Say Thanks to Qwest!
Website created by Richard Kastelein
Text by Chris Floyd and Richard Kastelein
It’s not often these days that we have occasion to laud corporate behavior, but the stance taken by the telecom Qwest in resisting the Bush Administration’s covert program to ensnare every single American citizen in a vast web of telephone surveillance deserves our thanks.
Every other telecom sold out the privacy of its customers – literally so, taking money to turn over their phone records to the National Security Agency – but Qwest alone insisted on having a court order before complying with Bush’s unprecedented and “indefensible” (as Newt Gingrich put it) invasion of Americans’ personal lives and business affairs.
Bush’s domestic spies refused to supply any formal legal justification whatsoever for their extraordinary request, beyond the implied “plenary powers” of the “Commander-in-Chief”: the novel – and equally indefensible — doctrine that the Administration had adopted as the basis of what is effectively a presidential dictatorship, beyond the reach of law.
It is, of course, a sad commentary on our times that Qwest should be praised so highly for merely obeying the law of the land. But this is what we’ve come to. Our leaders are lawless, and it is now up to every citizen – including corporate citizens – to embody and enact the laws and values of the Republic, on our own, until Constitutional government can be restored.
One simple act we can take is to support those who take a public stand for the law. You can say thanks to Qwest by posting a comment below (you don’t need to join, or leave an email or website to post – just scroll down and hit the comments link).
And pass this man an email as well:
Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer
David J. Heller
email: Corporate.Compliance@qwest.com
Click here to visit Qwest website
USA Today first broke the story, and now we all know: the National Security Agency has been collecting the private phone records of tens of millions of American citizens since 2001, gathering the tainted bounty of this sinister harvest into “the largest data base ever assembled in the world,” as one insider put it. Under the direction of General Michael V. Hayden — the military spymaster now nominated to head the CIA — the NSA carried out this massive “black op” against the American people in total secrecy, without the court orders clearly required to obtain this information. So how did Hayden and his creepy peepers into America’s privacy get hold of the phone records?
Simple: the major U.S. telecommunications corporations — all but one — turned them over to the government, for money — your money. That’s right: the Bush Administration used your tax dollars to pay the Big Telecoms to hand over your private phone records.
…The sources said the NSA made clear that it was willing to pay for the cooperation. AT&T, which at the time was headed by C. Michael Armstrong, agreed to help the NSA.
So did BellSouth, headed by F. Duane Ackerman; SBC, headed by Ed Whitacre; and Verizon, headed by Ivan Seidenberg. With that, the NSA’s domestic program began in earnest.
If you are among the multitudes who signed up, in good faith, to BellSouth, AT&T or Verizon, expecting your privacy to be protected, as required by laws going back more than seven decades, the record of every phone call you have made in the last four-and-a-half years is now in the hands of a secret government program operating without any genuine oversight or restrictions against abuse. This includes the call records of every government or corporate whistleblower, every investigative journalist digging up government corruption, every political opponent of the Administration’s policies. Imagine how useful it would be for the Bush Administration to type in the name of, say, Seymour Hersh, and find out every government insider he’s talked to on the phone for the past four years?
Rarely has such a powerful, all-pervasive tool for repression been placed in the hands of a government; and rarely has there a been a government which has proven itself less trustworthy to hold such power without abusing it.
After the September 11 attacks in 2001, the Bush Administration decided to ignore the existing laws governing surveillance, in particular the special secret courts set up under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) of 1978. This urge to bypass FISA is not surprising; the secret courts – which had almost never refused a single request for surveillance of terrorst or espionage suspects – had been created in response to widespread government spying on citizens in for decades, a mania for illicit intrusion that reached its height under the disgraced president Richard Nixon.
Two of the greatest proponents of these assaults on civil liberties were high-ranking minions in the Nixon Administration: Dick Cheney and Don Rumsfeld. After Nixon’s ignominious departure, with Congress finally acting to restrain the manifold abuses of the national security system, Cheney and Rumsfeld – now Chief of Staff and Defense Secretary for Gerald Ford – buried investigations of a covert telecommunications spy program remarkably similar to the current NSA scheme under the butt-covering rubric of “executive privilege.” The original FISA restrictions were, in fact, aimed directly at serial abusers of power like Cheney and Rumsfeld. It is no wonder that they discarded these restrictions at the first opportunity once they had returned in glory to the White House.
George W. Bush gave his full authority to the NSA program, whose ostensible purpose is to “data-mine” blind phone numbers — with no names or content of the calls divulged — in search of connections between suspected terrorists. Hayden in turn delegated the responsibility to lower-echelon shift supervisors – as in the Watergate days – further diluting the already soup-thin oversight of the operation. For years, it has been carried out in total secrecy; there is simply no way of knowing how they have used – or abused – this massive database, or what other information, such as call content, they have obtained from the phone companies, or by other means.
The Bush Administration pointedly refrained from using any existing legal mechanism in requesting the call records, when it could have very easily done so and doubtless obtained all the information it sought for the data-mining program. In the absence of any other credible explanation – beyond bland assertions of “trust us, it’s all legal” – we are certainly justified in suspecting that the Administration had purposes for the program which lay outside the scope of FISA or any other law governing domestic surveillance.
But the major telecoms were evidently unconcerned about the lack of legality. Once the NSA dangled a bit of long green in their faces, they passed over the call records without a by your leave. Only Qwest – the often beleaguered telecom with a checkered past and an uncertain legal future hanging over its chief – refused to cooperate without the sensible expedient of a court order. After all, that was the law, and had been since the 1930s. There is no doubt that Qwest, given the appeals to patriotism and national security in the tumultuous days after 9/11, would have willingly complied – if the request had been made in a legal manner.
Qwest’s stand is even more remarkable given the heavy pressure applied by Bush team.
…Trying to put pressure on Qwest, NSA representatives pointedly told Qwest that it was the lone holdout among the big telecommunications companies.
It also tried appealing to Qwest’s patriotic side: In one meeting, an NSA representative suggested that Qwest’s refusal to contribute to the database could compromise national security, one person recalled.
In addition, the agency suggested that Qwest’s foot-dragging might affect its ability to get future classified work with the government.
Like other big telecommunications companies, Qwest already had classified contracts and hoped to get more.
Aside from concerns over legality, morality and liberty, the very utility of the NSA program has also been called into question. The blunderbuss approach of harvesting millions upon millions of phone records to be churned by supercomputers seems wildly at odds with the kind of careful, precise human intelligence and investigative work required to pinpoint the deliberately scattered, deeply buried, small networks of actual terrorists out there. And the already massive extent of the program is evidently just the beginning.
It’s the largest database ever assembled in the world,” said one person, who, like the others who agreed to talk about the NSA’s activities, declined to be identified by name or affiliation. The agency’s goal is “to create a database of every call ever made” within the nation’s borders, this person added.
…The usefulness of the NSA’s domestic phone-call database as a counterterrorism tool is unclear. Also unclear is whether the database has been used for other purposes.
“Other purposes” is the operative phrase here. Because “data-mining” for terrorists in giant phone record banks is like trying to find microscopic needles in an ever-growing haystack. It is, in a word, impossible, according to expert to Bruce Schneier from Wired Magazine.
This unrealistically accurate system will generate 1 billion false alarms for every real terrorist plot it uncovers. Every day of every year, the police will have to investigate 27 million potential plots in order to find the one real terrorist plot per month.
Raise that false-positive accuracy to an absurd 99.9999 percent and you’re still chasing 2,750 false alarms per day — but that will inevitably raise your false negatives, and you’re going to miss some of those 10 real plots.
This isn’t anything new. In statistics, it’s called the “base rate fallacy,” and it applies in other domains as well. For example, even highly accurate medical tests are useless as diagnostic tools if the incidence of the disease is rare in the general population.
Terrorist attacks are also rare, any “test” is going to result in an endless stream of false alarms. This is exactly the sort of thing we saw with the NSA’s eavesdropping program: the New York Times reported that the computers spat out thousands of tips per month.
