FCC approves Alltel deal for Midwest Wireless

FCC APPROVES ALLTEL DEAL FOR MIDWEST WIRELESS
[SOURCE: Reuters]
The Federal Communications Commission on Monday approved rural telephone operator Alltel Corp.'s $1 billion acquisition of Midwest Wireless Holdings. Last month, the U.S. Justice Department said it would not oppose the deal after imposing conditions which require Alltel to sell some assets in four areas of rural Minnesota. Alltel provides wireless communications services to about 11 million wireless customers in 35 states, while Midwest Wireless has more than 400,000 customers in southern Minnesota, northern and eastern Iowa, and western Wisconsin. The FCC said it unanimously approved the transfer of licenses held by Midwest Wireless to Alltel, except for the four areas where divestiture is required. FCC Commissioner Michael Copps, who approved the merger, said in a separate statement that he was concerned about Alltel's "disappointing penetration rate" of E911-enabled handsets. "Our merger standards require us to look at "citizenship, character, financial, technical, and other qualifications" and I believe that a corporation's compliance with our public safety regulations fit squarely under this rubric," Commissioner Copps said.
http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=businessNews&storyid...

* FCC Order:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-267729A1.doc

* Statement by Commissioner Copps:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-267729A2.doc