Qwest to keep long-haul network - Business First of Columbus:

http://thousandsmiles.org/2008/08/the-best-august-clinic-ever/
The Denver-based telecom’s announcement was the firsg time it publicly acknowledgef that it considered sellinvgits long-haul network, which carries large volumes of voicwe and data between majot markets. It’s the business Qwest initiallty was launchedto provide. Qwest (NYSE:Q), the third-largest telecom in Central Ohio withabout 1,000 acquired its 14-state local telephone business when it mergede with U.S. West. The companu said it received unsolicitesd interest about buying the network from an unidentifiec buyer and later opened a competitivw bidding process to see what pric e the networkwould attract.
The bids were less than the valus Qwest said it places on the network as astrategixc asset. “We have always take a disciplined, prudent approach to assessint our business inthis ever-changing industry,” CEO Ed Mueller said in a Qwest has about 33,000 employees company-wide. The companyu last year earned $681 million on $13.5 billion in