DNCC Goes With Qwest
By Nicole Belle Wednesday Jan 02, 2008 3:02pm
Nice to see the DNCC 'voting with their wallet,' so to speak.
You probably remember this revelation about the pre-9/11 wiretapping, and how it landed the CEO of Qwest in jail because he refused to break the law [..]
Today, the Democratic National Convention Committee announced their choice for a telecommunications provider for the convention in a press release:
The Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) and Denver-based Qwest Communications International Inc. (NYSE: Q) announced today that Qwest has been named as the official telecommunications provider for the 2008 Democratic National Convention, to be held Aug. 25-28 in Denver. In that role, Qwest will provide the network and people to help link the Convention to a nationwide and worldwide audience.[..]
The release didn't say anything about the wiretapping issue, just the Denver connections. Still, it seems a fine thing that they picked the one provably responsible corporate citizen to reward with the job.
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Or maybe the other contenders were fully in the pocket of the GOP?
Wow. Dimocrats making a business decision based on principle. Will wonders never cease.
I like it! Good for them! And good for Quest for having scruples and obeying the law.
Well played.
QuakerDave @ 2:
They made the decision based on their own self interest. If they had hired Verizon or any of the others, they'd be being skewered today on the internets by their supporters.
It's POLITICS...not principle.
Okay I'm waiting for a commenter to find something negative about this. Someone will, you just know it. :)
As a long-time Qwest customer, they my regret this decision.
I like it too! It's so in your face, GOP fearmongers!
pissed off patricia @ 6:
I guess that would be ME. ;)
good?
OneWithEverything @ 7:
"We're sorry, we cannot install phone service to your location because it doesn't exist" -- actual quote from customer service when I tried to get the phone lines hooked up to my newly built house. It took flagging down a Quest contractor/service tech on my block to figure out how to get through to the right people and make my house exist in their computer so I could get phones. (Now it works great...I just wish they'd get fiber out to my area so I can ditch "Comc*st")
Still, nice move!
I'm still stuck with AT&T. Bastards.
Qwest is a union outfit, too. Whereas companies like Verizon are rabidly anti-union.
Corporations aren't Citizens.
I'm glad one is at least one is looking out for something other then their bottom line though.
OK, here's the negative that pissed-off-pat was waiting for:
Qwest has one of the worst records regarding consumer rights and the environment of any telecomm company. They are notorious for switching customers to their service without permission, and their environmental record is abysmal, including purposely ignoring directives to avoid sensitive habitats and Native American burial sites when routing their fiber optic lines. Want proof? Go to the California Public Utilities Commission site and search for "Qwest."
Perhaps they've suddenly found a corporate conscious, but their past record makes me very skeptical.
QuakerDave @ 2:
Will wonders never cease.
Liberal AND Proud @ 9:
Yep, I guess it would. Heck, you even did it while I was posting my comment :)
They may not have really had much of a choice. I live about 180 miles from Denver and there is no other phone company available, unless you go cell-only. Which I did, because like the poster above, Qwest told me that both my business and my house do not exist. I told them that was OK, because I think their bills don't exist.
If they didn't really have any other choice, this release seems a bit silly. Next they'll announce that they have an official oxygen provider. Which is a bit scary, since most politicians don't think clearly at sea level.
QuakerDave @ 2:
Kind of like Iraq huh? Even though even you cons finally admitted the intelligence was faulty it was still a business decision based on principle.
Fu*king hillarious
It's pretty sad that we get so excited when the National Dems do the right thing.
I have c-span on tv right now and they are taking calls like they do on Washington Journal in the mornings. A lady called in and said she voted for bush in 2000 and 2004. She said, I voted for him twice but I won't vote for him again, this time I'm voting for Hillary Clinton.
Okay the fact that she thinks bush is running again is bad enough, but Hillary is going to get a vote from a two time bush voter. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing.
NoOneYouKnow @ 20:
Hey we take our good news from any place we can find it.
We all piss and moan over just about everything so it's only fair we get to celebrate good news. It's like a cool cloth on an aching head.
Interesting blurb about The Founder of Quest Communications.
Philip Frederick Anschutz (born 28 December 1939 in Russell, Kansas) is an American businessman and supporter of right-wing Christian causes (see Activism heading). With an estimated current net worth of around $7.8 billion, he is ranked by Forbes as the 31st richest person in the USA.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Anschutz
I at least applaud Qwest for knowing the "Law",a little something the DOJ ignored under Gonzalez.
Feh. They were a horrible phone company when they were US Worst, and they've not changes since they turned into Qworst.
So, bloggers heading to Denver? Hope you bring your cellphone modems and wireless cards, because the phones will probably not work.
