United States Cellular Corporation provides wireless telephone service to 4,103,000 customers through the operations of 149 majority-owned (consolidated) wireless systems serving approximately 18% of the geography and approximately 13% of the population of the United States. Since 1985, when the Company began providing cellular service in Knoxville, Tennessee, and Tulsa, Oklahoma, it has expanded its wireless networks and customer service operations to cover eight market areas in 25 states as of December 31, 2002. United States Cellular owns wireless licenses covering territories in two additional states and has the rights to commence service in those licensed areas in the future. The wireless licenses that the Company manages cover a total population of more than one million in each market area.