Brooks Fiber Properties Inc., Town and Country, MO, has signed a definitive agreement with Century Telephone Enterprises Inc., in Monroe, LA, to merge Century`s Metro Access Networks Inc. and Brooks Fiber. Metro Access Networks, based in Irving, TX, is a competitive local exchange carrier that operates in seven Texas cities. The deal involves approximately five million shares of Brooks Fiber common stock, giving Century a 12% stake in Brooks Fiber. In addition, the two companies announced that they will form a joint venture to develop local exchange networks in Michigan.