FairPoint plans IPTV pilot in Portsmouth

FairPoint Communications is set to conduct an IPTV trial next month in Portsmouth, N.H., which is expected to last about 90 days. About 100 households participating in the pilot program will keep their current TV service and compare it to the FairPoint offering, providing feedback to FairPoint during the trial.

Trial participants will be chosen at random and will receive free HDTVs and DVRs, in addition to having their homes wired for the new service. Despite the initial controversy related to FairPoint's takeover of former Verizon Communications properties in New England and lingering delays related to the network cutover, many communities in the region reportedly have expressed interest in FairPoint offering a competitive TV service option.

If the service eventually goes commercial, FairPoint would require a franchise agreement from the Portsmouth municipal government, which already has a cable franchise agreement in place with Comcast.

For more:
- Seacoastonline has this report [1]

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FairPoint recently said the network cutover is on track for January [2]
FairPoint is in the midst of searching for a new CEO [3]