<p> For Immediate Release News Release Media Contact: Angelynne Beaudry 207-210-3079 [email protected] </p><p>FairPoint Upgrades Broadband Service to more than 170 locations in Washington County</p><p>Upgrades allow for improved internet access and speeds in Cooper, Milbridge and Steuben</p><p>PORTLAND, Maine (July 13, 2017) - FairPoint Communications, a Consolidated Communications company, announced today the completion of broadband expansion projects in Washington County, Maine. The broadband expansion extends and enhances FairPoint’s approximately 18,000-mile fiber optic network, which is the largest, fully-owned and managed fiber-based network in northern New England. As a result of these completed projects, improved broadband speeds are available to more than 170 locations in Cooper, Milbridge and Steuben– providing broadband service to some locations for first time.</p><p>“ High speed internet access fuels Maine’s economic engine by unlocking new ways to be more productive, compete for business far past the storefront, and enable learning beyond the confines of a classroom,” said Mike Reed, FairPoint’s Maine state president. “Our team has been extremely active over the past year completing these broadband projects that bring critical improvements to the “last mile” of FairPoint’s network to increase broadband speeds to these unserved and underserved areas. These projects provide immediate benefit to the locations impacted enabling those in more rural and remote areas to take full advantage of the digital age.”</p><p>To help support expansion and operation of broadband services in high-cost areas, in 2015 FairPoint accepted Phase II of the Federal Communication Commission’s Connect America Fund (CAF). These projects were funded through CAF Phase II and the Company’s own significant direct investments and extended broadband in portions of the following streets/roads:</p><p>COOPER BREAKNECK RD DAY RD TOWER RD COOPER HWY E RIDGE RD US ROUTE 191 CROWE RD N UNION</p><p>MILBRIDGE BAR ISLAND ROAD PIGEON HILL ROAD STEUBEN ALLOGUSTA DRIVE FRANCIS ROAD PETIT MANAN PT ROAD BAY VIEW DRIVE FRANCIS ROAD N PIGEON HILL ROAD CEDAR LANE JOE LEIGHTON ROAD SHADY LANE CHIPMAN POINT ROAD LOBSTER COVE LANE STILLWATER DRIVE CRAB COVE LANE MISSY WAY STRAWBERRY POINT ROAD FAUSTINA AVENUE OVERS POINT ROAD These locations will now qualify for download speeds of up to 15 Mbps, based on the distance from the customer location to FairPoint’s servicing equipment, which enables streaming of high-definition videos, web browsing and online gaming. </p><p>Since April 2008, the Company has invested more than $900 million in its communications infrastructure and technology to bring broadband to northern New England, including building thousands of miles of new fiber optic network across the region. FairPoint’s fiber-based, high capacity network offers customers a better, faster way to communicate. </p><p>On July 3, Consolidated Communications acquired FairPoint expanding the Company’s fiber network to more than 36,000 fiber route miles across 24 states making Consolidated Communications the ninth largest fiber provider in the U.S. For more information about the acquisition, visit www.fairpoint.com/consolidated.</p><p>To find out more details, including internet service speed eligibility, information about prices and bundled plans, or to schedule a professional installation of services, residential consumers can call 1.866.984.2001 and business customers can call 1.866.984.3001. To learn about more upgrades FairPoint has completed, please visit: https://communities.fairpoint.com/communities/. About FairPoint, a Consolidated Communications Company FairPoint is now a part of Consolidated Communications (Nasdaq: CNSL), a leading broadband and business communications provider serving consumers, businesses of all sizes, and wireless companies and carriers, across a 24-state service area. Leveraging its advanced fiber optic network spanning more than 36,000 fiber route miles, Consolidated Communications offers a wide range of communications solutions, including: data, voice, video, managed services, cloud computing and wireless backhaul. Headquartered in Mattoon, Ill., Consolidated Communications has been providing services in many of its markets for more than a century. www.consolidated.com.</p><p>###</p>