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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-11-003158.txt : 20110126
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-11-003158.hdr.sgml : 20110126
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20110126162926
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-11-003158
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20110124
FILED AS OF DATE:		20110126
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20110126

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FAIRPOINT COMMUNICATIONS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001062613
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS (NO RADIO TELEPHONE) [4813]
		IRS NUMBER:				133725229
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		521 EAST MOREHEAD ST
		STREET 2:		STE 250
		CITY:			CHARLOTTE
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28202
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7043448150

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MJD COMMUNICATIONS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19980527

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SABHERWAL AJAY
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001123818

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-32408
		FILM NUMBER:		11549709

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O FAIRPOINT COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
		STREET 2:		521 E. MOREHEAD STREET, SUITE 500
		CITY:			CHARLOTTE
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28202
</SEC-HEADER>
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    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On October 26, 2009, FairPoint Communications, Inc. (the &quot;Company&quot;) and substantially all of its direct and indirect subsidiaries filed voluntary petitions for relief under chapter 11 of title 11 of the United States Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York (Case No. 09-16335) (collectively, the &quot;Chapter 11 Cases&quot;).  In accordance with the Third Amended Joint Plan of Reorganization of FairPoint Communications, Inc. and its Subsidiaries (the &quot;Plan&quot;) and the Company's 2010 Long Term Incentive Plan (the &quot;LTIP&quot;), restricted shares of the Company's common stock, par value $0.01 per share (&quot;Common Stock&quot;), were distributed by the Company on January 24, 2011 (the &quot;Effective Date&quot;).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">This Form 4 is being filed to report the 34,000 restricted shares of Common Stock acquired by the Reporting Person on the Effective Date pursuant to the Plan and the LTIP. 8,500 of these restricted shares vested on the Effective Date, with the remainder to vest in three equal annual installments, commencing on the first anniversary of the Effective Date.  No consideration was paid by the Reporting Person for these restricted shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">On October 26, 2009, the Company and substantially all of its direct and indirect subsidiaries filed the Chapter 11 Cases.  In accordance with the Plan and the LTIP, stock options were distributed by the Company on the Effective Date.  This Form 4 is being filed to report the 42,000 stock options acquired by the Reporting Person.  Pursuant to the LTIP, the exercise price of the stock options shall be the lesser of (x) $36.03 per share of Common Stock and (y) the weighted average trading price of a share of Common Stock for the first 20 trading days following the Effective Date, but in no event less than $19.28 per share, subject to any adjustment in accordance with the LTIP.  No consideration was paid by the Reporting Person for these stock options.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Ajay Sabherwal</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-01-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
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