A Restructured McLeod USA Contacts Agencies

McLeod USA, a tele com munications company that emerged from Chapter 11 bank ruptcy earlier this year, is talking to agencies about what could be a nearly $40 million account, sources said.

The Cedar Ra pids, Iowa, company, which provides local and long-distance phone ser vice in 23 Midwestern and Western states, has restructured since coming out of bankruptcy in April, shedding businesses, such as publishing and cable operations, in some of its markets.

While recent ad spending has been minimal, an analyst said McLeod needs to resurrect its brand and get its name back in front of consumers.

“They need to identify their key points of credibility,” said Randy Ringer, who heads up the telecommunications group at FutureBrand in New York.