DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

This DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”), dated as of January 15, 2007, by and between Verizon Communications Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Verizon ”), and Northern New England Spinco Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Spinco ”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, Spinco is a newly-formed, wholly-owned, direct Subsidiary of Verizon;

WHEREAS, Verizon, Spinco and FairPoint Communications, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), have entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, of even date herewith (as such agreement may be amended from time to time the “ Merger Agreement ”), pursuant to which, at the Effective Time (as defined in the Merger Agreement), Spinco will merge with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving corporation (the “ Merger ”);

WHEREAS, this Agreement and the other Transaction Agreements (as defined herein) set forth certain transactions that are conditions to consummation of the Merger;

WHEREAS, prior to the Distribution (as defined herein) upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, Verizon will, pursuant to a series of restructuring transactions that will occur prior to the Distribution, ( a )  transfer or cause to be transferred by one or more of its Subsidiaries to the Non-ILEC Spinco Subsidiary (as defined herein) all of the ILEC Spinco Assets (as defined herein), such transfer to be subject to the assumption by such entity of the Non-ILEC Spinco Liabilities (as defined herein) and ( b )  transfer or cause to be transferred by Verizon New England Inc., a New York corporation (“ Verizon New England ”) to the ILEC Spinco Subsidiary (as defined herein) all of the ILEC Spinco Assets (as defined herein), subject to the assumption by such entity of the ILEC Spinco Liabilities (as defined herein), and shall transfer the ILEC Spinco Subsidiary (after receiving its stock from its Subsidiaries in a series of internal distributions) to Spinco;

WHEREAS, in exchange for the transfers to the Spinco Subsidiaries contemplated by the immediately preceding recital, Spinco will upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement ( a ) distribute to Verizon the Spinco

 

Securities (as defined herein) and ( b ) pay to Verizon the Special Dividend (as defined herein), all upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein (the transactions described in this recital and in the immediately preceding recital, collectively, the “ Contribution ”);

WHEREAS, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, Verizon will distribute (the “ Distribution ”) all of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock, par value $.10 per share, of Spinco (“ Spinco Common Stock ”) to the holders as of the Record Date (as defined herein) of the outstanding shares of common stock, par value $.10 per share, of Verizon (“ Verizon Common Stock ”) and, to the extent applicable, to such persons who received Verizon Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of Record Date Options (as defined below);

WHEREAS, the parties to this Agreement intend that ( i ) the First Internal Spinoff (as defined in the Merger Agreement) qualify as a reorganization under Section 368(a)(1)(D) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”) and a distribution eligible for nonrecognition under Sections 355(a) and 361(c) of the Code; ( ii ) the Second Internal Spinoff (as defined in the Merger Agreement) qualify as a distribution eligible for nonrecognition under Sections 355(a) and 361(c) of the Code; ( iii ) the Contribution, together with the Distribution, qualify as a tax-free reorganization under Section 368(a)(1)(D) of the Code; ( iv ) the Distribution qualify as a distribution of Spinco stock to Verizon stockholders eligible for nonrecognition under Sections 355(a) and 361(c) of the Code, ( v ) no gain or loss be recognized by Verizon for federal income tax purposes in connection with the receipt of the Spinco Securities (as defined herein) or the consummation of the Debt Exchange (as defined herein); ( vi ) the Special Dividend qualify as money transferred to creditors or distributed to shareholders in connection with the reorganization within the meaning of Section 361(b)(1) of the Code, to the extent that Verizon distributes the Special Dividend to its creditors and/or shareholders in connection with the Contribution, ( vii ) the Merger qualify as a tax-free reorganization pursuant to Section 368 of the Code; and ( viii ) no gain or loss be recognized as a result of such transactions for federal income tax purposes by any of Verizon, Spinco, and their respective stockholders and Subsidiaries (except to the extent of cash received in lieu of fractional shares); and

WHEREAS, the parties to this Agreement intend that throughout the internal restructurings taken in contemplation of this Agreement, including the Internal Spinoffs (as defined in the Merger Agreement), Internal Restructurings (as defined in the Merger Agreement), the Contribution, and the Distribution, the Spinco Employees shall maintain uninterrupted continuity of employment, compensation and benefits, and also for union represented employees, uninterrupted continuity of representation for purposes of collective bargaining and uninterrupted continuity of coverage under their collective bargaining agreements, as described in the Employee Matters Agreement.