Every one of them turned out to be a false alarm. And the cost was enormous — not just for the FBI agents running around chasing dead-end leads instead of doing things that might actually make us safer, but also the cost in civil liberties.
The fundamental freedoms that make our country the envy of the world are valuable, and not something that we should throw away lightly.
So again, we are left with the question: What is the NSA program really about? Who are they really spying on? Remember, we are dealing with an Administration that has already declared – in open court, in Congressional testimony, in internal memos, in executive orders and “presidential signing statements” – that the president has the “inherent authority” as Commander-in-Chief during “wartime” to ignore or reinterpret any law that might restrict his “plenary powers.” We have seen this pernicious doctrine in action for years: it underlies the use of torture throughout the global system of detention centers, secret prisons and the concentration camp at Guantanamo Bay that Bush has set up; it underlies Bush’s outrageous claim that he can apprehend anyone on earth and hold them indefinitely, without charges or trial, simply by declaring them, on his own authority, an “enemy combatant,” a “terrorist” or even a “suspected terrorist.”
(For example, the Bush Administration has declared in open court that the U.S. government would be justified in capturing and holding a “little old lady in Switzerland” if she unwittingly gave money to a charity used as a front by terrorists. Deputy Attorney General Brian Boyle made the assertion in a hearing on Dec. 1, 2004, adding the chilling words: “Someone’s intention is clearly not a factor that would disable detention.” This admittedly innocent little old lady would then be subjected to a military tribunal, which alone would decide “whether to believe her and release her” – or keep her locked up.)
So we are dealing with an Administration that openly admits that innocent people can be “legimately” swept up in its vast covert nets and subjected to indefinite imprisonment at the mercy of a military tribunal. And we are supposed to believe that these same officials, willing to go to such draconian lengths, are acting with scrupulous circumspection when handling the private phone records of millions of American citizens? We are supposed to believe they are using this gargantuan NSA program solely to ferret out a few terrorists?
…With access to records of billions of domestic calls, the NSA has gained a secret window into the communications habits of millions of Americans.
Customers’ names, street addresses and other personal information are not being handed over as part of NSA’s domestic program, the sources said. But the phone numbers the NSA collects can easily be cross-checked with other databases to obtain that information.
The NSA phone-spy program, which we are now told is only the “tip of the iceberg”, is designed to identify social networks – of any kind. It is far too large to have been created solely to find a few terrorists. It beggars belief – and belies the evidence of the Administration’s behavior over the past five years – to assume that other “social networks” are not also being targeted by the program: Democrats and other political opponents, internal dissidents, activist groups, journalists…basically anyone who is against Bush and the way he is fighting his self-declared, never-ending “War on Terror.”
But the dictatorial powers being claimed under the aegis of this “War” are not new measures in response to an unprecedented emergency – they are old abuses long championed by the most powerful elements in the Bush Administration. These powers of surveillance, secrecy and repression of dissent were being systematically restored by the Bush-Cheney-Rumsfeld junta long before 9/11.
In the end, the NSA program is not about “national security” or fighting terrorists. It is just another front in a long-running war against the liberties of the American people: freedoms which are despised and feared by elites who believe that their power and privilege are the only genuine “national interests.”
Who knows? Tomorrow we may see Qwest in collusion with these elites on some other front. But right now, in this fight, they have been a champion of liberty and deserve our thanks. So go show them some love. But in the words of the late, great Johnny Cash: keep your eyes wide open all the time.
May 11th, 2006 at 4:56 pm
Thanks Qwest!
May 11th, 2006 at 5:03 pm
Thank you qwesdt for behaving like a real American company!
May 11th, 2006 at 5:04 pm
oops. let me try that again
Thank you, Qwest for behaivng like a real American company!
May 11th, 2006 at 6:18 pm
Thanks! It now works.
May 11th, 2006 at 6:26 pm
Thank you Qwest. Now, if only you had service in my area so i could subscribe with you.
May 11th, 2006 at 6:37 pm
Thank you Qwest! It’s nice to see someone following principle over profits. You will be rewarded for your commitment to the American people.
When will you have cell service in Ohio?
May 11th, 2006 at 7:06 pm
Thanks,Qwest! My family already has landline and cell phone service through your company. We *had* been looking at a combo package through a cable company, but now we will be staying with you to show our loyalty to the only telecom that did the right thing. I will be encouraging other family and friends to switch to your services to show our support. Well done!
May 11th, 2006 at 7:19 pm
Qwest~ I am out of your reach up in Maine, but I appreciate this opportunity to thank you for behaving like Real Americans in response to the NSA pressure to enlist your cooperation in selling out the Americn people. You done REALLY GOOD.
May 11th, 2006 at 7:20 pm
Thanks Quest, you are a true American Patriot.
May 11th, 2006 at 8:18 pm
Thanks so much! You are our company already, and now you will be forever come hell or high water. Your courage is needed throughout the country – you are setting a wonderful example.
May 11th, 2006 at 10:59 pm
Thank you. Thank you for protecting the privacy rights of your customers.
May 11th, 2006 at 11:15 pm
As a Qwest customer, I’ve got to say: Thanks and well done! Thanks for doing the right thing. Thanks for caring about the rule of law. You’ve scored some major brownie points from me.
May 12th, 2006 at 12:23 am
Thanks for making me proud to be a customer!
May 12th, 2006 at 12:42 am
Thank you for upholding the laws of our country. I wish I were one of your customers.
May 12th, 2006 at 12:47 am
Thanks Quest. Time to check to see if Quest offers mobile phone service – since Verizon sold us out.
May 12th, 2006 at 12:50 am
Thank you Qwest.
May 12th, 2006 at 12:55 am
Thanks so much for protecting the rights of your customers. I am cancelling my Verizon phone service tomorrow and wish that you were here in Indiana. Your company should be commended for your actions and I am hoping you will be rewarded by having many people call you for service. I may even buy stock! I want you to know that your actions have given me hope that in this country we still have people who understand the laws that are the foundation of our democracy.
Libby Owens
May 12th, 2006 at 12:55 am
Thank you. I’d switch if I could.
May 12th, 2006 at 12:56 am
Thank you Qwest for have the spinal fortitude to say no!
May 12th, 2006 at 12:58 am
Good job. These are very dangerous times and I am glad there is at least one such company with some connection to what is right and what is legal.
Thank you.
http://illconsidered.blogspot.com/2006/02/how-to-talk-to-global-warming-sceptic.html
May 12th, 2006 at 1:08 am
Quest, you did right.
May 12th, 2006 at 1:13 am
I’m switching over to Qwest right now.
True Americans all!
May 12th, 2006 at 1:14 am
Thank you, Qwest. And thank you, David J. Heller, Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer. You’ve set a new high-bar for Corporate/Gov’t relations. Your reward should be an appreciative and eager national market. Come to the Midwest and I’ll do my part.
May 12th, 2006 at 1:16 am
Thanks, I wish I could use your service!
May 12th, 2006 at 1:18 am
I’ve bee using Verizon, for land phone, cell phones & DSL. Looks like I can switch to QWest for some of these services. Could you expand all your services to include NJ, QWest? I admire your sense of principle and determination to honor your customer’s rights. I want to use QWest for all my telephone/DSL services.
May 12th, 2006 at 1:19 am
Thank you Qwest. What will your next advertising campaign be ? “Qwest – Telecom provider to the terrorists”. Well done.
May 12th, 2006 at 1:27 am
As a Qwest customer, I must say that I was delighted that you did the right thing and protected the privacy of your customers.
Thank you.
May 12th, 2006 at 1:27 am
Qwest did the right thing and deserve commendation. Thank you Qwest.
There is still time to stop this madness… speak up, stand up, and be careful who you give money to!
May 12th, 2006 at 1:31 am
Thank You Qwest.
May 12th, 2006 at 1:31 am
Thanks for doing the right thing!
May 12th, 2006 at 1:35 am
Just when I felt I’d walked into an Orwell novel… THANK YOU QWEST! That’s PATRIOTISM.
May 12th, 2006 at 1:44 am
Thanks Qwest! If you had service in California I would switch right away! But you don’t, so I may have to move to where you do. … You definitely did the right thing.
