A LOUISIANA TELELCOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY HAS PURCHASED EMBARQ IN A 12 BILLION DOLLAR DEAL. CENTURYTEL OF MONROE LOUISIANA CURRENTLY OPERATES IN 18 STATES AND EMPLOYS MORE THAN 17-THOUSAND PEOPLE. 700 OF THOSE JOBS ARE BASED OUT OF THE TRI-CITIES. THE COMPANY IS THE LARGEST INDEPENDENT LOCAL PROVIDER IN THE UNITED STATES AND SERVES LOCAL, LONG DISTANCE, HIGH SPEED DATA, AND WIRELESS SERVICES. THE COMBINED COMPANY WILL REACH ACROSS 33 STATES IN MOSTLY RURAL AREAS AND WILL OPERATE 8 MILLION ACCESS LINES.