<html><head></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; ">FCC approves CenturyLink, Qwest merger with conditions</span></div><p class="itals">Mar 23, 2011 12:02 PM
</p><p class="itals"><a href="http://broadcastengineering.com/news/fcc-approves-centurylink-qwest-merger-with-conditions-20110323/">http://broadcastengineering.com/news/fcc-approves-centurylink-qwest-merger-with-conditions-20110323/</a> </p><div><br></div>
<div id="clickability">The <a href="http://www.fcc.gov/" target="_blank">FCC</a> approved the merger March 18 of <a href="http://www.centurylink.com/" target="_blank">CenturyLink</a> and <a href="http://www.qwest.com/" target="_blank">Qwest Communications International</a>.</div><!--end paragraph-->
<!--begin paragraph--><p>As a condition of the approval, the FCC
imposed protections against the risk of harm to competition and ensured
the merged entity will live up to its commitments to expand its network
and launch a major broadband adoption program for low-income consumers,
an FCC statement said.</p><!--end paragraph-->
<!--begin paragraph--><p>Based on the companies’ agreement to certain
conditions, the FCC found that the potential public interest benefits of
the merger are likely to outweigh the potential harms. </p>
<!--end paragraph-->
<!--begin paragraph--><p>Among the conditions for approval were steps
to improve broadband adoption for low-income households. Specifically,
the conditions include requiring the launch of a major broadband
adoption program focused on connecting the millions of low-income
consumers in the combined company’s 37-state territory.</p><!--end paragraph-->
<!--begin paragraph--><p>The company also must offer qualifying
households broadband starting at less than $10 per month and a computer
for less than $150 and keep the window open for five years for
qualifying consumers to sign up. And, the company must make a
significant annual commitment to marketing, outreach and digital
literacy training and include detailed reporting on outcomes and an
independent analysis of the program’s effectiveness.</p>
<!--end paragraph-->
<!--end page-->
<!--endclickprintinclude-->
<!-- Pagination at the bottom of the page -->
<div class="pagination">
</div>
<!-- /Pagination -->
<div><br></div><div><br></div><br><div>
<div style="font-size: 12px; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div><div><div>------------------------------------------------------------</div><div>Richard Lowenberg<br>P. O. Box 8001, Santa Fe, NM 87504<br>505-989-9110 off.; 505-603-5200 cell</div><div>------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></body></html>