Amazing download speeds! Greater access to your collection of LOLCATS photos and leaked movie trailers! Share photos with friends instantly! The world is at your fingertips!
This is more than likely what Fairpoint Communications would have all of us think after Tuesday's announcement of plans for broadband Internet expansion across New England.

But here's the question - will anyone believe them?

Fairpoint's purchase of Verizon's network in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont was already not the biggest crowd pleaser before the $2.3 million deal went official in March. It wasn't just that the public, already tired of mediocre service from both companies, thought Fairpoint's eyes were bigger than its stomach, but also communication workers from Verizon.

But since the papers were signed things with Fairpoint have not gone exactly as drawn up (or if they have then Fairpoint's got a funny sense of business) - thanks to the 911 fiasco earlier this spring when 911 service went down across Cumberland County.
So instead of saying "we're looking forward to a bright, shiny technological future in New England," Fairpoint officials had to pay fines to the state and go back to state legislators, regulators and public safety officials with this: "We are embarrassed. ... We have lost your confidence, and understandably so," John Smee, Fairpoint's director of network operations said in May.

So now that they swear the 911 network is all fixed and error free they're rolling out plans for an ambitious upgrade of the Internet pipes from Madawaska to Burlington, at a cost of $100 million in the first year. Though the company is working with Cisco System (who knows a thing or two about making the Internet work), will the public believe them?

If the company had a rough sell before they even signed a check to Verizon, how is this plan going to fair? Or - just to plan contrarian for a minute - does it really matter? In Maine if you're looking for fast Internet, your choices are limited to Fairpoint or Time Warner, who also has been known to leave a bad taste in people's mouths.

Maybe the question isn't who do you trust, or how bad you want your Internet access.

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