U.S. Cellular to sell select midwest markets to Sprint

[booboo12]

USSC is going bye bye!!!




07 November 2012

Sprint to Acquire Spectrum and Customers in the Midwest from U.S. Cellular for $480 Million

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), November 07, 2012 - Sprint (NYSE: S) today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with U.S. Cellular (NYSE: USM) to acquire PCS spectrum and customers in parts of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri and Ohio including the Chicago and St. Louis markets for $480 million in cash and the assumption of certain liabilities. The additional spectrum will be used to supplement Sprint’s coverage in these areas as it continues to deploy its Network Vision upgrade and roll out 4G LTE nationally.

“This transaction will enable us to strengthen our business and become a more robust competitor,” said Dan Hesse, Sprint’s CEO. “Acquiring this spectrum will significantly increase Sprint’s network capacity and improve the customer experience in several important Midwest markets including Chicago and St. Louis. We welcome the new customers in these markets and look forward to providing them with Sprint’s unique combination of unlimited plans, an iconic device portfolio and unmatched customer service.”

Under the terms of the agreement, Sprint will acquire 20 MHz of PCS spectrum in the 1900 MHz band in various Midwest markets including Chicago, South Bend, Ind. and Champaign, Ill. and 10 MHz of PCS spectrum in the St. Louis market. In addition, the transaction involves approximately 585,000 U.S. Cellular customers. U.S Cellular will continue its business operations outside of these markets following the closing.

The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals by the Department of Justice and the Federal Communications Commission and is expected to close in mid-2013. In the meantime, the accounts and service of U.S. Cellular customers in these markets will not change. Once the transaction is closed, Sprint will provide additional information on transition plans. Customers with questions can go to USCellularinfo.com to learn more. U.S. Cellular Information Resource Center

http://www.uscellularinfo.com/USCell...e_11072012.pdf

U.S. Cellular Information Resource Center

On November 7, U.S. Cellular announced that it has reached an agreement to sell its Chicago, St. Louis, central Illinois and three other Midwest markets to Sprint Nextel Corp.

 

[Zebulon]

Read it again. They're selling a few markets, not their entire network. Personally, this is probably a good thing for USCC. They don't have crap for coverage in St. Louis (at least they didn't a couple of years ago when I was down there last) or the other markets. It seems that they are working on focusing on the areas where they are strongest, rather than investing tons of cash in markets where they don't have much of a market share.

 

[kmf]

No longer a USCC customer. Now a Verizon customer. 4G in New Hampton,Ia; 4G in Rochester,Mn; 4G in Chicagoland; all places that are not/may not ever be 4G as a USCC customer, and all places that I spend a lot of time. I've been with USCC since 1998, but it was time for a change. I just don't feel that USCC is acting in my best interests any longer. Too bad, but absolutely no complaints so far.

 

[matt88si]

I jumped the gun and went ahead and took advantage of Sprint's Black Friday deals to get 2 S3's for $50 each. Couldn't be happier! Once Sprint gets control of those USCC towers reception will be amazing everywhere.

 

[booboo12]

I jumped the gun and went ahead and took advantage of Sprint's Black Friday deals to get 2 S3's for $50 each. Couldn't be happier! Once Sprint gets control of those USCC towers reception will be amazing everywhere.

Sprint will not acquire any equipment in the sale. NONE!

 

[tritiumman]

No longer a USCC customer. Now a Verizon customer. 4G in New Hampton,Ia; 4G in Rochester,Mn; 4G in Chicagoland; all places that are not/may not ever be 4G as a USCC customer, and all places that I spend a lot of time. I've been with USCC since 1998, but it was time for a change. I just don't feel that USCC is acting in my best interests any longer. Too bad, but absolutely no complaints so far.

How do you like Verizon KMF?

 

[kmf]

@ tritiumman...So far so good. I have 4g in my home town, and other important areas to me. I called Verizon tech support a week or so ago, after my wife's Razzr M received the Jelly Bean update, and the response time was quick and very effective. Just as helpful as USCC has been for me. No regrets.

 

[bearballz]

Yeah one of my co-workers and his wife were long time USCC customers here in Chicago. He really wanted a Note 2 but USCC wasn't really giving him any concrete answers about how the buyout in the Midwest markets was going to affect him or when the transfer over to Sprint were going to take place in 2013.

So he paid the ETF which about a $100.00 and jumped to Verizon. Guess he's been pretty happy so far.

 

[TwistedWrister]

Any updates from the buyout of markets?

I work at a Sprint dealer in the region and can't find much about it.

Customer's are still paying ETF's switching over to my knowledge.

 

[booboo12]

I was that sprint is going to change its name....

 

[zajrik]

I can't help but be amused every time I see Overland Park anywhere.

 

[Cam501]

I bet Spring can't change their name anytime soon because of their contract with Nascar. Same reason that they kept the Nextel name around for several years. I kinda wish they kept the Nextel name and got rid of the Sprint name cause it sounded cooler haha.