New Hampshire projects.
Broadband: Among other commitments set forth within the NH Settlement: (a) FairPoint will provide broadband availability to 75% of its access lines in NH within 18 months of closing and 85% broadband availability within 24 months of closing; (b) FairPoint will spend at least $56.4 million on broadband infrastructure within 60 months of closing, with the requirement to provide broadband availability to 95% of its New Hampshire access lines and 75% broadband availability to access lines in UNE Zone 3 exchanges; and (c) at the time of closing, FairPoint will maintain all prices and speeds offered by Verizon for broadband Internet access service.
50 million more from Verizon to be used in New Hampshire only and they also get 75% availibilty within 18 months as opposed to what Maine has agreed to.
"with the goal of attaining 90% DSL addressability by the end of the five year period.
FairPoint further agrees that by the end of the five-year period it will reach 82% overall
addressability for FairPoint access lines in UNE Zone 3."
There's a huge difference between addressability(which is what Maine agreed upon) and the availibility(that New Hampshire is going to recieve).
New Hampshire is going to receive broadband access long before Maine gets anything.
Fairpoint stock takes a 10 percent hit today
looks like their investors don't have as much faith in them as Ray Richardson
Gee Ray Ray, you sure were spot on on your take on Fairpoint. Wanna buy some of Gene J's stock? So how about Kurt Adams integrity now?
Accepting stock from his next employer while still working for the Maine gummint? Oh yeah, I forgot they changed the date on the stock so he wouldn't get in trouble. I love your definition of integrity.
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