Landline service no longer guaranteed in Maine

WCSH - A new law in Maine will take away regulations that require Fairpoint Communications to guarantee basic landline phone services in several Maine communities.

These changes will especially affect people who rely on landline phone service in larger populated communities, such as Portland and Biddeford.

The law removes the Provider of Last Resort mandate, which requires Fairpoint to guarantee basic landline services.

The new law does not apply to rural areas where Fairpoint is the only option for phone service -- and where cell phone coverage is spotty.

But lawmakers and Fairpoint officials say in areas like Portland, where there is competition for phone service, regulation is not needed.