May 12th, 2006 at 1:50 am
Thanks Qwest for being ethically and fiscally responsible at the same time. Kudos!
May 12th, 2006 at 1:55 am
Qwest, you were cautious. And that’s purely a-ok. You were not stampeded into participating in this huge clusterf**k. Thank you. You did stand up to the Powers That Be, even at the risk of financial damage, a rare thing in corporate America. thank you again. If ever you come to Florida, you’re my company.
May 12th, 2006 at 2:00 am
Thanks for showing some backbone and common sense! If you only had ISDN service in North Carolina I’d switch all our numbers to Qwest!!!
May 12th, 2006 at 2:02 am
Thanks for your patriotism, Qwest, even you figured that millions of outraged Americans like me might switch to your service just to punish AT&T. I’m switching today.
May 12th, 2006 at 2:06 am
Thank you, Qwest!
May 12th, 2006 at 2:07 am
Way to go Quest, I was impressed to learn that the company also failed to give in when the government leaned on them.
May 12th, 2006 at 2:08 am
We were pleasantly surprised to learn Qwest was standing up for privacy. Good job!
May 12th, 2006 at 2:15 am
Appreciate the fact that your company, unlike the Bush Crime Family, respects the law.
May 12th, 2006 at 2:16 am
This is cool. As soon as I heard about the data-mining going on, and that Qwest was not implicated I sat down and sent the following to Mr. Heller before I even knew this site existed. Maybe it’s not much, but it’s my best shot:
To: Corporate.Compliance@qwest.com
Subject: Qwest’s refusal of NSA request
Date: Thu, 11 May 2006 17:00:11 -0700
Dear Mr. Heller,
Please forgive me if this letter is misdirected. I feel compelled to thank
Qwest for not having given my — or any other customers — calling
information to the NSA. This is an extremely important decision Qwest’s
former chairman Joe Nacchio made early in the days after 11 September 2001. I
cannot stress that enough. This is an extremely important decision Qwest’s
former chairman Joe Nacchio made. I wish to thank Richard Notebaert for
continuing to uphold that decision in respecting the confidentiality, and
legal and Constitutional rights of their customers. I believe the impact of
these decisions will reflect well on Qwest.
I’ve had my frustrations with Qwest in the past over service issues, of
course, but I truly feel that Qwest has worked to protect its customers and
their legal and Constitutional rights. I often find myself at odds with
corporate interests. So it is refreshing to me to find out that there is
still ethical behavior to be found in the corporate world. I wish there were
a more tangible way I could express my thanks. Unfortunately, this letter
will have to suffice. I ask only that Qwest continues to realize the trust it
holds and not lapse in its responsibility those it serves.
Sincerely,
Andrew M. Jackson
May 12th, 2006 at 2:16 am
It will be an honor to pay my bill next month! Thank you Qwest!
May 12th, 2006 at 2:16 am
Thank you. I am a long-time customer, and my faith has been renewed that ALL corporations are not cutthroats!
I appreciate that you made a stand for our privacy.
May 12th, 2006 at 2:17 am
I wish I lived in your service area. I would switch to your company and drop ATT like a hot potato. Thank you for showing us all that a large corporation can do the legal and ethical thing.
May 12th, 2006 at 2:19 am
um…sorry for the screwy formatting. Clearly, a copy-paste job gone terribly awry.
May 12th, 2006 at 2:22 am
What a wonderful surprise from an unexpected source! God bless the service area covered by Qwest Communications!
May 12th, 2006 at 2:23 am
Thank you, Qwest. I’ve been a customer for a long time and have been impressed with the excellent products and services you’ve provided. Now I am even more impressed with Qwest. Standing up to the NSA must’ve been difficult, so thank you for doing so. All of you are heroes!
May 12th, 2006 at 2:24 am
Qwest, you did yourself proud.
Thank-you
May 12th, 2006 at 2:26 am
Qwest is best!
I don’t have any service I can switch, but I will see if my friends in other areas do and lean on them to support your historic stand.
May 12th, 2006 at 2:33 am
I am a current phone and DSL subscriber who is now a loyal customer for life.
Thank you for obeying the law instead of the government. Thank you for demonstrating corporate patriotism in action!
May 12th, 2006 at 2:38 am
Thank you so much.
The others have shown their true colors. Qwest obviously has a prinicle – or two more than the rest!
When I lived in Philly, I was a regular Verizon subscriber.
Now in the midwest – I am grateful to have you as my service provider. I might even add some lines t- and services.
Gratitude to you for DOING THE RIGHT THING.
May 12th, 2006 at 2:39 am
Thanks for having the courage and patriotism to stand up to this corruption and illegality!
May 12th, 2006 at 2:40 am
Thank you Quest for refusing to hand over those records. I’m glad you’re my provider. This is true patriotism.
May 12th, 2006 at 2:41 am
Qwest, please, open in Pennsylvania.
Thank you for sticking it to the man.
May 12th, 2006 at 2:50 am
THANK YOU!!!
May 12th, 2006 at 2:58 am
THANK YOU FOR STANDING UP TO THE ELITIST JERKS!!!!!
May 12th, 2006 at 2:58 am
thank you for actually having morals and standards. wish there were more companies like you.
May 12th, 2006 at 3:06 am
Thank you for not handing your records of my phone conversations over to the thugs who have taken over our country.
May 12th, 2006 at 3:08 am
The shock and outrage when I first started reading the article in today’s news was so overwhelming. Then, much to my delight, further down into the article I read about the stance that Qwest had taken dating back to 2001.
I have no doubt that AT&T, Verizon and BellSouth will suffer the repercussions of their voluntary actions for a long time to come. And I stand and applaud Qwest for the courage it must have taken to stand on principles and decent business ethics and customer loyalty against our own government. To not cave in to “fear” tactics, to not buy into the argument of compromising national security by not disclosing information, to hold firm when the NSA tried to bully you with the prospect of not getting future classified work .. THANK YOU.
You are commended for taking the ethical and lawful high ground against breaching the privacy of American citizens. I am one of your customers in MN and proud to be. I intend to make a sign to place in the window of my car that reads .. “QWEST – NSA FREE!’
May 12th, 2006 at 3:14 am
Thanks QWEST!
May 12th, 2006 at 3:19 am
Thank you for withstanding the pressure and doing the right thing.
I hope you get tons of new customers simply for acting like a law abiding American company.
May 12th, 2006 at 3:22 am
Thanks to Qwest!! Fight the power people!
May 12th, 2006 at 3:29 am
I’m proud to have Qwest as my local phone company and am considering switching everything else to them, as well. It’s good to know not every company in our country is cow-towing to this facist administration. Thanks!!
May 12th, 2006 at 3:29 am
I work in politics and my phone has been clicking all thr time now…since 03. Thank you for being better then them.
May 12th, 2006 at 3:37 am
Thanks Quest. I’m changing my phone company tomorrow! You deserve it.
May 12th, 2006 at 3:47 am
Thank you. Ethics and customer respect are still around thankfully.
May 12th, 2006 at 3:52 am
Beautiful !!! Time for u guys to open service in Ohio. I will sign up. Thanks!!
May 12th, 2006 at 3:54 am
You cannot imagine the sense of pride in Qwest that I felt when I learned Qwest had made a FISA warrant a prerequisite. Qwest practices Constitutional Americanism, a truly worthy form of patriotism. Thank you, Qwest.
May 12th, 2006 at 3:58 am
I am so thankful that you had the integrity to keep my records private. Thank you Qwest
May 12th, 2006 at 4:09 am
In the past Qwest has been a poor member of my community refusing to pay it’s fair share to our local governments to sell us phone service.
This time you did the right thing. Thanks. I may even switch back.
May 12th, 2006 at 4:28 am
You should put up a Quest link on this page. I’m not seeing one at first glance.
May 12th, 2006 at 4:57 am
Well done, Qwest. Patriotism at its finest. (You’re not giving away our e-mail addresses, I trust.)
