CHICAGO-United States Cellular Corp. reached a trade agreement with BellSouth Corp. to acquire a 12-market cluster that provides cellular service to most of Wisconsin and parts of northern Illinois. Cities involved in the transaction include Milwaukee, Madison, Appleton, Green Bay and Sheboygan, Wis., and Rockford, Ill.
In exchange, United States Cellular will transfer a nine-market cluster in southern Indiana and Kentucky to BellSouth. In addition, BellSouth will receive a controlling interest in a central Tennessee market, investment interests in 13 other markets and cash.
“Strategically, this transaction greatly enhances our competitive position in the Midwest,” said LeRoy Carlson, chairman of United States Cellular. He noted that the new region is adjacent to markets the company operates in Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois and Missouri.
