LITTLE ROCK, Ark.-Alltel Corp. and Bell Atlantic Corp. completed the first phase of a transaction to swap wireless interests in 13 states, eliminating the overlapping cellular operations that would be created by the combination of Bell Atlantic and Vodafone AirTouch plc wireless properties.
The first phase, approved by the Federal Communications Commission, involved wireless areas in Nevada, Iowa, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.
The second phase is expected to be completed concurrent with the closing of the merger between Bell Atlantic and GTE by mid-year.
