Pa. Regulators OK Windstream's Purchase Of D&E

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Windstream Corp.'s acquisition of D&E Communications Inc. phone and Internet company has the approval of Pennsylvania state utility regulators.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission voted 4-0 on Friday to approve the move. In a statement, the agency said the transaction is expected to be seamless to customers while promising better service and stable prices.

Little Rock, Ark.-based Windstream agreed in May to buy D&E for $159 million in stock and cash in a deal that nearly doubles the size of its business in Pennsylvania.

Ephrata, Pa.-based D&E has about 165,000 access lines and 44,000 high-speed Internet customers throughout eastern Pennsylvania.

Windstream provides digital phone, high-speed Internet and high-definition digital TV service and has about 3 million access lines in 16 states.