-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 PMLCNJSrk5m1oan+Yh8UtyLiuu8PaGsEqiPb7l21nr0CZQsYG0Qrsdd/26nQ4DnX
 wgW/ymP/2DJABN166SShHg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001116679-06-001604.txt : 20060622
<SEC-HEADER>0001116679-06-001604.hdr.sgml : 20060622
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060622165024
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001116679-06-001604
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060621
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060622
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060622

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:			Lilien Robert S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001347792

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-32408
		FILM NUMBER:		06920216

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		704-344-8150

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		FAIRPOINT COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
		STREET 2:		521 E. MOREHEAD STREET, SUITE 250
		CITY:			CHARLOTTE
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28202
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-06-21</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001062613</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FAIRPOINT COMMUNICATIONS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FRP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001347792</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Lilien Robert S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O FAIRPOINT COMMUNICATIONS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>521 E. MOREHEAD STREET, SUITE 250</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHARLOTTE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>28202</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Unit</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-06-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2200</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, par value $.01 per share</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2200</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2681</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These derivative securities are restricted units representing shares of FairPoint Communications, Inc. common stock, par value $.01 per share (the &quot;Common Stock&quot;), issued pursuant to the FairPoint Communications, Inc. 2005 Stock Incentive Plan (the &quot;2005 Plan&quot;).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These derivative securities are restricted units representing shares of Common Stock and, accordingly, do not have an exercise price or expiration date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The restricted units vest in four equal quarterly installments on the first day of each of the first four calendar quarters following the date the restricted units were issued; however, the shares of Common Stock underlying the restricted units will not be issued until the occurrence of certain events set forth in the Restricted Unit Agreement under which the restricted units were issued.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">No consideration was paid for the restricted units.  The restricted units were awarded pursuant to the 2005 Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Robert S. Lilien</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-06-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----