CenturyLink 2008 Annual Report Download - page 2

2008 Accomplishments
CenturyTel
Our network assets are an important point of
distinction for CenturyTel. We view our high-quality,
all-digital wireline, ber and CLEC market assets as
an integrated “ONE network” delivering advanced
communications products and services.
We strive to be the broadband leader in every market
we serve. CenturyTel has one of the highest broadband
penetration rates in our peer group. In 2008, we added
85,500 high-speed Internet customers, an increase
of 15.5 percent over 2007.
Strengthening Our ONE Network Serving Our Customers Supporting Our Communities
250,000 route miles
15.5% increase
Our ONE network includes nearly 250,000 total route
miles, including about 660 points of presence and
37,900 route miles of ber. Our core ber network
covers more than 12,000 route miles in the central
and southeastern United States.
We make thoughtful investments to strengthen our
network – deploying IP functionality along more than
3,300 route miles and next-generation optical tech-
nology across more than 5,600 route miles.
More than 70 percent of CenturyTel voice and data
trafc runs over our own network, giving us greater
ability to control costs and achieve efciencies.
70 percent
The proposed acquisition of EMBARQ will further
strengthen our network, creating additional scale that
will help enable the deployment of advanced products
and services to our customer base.
The number of customers choosing a bundled-
services offering from CenturyTel increased again in
2008, indicating our customers recognize and appre-
ciate the value and convenience inherent in bundling.
We are focused on winning and retaining customers
with neighborhood queues in our call centers, an
improved experience for centurytel.com visitors and
focused sales efforts such as our Multi-Dwelling
Unit team.
We’ve upgraded our 75 bill payment centers to full-
functioning customer service centers, better able to
meet the multi-faceted communications needs of
our customers. Select locations were converted to
Customer Experience Centers that offer customers
the ability to experience rsthand the full range
of CenturyTel services in an inviting, high-tech
environment.
In 2008, we completed the integration of Madison
River Communications Corp., moving all Madison River
customers to the CenturyTel customer care platform.
The actual synergies we realized exceeded our original
expectations by 18 percent.
Investing in quality network infrastructure enables us
to provide small-to-mid-size cities and rural commu-
nities with access to advanced communications that
are vital to their economic development.
In 2008, the Clarke M. Williams Student Success
Center opened on the campus of the University of
Louisiana at Monroe. CenturyTel made the lead gift
for the $2.7 million center in honor of Mr. Williams,
CenturyTel’s founder, and company employees
contributed generously as well.
In each market we serve,
CenturyTel supports efforts to
strengthen and
enhance the
local community.
In La Crosse, Wisconsin, CenturyTel employees
volunteered their time as part of the United Way Day
of Caring and their generous nancial support was
matched dollar for dollar by the company.
Branson, Missouri, employees and area residents
joined together last winter in the CenturyTel Hat and
Mitten Drive, collecting more than 200 brand new
mittens, hats, scarves and gloves of all sizes. These
items were distributed locally to those most in need.
Employees in Kalispell, Montana, held a food drive for the
Northwest Montana Veterans Food Pantry, collecting
more than 400 pounds of food for the monthly food
boxes provided to local veterans and their families. In
addition, CenturyTel made a donation to help kick start
the capital campaign for a new veterans’ facility.
In the Old Towne district in Olive Branch, Mississippi, a
CenturyTel gift funded building plaques and brochures
to help recognize the historic character of the district
and stimulate economic development.
Among our many efforts are: