We are pleased to have established the principle with Sprint PCS for determining the travel rate that provides certainty in our long term agreement during a time in which the wireless industry continues to evolve. Sprint and its affiliates make up the nation's largest all-digital wireless network covering 227 million people, or more than 80 percent of the U.S. population. Together, they have led the industry in subscriber growth for 11 consecutive quarters with more than 11 million subscribers. The Sprint affiliate program has grown dramatically since its inception in June 1998 and includes 14 affiliates in 43 states with more than one million subscribers and licensed PCS coverage for more than 76 million people. The affiliate program reported substantial growth in the first quarter of 2001, launching 25 new affiliate markets and surpassing a milestone of one million subscribers.
Sprint is a large carrier of Internet traffic and a leader in broadband communications.
Sprint PCS has licensed PCS coverage of more than 280 million people in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.