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NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of these premises, and of the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.1             General .  As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings (such meanings to be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined):

“ Affiliate ” means a Person that, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by, or is under common control with, a specified Person.  The term “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as applied to any Person, means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or other ownership interest, by contract or otherwise; provided , however , that for purposes of this Agreement, ( i ) from and after the Distribution Date, no member of either Group shall be deemed an Affiliate of any member of the other Group and ( ii ) none of Cellco Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries shall be deemed Affiliates or Subsidiaries of Verizon.

“ Agent ” means the distribution agent agreed upon by Verizon and the Company, to be appointed by Verizon to distribute the shares of Spinco Common Stock pursuant to the Distribution.

“ Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

“ Alternative Financing ” has the meaning set forth in the Merger Agreement.

“ Applicable Rate ” means the three-month LIBOR rate published on Telerate Page 3750 as of 11:00 a.m. London time, on the date which is two days prior to the date such rate is determined, less 10 basis points, such rate to be reset every 90 days.

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“ Asset ” means any and all assets, properties and rights, wherever located, whether real, personal or mixed, tangible or intangible, including the following (in each case, whether or not recorded or reflected or required to be recorded or reflected on the books and records or financial statements of any Person):  ( i ) notes and accounts and notes receivable (whether current or non-current); ( ii ) Cash and Cash Equivalents, debentures, bonds, notes, evidences of indebtedness, certificates of interest or participation in profit-sharing agreements, collateral-trust certificates, preorganization certificates or subscriptions, transferable shares, investment contracts, letters of credit and performance and surety bonds, voting-trust certificates, puts, calls, straddles, options and other securities of any kind, and all loans, advances or other extensions of credit or capital contributions to any other Person; ( iii )  rights under leases (including real property leases), contracts, licenses, permits, distribution arrangements, sales and purchase agreements, joint operating agreements, other agreements and business arrangements; ( iv ) owned real property; ( v ) leased real property, fixtures, trade fixtures, machinery, equipment (including oil and gas, transportation and office equipment), tools, dies and furniture; ( vi ) office supplies, production supplies, spare parts, other miscellaneous supplies and other tangible property of any kind, including all antennas, apparatus, cables, electrical devices, fixtures, equipment, furniture, office equipment, broadcast towers, motor vehicles and other transportation equipment, special and general tools, test devices, transmitters and other tangible personal property; ( vii ) computers and other data processing equipment and software; ( viii ) raw materials, work-in-process, finished goods, consigned goods and other inventories; ( ix ) prepayments or prepaid expenses; ( x ) claims, causes of action, rights under express or implied warranties, rights of recovery and rights of setoff of any kind; ( xi ) Information; ( xii ) advertising materials and other printed or written materials; ( xiii ) goodwill as a going concern and other intangible properties; ( xiv ) employee contracts, including any rights thereunder to restrict an employee from competing in certain respects; ( xv ) licenses and authorizations issued by any governmental authority; and (xvi) Real Property Interests.

“ Backstop Facility Commitment ” has the meaning set forth in the Merger Agreement.

“ Blended Customer Contracts ” means billing and collection Contracts, operator service Contracts, directory assistance Contracts and Contracts with end user customers, in each case to which one of the Contributing Companies or another Subsidiary of Verizon is a party, and in each case which provide for such customers to receive one or more products and/or services that are offered by the Spinco Business as well as one or more products and/or services that are offered by the Verizon Business, other than those Contracts listed on Section 1.1(a) of the Disclosure Letter.

“ Business ” means the Spinco Business or the Verizon Business, as the case may be.

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“ Business Day ” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the City of Charlotte, North Carolina or the City of New York, New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

“ Cash and Cash Equivalents ” means all cash, cash equivalents, including certificates of deposit or bankers’ acceptances maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof, marketable direct obligations issued by, or unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States government or an agency thereof, and investments in money market funds and other liquid investments, including all deposited but uncleared bank deposits.

“ Claims Made Policies ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.5(a).

“ Closing Date ” has the meaning set forth in the Merger Agreement.

“ Closing Statement ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1(a).

