CenturyLink (NYSE: CTL) got a double shot of approvals this week for its pending acquisition of Qwest (NYSE: Q) from both the Nebraska and the Utah Public Service Commission (PSC).
The Nebraska PSC approved the deal with similar concessions that other states have placed on the deal. Those concessions included an agreement by both ILECs to invest at least $10 million in Nebraska's broadband infrastructure over the next five years.
When the deal is completed sometime by the middle of this year, the combined company will serve over 200,000 access lines in Nebraska.
Not long after Nebraska gave its thumbs up for the deal, the Utah PSC voted to approve the deal at its Jan. 4 meeting in Salt Lake City.
Like Nebraska, the combined company had to agree to invest at least $25 million in Utah's broadband infrastructure over five years. Upon completion of the merger, the combined service provider will serve more than 600,000 access lines throughout the state.
To date, 17 states including Colorado, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice, and the District of Columbia have approved the merger. The FCC also still needs to approve the deal.
For more:
- see the Nebraska release
- and the Utah release
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