News Roundup: The Latest on CenturyLink and Qwest

By being named to Bloomberg BusinessWeek's Tech 100, CenturyLink's (NYSE: CTL) profile has risen above its small independent ILEC roots. Bloomberg's designation comes only two months after CenturyLink gained a spot on Fortune 500's largest U.S. companies list.  

CenturyLink, which just officially changed its name two weeks ago, is ranked No. 7 and is No. 4 among U.S. companies on the list.

http://www.fiercetelecom.com/story/centurylink-secures-spot-bloombergs-tech100-list/2010-06-02

Four Qwest senior executives will remain in similar roles after the company merges with CenturyLink, according to a regulatory filing. http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_15346470

 Nearly all Oregonians will get a new phone company in the next year.

The transition starts at the end of this month, when Connecticut-based Frontier Communications takes over Verizon's local phone, Internet and cable TV operations -- including more than 300,000 phone lines in Oregon.

It continues in 2011 when CenturyLink of Louisiana expects to complete its purchase of Qwest Communications, which has 800,00 access lines in the state. http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2010/06/as_phone_business_shrinks_phon.html

"Cablevision Systems Corp., now that it’s moving west with the $1.37 billion purchase of privately held Bresnan Communications, is setting itself up for battle with Qwest Communications International Inc., soon to be owned by CenturyLink. " http://www.billingworld.com/news/2010/06/cablevision-with-bresnan-in-fold-set-to-battle-qwest-centurylink.aspx

Prior to accepting a takeover offer from CenturyLink in April, Qwest held merger-and-acquisition discussions with two other companies, including a private equity firm, according to a regulatory filing.

http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_15230722