“ Code ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

“ Commitment Letter ” has the meaning set forth in the Merger Agreement.

“ Company ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

“ Company Consent ” means the written consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

“ Contract ” means any contract, agreement or binding arrangement or understanding, whether written or oral and whether express or implied.

“ Contributing Companies ” means Verizon New England, NYNEX Long Distance Company, Bell Atlantic Communications Inc., Verizon Select Services Inc., Verizon Internet Services Inc., and, any Subsidiary of Verizon that employs Continuing Employees (as defined in the Merger Agreement) as of the Closing Date.

“ Contribution ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

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“ Current Assets ” means total current assets of Spinco and the Spinco Subsidiaries, determined in accordance with the last sentence of Section 5.1(a), as of the opening of business on the Distribution Date.

“ Current Liabilities ” means the total current liabilities of Spinco and the Spinco Subsidiaries, determined in accordance with the last sentence of Section 5.1(a), as of the opening of business on the Distribution Date, but excluding (i) the current portion of any Indebtedness and excluding all Spinco Debt Expenses and (ii) for the avoidance of doubt, any amounts that are the responsibility of the Surviving Corporation pursuant to Section 11.1 of the Merger Agreement.

“ Debt Exchange ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(d)

“ Disclosure Letter ” means the schedule prepared and delivered by Verizon to Spinco as of the date of this Agreement.

“ Dispute Resolution Request ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1(c).

“ Distribution ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

“ Distribution Date ” means the date that the Distribution shall become effective.

“ Distribution Date Spinco Indebtedness ” means the aggregate amount of Indebtedness of Spinco and its Subsidiaries as of the opening of business on the Distribution Date, calculated pro forma for the Contribution.

“ Distribution Date Working Capital ” means the amount, if any, by which Current Assets exceeds Current Liabilities (or, if Current Liabilities exceeds Current Assets, the amount of such excess expressed as a negative number) as of the opening of business on the Distribution Date prior to the application of purchase accounting entries to the Company’s opening balance sheet.

“ Effective Time ” has the meaning set forth in the Merger Agreement.

“ Election ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(e).

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“ Employee Matters Agreement ” means the Employee Matters Agreement entered into among Verizon, Spinco and the Company on the date hereof, as such agreement may be hereafter amended from time to time.

“ Excluded Contract ” means ( i ) any Contract entered into by Verizon or any Subsidiary of Verizon (other than Spinco or a Spinco Subsidiary), on the one hand, with a non-Affiliate of Verizon, on the other hand, which is used or offered in the conduct of the Spinco Business as well as the Verizon Business, other than any Blended Customer Contract and ( ii ) any Contract entered into solely between or among Verizon and/or Affiliates of Verizon, other than the Transferred Affiliate Arrangements, including, in each case, those Contracts listed in Section 1.1(b) of the Disclosure Letter.

“ Final Closing Statement ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1(c).

“ Final Distribution Date Working Capital ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1(d).

“ GAAP ” means United States generally accepted accounting principles.

“ Governmental Authority ” has the meaning set forth in the Merger Agreement.

“ Group ” means the Verizon Group or the Spinco Group, as the case may be.

“ Idearc Agreements ” means the Publishing Agreement, the Non-competition Agreement and the Branding Agreement, each to be entered into between Idearc Media Inc., a Delaware corporation, and Spinco and such Subsidiaries of Spinco as are designated by Verizon prior to the Distribution (in consultation with the Company), each in the form attached hereto as Exhibits A-1, A-2 and A-3.

“ Indebtedness ” means, with respect to Spinco and the Spinco Subsidiaries, all indebtedness for borrowed money, including the aggregate principal amount thereof, and any accrued interest thereon.

“ Identified Persons ” has the meaning set forth in the Merger Agreement.

“ ILEC ” means an incumbent local exchange carrier.

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“ ILEC Spinco Assets ” means Spinco Assets which are subject to regulations applicable to ILECs promulgated by one or more of the State of Vermont Public Service Board, the State of Maine Public Utilities Commission or the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission.

“ ILEC Spinco Liabilities ” means Spinco Liabilities that arise from or relate to ILEC Spinco Assets.

“ ILEC Spinco Subsidiary ” means Northern New England Telephone Operations Inc., a newly formed Delaware corporation.

