Verizon Weighs Offers

The New York Times:

Three months after Verizon confirmed it wanted to sell its local telephone lines in New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont, the company said Tuesday it is considering several offers.

Verizon said North Carolina-based FairPoint Communications Inc. is one of several companies interested in buying the local networks. Union officials say CenturyTel Inc. and Citizens Communications Co. also are interested, but Verizon officials would not confirm those names.

State leaders and regulators are watching closely, as is the union representing Verizon line workers.