May 12th, 2006 at 5:07 am
Thanks for doing the right thing. I was beginning to think that no one was going to remember that we have this thing called the U.S. Constitution. I wish I could get your service here in sunny California. Maybe I can switch to your VoIP service.
May 12th, 2006 at 5:18 am
Thank you Quest.
I recently abandoned your DSL service for the lower-priced cable-modem service. AS my way of honor your respect for the laws of our nation, I will be returning my broadband service to quest. Thank you again.
May 12th, 2006 at 5:30 am
BRAVO!!!!!
Thank you Quest for having the courage to stand up and say NO.
For those of you who do not live in area’s where Quest is available as a provider.
Go to http://www.bigredwire.com
It is an internet based long distance company. Their provider is Quest.
I have been with them a couple of years. No problems. And I am happy with the service.
May 12th, 2006 at 5:30 am
In a previous life, I investigated your unsavory business practices as part of a government agency. I can only surmise that perhaps you have turned a corner. I can tell you that these brave deeds are recognized by my former co-workers, with whom I spoke today.
Congratulations, and keep up the good work. I am glad that I kept you as my home service provider.
May 12th, 2006 at 5:31 am
We are so glad we chose Quest and T-Mobile.
Thank God some corporations believe in our personal rights to privacy and protecting the 4th Amendment.
May 12th, 2006 at 5:45 am
Thank you for refusing to turn over your customers private information. It was the right thing to do, and sometimes the right thing isn’t the popular or easiest thing. It’s so great to see the good guys come out ahead every once in a while.
May 12th, 2006 at 5:58 am
Thank you Quest!
Way to show you have a spine
and are worried more about rights, than the bottom line.
A year ago I swore off AT&T/SBC and I am proud to say that I will never go back.
May 12th, 2006 at 6:04 am
I am happy to be a Qwest customer. I am happy to know there is one company that believes in the consitution. Thank you Qwest for standing up for whats right. Also prepare to make alot of money
May 12th, 2006 at 6:34 am
If I paid for my service (my office does) I’d switch to quest.
May 12th, 2006 at 7:08 am
Thank you, Qwest!
May 12th, 2006 at 7:22 am
Thank you Qwest for protecting the Fourth Amendment
May 12th, 2006 at 7:55 am
Thanks for acting like a company should, and not kowtowing because “9/11 changed everything.” It didn’t change the Constitution, despite what the other phone companies believe.
May 12th, 2006 at 8:20 am
For those of you that don’t know you can get service from QWEST they are a CLEC in the vernacular of the telephone business. That means you can get service through them and keep your existing number as well. here is there link.
May 12th, 2006 at 9:53 am
Thank you very much for standing up for the America people. This is for the former ceo and current. It is companies like yours that make me proud to say I live in America.
May 12th, 2006 at 10:03 am
A big huzzah to Qwest for behaving like we were all taught to – back when principles and courage weren’t just for John Wayne and Gary Cooper. I am proud that at least one company had the balls to stand up to the dictatorial demands of an administration gone wild with power.
I will spread this story to everyone I know, and hopefully Qwest will reap far more benefits from upholding the law than those cowardly companies ever will by breaking faith with the American People in the name of profits… because we all know that the pressure to conform to these underhanded, illegal tactics all comes down to money.
May 12th, 2006 at 10:16 am
People can get local and long distance service from QWEST and keep your present telephone number. In the vernacular of the telephone business it is a CLEC. Go to their website and click local phone service on the left side under residential.
May 12th, 2006 at 10:21 am
I am so happy to have the service that protected the privacy of its clients! Thank you for holding out, and not just rolling over for this administration’s blatant disregard for our constitutional rights.
May 12th, 2006 at 10:25 am
I’ll be switching to Qwest asap. Thank you for standing up!
May 12th, 2006 at 11:16 am
Yesterday I called to see if I could get phone service through your company. Unfortunately since I live in the midwest I can get long distance service only and would still need another company for local service (in this case our only choice is Verizon). However, I will probably switch to cell phone only since I refuse to pay the people who are selling my records.
I just want to thank you for your integrity, you are a symbol of what is still right in America. With companies like yours we still have a chance to become the real America again. Thank you.
May 12th, 2006 at 11:38 am
Thanks for having integrity and a protector of the values of this country. Thank you for not bowing to the almighty dollar and doing what is right for your customers, unfortunately I’m was a Bellsouth customer, and I’m sure those money grabbing whores gave in rather quickly.
May 12th, 2006 at 11:38 am
I am so grateful to Qwest, for setting such an example. Corporate ethics in America have fallen so low (whether it’s Google and Yahoo in the P.R.C., illegal surveillance of citizens, or plundering company stocks a la Ken Lay) that the Qwest decision stands out like a glowing jewel.
May 12th, 2006 at 11:42 am
God bless Quest
May 12th, 2006 at 12:13 pm
Thank you Qwest! I’ll be in contact to setup service with your company. Thanks again for not turning your back on the Constitution and the reason this country can be great!
May 12th, 2006 at 12:33 pm
I’m a Qwest customer and will be for life now. Thank you Qwest for caring more for your customers and privacy than submitting to an administration who thinks nothing of spying on Americans.
May 12th, 2006 at 12:37 pm
Thanks guys!!! At least there are a FEW real americans left.
You have given me a bit of faith that the fascists have not co-opted EVERYBODY yet. I called Verizon to ask aobut it today, and got the lamest responses you can imagine. “Rest assured, sir, it was only done for your protection, and that of those around you” And “I have worked for verizon for 11 years, and I don’t think the company has done anything wrong”. I directed them to the text of the FISA law that states othewise, and alerted them to the likelihood of a MASSIVE class action suit that could cost them up to $60,000,000,000. Hey, folks, let’s get going on that lawsuit!
May 12th, 2006 at 12:38 pm
Posted at crooksandliars.com:
Why not start a two or three day phone call boycott by AT&T, Verizon and BellSouth customers? Give the NSA fewer calls to snoop, hit AT&T, Verizon and BellSouth in their bottom line?
May 12th, 2006 at 12:46 pm
Thank you Qwest! I sure wish you offered service in Indiana!
May 12th, 2006 at 12:51 pm
Thank you, Qwest, and all of your employees involved in the decision to ignore government pressure to violate my privacy rights. I am encouraging all my friends to drop AT&T, Verizon and Bellsouth accounts as soon as possible and join Qwest. Although I am a loyal Nextel subscriber, if I choose to switch I will go with your fine company.
May 12th, 2006 at 1:00 pm
I felt deep down people were misusing the term patriot, and thanks to the stand you all took I now know my feelings were correct. I will make it my mission to let others know of this great saccrifice.
May 12th, 2006 at 1:06 pm
Thank you Qwest!
May 12th, 2006 at 1:09 pm
I wish to express my sincere gratitude for your sense of corporate responsibility to its customers. This seems to be a rare trait today, especially considering the actions of your competitors. A Hearty, BRAVO!
May 12th, 2006 at 1:43 pm
Thank you Qwest!
May 12th, 2006 at 1:46 pm
Thanks for follwoing the laws of this country, Qwest!
This administration sure doesn’t
May 12th, 2006 at 1:52 pm
thank you qwest!
May 12th, 2006 at 1:57 pm
Thank you for remembering and honoring the Constitution.
If only we can get the President and all others to recognize that there are LEGAL ways to fight terrorism, many of which have not been used. It’s time to provide real security from those who would trash to Constitution to supposedly save it and that applies to efforts at HOME as well as abroad.
Sincerely,
N. Papas
May 12th, 2006 at 1:59 pm
Gracias, Qwest.
May 12th, 2006 at 2:01 pm
Thanks for doing the right thing. Sometimes, especially when you’re surrounded by people doing the wrong thing, it’s difficult to stick on the right track. You are awesome. Too bad I’m not near your service territory.
May 12th, 2006 at 2:13 pm
Thanks Qwest, if u were in my area, i’d switch.
May 12th, 2006 at 2:18 pm
Thank you Quest, and if you can ever break into the Northeast market, I would sign up for your services immediately!
