(Host)  Vermont's Public Service Commissioner says he's not happy with Fairpoint Communications' efforts to improve service to its telephone and broadband customers. 

But he says taking stronger action against the company - like suspending its license to operate - would hurt Vermont consumers.

VPR's Steve Zind reports.

(Zind) Fairpoint says it's solved many of the problems that plagued it in the transition from Verizon earlier this year. 

But Public Service Commissioner David O'Brien says his office is still receiving too many complaints. 

State regulators have been critical of the company's performance and set benchmarks, which they say the company hasn't met. But they've stopped short of taking further action.  O'Brien says he wants to give the company more time.

(O'Brien) "We will consider every option available to us, up to and including their license to operate in the state of Vermont, but what we'd like to see is Fairpoint stabilize their operation and perform well for the customers.  If we go to the point of pushing more Draconian measures or more serious measures, a lot of other things start coming into consideration that may or may not be in the best interests of consumers at least in the short run."

(Zind) O'Brien says many Vermonters can take their business to Fairpoint's competitors, but for others, the company is the only option.

Fairpoint Executive Vice President Jeffrey Allen says the company is making progress. Allen says it's reduced the time customers wait on hold to under a minute and brought billing problems to within industry standards.  He says the company has also reduced its backlog of customers waiting for service from 13,000 to 2,600.  

Last year, Fairpoint lost 12 percent of its residential and business lines.  Allen says the company realizes it has an image problem.

(Allen) "Clearly the reputation is a challenge.  There's nothing anybody can say, there's not a commercial you can put on that can change that.  I think the only way you can change that is consistently deliver service up to or exceeding customers' expectations."

(Host) There were concerns that Fairpoint was taking on too much debt when it purchased Verizon land line operations in northern New England last year - and the company says liquidity is a problem. 

Allen says Fairpoint is trying to increase marketing efforts, offer more competitive prices and cuts costs in an effort to improve its bottom line. 

For VPR News, I'm Steve Zind.