Qwest Asks AT&T; to Open Cable Lines in Colorado

Qwest Communications International Inc. asked AT&T; Corp. to open its cable lines in Colorado and Washington, a bid to pressure the No. 1 cable company into letting a rival sell fast Internet access to AT&T; customers.

A trial of so-called open access being run by AT&T; in Boulder, Colo., is a stalling tactic, said Steve Davis, a Qwest senior vice president for policy and law. AT&T; said the trial is vital to develop technology giving multiple Internet service providers access to cable lines.

Federal regulators are weighing whether any rules are needed to require cable companies to lease access to their systems as more companies also own Internet providers.

“Every aspect of the communications industry should be open to fair and open competition,” Davis said in a conference call with reporters and analysts. “We’re asking for equal access to AT&T;’s cable network.”

AT&T; spokeswoman Sarah Dusik said the equipment doesn’t exist to give many Internet providers access to the same cable system. She said Qwest’s Internet division, in a Nov. 20 letter, praised AT&T;’s commitment to offer access and asked to join the Boulder trial.

“It’s public posturing and rhetoric by Qwest,” Dusik said of the conference call. “We’re heavily competing now on the telephony front and they’re starting to feel the heat.”

EarthLink Inc. and other Internet companies asked the Federal Communications Commission to adopt rules forcing cable companies to open their systems to rivals. The agency will accept reply comments until Jan. 10 in its ongoing open-access inquiry.

Shares of Qwest fell $1.44 to close at $41.50 and are down 3.5% this year. AT&T; shares slipped 31 cents to close at $22 and are down 57% this year. Both trade on the New York Stock Exchange.