4th Ammendment. No illegal search and seizure!
May 12th, 2006 at 2:22 pm
I have been seriously considering switching my local phone service from Qwest to another provider, due to some service problems I’ve had.
However, because of their refusal to cooperate with the NSA in their illegal monitoring scheme, I have abandoned my search and will be sticking with Qwest for the forseeable future. Unless I have some really serious service problems (or if they cave in to pressure from NSA), I will be a Qwest customer for a long time to come.
May 12th, 2006 at 2:23 pm
Thank you, Qwest! Sure wish I could get a land line from you here in TX – SBC/AT&T, bite my ass!
May 12th, 2006 at 2:42 pm
Thank you Qwest for not selling out our 4th Amendment rights.
May 12th, 2006 at 2:55 pm
Vance is right. This stance is historic. I would have paid money to see the look on the NSA official’s face when Quest told them “not without a warrant”. I hope they were extremely embarrased that Quest had the nerve to use the rule of law to defend its customers’ rights while exposing the NSA’s act of breaking it. A major corporation telling the government how to obey the law. How’s that for irony.
Way to go Quest. I too like Libby Owens will be looking at your stock. I hope the money the Three Stooges of telecom make off the government they lose in customers dropping their services.
May 12th, 2006 at 2:57 pm
Thanks Qwest! I am so glad my telephone provider is keeping our records private!!
May 12th, 2006 at 3:09 pm
I want to thank you for your courage in saying no to the thugs in the White House. When my contract is up with Verizon I plan to switch to Qwest.
May 12th, 2006 at 3:13 pm
I just wanted to say thank you so much for standing up the government of this country and doing what is right. The government, more than, ever seems to tread on very thin ice when it comes to protecting its citizens rights. Thank you again!!!
May 12th, 2006 at 3:17 pm
Thankyou.
May 12th, 2006 at 3:35 pm
Sirs:
Your patriotic defiance in not turning over the phone records of your customers to the NSA is a signal event that cannot be ignored by the White House nor the average American. You’re like the man in front of the tank in Tiananmen Square. Thank you.
May 12th, 2006 at 3:36 pm
Thanks for standing up for what’s right instead of worrying about what gets more money. Hopefully all the people switching from the other companies to your services will help your profit margins more than betraying the American people would have.
May 12th, 2006 at 3:42 pm
I said thank you this morning by switching to Qwest- I hope everyone who can will do so too!
May 12th, 2006 at 3:46 pm
Thank you. In these dangerous times of creeping facism, it gives us hope when a large corporation stands firm against our government asking them to break the law and trample on our Constitution.
Thank you again, and if you were in our area, you would have our business.
John and Diane Trotter
May 12th, 2006 at 3:52 pm
thank you “quest”-you have our respect like we
had for “google”-too bad we don’t have your
integrity in our government-hope you get lots
of business from this-we are switching to you-
May 12th, 2006 at 4:03 pm
Thank Qwest!!!! Thank you for choosing not to break the law – for choosing to stand on principle and rule of law. Thank you for provider me quality and ethical service.
May 12th, 2006 at 4:04 pm
Thanks for having the courage to stand up to the bullies at NSA. You are the best!
May 12th, 2006 at 4:06 pm
Maybe all the lemmings marching off the cliff will see you standing proud. Maybe then they will stop and turn around.
Thanks for helping me see that the light at the end of the tunnel doesn’t have to be an oncoming train
May 12th, 2006 at 4:13 pm
Thank you for being a business that is watching out for its customers. I’m currently a customer and glad of it.
May 12th, 2006 at 4:28 pm
Thank you for doing business as expected – with respect for your customers.
May 12th, 2006 at 4:33 pm
I’m proud to be a Qwest customer!
May 12th, 2006 at 4:34 pm
Thank you Quest. You did the right thing and I will now look to see if I can sign up with your company. I will also be encouraging all friends and family to do the same.
May 12th, 2006 at 4:41 pm
Qwest, we will say thank you with our purchasing power. Those other companies are about to lose customers in droves! So proud of you guys.
May 12th, 2006 at 4:43 pm
Falls Church, Virginian just switched over to QWEST service.
May 12th, 2006 at 4:51 pm
Just a qwick note to say thanks. If you ever start up operations in NC I’ll be on board. In the meantime, I’ll just use carrier pigeons for my future communications.
May 12th, 2006 at 4:52 pm
I have lived in both Redmond, WA. and Bend, OR where I used Qwest as my phone service. I have to say, now that I’m in Champaign, IL I truly wish that I could have Qwest once again. Integrity like this that should be rewarded, as they show the rest of the big business community what it truly means to be patriotic and living up to the highest ideals of the United States of America.
I’d like to see the next Democratic President award Mr Heller with a Medal of Freedom for his vigilance in protecting the very freedoms this country was founded on and so many have given their lives to protect.
May 12th, 2006 at 5:08 pm
Finally someone has balls enough to stand up to George the Nazi. Thank You
May 12th, 2006 at 5:13 pm
Good on ya, mates. I’ll feel a little better about paying my bill this month.
May 12th, 2006 at 5:16 pm
Thank you.
May 12th, 2006 at 5:38 pm
Thank you, Qwest. I’ll even stop making fun of your name. And let me say that I love your DSL uptime, while I’m at it.
May 12th, 2006 at 5:45 pm
“The only obligation which I have a right to assume is to do at any time what I think is right. It is truly enough said , that a corporation has no conscience; but a corporation of conscientious men is a corporation with a conscience.”
– Henry David Thoreau.
Thanks for taking a moral stance. Guess I’ll hold off switching to Speakeasy.
May 12th, 2006 at 5:54 pm
Folks, even if you are not in Qwest’s service area, you can show your appreciation in a tangible way.
Qwest ticker symbol: Q
Call or log into your broker and BUY. Show them that they can do well by doing good. And the inverse to BellSouth [BLS], AT&T [T], and Verizon [VZ].
May 12th, 2006 at 5:56 pm
Thanks Qwest!
I just wish more companies were like yours, please
bring local service to MI., So I can dump AT+T, I will
sign up for your service the minute you do.
And THANKS AGAIN for standing up for our rights.
Joe
May 12th, 2006 at 5:59 pm
Thanks Qwest proud to say I already have you as our long distance carrier and will look into dropping at&t. A big thank you to David Heller
May 12th, 2006 at 6:07 pm
Thank you, Qwest. I wish you provided service in PA!
May 12th, 2006 at 6:09 pm
Righton! P.S. Do you offer service in Chicago???
May 12th, 2006 at 6:30 pm
Thank you Qwest for standing for your customers rights. I am checking into changing our carriers for all our lines. You are my hero.
May 12th, 2006 at 6:34 pm
One company refused to comply with the NSA citing need for warrants before turning over phone records. One company recognized THAT IT WOULD BE ILLEGAL TO DO SO.
I would like Quest to be my telephone provider for all my communications… local, long distance and net.
And I would like to be referred to original article and/or statements by Quest where management refused to comply with NSA’s illegal demand.
Thank you, Quest. I hope you get your day in court as well.
May 12th, 2006 at 6:39 pm
Thanks for doing the right thing, for the right reasons. Corporate America….are you listening?
May 12th, 2006 at 7:23 pm
Thank you very much for doing the right thing! I only wish I could avail myself of your services. Unfortunately, I am in Verizon’s territory. And, I am NOT PLEASED with Verizon’s (and AT&T’s) lack of business standards. Keep up the good work!
May 12th, 2006 at 7:32 pm
Thanks, Qwest.
I’d switch to you today if you were in the midwest. I’m sure many others will, though.
May 12th, 2006 at 7:33 pm
THANK YOU!
May 12th, 2006 at 8:06 pm
I respect your integrity in saying ‘NO’ and because I am in your service area will be switching from Verizon to Qwest as soon as possible. It’s thoroughly refreshing that a corporation has the ethics to stand up for the right thing to do!
May 12th, 2006 at 8:26 pm
Thanks Qwest!! Feel like opening up in Oklahoma?? Pretty Please??
May 12th, 2006 at 8:28 pm
Thank you Qwest.
