Verizon to buy interest in Virgina 10 RSA

Verizon Wireless Inc. signed an agreement to purchase Shenandoah Telecommunications Co.’s 66-percent general partner interest in the Virginia 10 RSA L.P., which is currently held by Shentel’s Shenandoah Mobile Co. subsidiary. Financial terms of the deal were not released. The cellular network, which covers approximately 198,000 potential customers in Frederick, Shenandoah, Page, Warren, Clarke and Rappahannock counties, is managed by SMC and operating under the Shenandoah Cellular name. Verizon Wireless, which owned 1 percent of the partnership, said it will convert the network to the Verizon Wireless brand and integrate it with the carrier’s Washington/Baltimore & Virginia Region headquartered in Laurel, Md. Shenandoah said the sale, which is expected to close early next year, will allow it to focus on its role as a Sprint PCS affiliate, providing service in four states.