Tip: Dixie cups and string can be used to make rudimentary telcom devices. I know this because Qwest is actually Dixie's largest world-wide customer.
(nearly 10 years after they announced DSL rollout, here in the middle of the 2nd largest metro area in Arizona, my phone line still doesn't qualify for DSL. They epitomize Lily Tomlin's old "We're the phone Company: We don't care, We don't have to!" schtick.)
The only way Qwest came out a hero in this is incompetence, I'm convinced (was a long time customer).
"I'm from the government, and we need to tap your main trunk."
"Uh, our wha... I mean, yeah. Of course. Just, uh, let me get back to you on that... maybe next week?" (whispers to coporate lackey, "we do have one of those, right?")
By the time both hands did find their ass (presumably someone drew them a map), their LAWYER of all things pointed out that this might not be such a good idea. Score one for lawyers. And hurray! for famously crappy customer service and refusing to upgrade phone lines past 1k per hour!!
I wouldn't put them on a pedestal just yet, simply because on one occasion they didn't put a gun to your head. That would be pretty sad.
On the other hand, I guess we should give them some sort of encouragement for not crapping on the carpet... sheesh. What low expectations we've been reduced to.
My contract with AT&T is up in Feb and I can't wait to bolt (and tell them why. Teehee!). I have been considering Qwest because of the stand they took, but have also been wondering just how good a company they really are. The union angle is a plus; the points that NorCalMatt@#15 are minuses if true. How about this:
Can anyone recommend another company?
Or does anyone have Working Assets as their provider? New, reviews, cheers or jeers for them?
Nicole Bell said:
"Still, it seems a fine thing that they picked the one provably responsible corporate citizen to reward with the job."
I say:
I wonder if it was a no-bid contract?
and:
Joe Nacchio is an inside trader!.....!$%#*& do you really want to call the CEO of QWEST a responsible corporate citizen?
the article said
http://www.fiercetelecom.com/story/nacchio-feds-blacklisted-qwest/2007-1...
The failure to land those govt contracts, which Nacchio had come to expect Qwest would win, played an integral part in the revenue slide that was at the center of the insider trading charges on which Nacchio was convicted.
Joe Naccio is not a "responsible corporate citizen"
Although it is "cool" that he exposed a lotta shit about illegal govt wiretapping...(unless he was set up and railroaded to some degree)...
insider trading is bad!
he is a (convicted) inside trader!
...is Joe Naccio still CEO of QWEST?
L.A. Confidential @ 23:
Guess the DNCC's found Bejezuz
milquetoast @ 28:
Wellll....Gee Dub is still preznit. It's just that kind of world right now.
:)
But I see what you are saying.
milquetoast @ 28:
NO.
L.A. Confidential @ 31:
Ah!
L.A. Confidential @ 31:
As of October 15, 2007 he was free on bail, appealing his conviction on the basis that the U.S. government retaliated against Qwest for his refusal to give customer data to the National Security Agency.
Was he convicted with evidence obtained through illegal wiretapping of his phone? ;)
Bonkers @ 32:
exactly....AH!
Nacchio joined Qwest in 1997 from AT&T
In May 2006, USA Today reported that millions of telephone calling records had been handed over to the United States National Security Agency by AT&T Corp., Verizon, and BellSouth since September 11, 2001. This data has been used to create a database of all international and domestic calls. Qwest was allegedly the lone holdout, despite threats from the NSA that their refusal to cooperate may jeopardize future government contracts [4], a decision which has earned them praise from those who oppose the NSA program [5].
A federal judge on August 17, 2006 ruled that the government's domestic eavesdropping program is unconstitutional and ordered it ended immediately. The Bush Administration has filed an appeal in the case which has yet to be heard in court. [6]
Former Qwest CEO Joseph Nacchio, who was convicted of insider trading in April 2007, alleged in appeal documents that the NSA requested that Qwest participate in its wiretapping program more than six months before September 11, 2001. Nacchio recalls the meeting as occurring on February 27, 2001. Nacchio further claims that the NSA cancelled a lucrative contract with Qwest as a result of Qwest's refusal to participate in the wiretapping program.
Hmmmmmmm. Fall Guy or big Christmas Present under the stocking?
L.A. Confidential @ 31:
thanks fer lookin that up!....smile!
Anyway . . . life goes on.
Liberal AND Proud @ 5:
You're right the democrats were so scared of being skewered on the internets that they impeached bush and stopped the Iraq war....
milquetoast @ 37:
No problem. The thing is anytime anyone endorses a Corporation now days the nausea sets in and I think Oh boy here we go again. A quick internet search and you find out in 4 seconds . . . .
Philip Frederick Anschutz (born 28 December 1939 in Russell, Kansas) is an American businessman and supporter of right-wing Christian causes (see Activism heading). With an estimated current net worth of around $7.8 billion, he is ranked by Forbes as the 31st richest person in the USA.
