Verizon South
Encyclopedia
Verizon South, Inc. is a Verizon operating company providing local telephone services to portions of Virginia
and North Carolina
in the United States
.
including its namesake Bluefield
. The company's first president was R.A. Phillips and was formally incorporated by Judson Large, Dean A. Esling, Richard L. Merrick, William W. Darrow, and Roland K. Smith, Jr.
The company changed its name to Bluefield Telephone Company on January 16, 1948.
and in 1954 changed its name to General Telephone Company of the Southeast on June 25, 1954. The company began expansion under GTE ownership, absorbing a large group of telephone companies acquired in 1957. These companies included Durham Telephone Company of North Carolina
, Georgia Continental Telephone Company, South Carolina Continental Telephone Company, Southeastern Carolina Telephone Company, Southern Continental Telephone Company, and Sumter Telephone Company. In 1970, the company absorbed more GTE
companies, including General Telephone Company of Georgia, General Telephone Company of North Carolina, Mutual Telephone Company, Inc., and Pee Dee Telephone Company, Inc.
In 1986, the company changed its name to General Telephone Company of the South, later shortening in 1988 to GTE South Incorporated. At this point, GTE South served Alabama
, Georgia
, Kentucky
, North Carolina
, South Carolina
, Tennessee
, Virginia
, and West Virginia
.
In 1993, GTE traded GTE South's Georgia operations with Alltel
's Illinois
operations.
In 1994, GTE sold its operations in West Virginia (Citizens of West Virginia
) and Tennessee to Citizens Communications (which later became Frontier Communications). GTE also acquired Contel
, and Contel of Kentucky, Contel of North Carolina, Contel of South Carolina, and Contel of Virginia were legally merged into GTE South.
, forming Verizon. GTE South was then renamed Verizon South, Inc.
In 2002, Verizon sold its operations in Alabama to CenturyTel, becoming CenturyTel of Alabama
. Verizon also sold its operations in Kentucky to Alltel
, becoming Kentucky ALLTEL, Inc. (who later spun off its wireline operations as Windstream
and the company becoming Windstream Kentucky East LLC).
), and South Carolina were included in a sale of Verizon assets, placed under the ownership of Frontier Communications ILEC Holdings
, to Frontier Communications. The operations in those states became Frontier Communications of the Carolinas
.
and Knotts Island, North Carolina
.
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
and North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
History
Verizon South was originally established in 1947 as The Bluefield Telephone Corporation, providing telephone service to communities in VirginiaVirginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
including its namesake Bluefield
Bluefield, Virginia
Bluefield is a town in Tazewell County, Virginia, along the Bluestone River. The population was 5,078 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Bluefield WV-VA micropolitan area which has a population of 107,578...
. The company's first president was R.A. Phillips and was formally incorporated by Judson Large, Dean A. Esling, Richard L. Merrick, William W. Darrow, and Roland K. Smith, Jr.
The company changed its name to Bluefield Telephone Company on January 16, 1948.
Acquisition by GTE
Bluefield Telephone 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....
and in 1954 changed its name to General Telephone Company of the Southeast on June 25, 1954. The company began expansion under GTE ownership, absorbing a large group of telephone companies acquired in 1957. These companies included Durham Telephone Company of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, Georgia Continental Telephone Company, South Carolina Continental Telephone Company, Southeastern Carolina Telephone Company, Southern Continental Telephone Company, and Sumter Telephone Company. In 1970, the company absorbed more 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....
companies, including General Telephone Company of Georgia, General Telephone Company of North Carolina, Mutual Telephone Company, Inc., and Pee Dee Telephone Company, Inc.
In 1986, the company changed its name to General Telephone Company of the South, later shortening in 1988 to GTE South Incorporated. At this point, GTE South served 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...
, 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...
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, and West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
.
In 1993, GTE traded GTE South's Georgia operations with 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 Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
operations.
In 1994, GTE sold its operations in West Virginia (Citizens of West Virginia
Citizens Telecommunications Company of West Virginia
Citizens Telecommunications Company of West Virginia is the local exchange carrier of telephone service in some regions in West Virginia.The company was founded in 1897 as the Short Line Telephone Company. In 1975, the company changed its name to Mountain State Telephone Company...
) and Tennessee to Citizens Communications (which later became Frontier Communications). GTE also acquired 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 Contel of Kentucky, Contel of North Carolina, Contel of South Carolina, and Contel of Virginia were legally merged into GTE South.
Acquisition by Verizon
In 2000, Bell Atlantic bought 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....
, forming Verizon. GTE South was then renamed Verizon South, Inc.
In 2002, Verizon sold its operations in Alabama to CenturyTel, becoming 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...
. Verizon also sold its operations in Kentucky to 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...
, becoming Kentucky ALLTEL, Inc. (who later spun off its wireline operations as Windstream
Windstream Communications
Windstream Corporation is a local telephone provider. With headquarters in Little Rock, Ark., Windstream is an S&P 500 communications and technology company with operations in 29 states and the District of Columbia and about $4 billion in annual revenues...
and the company becoming Windstream Kentucky East LLC).
Split
In 2010, operations in southern Illinois, southern Wisconsin, North Carolina (with the exception of Knotts IslandKnotts Island, North Carolina
Knotts Island is a small unincorporated community in Currituck County, North Carolina. The community is located on a marshy island, bordered by the Currituck Sound, North Landing River, Back Bay, and Knotts Island Bay. Knotts Island is home to Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge. Knotts Island...
), and South Carolina were included in a sale of Verizon assets, placed under the ownership of Frontier Communications ILEC Holdings
Frontier 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...
, to Frontier Communications. The operations in those states became Frontier Communications of the Carolinas
Frontier Communications of the Carolinas
Frontier Communications of the Carolinas, Inc. is an operating company created in 2009 when some assets of Verizon South were split off and sold to Frontier Communications. The company provides local telephone service to former Verizon customers in portions of southern Wisconsin, Illinois, South...
.
Today
Verizon South remains a current operating company of Verizon serving former GTE and Contel regions in VirginiaVirginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
and Knotts Island, North Carolina
Knotts Island, North Carolina
Knotts Island is a small unincorporated community in Currituck County, North Carolina. The community is located on a marshy island, bordered by the Currituck Sound, North Landing River, Back Bay, and Knotts Island Bay. Knotts Island is home to Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge. Knotts Island...
.