The N.M. Public Regulation Commission voted Tues. to intervene in...
The N.M. Public Regulation Commission voted Tues. to intervene in an exchange sale dispute between Qwest and the Pojoaque Pueblo because the tiff could have adverse effects on phone and Internet service for 50,000 northern N.M. customers of Qwest…
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and Windstream Communications. The dispute arose after the pueblo’s tribal govt. authorized Mescalero Apache Telecom to replace Qwest as the pueblo’s incumbent telecom provider in hopes of speeding delivery of advanced phone and Internet access services to pueblo residents. Pojoaque offered to buy from Qwest the pueblo’s “455” exchange prefix so it could be assigned to Mescalero, along with the Qwest switching office, on leased pueblo property, that serves the pueblo and about 3,500 other customers in adjacent areas. The parties couldn’t agree on price, and the pueblo told Qwest it wouldn’t renew the switching office lease. Qwest said it could shift service to its Santa Fe office and keep serving the pueblo from Santa Fe until Mescalero takes over service. But the issue isn’t just with Qwest’s own customers. The Pojoaque switching center also is a meet point between Qwest and Windstream networks handling traffic for about 45,000 Windstream customers across northern N.M. The PRC said if the Qwest/Pojoaque dispute led to a shutdown of the Pojoaque switching center, there could be adverse consequences for Windstream customers, and potential impairment of broadband development throughout northern N.M. The PRC said it intervened to ensure service in the region isn’t disrupted.