Verizon to Buy Dobson Properties in 4 States

Verizon Wireless Inc. said it will acquire Dobson Communications Corp.’s wireless operations in California, Georgia, Ohio and Tennessee for $465 million to expand its coverage and cut the fees it pays to transmit calls over rival networks. The Dobson properties cover a potential 950,000 customers and are surrounded by existing Verizon Wireless networks.

Buying the networks will allow Verizon Wireless to fill gaps in its network coverage and eliminate the so-called roaming fees it pays to transmit customers’ calls over Dobson’s networks.

Verizon Wireless is owned by Verizon Communications Inc. and Britain’s Vodafone Group.