Is there any big corporation anymore that isn't founded, owned, run, or took over by a right winger?
MAtt @ 39:
http://tinyurl.com/2j3psg
I have had Qwest for 9 years. Never had any problem with them.
But I imagine since the convention is in Denver, there is no other choice than to use Qwest
L.A. Confidential @ 40:
This is just me ruminating, so apologies in advance to anyone who feels the need to tell me, "Hey! My dad is a bazzillionare and he's a swell guy". But it seems to me that to get that rich, one would have had to walk over, crush the necks, screw over, outmaneuver (well, that one's not so bad), submarine, steal from, cut the benefits, etc, etc, of someone (likely many someones) to get there. In short, it's likely that a lot of people regard you as a real trouser snake if you have managed to accumulate that kind of wealth and power; biz on that level just seems, from the sidelines over here, to take that kind of personality.
[preparing to duck the barrage of "I Can Name 5 Really Neato CEO's, Ya Bastard!" metaphorical tomatoes]
;)
Kind of like Iraq huh? Even though even you cons finally admitted the intelligence was faulty it was still a business decision based on principle.
You don't know me very well, I see. :)
Qwest also likes to hire expensive lawyers to weasel out of its commitments to the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission, tying up funds owed to poor areas of a poor state with lengthy court fights. As I understand it, they would rather hold on to the hundreds of millions that they had promised to use to develop rural and reservation telephone access. Instead they want that money to be used to send the executives' kids and spouses on junkets in the corporate jet.
As others have pointed out, Qwest ain't exactly a model corporate citizen. Nacchio dumped a bunch of stock prior to its collapse, while many unsuspecting retired phone company employees (including my parents) lost their retirement savings. The company only gets credit for being smart enough to listen to their lawyers when the NSA came calling. Nacchio may have gotten busted because he didn't play ball with Bushco, but he deserves to be locked up for swindling a bunch of folks.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Nacchio
Hey, good move!
Now we'll see if the Dems can do more than one thing in a row right.
I am starting to get a good feel for whether or not I go with Qwest in February. ("Not", that is)
So the question still remains:
Who DO I sign with? So far it looks like if I can stay away from AT&T Corp., Verizon, and BellSouth I will be able to feel at least an inkling of "being with the right people". Still, I would like to hear any other opinions on, *ahem cough cough*, "good" phone companies.
Qwest's CEO refused way back in the day-- HE'S GONE, been gone.
ALL of the telecoms are following the Shitehouse orders, don't kid yourselves.
kudos to Qwest for telling the neo stasi to take a hike.
Joseph Nacchio (or however you spell it) didn't go to jail because "he refused to break the law." I think it was because of securities fraud or insider trading or something. He just happened to be CEO when QWEST
RobertD @ 51:
(sorry for the post...I hit the wrong key...)
...when QWEST refused to perform the illegal wiretaps, if I remember correctly.
L.A. Confidential @ 23:
People NEED to read that wikipedia link. Anschutz IS THE ENEMY, and Qwest is no longer run by the CEO who refused. They canned him, pronto.
The most recent Anschutz malfeasance is the Washington Examiner, the distributed-only-to-whites tabloid which shows up in references to (unlabeled) hardcore rightwing opinion and so-called news, right here in C&L comments.
Nacchio, and other senior Qwest managers, committed securities fraud. There is no evidence there was anything political involved in his prosecution. It is, at BEST, coincidence.
The convention is in Denver, where Qwest has its headquarters and is one of the largest employers. Not choosing them would be like having it in Atlanta sponsored by Pepsi.
This has nothing to do with politics.
ALL the telco's are monopolies for land line phones in their respective service areas.
How many people in this country have a choice about who provides their telephone land line? I SAH don't. This also means I don't have a choice about DSL providers. Qwest knows this, which is why I still have to pay $35/mo. if I want even the most basic DSL. The only way to get a better price is to spend over $100/mo. on a product bundle (which I don't need/want/can afford).
Believe me, I've been watching and waiting for over 7 years for a deal from Qwest on DSL. It's never happened and never will, solely because they know I have no choice (other than cable for $55/mo.).
Guess my opinion of Qwest...
Hank IV @ 54:
Second that. THIS at least, is a non-issue.
Picking a 'good' communications company is like picking a 'good' republican candidate, or a 'good' attorney.
What you do is scoop up the pond scum that's nearest the top.
It's a coincidence that DNCC picked Qwest. Trust me, they weren't thinking about domestic spying. Those ethical bankrupts wouldn't know a moral principle if it bit them on the ass. I've sent my last contribution to those spineless, corrupt weasels. I'd just as soon give money to Karl Rove or Adolf Hitler.
