BELLEVUE, Wash.-Western Wireless Corp. said it finished the purchase of the Brownsville and McAllen, Texas, cellular markets from CenturyTel Inc. for approximately $96 million in cash. The markets include the communities of Brownsville, McAllen, Harlingen, South Padre and surrounding areas.
Although CenturyTel sold the properties for more than the original purchase price, CenturyTel said that due to the company’s low-tax basis in the properties, it will report a one-time after-tax loss of approximately $11 million, or 8 cents per share, during the second quarter.
