PR-10-96 -- Intervention Deadline Set In Telephone Merger Case

Contact: Gregg Ochoa (573) 522-2760

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- DECEMBER 23, 2009

JEFFERSON CITY---Iowa Telecommunications Services, Inc., d/b/a Iowa Telecom, Windstream Corporation and Buffalo Merger Sub, Inc. have filed a joint notification of agreement and plan of merger with the Missouri Public Service Commission. 

The notice indicates that Windstream is acquiring Iowa Telecom through the merger between Iowa Telecom and Buffalo Merger Sub.  As part of the merger, Iowa Telecom will merge with and into Buffalo Merger Sub and the separate corporate existence of Iowa Telecom will cease.

Iowa Telecom currently provides local exchange service to approximately 70 customers in Missouri from three Iowa exchanges that extend into the Missouri counties of Clark, Nodaway and Putnam.  After the merger, those customers would be served by Buffalo Merger Sub.  After the transaction is complete, the name Buffalo Merger Sub will be changed to Windstream Iowa Communications, Inc.

The applicants contend the Commission does not have jurisdiction over the merger so they do not ask the Commission to approve the transaction.  However, Buffalo Merger Sub will need a certificate of service authority to serve its customers after the merger and the applicants ask the Commission to grant Buffalo Merger Sub certificates of basic local exchange and interexchange service authority.

Applications to intervene and participate in this case must be filed no later than January 11, 2010, with the Secretary of the Missouri Public Service Commission, P.O. Box 360, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102.  Copies of the application should be sent to: Larry Dority, FISCHER & DORITY, P.C., 101 Madison, Suite 400, Jefferson City, Missouri 65101; and the Office of the Public Counsel, P.O. Box 2230, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102.

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Case No. IM-2010-0186