Competition for Citizens

The U.S. Department of Justice ruled that Citizens Communications Co. cannot prevent two cable television carriers from offering competing voice telephone services in eastern Pennsylvania.
In March, Stamford-based Citizens completed a $1.3 billion acquisition of Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, which held previous agreements restricting Blue Ridge Communications and Service Electric Cablevision from offering phone service in the rural territory.
Since the close of the deal, Citizens has eliminated or relocated 80 Commonwealth Telephone jobs.
In separate Citizens news, the company is acquiring Evans Telephone Holdings Inc. for $62 million. Evans provides telephone service south of Modesto, Calif., via its Global Valley Networks division, which has approximately 15,000 lines in service.