CenturyLink will maintain Qwest's local look and feel

When Monroe, La.-based CenturyLink completes its acquisition of Qwest next year, there's an obvious fear by both customers and employees that the company will lose its connection with the local communities it serves, but it appears that won't be the case.

Although the combined company, which will continue to be known as CenturyLink, will be based in Monroe, La., CEO Glen Post wants to maintain a locally focused model that is in tune with the markets it serves.  

Post said that it will "keep a significant employee presence in Denver," Qwest's home base, adding that "Denver is one of our largest markets, so it's a very important city for us to be involved in."

One thing that Post will likely change when he takes the reins of the combined company, is expanding the combined company's TV service set, a service current Qwest CEO decided to abandon in favor of online video and satellite in late 2008. CenturyLink is already trialing IPTV over copper in three markets and plans to add five more by mid-2011. Post said that CenturyLink will offer IPTV in some Qwest markets, but gave no specific timeline or other details.  

For more:
- The Denver Post has this article

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