Embarq, CenturyTel Merger Approved by FCC

July 2, 2009 (Vol. 30, No. 13)

The FCC gave its blessing to the merger of Embarq and CenturyTel in a 34-page memorandum opinion and order adopted June 24. 

It was the last step in the merger process following approval by all of the commissions in the 33 states where  the carriers operate [VR 6/4/09].

CenturyTel will pay $11.6 billion in the deal, including $5.8 billion to cover Embarq’s debt.

The combined entity will be known as CenturyLink.

CenturyLink will have 7.5 million access lines, more than 2 million broadband customers and more than 400,000 video subscribers.

The two carriers agreed to several voluntary concessions as conditions of their merger, including reporting, broadband and service level commitments. (

Texting While Driving Bans Gain Momentum

July 2, 2009 (Vol. 30, No. 13)

Don’t wait for your state to pass a law!

Add a “no text messaging while driving” clause to your corporate cellular device policy if it’s not included already.

North Carolina became the latest state to ban texting while driving with the passage of a new law June 19.

Such mandates are now in place in 14 states, plus the District of Columbia.

Seven of those states implemented their bans in the first half of 2009, and the Governors Highway Safety Association says it sees no signs the momentum will slow.

More than 200 distracted driving regulations have been proposed in state legislations in the 2009 session, the GHSA says.

To see whether your state has passed a cell phone or text messaging ban, and for more information on distracted driving, visit http://ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/cellphone_laws.html. (

Cell Bill Aims to Slash Taxes

July 2, 2009 (Vol. 30, No. 13)

The “Mobile Wireless Tax Fairness Act,” introduced in the Senate on June 4, would restrict any state or local jurisdiction from imposing a new “discriminatory” tax on mobile communications services, providers or property for five years.

The bill is a reaction to consumer complaints about high local and state taxation of wireless services, which can add as much as 18% to the cost of a cell phone bill [VR 3/26/09].

The legislation (S.1192) is sponsored by a bipartisan group of six senators. It was referred to the Senate committee on finance where it must be approved before it moves to a vote by the full Senate.

A companion bill (H.R.1521) was introduced in the House on March 15, also calling for a five-year moratorium on new mobile taxes. That bill now sits with the House judiciary committee, which has scheduled a hearing to discuss it.

But don’t hold your breath: Similar bills introduced in the House last April and in the Senate last July sat for the remainder of 2008 and were never acted upon [VR 1/15/09].

Check out your state’s wireless taxes at www.thevoicereport.com/2009-03-26/WorkTool.

Overall, two-thirds of states had an increase in wireless taxes in 2008 from 2007, according to Scott Mackey, partner at Montpelier, Vt.-based government relations and public affairs firm Kimbell Sherman Ellis.

The national average rose less than a percent from 2007 to 2008, but taxes in some states, such as Montana, jumped almost one-fifth. (