Vermont deal with Fairpoint condemns state to "a dead-end future," union official says

Vermont regulators have given the go ahead to North Carolina-based Fairpoint Communications to purchase Verizon's telephone system in the state for $2.7 billion.

The Charlotte Observer reports the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 2326, which represents about 500 Verizon employees, is unhappy with the deal. The local's business manager, Mike Spillane, says it condemns Vermonters to "a dead-end future that impacts the economy and jobs."

"We're going to be stuck with a DSL copper-based product that's the horse and buggy of broadband," Spillane told the newspaper.

Under the terms of the approval, that horse and buggy run will only cover half the state by 2010, meaning those not on the route will have to dial up or suck a satellite for the foreseeable.