MONROE, La. (AP) – CenturyTel Inc. says it expects to close its acquisition of Embarq Corp. on July 1 following approval of the deal by the Federal Communications Commission.

The FCC action announced Thursday was the last-needed regulatory approval.

CenturyTel, the Monroe, La.-based telecommunications provider, said earlier that the company's new name will be CenturyLink (story here). The company's stock will continue to trade under the symbol CTL.

CenturyTel announced last year that it was buying Overland Park, Kan.-based Embarq, the nation's fourth-largest traditional telephone company.

The deal earlier was approved by all 33 states in which the two companies operate.