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Qwest's merger to bring changes
by
Megan Neighbor April 1, 2011
CenturyLink's merger with Denver-based
Qwest Communications, scheduled to be completed today, will
bring a host of changes to customers in
Prices
and service plans will remain the same for current customers.
But starting late this summer, Qwest, the largest provider of
phone services in the state, will remove its name from
advertisements and phone bills.
It
will be replaced by its new owner's name: CenturyLink, a
Monroe,
La.-based telecommunications company that until now has had no
presence in
Terry
Beeler, former Western region president for CenturyLink, will be
president of the company's Southwest headquarters.
CenturyLink has more than 3,100 employees in Arizona, a decrease
from the 3,390 Qwest reported in 2010.
The company has more than 1.4 million
access lines in
Glen
F. Post III, CEO of CenturyLink, said the combined company would
be able to offer a wider variety of services than the two
companies could offer on their own.
The
Arizona Corporation Commission signed off on the deal in March
with the condition that CenturyLink invest $70 million in
broadband infrastructure in the state over the next five years.
Approval from the Federal Communications Commission came shortly
thereafter on the contingency that CenturyLink provide
affordable products and services to low-income residents.
CenturyLink also agreed to provide fast broadband, with speeds
of 12 megabits per second or more, and ultrafast broadband, with
speeds of 40 megabits per second, to more households and
businesses in Qwest's territory.
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