[1st-mile-nm] Verizon Wireless to Purchase Southeastern New Mexico Rural Market

[Richard Lowenberg]

 Verizon Wireless To Purchase Southeastern New Mexico Rural Market

 02/17/2012

 http://news.verizonwireless.com/news/2012/02/pr2012-02-17e.html

 BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Verizon Wireless announced today it has signed a 
 definitive agreement to purchase wireless operating assets in New Mexico 
 RSA #6 (operated under the brand name Plateau Wireless), owned by 
 E.N.M.R. Telephone Cooperative and its subsidiary Plateau 
 Telecommunications. The purchase will expand Verizon Wireless’ brand and 
 network footprint in southeastern New Mexico to the counties of Eddy, 
 Chaves, Lea and a portion of Lincoln that it doesn’t already serve. 
 Financial terms are not being disclosed. The transaction is subject to 
 FCC approval and is expected to close in mid-year 2012.

 The purchase includes Plateau Wireless’ Cellular, PCS and AWS spectrum, 
 customers, and related GSM operations in the southeastern New Mexico 
 market. The licenses and the operating assets being acquired cover a 
 rural population of 259,000 and approximately 26,100 square miles, 
 including state highways US 285, US 54 and US 70. Major population 
 centers include Roswell, Carlsbad, Artesia and Hobbs, New Mexico.

 “We look forward to expanding our presence and coverage in rural New 
 Mexico and in welcoming Plateau Wireless’ customers to the nation’s most 
 reliable network,” said Brian Danfield, president of Verizon Wireless’ 
 Southwest Region.

 Verizon Wireless has invested more than $70 billion – more than $6 
 billion on average every year – since its inception to increase the 
 coverage and capacity of its premier nationwide network, including the 
 building and rapid expansion of its 4G LTE network which currently is 
 available to more than 200 million people.

 E.N.M.R. Telephone Cooperative was advised by RBC Capital Markets, LLC.

 About Verizon Wireless
 Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s largest 4G LTE network and 
 largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves nearly 108 million 
 total wireless connections, including 92.2 million retail customers. 
 Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with nearly 82,000 employees 
 nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon 
 Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD). For 
 more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request 
 broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon 
 Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library 
 at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

 About E.N.M.R. Telephone Cooperative and Plateau Telecommunications
 Formed in 1949 as Eastern New Mexico Rural Telephone Cooperative, 
 E.N.M.R. Telephone Cooperative and its subsidiary Plateau 
 Telecommunications provide advanced telecommunications services 
 (including 12,000 access lines and over 85,000 Internet and wireless 
 subscribers) in all or parts of 18 counties in eastern New Mexico and 12 
 counties in the Texas Panhandle. Plateau continues its commitment to 
 expand and strengthen the existing network to meet the rapidly changing 
 demands of its customers and remains focused in the investment in and 
 support of the rural communities served.


-- 
 Richard Lowenberg
 1st-Mile Institute
 Box 8001, Santa Fe, NM 87504
 505-989-9110 / 505-603-5200
 www.1st-mile.com
 rl at 1st-mile.com