Helena Montana @ 58:
The fact that the entire Dem House leadership refused ANY offer of immunity, all along, apparently doesn't compute with your bigotry.
I agree with Hank IV's post above. Qwest has its headquarters right down the street from the convention center -- we are talking a matter of city blocks -- and they also happen to be the second-largest internet backbone provider in the U.S. There are some other telcos with fiber facilities in Denver -- like Level 3 -- but Qwest is by far the largest.
So -- this is a perfect marketing opportunity for Qwest, and it is a highly logical choice for the Democrats. And I am sure that Qwest cut the Democrats a really, really good deal.
The irony, of course, is that Qwest has traditionally been a fairly conservative and GOP-oriented corporation, in terms of its campaign donations, the politics of its executives, Phil Anschutz, etc. I don't think the abuse that Qwest took at the hands of the Bush Administration changed a thing. This is just opportunism.
As a Qwest employee its great news about the Democratic Convention. The truth is Qwest is doing both the Democratic and Republican conventions. There is only one logical reason - they both are in Qwest territory. Qwest has control of 90% of lines and a majority of the data infrastructure of both Colorado and Minnesota, they are the only ones who can pull it off for short term-service. If a problem arises Qwest can fix it, if you use another company they would have to call Qwest to fix it anyway.
Plus with all the legal ramifications of setting up phone lines with political parties only a major carrier can deal with the layers of bureaucracy and paperwork involved on political campaign accounts.
But all in all its a great company to work for,
Bokonon @ 60:
Bokonon @ 60:
You are correct on marketing, but no deals are made with phone service. All Qwest political accounts are all charged the same rate (varies by state). As a federally regulated phone company no-one gets special treatment its a set price. I deal with this on a daily basis.
This is unusual integrity for the DNCC. I'm really surprised.
Principle? I send my phone bill to Denver.
It's sort of like saying, "Where can I get a cup of coffee? Oh, there's a Starbucks across the street. I'll go there on principle!"
I would go with Qwest as well but there is a problem with the service in our area - Qwest only offers DSL to us. I do have Comcast as my broadband provider and use Vonage for our Telephone provider. I'm not willing to switch to Qwest DSL because it's just not as fast as the comcast broadband and it would cost too much to carry DSL and Qwest telephone service as well as comcast cable or satellite. TOO BAD But I'll keep checking back to see if Qwest upgrades my area to broadband.
Paul in LA @ 59:
Who are you kidding Chris Dodd had to FILLIBUSTER a bill that the DEMOCRATS backed or the TELECOMS would have immunity right now.
Where was Obama and Clinton on that bill. Oh in Iowa spending hordes of money trying to buy the White House.
Regarding comments about Qwest, I live in their local service territory. Qwest started in the mid 90's as a fiber-optic communications company. In 2000, they merged with US West, a RBOC (Regional Bell Operating Company) or "Baby Bell". I called them US Worst. And they were. And after Qwest bought them, they continued to suck.
Nacchio hasn't been CEO since 2002. In 2002 Richard "Dick" Notebaert took over and did make some definite improvements. He's also the guy that ended negotiations with the Bush people over access to Qwest's network for illegal spying and wiretapping. Still, I wouldn't consider the company perfect. There are some things it does that I don't like. But then again, most companies do things I don't like. Hopefully the positive changes will continue.
Qwest now has a new CEO, I believe his name is Mueller. Don't know much about him yet.
I've always had a lot of respect for the employees of Qwest. Yes, they're union. They're hard-working people. They keep the phones working. The phone service is extremely reliable. I'll put my Qwest landline up against VOIP, cable, or cell phone any day for reliability.
The main reason some people don't see high speed service is that upgrading requires a MASSIVE capital investment and Qwest has a lot of debt. They've made the investment to roll out DSL to a lot of places in my state. Often this requires purchase and installation of remote equipment (DSLAM) and for the highest speed service, requires laying of new fiber optic cable.
Qwest is not the same company it was 10 or even 5 years ago. It has a way to go, but I'm impressed with some of the improvements made. I hope the new CEO will continue them.
DISCO INFERNO @ 66:
Yeah no kidding. Dodd is the man. It wouldn't have been stopped if it hadn't been for him. I made sure to go out and meet him and tell him that I was impressed. Unfortunately he didn't have the support needed to win the nomination. He should have been one of the front runners instead of Clinton or Obama, because those two did nothing other than say they supported Dodd.
And BTW, Paul in LA -- put down the damn crack pipe. Seriously, WHAT ARE YOU ON???? The Dem house PROMOTED immunity. Most were FOR it except for a handful.
And FUCK Harry Reid. Reid is the biggest douche ever!!!
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