FairPoint's broadband effort relies on stimulus

FairPoint Communications's plans for expanding broadband in the northern counties of New Hampshire depend largely on whether it secures $10.8 million in federal stimulus money. How the company's applications for that money will be affected by its filing for bankruptcy protection this week is unclear.

The company has three New Hampshire grants before the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, two for broadband expansion and one for $1.7 million for educating people about how to take full advantage of broadband access. The agency is considering applications totaling $28 billion, about seven times the amount of money available. Mark Tolbert, a spokesman for that office, said he couldn't comment on a pending application but said each will get a "top-to-bottom due diligence review..."