I’m a Verizon customer, and a locked in Verizon cellular customer. As soon as my contract expires, I’m FLEEING.
Any company, like Verizon, that betrays its customers, putting up NO resistance, should have its corporate charter revoked. At least, they don’t deserve customers.
One VERY sad thing is that, due to telecom consolidation, many very angry customers have few options.
No choices. Illegally spying government. Cuban gulags filled with non-guilty people held without trial. Cozy relationships between communication companies and state security forces. Is this the US or Soviet Russia? What have we become…
May 12th, 2006 at 8:47 pm
Thanks Qwest.
May 12th, 2006 at 9:12 pm
Thank you for your principled stand. I wish you offered service in New York citya — I’d sign up immediately!
May 12th, 2006 at 9:14 pm
Mr. Heller … you ARE the man …
May 12th, 2006 at 9:38 pm
The entire Qwest team should be proud of itself for the serious consideration it gave to this very important issue and the principaled decision it reached.
May 12th, 2006 at 9:51 pm
Thank you Qwest, PLEASE STAND BY YOUR DECISION, I just signed up for your service and DUMPED Verizon. I’m tired of the Bush Administration making my life more like the Novel 1984.
May 12th, 2006 at 10:38 pm
Thank you Qwest. It took fortitude to stand up for principle and the rule of law in the face of those who have belief in neither.
May 12th, 2006 at 10:51 pm
Thank you for upholding the law and shame on your spineless competitors.
May 12th, 2006 at 10:56 pm
It is refreshing to see a company stand by its mission and contract with its customers.
May 12th, 2006 at 11:20 pm
Thank you Qwest!
May 12th, 2006 at 11:43 pm
Thank you for standing up for your principles and the consumer’s rights.
May 12th, 2006 at 11:52 pm
Just as soon as my contract is over with Cingular, I’ll be switching to Qwest…perhaps the only principled and ethical telecon company left in America. Kudos Qwest!
May 13th, 2006 at 12:03 am
I
May 13th, 2006 at 12:54 am
I had been meaning to drop AT&T for Quest (our local provider) for a while but hadn’t gotten around to it yet. Did it yesterday! Thank you Quest for taking a stand for what is right!!
May 13th, 2006 at 1:09 am
Thank you Qwest for your brave and commendable action in refusing to bow to government pressure to betray your customers. It is a shame that other companies did not follow in your footsteps. Now Americans know who they can trust and should reward you with their business.
May 13th, 2006 at 1:57 am
Thumbs high for Qwest!!!
Thanks for sticking up for your customers and sticking it to nosey NSA-Spetnaz
May 13th, 2006 at 2:39 am
Glad I’m a Qwest customer!
May 13th, 2006 at 4:07 am
Thank you Qwest, for sticking up for the rights of your customers by not going along with the NSA’s demands for our records.
To hell with those people.
May 13th, 2006 at 4:44 am
Thank You!
Even though you do not provide local service in Texas, I could still support your company by switching to Qwest as my Long Distance provider.
The moment you open doors in Texas I am In.
Hell, Charge me twice as much, I will never complain,
But the fact is you are 50% cheaper than my disloyal AT&T.
I have no problem with a search warrant, that is part of the check and balance system. This heinous behavior was nothing more the executive branch going out of control.
AT&T’s action was to sell my soul for a profit.
Shame on the Telco’s and this administration.
So let the law suits fly, First round has begun of Verizon for 50 Billion. Buy your general counsel a cigar.
While your competitors are tied up in court, expand like crazy
I will be buying your stock on Monday.
Talk is cheap, vote with your dollars.
Douglas
Douglas
May 13th, 2006 at 4:52 am
Wow! I can only imagine the heat you guys [Qwest] took from the NSA. Thanks a ton! I appreciate your courage. Your resolve was [and is] the only thing standing between us and complete unchecked power of ongoing government digital surveillance. …I only wish your competitors had your sense.
May 13th, 2006 at 5:22 am
Thanks, Qwest, what a pleasant surprise. It’s good to know that warrants have not gone entirely out of style.
May 13th, 2006 at 6:01 am
Mad love to Qwest! Keep up the fine example!
May 13th, 2006 at 6:15 am
Thank you, Qwest employees!
You know, I feel better about my phone and internet bill now. At least I know the money’s going to a company I can depend on. How very refreshing! Qwest has earned my loyalty.
May 13th, 2006 at 6:16 am
Thank’s a bunch! America is with you!
May 13th, 2006 at 6:42 am
Thank you Qwest.
May 13th, 2006 at 8:19 am
In a world of corporate hustlers and horn-rimmed government thugs, it’s great to find somebody/something who still has some integrity.
So blessings to you, health and bright flowers, and may your example prove contagious in an otherwise rotten marketplace…
-P
May 13th, 2006 at 8:51 am
Thank YOU Qwest for protecting your customers’ privacy. I wish y’all were in the southeast… (mad bellsouth customer)
May 13th, 2006 at 9:38 am
In this time of scandel, unreliability and double speak, seeing a corprate entity with the sence and courage, to stand for their responcibility as a public entity, and stand for the rights of its customers is a breath of fresh air and gives me hope.
May 13th, 2006 at 9:55 am
Thanks QWEST:
I wish there was a QWEST VIRGINIA so I could change to you as a carrier. Very courageous move.
May 13th, 2006 at 10:05 am
I’m switching my landline from Verizon to Qwest this week. Thank you, Qwest, for defending my rights! I’m so grateful that I have an option in this.
May 13th, 2006 at 10:44 am
Thanks Qwest!
May 13th, 2006 at 12:01 pm
Thank you Qwest! We appreciate your resistance.
May 13th, 2006 at 12:05 pm
Way to go QWEST!
May 13th, 2006 at 12:06 pm
Thank you Quest for abiding by the law. Goodbye Verizon.
May 13th, 2006 at 2:19 pm
As soon as you are in Illinois, you have 4 customers for life in my family. . I can’t WAIT to be a QWEST customer.
I was shocked and delighted that any of the corporations stood up to Bush. Thank you for being a voice of reason in all this craziness.
May 13th, 2006 at 3:33 pm
Goodbye, lowlife Cingular.
Hello, Qwest
May 13th, 2006 at 4:45 pm
Thank you Qwest.
When this story broke, I called Verizon and cancelled my wireless account and told them why I was cancelling.
You have all my business and I’ll be setting up a wireless account with you in the next few days.
The only major carrier to actually demand a search warrant. That itself is amazing. Thank you for standing up for the rule of law.
Fuck Verizon, Bell South, and AT&T.
May 13th, 2006 at 5:41 pm
I can’t get your service in NYC, but I cancelled my Verizon acct anyway. And now I’m glad I own Qwest stock, even though I lost money on it!
May 13th, 2006 at 6:51 pm
Big up to Qwest! Thanks for leading by example.
May 13th, 2006 at 7:47 pm
I have been highly liberal and anticorporate for a long time, because It is my belief that companies as well as the government have too much power, and that they likely band together in corruption to maintain their dominance. Again and again this has been confirmed, with companies like Infinity and ClearChannel monopolizing radio broadcasts and banning dissenter bands from it’s stations, and of course, companies like News Corp with their frighteningly wide reach.
It must be terribly unnerving to have the government trying to coerce you into joining a program like this, and then threatening to remove contracts and bring you legal trouble in other corners
You have earned my respect for standing up with principles, and deserve to be commended for it. It’s good to know there’s good people out there in the corporate world.
Joe, 18
May 13th, 2006 at 8:10 pm
It’s been a long time since I’ve had reason to applaud any corporate decision, so I want to thank you for showing the courage to stand up to the government–which must have been especially difficult in the aftermath of 9/11.
May 13th, 2006 at 8:56 pm
Nice work, Qwest. Proud to see at least one company stand up for people.
May 13th, 2006 at 10:05 pm
Congratulations on the courage to stand up to the government.
May 13th, 2006 at 10:27 pm
Thank you Qwest. Too bad Qwest isn’t a munitions company…it’s going to take a lot more than a phone company to start the revolution.