“ Information ” means all lists of customers, records pertaining to customers and accounts, copies of Contracts, personnel records, lists and records pertaining to customers, suppliers and agents, and all accounting and other books, records, ledgers, files and business records, data and other information of every kind (whether in paper, microfilm, computer tape or disc, magnetic tape or any other form).

“ Intellectual Property Agreement ” means the Intellectual Property Agreement to be entered into among Verizon and its Affiliates and Spinco and its Affiliates, in the form of Exhibit B hereto.

“ Intellectual Property Assets ” means all “Statutory Intellectual Property” and “Non-Statutory Intellectual Property”, as each such term is defined in the Intellectual Property Agreement.

“ Leased Real Property ” means all leasehold or subleasehold estates and other rights of Verizon or one of its Affiliates to use or occupy any land, buildings or structures located in the Territory and used primarily in the conduct of the Spinco Business, including those listed in Section 1.1(c) of the Disclosure Letter.

“ Liability ” or “ Liabilities ” means all debts, liabilities and obligations (including those arising under contracts) whether absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated, accrued or unaccrued, known or unknown, whenever arising, and whether or not the same would properly be reflected on a balance sheet.  “Liabilities” shall not include ( a ) any liabilities in respect of any Intellectual Property, ( b ) any liabilities for or in respect of Taxes, which shall be governed solely by the Tax Sharing Agreement and, to the extent applicable, the Merger Agreement or ( c ) any liabilities for or in respect of any benefit plans, programs, agreements, and arrangements, which shall

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be governed exclusively by the Employee Matters Agreement and, to the extent applicable, the Merger Agreement.

“ Litigation Matters ” means all pending or threatened litigation, investigations, claims or other legal matters that have been or may be asserted against, or otherwise adversely affect, Verizon and/or Spinco (or members of either Group).

“ Merger ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

“ Merger Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

“ New Financing ” has the meaning set forth in the Merger Agreement.

“ Non-ILEC Spinco Assets ” means Spinco Assets other than ILEC Spinco Assets.

“ Non-ILEC Spinco Liabilities ” means Spinco Liabilities other than ILEC Spinco Liabilities.

“ Non-ILEC Spinco Subsidiary ” means Enhanced Communications of Northern New England Inc., a newly-formed Delaware corporation.

“ Occurrence Basis Policies ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.5(a).

“ Owned Real Property ” means all land in the Territory that is owned by Verizon or one of its Affiliates and used primarily in the conduct of the Spinco Business, together with all buildings, structures, improvements and fixtures located thereon, subject to all easements and other rights and interests appurtenant thereto, including those listed in Section 1.1(d) of the Disclosure Letter.

“ Person ” or “ person ” means a natural person, corporation, company, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, or any other entity, including a Governmental Authority.

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“ Policies ” means all insurance policies, insurance contracts and claim administration contracts of any kind of Verizon and its Subsidiaries (including members of the Spinco Group) and their predecessors which were or are in effect at any time at or prior to the Distribution Date, including but not limited to commercial general liability,  automobile, workers’ compensation, excess and umbrella, aircraft, crime, property and business interruption, directors’ and officers’ liability, fiduciary liability, employment practices liability, errors and omissions, special accident, environmental, inland and marine, and captive insurance company arrangements, together with all rights, benefits and privileges thereunder.

“ Privileged Information ” means with respect to either Group, Information regarding a member of such Group, or any of its operations, Assets or Liabilities (whether in documents or stored in any other form or known to its employees or agents) that is or may be protected from disclosure pursuant to the attorney-client privilege, the work product doctrine or another applicable privilege, that a member of the other Group may come into possession of or obtain access to pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise.

“ Real Property Interests ” means all easements, rights of way, and licenses (whether as licensee or licensor) in the real property that is used primarily in the conduct of the Spinco Business, and excluding all Owned Real Property and property and interests subject to Real Property Leases.

“ Real Property Leases ” means all leases, subleases, concessions and other agreements (written or oral) pursuant to which any Leased Real Property is held, including the right to all security deposits and other amounts and instruments deposited thereunder.

“ Reclassification ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2.

