From the article and comments on slashdot it just looks like Fairpoint is cutting access to email from the verizon website in Febuary, which makes sense because Fairport is taking over Verizon's service in that area. So this really isn't a big deal.
Verizon apparently has some kind of portal for accessing other webmail services (why?) and after a certain date customers will have to use Fairport's portal instead. This is a complete non story.
