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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 EWr1xeqQ/d7V3knYy3yvpA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-05-021782.txt : 20050412
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-05-021782.hdr.sgml : 20050412
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050412172846
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-05-021782
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050411
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050412
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050412

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:			Lazar Michael B
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001299477

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-32408
		FILM NUMBER:		05746876

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9053191237

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1122 INTERNATIONAL BLVD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 601
		CITY:			BURLINGTON
		STATE:			A6
		ZIP:			L7L 6Z8
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd75515.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-04-11</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001299477</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Lazar Michael B</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O KELSO AND COMPANY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>320 PARK AVENUE, 24TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Former 10% Owner</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-04-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3112861</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Kelso Investment Associates V, L.P.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-04-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>335729</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Kelso Equity Partners V, L.P.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This report is being filed to note Mr. Lazar's termination of insider status.  Effective April 11, 2005, Mr. Lazar ceased to be general partner, and became a limited partner, of each of Kelso Partners V, L.P. (Partners V) and Kelso Equity Partners V, L.P. (KEP V).  Partners V is the general partner of Kelso Investment Associates V, L.P. (KIA V).  As a result, Mr. Lazar may no longer be deemed to share beneficial ownership of the securities owned of record by KIA V and KEP V.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The reported holdings reflect Mr. Lazar's beneficial ownership as of April 11, 2005.  Mr. Lazar may have been deemed to share beneficial ownership of securities owned of record by KIA V and KEP V, by virtue of his status as a general partner of each of KEP V and Partners V, but disclaims having had beneficial ownership of such securities, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that Mr. Lazar was the beneficial owner of these securities for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purposes.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>James J. Connors, II, Attorney-in-fact for Mr. Lazar</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-04-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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