MADISON, Wis. (Dec. 1, 2009) – TDS Telecommunications Corp. (TDS®), a subsidiary of Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. [NYSE:TDS, TDS.S], announced today that it has acquired Union Telephone Company, Inc., a privately held telecommunications company in Farmington, N.H. The transaction includes approximately 8,500 access line equivalents, covering 150 square miles in rural, eastern New Hampshire.
“We look forward to the opportunity to serve the customers of Union Telephone Company with the same level of outstanding customer care and communications expertise that our existing TDS customers enjoy in the Granite State today. Union Telephone is an excellent company and a strong, strategic addition to our service area footprint in New Hampshire,” stated David Wittwer, president and chief executive officer of TDS Telecommunications Corp. “On behalf of our employees, customers, and shareholders, let me be the first to say, ‘Welcome to TDS’.”
TDS now operates five phone companies in the state. The company will expand its communications services through this acquisition by offering more phone, Internet, and online security options. DISH Network digital satellite television services will be added shortly.
Union Telephone Company serves all or portions of the towns of: Alton, Barnstead, Center Barnstead, Farmington, Gilmanton, New Durham and Strafford. Customers will not experience any immediate changes, nor will they need to take any immediate actions.
“We will work with the employees of Union Telephone Company to ensure a smooth transition for each of our customers,” added Wittwer. “Thank you in advance for your patience as we begin the hard work of carefully converting account information and transitioning critical infrastructure to the TDS platform.”
In time, customers within Union’s service area with worldpath.net Internet domains will be converted to tds.net addresses, but that change won’t occur for several months and customers will have access to email forwarding for a longer period of time to ensure a smooth transition. TDS customers will be notified and fully prepared for the ISP transition in advance of that change in 2010.
An important security reminder: TDS will communicate directly to all Union Telephone Company customers in their monthly statements or via direct postal mail in the coming weeks, not via email or phone. This will prevent fraudulent attempts to obtain customer information. TDS reminds customers not to give out personal information to unknown callers or to respond to email solicitations at any time. TDS also encourages customers to continue to interact with Union Telephone Company as they normally would until they are officially notified by mail of any changes.
Mazer Telecom Advisors of Denver, Colo., acted as financial advisor for Union Telephone Company, Inc. in the transaction. Terms of the agreement will not be disclosed.