NEWS
	Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554	News media information 202 / 418-0500 Fax-On-Demand 202 / 418-2830 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov TTY: 202/418-2555
	This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974).
	FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: Emily Hoffnar 202/418-0253 Report No. CC 99-23 COMMON CARRIER ACTION June 30, 1999
	FCC APPROVES MERGER OF ALLTEL CORPORATION AND ALIANT COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
	Today the Commission approved the transfer of control of communications licenses and authorizations from Aliant Communications, Inc. to ALLTEL Corporation, thereby granting the companies' merger application. In accordance with the Communications Act, merger applicants must persuade the Commission that their proposed merger will serve the public interest. As described in the Commission's Order, to be released at a later date, the Commission concluded that the merger is unlikely to result in any potential public interest harms. The Commission also found that there will be economies of scale achieved by the combination of the two companies operations, given their current limited size, and that the merger is likely to produce at least some tangible public interest benefits. Based on these determinations, the Commission concluded that the merger is in the public interest. The Commission also concluded that special circumstances exist to justify a waiver of its rules to permit ALLTEL, which is under rate-of-return regulation, to remain under rate-of-return regulation after the merger with Aliant, which is under price cap regulation. The Commission further determined that it is in the public interest to permit Aliant to convert from price cap regulation to rate-of-return regulation after the merger with ALLTEL. ALLTEL is a telecommunications and information company headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas. Aliant, headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska, is a telecommunications company providing service in southeast Nebraska. As a result of the merger, Aliant will become a wholly- owned subsidiary of ALLTEL. Action by the Commission, June 30, 1999, by Memorandum Opinion and Order (FCC 99- 156). Chairman Kennard, Commissioners Ness, Tristani, and Powell; Commissioner Furchtgott- Roth approving in part and concurring in part and issuing a statement. Common Carrier Bureau contact: Renee Terry at (202) 418-1520 -FCC-