Exhibit 10.9

FAIRPOINT COMMUNICATIONS, INC.PERFORMANCE UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT2008 LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN(AWARD FOR 2008 FISCAL YEAR PERFORMANCE PERIOD)

THIS
PERFORMANCE UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), made and entered into this 5th day of May, 2008, by and between FairPoint
Communications, Inc. (the "Company") and                (the "Participant").

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Committee") desires to award
the Participant Performance Units under the Company's 2008 Long Term Incentive Plan (the "Plan"); and

WHEREAS,
the Company and the Participant desire to enter into a written agreement that sets forth the terms and provisions of the Participant's Performance Unit award.

NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual promises contained herein, the Company and the Participant hereby agree as follows:

1.     The
Participant acknowledges that the Performance Unit award is governed by this Agreement and the terms of the Plan. The terms of the Plan are incorporated into this
Agreement in their entirety and made a part hereof by reference. Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Plan. In the event of any
conflict between the terms of the Plan and this Agreement, the terms of the Plan shall govern and control.

2.     The
Participant is awarded a target award of                Performance Units. The number of Performance Units earned by the Participant shall be determined in
accordance with the Plan and this Agreement.

3.     The
Performance Units earned by the Participant shall be equal to (a) the product of (i) three (3) multiplied by (ii) the annual incentive
bonus award earned by the Participant for the Company's 2008 fiscal year divided by (b) the average of the closing prices for Shares of the Company's Common Stock during the 30 days
trading period immediately preceding December 31, 2008.

4.     One
Share of the Company's Common Stock will be distributed to the Participant for each Performance Unit earned by the Participant; provided,however, in the
event the number of Performance Units earned by the Participant exceeds
500,000, one Share of the Company's Common Stock will be distributed to the Participant for each of the first 500,000 Performance Units earned by the Participant, and the Company shall pay to the
Participant an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of the Shares that would have been delivered to the Participant for any Performance Units earned by the Participant in excess of 500,000. Dividends
on the Shares underlying the Performance Units will not accrue or be paid during the Performance Period.

5.     Any
Shares to be distributed in respect of the Performance Units earned by the Participant will be delivered to the Participant as soon as practicable after
December 31, 2008, but no later than March 15, 2009 (the date Shares are delivered, the "Payment Date"). If the Participant's employment
with the Company terminates prior to the Payment Date for any reason other than termination by the Company without Cause or the Participant's death or Disability, the Participant shall forfeit the
Performance Units and any Shares distributable in respect of such Performance Units. If, prior to the Payment Date, the Company terminates the Participant's employment without Cause or the
Participant's employment with the Company terminates due to the Participant's death or Disability, the Performance Units awarded to the Participant shall remain outstanding and shall be earned as
described in Paragraph 3 above (and any Shares distributable in respect of such earned Performance

---



Units
shall be delivered to the Participant) as if the Participant's employment with the Company had continued through the Payment Date.

6.     In
the event a Change in Control occurs prior to December 31, 2008, the Participant shall earn 100% of the target number of Performance Units awarded to the
Participant under Paragraph 2 above, and any Shares to be distributed in respect of the Performance Units earned by the Participant upon such Change in Control shall be delivered to the
Participant immediately prior to the Change in Control.

7.     Unless
otherwise elected by the Participant in accordance with procedures adopted by the Committee, the Company shall deduct from any Shares otherwise distributable to
the Participant that number of Shares having a value equal to the amount of any taxes required by law to be withheld from awards made under the Plan.

8.     The
Participant may elect, by entering into a Deferral Agreement with the Company, to defer delivery of all (or any portion) of the Shares otherwise payable to the
Participant in respect of the Performance Units earned by the Participant. To be effective, the Participant must complete and return the Deferral Agreement to the Company in accordance with procedures
established by the Committee.

9.     The
Performance Units awarded hereunder to the Participant shall not entitle the Participant to any rights as a stockholder of the Company.

10.   The
Participant's award under this Agreement and the Plan may not be assigned or alienated. Subject to any limitations under the Plan on transferability, this Agreement
will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the heirs, legatees, legal representatives, successors and assigns of the parties hereto. Neither the Plan, nor this Agreement, nor any action taken
under the Plan or this Agreement shall be construed as giving to the Participant the right to be retained in the employ of the Company.

11.   Any
distribution of Shares may be delayed until the requirements of any applicable laws or regulations or any stock exchange requirements are satisfied. The Shares
distributed to the Participant shall be subject to such restrictions and conditions on disposition as counsel for the Company shall determine to be desirable or necessary under applicable law.

12.   The
Participant may designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries to receive all or part of the Shares to be distributed to the Participant under this Award Agreement in the
event of the Participant's death. If no beneficiary is designated, such Shares shall be paid to the estate of the Participant.

13.   This
Agreement, and the award of the Performance Units to the Participant hereunder, are contingent upon the approval of the Plan by the stockholders of the Company at
the 2008 annual stockholders meeting. In the event such approval is not obtained for any reason, the Company shall pay to the Participant an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of the Shares that
would have been delivered to the Participant in respect of the Performance Units if such approval had been obtained, such amount to be paid in a single lump sum (less applicable tax withholding) no
later than March 15, 2009.

14.   This
Agreement and the Plan constitute the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the award of Performance Units to the Participant. Except with respect to
modifications of the Plan as provided therein, this Agreement can be amended only in writing executed by the Participant and a duly authorized officer of the Company.

15.   This
Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware to the extent not preempted by applicable federal law.

2

---



IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed or caused this Agreement to be executed in duplicate effective as of the date first above written.

| |  | FAIRPOINT COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
| |  | ------------------------------
| |  | By:                           
| |  | PARTICIPANT                   
| |  |                               

3

---



QuickLinks