Strengthening our competitive footprint is core to our customer satisfaction strategy, making the calling experience even better for our customers.

During the past three years, U.S. Cellular has launched service in 12 new markets, including Chicago. Each of these new markets builds on the company’s existing service territory. The company introduced service to Chicago in 2002. The next year, we launched eight new markets, all complementing our Midwest region footprint: Enid and Stillwater, Okla.; Omaha, Neb.; Council Bluffs, Iowa; St. Joseph, Mo.; Rochester, Minn.; and South Bend and Fort Wayne, Ind.

During 2004 we successfully launched service in three new markets, all acquired as part of a property exchange with AT&T Wireless — now Cingular Wireless — in August 2003. Service launched in Oklahoma City, Okla., and Lincoln, Neb., in July 2004, followed by Portland, Maine one month later.

We continued to divest non-strategic operating assets, including properties in Texas, Florida, Georgia and Ohio. Proceeds from these divestitures totaled more than $184 million in cash, providing funds for our market expansions.

In addition to broadening coverage and enhancing service to customers throughout its existing markets, U.S. Cellular will begin offering service to customers in St. Louis in 2005, creating the company’s second-largest market after Chicago. St. Louis and its surrounding communities complete a significant network construction initiative that will improve service for our customers in the Midwest.