HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Windstream Corp.'s acquisition of D&E Communications Inc. phone and Internet company has the approval of Pennsylvania state utility regulators.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission voted 4-0 on Friday to approve the move. In a statement, the agency said the transaction is expected to be seamless to customers while promising better service and stable prices.

Little Rock, Ark.-based Windstream agreed in May to buy D&E for $159 million in stock and cash in a deal that nearly doubles the size of its business in Pennsylvania.

WINDSTREAM CORP  NYSE:WIN  Updated: 16:01 ET  10.08  -0.05

Ephrata, Pa.-based D&E has about 165,000 access lines and 44,000 high-speed Internet customers throughout eastern Pennsylvania.

Windstream provides digital phone, high-speed Internet and high-definition digital TV service and has about 3 million access lines in 16 states.

11/06/09 14:40 © Copyright The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained In this news report may not be published, broadcast or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.