Verizon Receives Final States Approval for MCI Buyout

The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (WUTC) on Friday gave its blessing to the merger of Verizon Communications Inc. and MCI Inc.

Washington State was the final hurdle for the companies to overcome; regulators approval sets the stage for Verizon to close its acquisition of MCI in early January.

Verizon and MCI now have received approval from 22 states and the District of Columbia.

The WUTC imposed several conditions on the companies. According to the commissions order, the combined Verizon-MCI must create a $1.25 million fund for projects that reduce the mergers harmful effects on competition and improve telecommunications services in its service territory; allow Verizon customers living in Anacortes, Mount Vernon, Sedro Woolley and Burlington to dial other numbers within Skagit County without paying long-distance charges; permit Verizon residential and business customers living in Arlington, Darrington, Granite Falls and Marysville to call each other without incurring long-distance fees; and eliminate the extra $15 residential and $30 business customers pay a month in Fairfield, Farmington, Latah, Rockford, Rosalia, Tekoa and Oakesdale so calls among those communities will be local.

MCI Inc. www.mci.com
Verizon Communications Inc. www.verizon.com