May 13th, 2006 at 10:45 pm
Congratulations on doing the right thing.
May 13th, 2006 at 11:02 pm
Qwest is, by coincidence, our phone company!
Hooray for these virtuous capitalists!
May 13th, 2006 at 11:39 pm
Thanks to Joseph Naccio, David Heller and Qwest for defending the rights of all Americans. I wish I was in an area where I could make you MY phone company.
May 13th, 2006 at 11:50 pm
I would switch from Verizon to Qwest
May 14th, 2006 at 12:05 am
As a good American and a paying customer I just wanted to thank you for not bending over for the Bully Bush.
You just might have restored my faith in corporate America.
Thanks again,
George
May 14th, 2006 at 12:12 am
Thank you for having the integrity and courage to do the right thing, it’s much appreciated by this Qwest customer.
May 14th, 2006 at 12:50 am
I am happy to thank you for your integrity and the hope you give that all is not lost to greed and corruption.
May 14th, 2006 at 1:21 am
Thank you Qwest, this makes me glad I switched to you from Comcast a few months ago.
May 14th, 2006 at 2:42 am
I sure do wish you offered wireless in Texas!!!
May 14th, 2006 at 3:54 am
Qwest offers long distance in every state but Alaska…its not a huge way to say thank you but its a start! I live in NC and signed up for the unlimited long distance today!!!! Thank you Qwest
Here is the long distance link…click your state to see whats available
May 14th, 2006 at 4:39 am
Loyal Qwest customer since 2000! And now even loyaler!
May 14th, 2006 at 5:46 am
Qwest is owned by the Carlyle Group (the same folks who brought you the Bin Laden Family & the Bush Family). They are major investors / holders of Qwest Communications and their connections to the millitary industrial complex is quite the connection. Bush 41 still has a lot of connections and Qwest may not be as “rightous” as you may think. There’s a name associated with Qwest, Robert Barr… something not quite right here
May 14th, 2006 at 6:29 am
Did you read the last paragraph of the article?
Who knows? Tomorrow we may see Qwest in collusion with these elites on some other front. But right now, in this fight, they have been a champion of liberty and deserve our thanks. So go show them some love. But in the words of the late, great Johnny Cash: keep your eyes wide open all the time.
May 14th, 2006 at 6:31 am
We should all take a very close look at Joseph Nacchio. Nacchio was indicted on 42 counts of Criminal Insider Trading on Dec. 20, 2005 – 13 days before the statute of limitations (5 years) on the alleged offenses would have passed and days after the domestic spying scandal broke. If it were not for Nacchio we, qwest customers, would have ended up in the ends of the government. But its not that customer calling patterns would have ended up in the hands of the government but more importantly, that the Government sought them in violation of due process by not seeking approval from the FISA court. Nacchio should be praised, called in front of congress to testify on what is really the right thing to do, and above all, not indicted when his trades were open and transparent.
May 14th, 2006 at 8:13 am
Thank you for standing up for the values many an American gave their life for in defense of.
May 14th, 2006 at 12:16 pm
Thank you!!!
May 14th, 2006 at 1:03 pm
I work for Qwest as a DSL Repair Screener (read Tech Support). I am very proud of how we handled this, and it makes me take a lot of pride in my company. Qwest, from its past history, isn’t exactly an angel, but the company itself has been working very hard to re-invent our image after the SEC scandals and stay true to our “Spirit of Service” motto. The results are beginning to show I guess.
From a phone monkey, thank you all for the kudos.
May 14th, 2006 at 1:14 pm
I’m often angry at qwest, mostly concerning my 47 page bill, but also for dropped calls and poor connections. My cell phone loses calls in my own house, voice mail is sometimes 48 hours behind etc.
At this time I am proud and lucky to be a qwest customer.
We’ll work out the details later.
KUDOS for taking a stand to defend existing laws!!!!!
May 14th, 2006 at 1:36 pm
Thanks Quest ..great job .. Please let know if you have VOIP in my area .
May 14th, 2006 at 1:36 pm
Thanks Qwest ..great job .. Please let know if you have VOIP in my area .
May 14th, 2006 at 2:31 pm
Thank you, Qwest, for insisting that the Bush administration abide by the law.
May 14th, 2006 at 3:28 pm
Thank you Qwest. I’ve had some horrible expieriences with your company in the past but the decision you made to not provide call information to the government is laudible and encouraging. Again, thank you.
May 14th, 2006 at 3:33 pm
Thank You Qwest, and also T-Mobile, for not violating the law in this case. My phone service
is through T-Mobile, and it will stay that way
from now on. To all those with service plans from
these other companies, you better switch over
to a company that is at least willing to obey the
law.
May 14th, 2006 at 4:44 pm
http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?s=Q&t=1y
May 14th, 2006 at 4:55 pm
Thanks for saying NO to the nascent police state.
May 14th, 2006 at 6:05 pm
Thank you. If I could, I would switch to Qwest right now.
May 14th, 2006 at 6:23 pm
Thank you for standing up for people’s rights, and not being bullied into giving up constitutional protections.
May 14th, 2006 at 6:37 pm
Thanks QWest for fighting the bullies and not capitulating to their bribery either! Thank you for being the strong holdout against this kakistocracy.
May 14th, 2006 at 6:43 pm
I wish that there were options enough to allow people switch based on this information. At least there’s VOIP and pure cellular as phone service replacements. For data, it’s a different story. Thanks Quest, even if it was just for CYA!
May 14th, 2006 at 7:32 pm
Thanks for not selling out!
May 14th, 2006 at 7:44 pm
I would like to say so much to Qwest, for taking a stand with some corporate responsibility for once.
Our job as citizens to protect our basic freedoms overrides any legal responsibility corporate officers have to achieve maximum return for their stock holders, and stock holders should want their corporation to be in line with what this nation was founded on.
Let us all use Qwest
May 14th, 2006 at 9:23 pm
Thanks Qwest for being true patriots!
May 14th, 2006 at 9:35 pm
Much thanks for your bravery and patriotism in standing firm against the administration. All you asked was that they show you the program was legal. Now that’s good lawyers!
May 14th, 2006 at 9:39 pm
Thank you for restoring some faith in corporate responsibility.
If Quest would serve my area, I would switch to them.
May 14th, 2006 at 9:46 pm
I’m glad I’m a Qwest customer!
May 14th, 2006 at 10:06 pm
Thanks for standing up to “Big Brother”. Maybe someday we will live in a free country again.
May 14th, 2006 at 10:25 pm
Thanks for this one, Qwest. Nice. You took a stand, and didn’t use it for PR (at the time, anyway). Now it’s paying off. America, baby!
But I’ll still be watching all that lobbying. Know what I’m sayin’?
May 14th, 2006 at 10:33 pm
We’re leaving Verizon and going to Qwest. That’s the best way we know to say “THANK YOU, QWEST!”
May 14th, 2006 at 11:23 pm
Thank you
May 14th, 2006 at 11:39 pm
Yeah, I’d switch to Qwest if it covered my area!
May 15th, 2006 at 1:07 am
Thanks qwest!
May 15th, 2006 at 1:32 am
Thanks Qwest — 10 years from now, America will look back at the enormous range of illegal behavior that occurred in this administration … and Qwest will be noted as doing the right thing.
Hope this drives more customers your way !
May 15th, 2006 at 1:48 am
Good for you, QWest. I’m going to search now to see if you offer service in my area of Connecticut.
And, thank you, Floyd for organizing us like this.
May 15th, 2006 at 1:51 am
I hope this is true about Qwest and not some scam just to help them keep customers. I stopped my AT&T service and hope to get a Cell phone from a reputable company that does not spy on their customers. I can’t believe we have to pay for this crappy service.
Daisy
May 15th, 2006 at 4:19 am
I wish I could use quest for my local service (I’m in norcal). It sounds like the only just telco.
May 15th, 2006 at 5:17 am
Laudable.
