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Cox Pays Qwest $2 Million For VoIP Skullduggery
May be paying more than $6 million for technician snafus...
by Karl Bode Wednesday 30-Apr-2008 tags: competition · business · cable · VoIP · Qwest.net · Cox HSI
Back in 2006, Qwest accused Cox of tapping into existing wiring owned by Qwest (without paying or informing Qwest) in order to offer phone service at roughly 5,000 apartments. Cox has denied wrong-doing in the case, yet still has agreed to pay Qwest $2.2 million for the offenses as part of a settlement. This is part of a larger fight between Qwest and Cox; Qwest has traditionally stated Cox techs break their equipment, and have gone so far as to blame Cox for bee infestations in utility cabinets. Cox says they've made amends:

In testimony before the commission, Cox representatives said they have spent about $1.4 million to repair the damage and made about 9,000 "corrective actions." The company also agreed to pay Qwest $500,000 for the use of Qwest lines in the future in addition to the $2.2 million in back payments for the previous use, said Qwest spokesman Jeff Mirasola.

But Cox may not be done paying. The company may also be asked to pay $4 million in additional fines to the State for violating the interconnection agreement between the companies.

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WiseOldNerd
De gustibus non est disputandum
Premium
join:2001-11-25
Phoenix, AZ
Reviews:
·Charter
·Cox HSI

Good One

Cox is a baaaaaad boy and they are getting their just reward. Maybe Qwest will use the money to beef up some of their aging infrastructure. I know, I live in a world of dreams.
--
My perception is REALITY
Jonbo298

join:2004-01-12
Council Bluffs, IA

Re: Good One

Stop being optimistic!

BillRoland
Premium
join:2001-01-21
Ocala, FL
kudos:2
said by WiseOldNerd:

Cox is a baaaaaad boy and they are getting their just reward. Maybe Qwest will use the money to beef up some of their aging infrastructure. I know, I live in a world of dreams.
Yep, that should just about cover the amount needed to beef up the connection to the CEO's house.
--
"Don't steal. The government hates competition."
jc100

join:2002-04-10

Re: Good One

You mean add a new room and a second indoor pool =). Summer is upon us, need a spot for the grandkids to swim too.

As for Cox, serves them right, you can't just piggy back off someone else's infrastructure without asking or paying.
wierdo

join:2001-02-16
Tulsa, OK
Reviews:
·Cox HSI
·T-Mobile US

Re: Good One

said by jc100:

es them right, you can't just piggy back off someone else's infrastructure without asking or paying.
To be fair, the wiring in question is in apartment buildings. Such wiring is usually owned by the building's owner, not the service provider, who usually owns the wiring up to a box attached to the building or a pedestal a short distance away.
--
It's wierdo, not weirdo. Yes, I know that's not the 'proper' spelling of the similar english language word.
jc100

join:2002-04-10

Re: Good One

Well that really depends if its like those ATT deals where the apartments signed fifty year exclusive rights or if the apartments actually set up the cabling. Either way, it doesnt bypass the fact Qwest still owns the cable TO THE BOX which Cox wrongfully used.
wierdo

join:2001-02-16
Tulsa, OK
Reviews:
·Cox HSI
·T-Mobile US

Re: Good One

said by jc100:

Well that really depends if its like those ATT deals where the apartments signed fifty year exclusive rights or if the apartments actually set up the cabling. Either way, it doesnt bypass the fact Qwest still owns the cable TO THE BOX which Cox wrongfully used.
I agree, I'm just saying it's not like they were just attaching to random pairs on a distribution cable running down the street. They were using what most of the time is the property of the person requesting the service. A mistake that any installer could easily make were they not trained on the issue.
--
It's wierdo, not weirdo. Yes, I know that's not the 'proper' spelling of the similar english language word.
zed260
Premium
join:2007-09-30
Cleveland, TN
kudos:1

2 edits

justin

they should give the money to justin hed be the best and only honest person who would actually use the money to invest in inferstructure

Archivis
Your Daddy
Premium
join:2001-11-26
Earth
kudos:17

Re: justin

Or go back to your school and invest in some more English teachers.
bamabrad

join:2006-01-27
Port Orange, FL

Re: justin

That IS proper english - in Tenn-almost as good as our vocabulary in AL ! LOL!
hurfy
Premium
join:2002-08-06
Spokane, WA

LOL

that sounds about right for either company....

9000 corrective actions to fix the 5000 installs.

Fubar

join:2001-02-20
Phoenix, AZ
kudos:2

Get your news right

It wasn't VoIP service.

It was plain old POTS service at MDU's (apartments)

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