Contact: Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, Daniel P. Wolf
Telephone: 651.201.2217
Fax: 651.297.7073 

St. Paul, Minnesota - The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission today approved the acquisition of Qwest by CenturyLink. 

The Commission had taken up the matter at its February 10, 2011 meeting but had postponed any further action at that time. The Commission delayed a decision then in order to give Qwest and its competitors more time to work out their differences and to allow the Department of Commerce to provide additional input to the Commission. 

At its meeting today, the Commission was presented a series of six agreements that covered almost all of the involved parties. With these agreements in place, most of the outstanding issues were resolved. 

Today’s actions represent a broad agreement that the merger is in the public interest and should proceed. 

Under Minnesota law, the Commission must decide whether the post-merger company would have the financial and technical resources to continue to provide reliable, quality telecommunications services in the State. 

On May 14, 2010, Qwest and CenturyLink jointly petitioned the Commission for approval of a series of business transactions whereby Qwest would become a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of CenturyLink. 

A final written order formally documenting the Commission’s decision will be issued in several weeks. That order in dockets PA-10-456 / PA-10-1012 will be available on the Commission’s website via the Commission’s e-Dockets system.