Exhibit 99





Contact:  Murray L. Swanson                    Karen M. Stewart
          Executive Vice President - Finance   Vice President-Investor Relations
          (312) 630-1900                       (608) 828-8316
          e-mail: murray.swanson@teldta.com    e-mail: karen.stewart@teldta.com

FOR RELEASE: IMMEDIATE

   TDS TO ACQUIRE REMAINING INTEREST IN AMERICAN PAGING, INC.

February  10,  1998,  Chicago,  Illinois  -  Telephone  and Data  Systems,  Inc.
[AMEX:TDS] and American Paging, Inc.  [AMEX:APP]  announced today that they have
entered  into a  definitive  agreement  for TDS to acquire all of the issued and
outstanding shares of common stock of APP not already owned by TDS for $2.50 per
share in cash. The transaction  was recommended by a Special  Committee of APP's
independent  directors  and approved by APP's board of  directors.  Paine Webber
Incorporated  acted as financial advisor to the Special Committee of independent
directors of APP.

TDS's  offer  was  made in  connection  with a  definitive  agreement  announced
December  23,  1997  between  TDS and TSR  Paging,  Inc.  ("TSR") to combine the
businesses of APP and TSR. The agreement  with TSR requires that TDS acquire the
outstanding  shares of  common  stock of APP not  already  owned by TDS for cash
prior to the  combination of APP and TSR. The parties are currently  seeking FCC
approvals  in  connection  with  that  transaction,  which is  subject  to other
customary closing conditions as well.

TDS currently owns 16.5 million shares of APP common stock,  which,  on February
9,  1998,  represented  81.9% of the issued and  outstanding  shares.  Under the
agreement with APP, a subsidiary of TDS will commence a tender offer on or prior
to  February  18,  1998,  to acquire the APP  shares.  The tender  offer will be
subject to satisfaction of the closing  conditions in the TDS/TSR  agreement and
to other customary  conditions.  Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation acted as
financial advisor to TDS.

All shares not purchased in the tender offer will be converted into the right to
receive $2.50 per share in a  second-step  merger to be  consummated  as soon as
practicable after the tender offer.

TDS is a  Chicago-based  telecommunications  company with  established  cellular
telephone,  local  telephone  and radio paging  operations  and  developing  PCS
operations.  TDS  strives  to build  value  for its  shareholders  by  providing
excellent communications services in attractive, closely related segments of the
telecommunications industry.

TDS Internet Home Page:  http://www.teldta.com