“ Record Date ” means the close of business on the date to be determined by the Board of Directors of Verizon as the record date for determining stockholders of Verizon entitled to participate in the Distribution, which date shall be a Business Day preceding the day of the Effective Time.

“ Record Date Options ” has the meaning set forth in the Employee Matters Agreement.

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“ Representative ” means with respect to any Person, any of such Person’s directors, managers or persons acting in a similar capacity, officers, employees, agents, consultants, financial and other advisors, accountants, attorneys and other representatives.

“ SEC ” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

“ Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, together with the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

“ Special Dividend ” means a dividend in an amount to be set forth in a certificate delivered by Verizon to Spinco, with a copy to the Company, no later than 30 days prior to the Distribution Date, which amount shall not exceed Verizon’s estimate of its tax basis in Spinco.

“ Spinco ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble; provided, that with respect to any period following the Effective Time, all references to Spinco herein shall be deemed to be references to the Surviving Corporation.

“ Spinco Assets ” means, subject to Section 2.1(c), collectively:

( i ) all of the right, title and interest of Verizon and its Subsidiaries in all Assets that are primarily used or held for use in, or that primarily arise from, the conduct of the Spinco Business, including:

(A) those set forth on the Spinco Interim Balance Sheet (after giving effect for this purpose to any exclusion of Assets resulting from application of the principles, methodologies and policies set forth in Section 5.1 of the Disclosure Letter) to the extent held on the Distribution Date;

(B) all Owned Real Property and all Leased Real Property, together with all buildings, towers, facilities and other structures and improvements located thereon;

(C) all Real Property Interests;

(D) Telephone Plant; and

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(E) Contracts, including the Contracts listed in Section 1.1(g) of the Disclosure Letter;

( ii ) all other Assets of Spinco and the Spinco Subsidiaries to the extent specifically assigned to any member of the Spinco Group pursuant to this Agreement or any other Transaction Agreement;

( iii ) the capital stock of each Spinco Subsidiary (it being agreed that the physical certificates representing such capital stock shall be delivered to Spinco at the closing of the Merger by Verizon no later than the Distribution Date);

( iv )  all rights of the Contributing Companies in respect of the Transferred Affiliate Arrangements;

( v ) those rights in the Blended Customer Contracts as are allocated to Spinco as contemplated by Section 7.8(e) of the Merger Agreement; and

( vi ) any additional Assets set forth on Section 1.1(e) of the Disclosure Letter;

provided , that in no event will Spinco Assets include:

( A ) any Intellectual Property Asset (except to the extent specified in a Transaction Agreement);

( B ) any Verizon Assets;

( C ) any Assets of Verizon Business Global LLC, f/k/a MCI, LLC, which is the successor to the business of MCI, Inc., and direct and indirect subsidiaries of Verizon Business Global LLC;

( D ) any Assets of Verizon Network Integration Corp.;

( E ) any Assets of Verizon Federal Inc.;

( F ) any Assets of Federal Network Systems LLC;

( G ) any Assets of Verizon Global Networks Inc.;

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( H ) any Assets of Verizon Select Services Inc., other than Assets that constitute customer relationships or Contracts that relate solely to the Spinco Business or are referred to in clause (v) above, including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Verizon Select Services Inc. customer relationships managed by Verizon Business Global LLC or its subsidiaries;

(I) any Assets of Cellco Partnership (d/b/a Verizon Wireless); or

( J ) any Cash or Cash Equivalents or short term investments except as may be elected by Verizon.

“ Spinco Audited Balance Sheet ” means the audited Combined Statements of Selected Assets, Selected Liabilities and Parent Funding as of December 31, 2005 for the local exchange businesses and related landline activities of Verizon in the states of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont (including Internet access, long distance and customer premises equipment services provided to customers in those states).

