Alltel Corp. executives declined to say Wednesday whether they would pursue a hostile takeover of CenturyTel Inc. after the communications provider rejected its $6.1 billion unsolicited offer.
Providing phone services in the Forks-West End area of Clallam and Jefferson counties and in rural areas, suburbs and small towns in 20 other states, CenturyTel is based in Monroe, La.
CenturyTel also offers cable TV, long-distance, Internet access and business data services, and security monitoring in some markets.
The company has about 6,800 employees, is upgrading its analog cellular systems to digital time division multiple access technology.
Alltel president Scott Ford told analysts in a conference call that he hoped CenturyTel would reconsider the Little Rock, Ark. company’s offer, which he said would create the largest rural telecommunications company in the nation.
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