LIMITED POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR
SECTION 16 REPORTING OBLIGATIONS
	Know all by these present that each of the undersigned hereby makes, constitutes
and appoints Howard A. Matlin, Rosanna T. Leone, and each of them, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, as such undersigned's true and lawful attorneys-in-fact,
with full power and authority as hereinafter described on behalf of and in the name, place
and stead of the undersigned to:

	(1)	execute and deliver for and on behalf of the undersigned (i) any and all
Forms 3, 4 and 5 relating to FairPoint Communications, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company") and required to be filed in accordance with Section 16(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") and the rules thereunder and
(ii) any and all schedules relating to the company required to be filed in accordance with
Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules thereunder (together, the "Forms and
Schedules"), in the undersigned's capacity as a director and/or controlling person of the
Company and/or as an officer or general partner of Kelso Partners V, L.P., and/or Kelso
Equity Partners V, L.P., and in and all other capacities pursuant to which such Forms and
Schedules may be required to be filed by the undersigned;

	(2)	do and perform any and all acts and on behalf of the undersigned which
may be necessary or desirable to complete and execute any such Forms and timely file
such Forms and Schedules with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission
and any stock exchange or similar authority; and

	(3)	take any other action of any type whatsoever in connection with the
foregoing which, in the opinion of such attorney-in-fact, may be of benefit to, in the best
interest of, or legally required by, the undersigned, it being understood that the
documents executed by such attorney-in-fact on behalf of the undersigned pursuant to
this Power of Attorney shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions
as such attorney-in-fact may approve in such attorney-in-fact's discretion.

	The undersigned acknowledges that:

	(1)	this Power of Attorney authorizes, but does not require, such attorney-in-
fact to act in their discretion on information provided to such attorney-in-fact without
independent verification of such information;

	(2)	any documents prepared and/or executed by such attorney-in-fact on
behalf of the undersigned pursuant to this Power of Attorney will be in such form and
will contain such information and disclosure as such attorney-in-fact, in his or her
discretion, deems necessary or desirable;

	(3)  neither the Company nor such attorney-in-fact assumes (i) any liability for the
undersigned's responsibility to comply with the requirement of the Exchange Act, (ii)
any liability of the undersigned for any failure to comply with such requirements, or (iii)
any obligation or liability of the undersigned for profit disgorgement under Section 16(b)
of the Exchange Act; and

	(4)  this Power of Attorney does not relieve the undersigned from responsibility
for compliance with the undersigned's obligations under the Exchange Act, including
without limitation the reporting requirements under Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

	The undersigned hereby gives and grants the foregoing attorney-in-fact full power
and authority to do and perform all and every act and thing whatsoever requisite,
necessary or appropriate to be done in and about the foregoing matters as fully to all
intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do if present, hereby ratifying all
that such attorney-in-fact of, for an on behalf of he undersigned, shall lawfully do or
cause to be done by virtue of this Limited Power of Attorney.

	This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until revoked by the
undersigned in a signed writing delivered to such attorney-in-fact.

	IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Power of Attorney to
be executed as of this 12th day of April, 2005.


  /s/   James J. Connors, II
James J. Connors, II





STATE OF NEW YORK

COUNTY OF NEW YORK

	On this 12th day of April, 2005, James J. Connors, II personally appeared before
me, and acknowledged that s/he executed the foregoing instrument for the purposes
therein contained.

	IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and official seal.


						  /s/   Janet E. Bickelhaupt
						           Notary Public



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