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To: Dr. David Gleitman who wrote (28690)	8/5/1999 11:47:00 PM
From: puborectalis	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 41369

Qwest launches high-speed access By Roger Fillion Denver Post Business Writer August 5 - Qwest Communications International said Wednesday that it has launched a highspeed Internet access service in 13 big markets nationwide and that it will offer the service in more than 30 cities, including Denver, by year's end. The long-distance company, which is merging with U S West, is using digital subscriber line (DSL) technology to let customers navigate the Internet at speeds up to 125 times faster than dial-up modems. DSL technology makes it possible to do so over traditional copper phone wires. US West has been actively peddling its own "MegaBit'' DSL service. The Baby Bell serves some 50,000 customers. Other local carriers also have been pitching DSL service to compete with the speedy Internet access offered by cable-television operators - especially now that AT&T Corp. has bought cable companies TeleCommunications Inc. and MediaOne Group Inc. Qwest's service is available in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia and other cities. Aside from Denver, the markets slated for rollout later this year include Baltimore, Houston, Minneapolis, Portland and Salt Lake City. "We're on or slightly ahead of schedule, in terms of planned deployment,'' said Lewis Wilks, Qwest's president of Internet and multimedia markets. Qwest's DSL packages are priced at flat rates, starting at $49.95 a month for consumers and $119.95 for businesses. There is a one-time installation fee of $500. Current users of the system are primarily test customers. Qwest plans initially to target businesses that could use the service for Internet access, data transmission and videoconferencing. "The current offering is very much designed for the business market,'' said Michael Gold, senior vice president for Internet product management. To deliver its service, Qwest is working with two providers of high-speed local phone service: Rhythms NetConnections Inc., in Englewood, and Covad Communications Group Inc., in California's Silicon Valley. On Wall Street, Qwest's stock fell below the $28.26-a-share level, or "collar,'' at which U S West shareholders are guaranteed $69 a share for their stock in the merger. But analysts note that the collar doesn't come into play until the deal closes in about a year's time. Copyright 1999 The Denver Post. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.