“ Spinco Business ” means:

(i) all of the incumbent local exchange carrier business activities and operations of Verizon and its Affiliates in the Territory (consisting of local exchange service, intraLATA toll service, network access service, enhanced voice and data services, DSL services and wholesale services); and

(ii) all of the following activities of Verizon and its Affiliates in the Territory:

(A) consumer and small business switched and dedicated long distance service to customers located in the Territory;

(B) large business switched and dedicated long distance service to customers of Verizon Select Services Inc. located in the Territory;

(C) the delivery by Verizon Internet Services Inc. of dial-up, DSL and fiber to the premises (a/k/a FiOS) data and dedicated internet access services to customers located in the Territory;

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(D) customer premise equipment sales, and installation and maintenance services currently offered by Verizon Select Services, Inc. to customers located in the Territory; and

(E) private line service to customers of Verizon Select Services Inc. where the line originates and terminates in the Territory;

provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, “Spinco Business” shall not include any other business activities or operations of Verizon or its Affiliates that may be conducted in the Territory, including, without limitation,

(A) the offering of wireless voice, data and other services by Cellco Partnership (d/b/a Verizon Wireless) and the offering of air-to-ground or rail-to-ground services by Verizon Airfone;

(B) publishing and printing telephone directories and publishing electronic directories;

(C) monitoring, installation, maintenance and repair of data customer premises equipment and software, structured cabling, call center solutions and professional services as provided generally by Verizon Network Integration Corp.;

(D) multi-dwelling unit voice, data and video services as provided generally by Verizon Avenue Corp.;

(E) wireless telecommunications services, customer premises equipment, inside wiring and cabling, and consulting services to or for federal government agencies offered by Federal Network Systems LLC, and customer premises inside wiring and cabling, and consulting services to or for federal government agencies offered by Verizon Federal Inc.;

(F) interstate, intrastate and local exchange services offered by Verizon or its Affiliates (other than the Contributing Companies) consisting primarily of those conducted by them as successors to the business of MCI, Inc.;

(G) monitoring, provision, maintenance and repair of intrastate, interstate and international telecommunications and information services, managed services, internet protocol services, data center services, professional services, hosting services,

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web infrastructure and application management and other products, services and software provided to government and large business customers as provided generally by Verizon Business Global LLC, f/k/a MCI, LLC, which is the successor to the business of MCI, Inc., or direct and indirect subsidiaries of Verizon Business Global LLC;

(H) consumer and small business CPE services (including DSL modem and router fulfillment) as provided generally by Verizon TeleProducts;

(I) long haul switching, routing, and transmission and other carrier services as provided generally by Verizon Global Networks Inc.;

(J) prepaid card products, payphone dial around services (VSSI-CARD) and dedicated Internet access services as provided generally by Verizon Select Services Inc;

(K) Verizon Voice Over Internet Protocol service as provided generally by Verizon d/b/a Verizon Long Distance and NYNEX Long Distance; or

(L) activities relating to the foregoing or in substitution for the foregoing by the named entities or any successor thereto.

“ Spinco Common Stock ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

“ Spinco Debt Expenses ” means ( i ) the aggregate amount of all fees and expenses payable to lenders or lenders’ advisors by Spinco or the Surviving Corporation pursuant to the terms of the New Financing (or Alternative Financing) in connection with the consummation of the New Financing (or Alternative Financing) multiplied by ( ii ) a fraction, the numerator of which is ( A ) the amount drawn by Spinco under the terms of the New Financing (or Alternative Financing) immediately prior to the Effective Time and the denominator is ( B ) the sum of the aggregate amount of indebtedness contemplated by the New Financing (or Alternative Financing).

“ Spinco Group ” means Spinco and the Spinco Subsidiaries.

“ Spinco Guarantees ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.4(b).

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“ Spinco Interim Balance Sheet ” means the balance sheet that is part of the Interim Financial Statements (as defined in the Merger Agreement).

“ Spinco Liabilities ” means, subject to Section 2.1(c), collectively:

( i ) all Liabilities of Verizon or any of its Subsidiaries (including Spinco and the Spinco Subsidiaries) to the extent relating to or arising from the Spinco Business, including the Liabilities set forth on the Spinco Interim Balance Sheet (after giving effect for this purpose to any exclusion of Liabilities resulting from application of the principles, methodologies and policies set forth in Section 5.1 of the Disclosure Letter) or arising after the date thereof and the Liabilities of Spinco under the Transaction Agreements;

( ii ) all Liabilities to the extent relating to or arising from any Spinco Assets;

( iii ) all Liabilities of the Spinco Business in respect of the Transferred Affiliate Arrangements;

( iv ) those Liabilities in the Blended Customer Contracts that are assigned to and assumed by the Company pursuant to Section 7.7(e) of the Merger Agreement;

( v ) all Liabilities relating to or arising from any Verizon Guarantee; and

( vi ) all Liabilities set forth on Section 1.1(f) of the Disclosure Letter.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Spinco Liabilities shall not include any Liabilities specifically agreed not to be assumed by Spinco under any other Transaction Agreement.  For the avoidance of doubt, Spinco Liabilities do not include Verizon Liabilities.

