Vermont and the U.S. Department of Justice filed a complaint against Verizon and Rural Cellular Corp., challenging the merger of the two companies’ cellular services. Verizon is the second largest wireless carrier in the U.S. and Rural Cellular is the 10th largest. Vermont and the United States alleged that, in the absence of a complete divestiture of overlapping assets, the combination of Verizon and Rural Cellular Corporation would likely substantially lessen competition for mobile wireless telecommunications services throughout Vermont, causing Vermont residents to face increased prices, diminished quality or quantity of services, and less investment in network improvements for these services. The parties reached a settlement, which requires Verizon and Rural Cellular Corporation to divest overlapping assets throughout Vermont, as well as a few areas of upstate New York and Washington State,