NATION BRIEFS

American Radio Systems Corp. completed its consent solicitation of its 11.38 percent cumulative exchangeable preferred stock with the majority of the stockholders giving the requested consent, ARS announced. ARS entered into a merger agreement with CBS Corp. on Sept. 19, under which its radio operations will become a wholly owned subsidiary of CBS. Consummation of the transaction is subject to regulatory approval and is expected in the spring. As a condition of the merger, ARS will distribute its communications tower business to its shareholders.

Energizer Battery Co. has extended its presence in the cellular and personal communications services marketplace by signing a distribution agreement with Cellular Accessory Warehouse to become a full-line distributor of Energizer batteries. The agreement, announced by Cellular Accessory Warehouse, includes cellular/PCS battery packs, refillable battery packs, AA and AAA alkaline batteries and primary rechargeable batteries.

Specialized mobile radio telecom services provider Chadmoore Wireless Group Inc. announced an agreement with Tetra Tech Inc. subsidiary, GeoTrans Wireless Inc., for GeoTrans to assist Chadmoore with network engineering for its TeamLink service. Chadmoore would like to fully commercialize its TeamLink service for small- and medium-sized businesses in up to 145 of its existing 158 markets, covering a population in excess of 50 million people, said the company.

L.A. Cellular Telephone Co. is now selling “PayFirst” prepaid cellular time cards at participating Southern California 7-Eleven stores, said the company. Customers can sign up by purchasing a $50 time card for 66 minutes of cellular time, at 75 cents per minute for local and long-distance calls and $1.95 for roaming. The prepaid time cards are valid for 30 days from the time of first use.

Motorola Inc.’s Cellular Infrastructure Group has signed a contract to supply approximately $5 million in digital Code Division Multiple Access base station equipment to Brookings Municipal Utilities. BMU, a C-block personal communications services operator, plans to deploy commercial wireless service in Sioux Falls, Watertown and Brookings, S.D., this summer.

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