“ Spinco Securities ” means the notes to be issued by Spinco to Verizon, as contemplated in Section 2.4 hereof and having the principal terms set forth on Exhibit C hereto and other terms determined in accordance with Section 7.20 of the Merger Agreement.

“ Spinco Subsidiaries ” means, collectively, the Non-ILEC Spinco Subsidiary and the ILEC Spinco Subsidiary.

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“ Subsidiary ” has the meaning set forth in the Merger Agreement.

“ Surviving Corporation ” has the meaning set forth in the Merger Agreement.

“ Target Working Capital ” means $50,500,000, provided that such amount will be reduced by the amount, if any, equal to (x) the sum of (i) any amount the Company pays or becomes obligated to pay to a Commitment Party (as defined in the Commitment Letter) pursuant to the fifth paragraph of the fee letter that is part of the Commitment Letter, and (ii) any amount the Company pays or becomes obligated to pay pursuant to the fee letter that is part of the Backstop Commitment, divided by (y) 0.39579.

“ Taxes ” has the meaning set forth in the Merger Agreement.

“ Tax Sharing Agreement ” means the Tax Sharing Agreement entered into on the date hereof, between Verizon, the Company and Spinco, as such agreement may be amended from time to time.

“ Telephone Plant ” means the plant, systems, structures, regulated construction work in progress, telephone cable (whether in service or under construction), microwave facilities (including frequency spectrum assignment), telephone line facilities, machinery, furniture, fixtures, tools, implements, conduits, stations, substations, equipment (including central office equipment, subscriber station equipment and other equipment in general), instruments and house wiring connections located in the Territory used in the Spinco Business.

“ Territory ” means the local franchise area of Verizon New England in the states of Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire.

“ Total Verizon Shares ” means (i) the total number of shares of Verizon Common Stock as of the Record Date plus (ii) the total number of shares of Verizon Common Stock issued to all persons who acquired such Verizon Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of Record Date Options.

“ Transaction Agreements ” means this Agreement, the Employee Matters Agreement, the Intellectual Property Agreement, the Merger Agreement, the Tax Sharing Agreement, the Idearc Agreements and the Transition Services Agreement.

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“ Transferred Affiliate Arrangements ” means ( i ) any intercompany trade accounts payable or receivable of the Spinco Business as of the date of the Contribution, including amounts payable by or to Verizon or any Verizon Subsidiaries under Contracts for the provision of billing and collection, network access and other services, ( ii ) any reimbursements due as of the date of the Contribution in respect of the Spinco Business for corporate services under the pro-rate agreement or other arrangements with Verizon or any Verizon Subsidiary consistent with past practice, ( iii ) any Transaction Agreement and any arrangement expressly contemplated by a Transaction Agreement, (iv) any Affiliate interconnection Contract or ( v ) any Contract listed on Section 1.1(g) of the Disclosure Letter.

“ Transition Services Agreement ” means that Transition Services Agreement entered into on the date hereof, between Verizon and Spinco, as such agreement may be amended from time to time.

“ Verizon ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

“ Verizon Assets ” means, subject to Section 2.1(c), collectively,

( i ) all of the right, title and interest of Verizon and its Subsidiaries in all Assets held by them other than those identified in clauses (i) through (vi) of the definition of Spinco Assets, it being acknowledged that Verizon Assets include (a) all Excluded Contracts (it being agreed that Spinco and the Spinco Subsidiaries shall be permitted to ( x ) retain any product or license under an Excluded Contract delivered and paid for prior to the Closing in the conduct of the Spinco Business and ( y ) receive any product or license under an Excluded Contract that was ordered and paid for prior to the Closing in the conduct of the Spinco Business but which shall be delivered after the Closing), (b) all Contracts between Verizon and the Verizon Subsidiaries on one hand and Spinco and the Spinc