Contel of the South
Encyclopedia
Frontier Midstates, Inc. is a telephone operating company of Frontier Communications serving Indiana
and Michigan
. It was originally owned by Contel
, and later purchased by GTE
, Verizon, and Frontier.
. As a subsidiary of Contel
, it adopted the name Continental Telephone Company of the South. It expanded as it absorbed the operations various companies in Alabama
and Georgia, including Alabama Telephone Company in 1975, Coosa Valley Telephone Company, and Tri-County Telephone Company, Incorporated in 1978. The company adopted its abbreviated name, Contel of the South, Inc., in 1988.
in 1991 and the operating company began doing business as GTE Systems of the South. It was not associated with GTE South, a separate operating company.
On October 31, 1993, Contel of the South and Alltel
traded service regions. Contel of the South regions in Georgia
area were traded for Alltel
's Indiana
and Michigan
service regions.
In 2002, Verizon sold its operations in Alabama
, including those from Contel of the South and GTE South to CenturyTel. Those operations became CenturyTel of Alabama
.
The company remained one of two former GTE
operating companies to have retained its original name since acquisition by Verizon (the other is GTE Southwest
); it also remained the only operating company using the Contel name.
, which was acquired by Frontier Communications on July 1, 2010. Contel of the South, Inc., at that point, became Frontier Midstates, Inc.
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
and Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. It was originally owned by Contel
Contel
ConTel Corporation was the third largest independent phone company in the United States prior to the 1996 telecom deregulation. It was acquired by GTE in 1991.-Early 20th Century:...
, and later purchased by GTE
GTE
GTE Corporation, formerly General Telephone & Electronics Corporation was the largest independent telephone company in the United States during the days of the Bell System....
, Verizon, and Frontier.
History
The company was established in 1956 to provide telephone service in GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. As a subsidiary of Contel
Contel
ConTel Corporation was the third largest independent phone company in the United States prior to the 1996 telecom deregulation. It was acquired by GTE in 1991.-Early 20th Century:...
, it adopted the name Continental Telephone Company of the South. It expanded as it absorbed the operations various companies in Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
and Georgia, including Alabama Telephone Company in 1975, Coosa Valley Telephone Company, and Tri-County Telephone Company, Incorporated in 1978. The company adopted its abbreviated name, Contel of the South, Inc., in 1988.
Acquisition by GTE
Contel was acquired by GTEGTE
GTE Corporation, formerly General Telephone & Electronics Corporation was the largest independent telephone company in the United States during the days of the Bell System....
in 1991 and the operating company began doing business as GTE Systems of the South. It was not associated with GTE South, a separate operating company.
On October 31, 1993, Contel of the South and Alltel
Alltel
Alltel Corporation is a wireless service provider, primarily based in the United States. Before an acquisition by Verizon Wireless, it served 34 states. After the merger, Alltel continues to serve six states, mostly in rural areas...
traded service regions. Contel of the South regions in Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
area were traded for Alltel
Alltel
Alltel Corporation is a wireless service provider, primarily based in the United States. Before an acquisition by Verizon Wireless, it served 34 states. After the merger, Alltel continues to serve six states, mostly in rural areas...
's Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
and Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
service regions.
Acquisition by Verizon
In 2000, GTE was purchased by Bell Atlantic, becoming Verizon. Contel of the South began doing business as Verizon Mid-States and Verizon North Systems.In 2002, Verizon sold its operations in Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, including those from Contel of the South and GTE South to CenturyTel. Those operations became CenturyTel of Alabama
CenturyTel of Alabama
CenturyTel of Alabama, LLC is a telephone operating company owned by CenturyLink that provides local telephone service in Alabama.The company was established in 2002 upon CenturyTel's purchase of lines from Verizon Communications. The lines in Alabama were split from Verizon South and Contel of the...
.
The company remained one of two former GTE
GTE
GTE Corporation, formerly General Telephone & Electronics Corporation was the largest independent telephone company in the United States during the days of the Bell System....
operating companies to have retained its original name since acquisition by Verizon (the other is GTE Southwest
GTE Southwest
GTE Southwest Incorporated is a Verizon operating company serving a former GTE region. GTE Southwest, at its peak, originally served Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico.Its original name upon founding was State Telephone Company of Texas...
); it also remained the only operating company using the Contel name.
Sale to Frontier
Contel of the South, along with several other Verizon wireline operating companies, were transferred to a new holding company New Communications ILEC HoldingsFrontier Communications ILEC Holdings
Frontier Communications ILEC Holdings, Inc. is a company created by Verizon Communications in 2009. The company, sold to Frontier Communications on July 1, 2010, serves as a holding company for former Bell System, Contel, and GTE telephone operating companies that were owned by Verizon prior to...
, which was acquired by Frontier Communications on July 1, 2010. Contel of the South, Inc., at that point, became Frontier Midstates, Inc.