MONROE, La., May 14, 2018 — CenturyLink, Inc. (NYSE:CTL, news, filings) announced today that the U.S. Department of Justice has approved the company’s sale of certain former Level 3 metro network assets in the Tucson, Ariz., area to FirstDigital Telecom, a telecommunications carrier in the western United States headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. This sale is subject to other governmental approvals, including the Federal Communications Commission, along with other customary closing conditions.
Last fall, CenturyLink entered into an agreement with the Department of Justice to divest, among other assets, former Level 3 metro fiber network assets in the metro areas of Albuquerque, N.M.; Boise, Idaho; and Tucson, Ariz., in connection with CenturyLink’s acquisition of Level 3. Once concluded, the sale of the Level 3 Tucson area network assets to FirstDigital Telecom will fulfill that part of the commitment.
Upon the close of sale, CenturyLink will continue to serve all former Level 3 customers in Tucson, unless they choose to be served by FirstDigital Telecom. Shortly after closing, should former Level 3 customers choose to be served by FirstDigital, they will be given the details about how to switch service to FirstDigital without penalty or delay. Where needed to provide uninterrupted service to its customers in Tucson, CenturyLink plans to purchase network connectivity and services from FirstDigital.
The proposed sale to FirstDigital Telecom does not include or affect the Tucson area networks and business assets CenturyLink operated prior to the Level 3 acquisition. CenturyLink retains those assets and will continue to provide telecommunications services to residential and business customers in Tucson.
Wesley McDougal, the President & CEO of FirstDigital, said, “We look forward to entering the Tucson market with our customer-centric business solutions and a full product mix of fiber-based services. We have worked together with CenturyLink in the western United States for over 20 years and are confident the transition will be seamless.”
The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Additional Resources
- U.S. Department of Justice clears CenturyLink’s acquisition of Level 3: http://news.centurylink.com/U-S-Department-of-Justice-clears-CenturyLinks-acquisition-of-Level-3
About CenturyLink
CenturyLink (NYSE: CTL) is the second largest U.S. communications provider to global enterprise customers. With customers in more than 60 countries and an intense focus on
the customer experience, CenturyLink strives to be the world’s best networking company by solving customers’ increased demand for reliable and secure connections. The company also serves as its customers’ trusted partner, helping them manage increased network and IT complexity and providing managed network and cyber security solutions that help protect their business.
About FirstDigital Telecom
FirstDigital Telecom is a leading fiber-based carrier in the western United States providing a full suite of Business services including Local Voice, Long Distance, Internet, VOIP, CO-Location, Managed Services and Fiber-to-the-Tower/Premise. Since 2000, FirstDigital has built, operated and maintained fiber networks for enterprises, government, health care, education and financial institutions. The company’s customer-centric model gives clients overall economic value, an industry-leading quality of service experience and increased business productivity.
Forward Looking Statements
Except for the historical and factual information contained herein, the matters set forth in this release, including statements regarding the expected timing and benefits of the proposed transaction, and other statements identified by words such as “will,” “expects,” “plans,” “intends” and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, many of which are beyond our control. Actual events and results may differ materially from those anticipated, estimated or projected if one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if underlying assumptions prove incorrect. Factors that could affect actual results include but are not limited to: the ability of the parties to timely and successfully receive the required approvals of regulatory agencies, the ability of the parties to achieve all required licenses or authorizations, and potential changes in regulation, competition or technology. There can be no assurance that the proposed transaction described above will in fact be consummated in the manner described or at all. You should be aware that new factors may emerge from time to time and it is not possible for us to identify all such factors nor can we predict the impact of each such factor on the proposed transaction. You should not place undue reliance on these forward‑looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this document. Unless legally required, CenturyLink and FirstDigital Telecom undertake no obligation and each expressly disclaim any such obligation, to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Media Contact:
Linda M. Johnson, CenturyLink
202-429-3130
linda.m.johnson@centurylink.com
Wesley J. McDougal, FirstDigital Telecom
801-456-1005
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