Winning in New Markets
U.S. Cellular launched service in three important new markets in 2004: Oklahoma City, Okla. (now our third-largest market, after Chicago and Milwaukee), Lincoln, Neb., and Portland, Maine. These new markets expanded our regional footprints and greatly enhanced the value of our operations in existing markets. New customer activations in these markets exceeded our expectations and paved the way for the company’s continued growth.

We also completed the divestiture of non-strategic operations in Texas, Florida, Georgia and Ohio. Proceeds from these divestitures totaled more than $184 million in cash, providing funds for our market expansions.

To ensure that our customers’ satisfaction continues to exceed industry standards, we are expanding our network of Customer Care Centers. In November, the company announced plans to establish a new call center in Bolingbrook, Ill., in 2005. This state-of-the-art center will handle increased call volume associated with the growth of our overall customer base, in addition to specialty work in support of our easyedge offering. The Bolingbrook call center will employ more than 450 people when fully staffed in 2006. In December, we announced the expansion of our Knoxville, Tenn., Customer Care Center, adding 60 new positions to the 400 existing associates.