May 15th, 2006 at 11:24 am
Qwest pissed me off a few years back when they slammed my long distance service (switched me without my permission). But I’m over it and glad I stuck with them for my local service. Hopefully more patriots like Qwest will stick up for the Constitution and Bill of Rights against these lawbreakers.
May 15th, 2006 at 12:32 pm
While I do not live in North America, or even in a english-speaking country, I’m still thankful to Qwest for standing up for privacy and democracy like that in the US, which is rapidly turning into a martial law hellhole. If I was in the U.S., I’d sign up with Qwest immediately.
Thank you, Qwest.
DaBlade, LinuxP2P.com
May 15th, 2006 at 2:17 pm
Qwest ……this will be remembered as a Super Hero battling the arch enemy, Bushit!
May 15th, 2006 at 3:04 pm
Right on! Finally a reason to cheer for a large telcom. If I had the money I’d even get my DSL re-hooked up through them. (I do miss my broadband)
May 15th, 2006 at 3:15 pm
Never been a huge Qwest fan, as I have had a nightmare of billing issues with them (high speed circuits) but kudos for making the right move on this one.
May 15th, 2006 at 4:56 pm
All Qwest did was ask, “Do you have a warrant?”. It probably seemed like a very straightforward thing to do. Thanks Qwest. Thanks for asking. Thanks for asking to see the warrant.
May 15th, 2006 at 5:42 pm
I’m not amazed that Qwest stood their ground. I’m amazed all the other telecoms caved. But thanks nonetheless for having a spine, Qwest.
May 15th, 2006 at 5:49 pm
Thanks, Qwest. We always knew there would be a really good reason to stick with you
May 15th, 2006 at 6:28 pm
Thank you for protecting the privacy of millions of people and the courage to stand for justice and truth in a world of corruption and deception.
May 15th, 2006 at 6:53 pm
Even though your customer service sucks, you made a longtime customer proud. A sincere thank you.
May 15th, 2006 at 7:00 pm
Thanks for doing a stad-up job and protecting consumers privacy. Really, excellent, excellent work.
May 15th, 2006 at 7:03 pm
You are a protector of the American Spirit. Others should learn from your example.
May 15th, 2006 at 7:16 pm
Thank you!
May 15th, 2006 at 7:18 pm
How do I switch to Qwest??? I want to put my money where my ‘thank you’ is!
May 15th, 2006 at 7:20 pm
I wish that you were providing telephone service in New York City.
I would drop Verizon for you guys in a second.
I hope they sue the beejezus out of the others.
May 15th, 2006 at 7:22 pm
Although I am not satisfied with the level of service I have received in the past. The actions Qwest has taken to protect my privacy more than make up for previous experiences.
May 15th, 2006 at 7:23 pm
Thank You Qwest for putting my family in danger.
Seems this lack of common sense goes along with all the other illegal behavior your company has been know for.
You should be shut down.
May 15th, 2006 at 7:28 pm
Thank you Qwest for protecting your customers. Please come to the Southeastern states.
May 15th, 2006 at 7:31 pm
I doubt Qwest refused for altruistic motives — rather they didn’t want to get sued. However, maybe the public response to this nefarious action by the NSA will demonstrate that there is a market reason to protect your customer’s privacy.
May 15th, 2006 at 7:41 pm
Thank you Qwest for a moral response to NSA snooping. Corporations are all too often faceless, greedy, cruel entities that cannot be held accountable.
THANK YOU
May 15th, 2006 at 7:46 pm
Qwest does have service that anyone from any state can purchase; Long Distance. It may not be all that you like, but if we boost them enought they may get the power to buy-out the bad guys and then give you eveything you could imagine! If you have a land-line, call Qwest at 1/800/244/1111 and ask to switch your Long Distance to them…
May 15th, 2006 at 7:57 pm
Thanks for not helping your country Qwest, I will be sure to drop your services soon. Thanks for putting my family in danger due to your inaction.
It is amazing that everyone is so upset that phone companies sold your records to the government, something they do on a regular basis to other companies foriegn and domestic. Funny how no one was upset when Bill Clinton paid the British to actually listen US citizens in the 90′s.
May 15th, 2006 at 8:04 pm
Thank you Qwest for protecting my right to privacy. I only hope that otheres follow your lead.
May 15th, 2006 at 8:05 pm
Thankyou qwest
http://informationclearinghouse.info/article13022.htm
May 15th, 2006 at 8:38 pm
I have never been more proud to to say I’m a Qwest Customer! Thanks for going against the grain and doing the right thing. I hope you get flooded with new customers! Keep up the great work! THANK YOU!
May 15th, 2006 at 9:45 pm
THANKS. Even they minitor this web site too!
YOU are true patiot!
May 15th, 2006 at 10:06 pm
I have never been one to speak out but find myself compelled to speak out over and over again against the complete disregard this current president has for the law. Thank you Qwest for standing up for the rule of law.
May 15th, 2006 at 11:09 pm
Thank you Qwest for being appropriately suspicious of this adminitstration’s nefarious schemes!!
May 15th, 2006 at 11:53 pm
As an attorney, I’m always pleased to see attorneys doing their job (as opposed to, for instance, that suck-up Gonzales). Thank you Qwest and Mr. Heller.
May 16th, 2006 at 12:09 am
Thank you Qwest.
May 16th, 2006 at 12:49 am
I’ve been a Qwest customer for years, and now have reason to thank you. Thank you for standing up for our laws, for not giving into the Bush Administration’s illegal tactics to spy on decent Americans. You will continue to have my business – keep up the good fight!
May 16th, 2006 at 12:53 am
Will switch from AT&T
Good corporate citizenship ought to be recognized and rewarded.
Thanks to the legal department at Qwest, thanks to the operators of this website
May 16th, 2006 at 12:54 am
Thanks Qwest — a little integrity goes a long way.
May 16th, 2006 at 12:58 am
CNN asked Qwest today if their business increased over this. They refused to give up that information too. LOL
May 16th, 2006 at 1:36 am
What’s the big deal? Clinton had a similar program called Echelon that did more. Only we weren’t trying to connect dots to stay ahead of those who want to murder millions of Americans.
Keep on President Bush so the same millions including looney liberals are safe.
May 16th, 2006 at 1:48 am
Thankyou Qwest for allowing us to know what Bush is doing to try and stop us. We will still cut off your heads.
May 16th, 2006 at 2:27 am
To the good people at Qwest,
Thanks you for not being intimidated by the tacics of the Bush administration. It’s time for someone to stand up for the rule of law which Bush so cavalierly ignores.
You are to be congratulated.
May 16th, 2006 at 2:39 am
I wish I could thank you Qwest (well, I did send an email, that’s true), but I imagine Verizon has sent all my base to the NSA. Verizon hasn’t responded to my queries to confirm or deny this.
May 16th, 2006 at 3:23 am
Thanks for saying no!!! The government dosen’t need to spy on all its people., there are manys to catch the bad guys without , we the people losing our privacy.
May 16th, 2006 at 3:49 am
Dear Qwest,
It is great to know that integrity is still alive and well in corporate America! Over the past few years, I’ve grown very discouraged by the behavior of those in positions of leadership and power. It was extraordinary to see an institution like yours, which remembers its commitment to its shareholders and consumers first and foremost. It is even better to see an institution like yours that is not influenced or swayed to undermine the privacy of those it serves, by giving into the promise of distorted influence and manipulative and deceptive campaigns to only auction its soul for 40 pieces of silver!
How can we ever as a nation expect our young to believe in and practice the American Dream when few major institutions are willing to stand up and live a principled leadership model? Well, I applaud you for doing just that. In your decision to say no, you have taken the high ground and demonstrated that America does have an institution that is willing to practice principled leadership demonstrating that it takes courage to act with morality. You should receive a Nobel Prize for your honorable stand. Especially, at this time when corporate greed and corruption has reached an all time low regarding concern for those served. Therefore, it is wonderful to see an organization that has the guts to say NO to a corrupt and illegal practice. As a result of your actions, I will be looking into what I can do to connect with your services!
GOD BLESS YOU, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!
May 16th, 2006 at 4:50 am
Qwest, a corporation still trying to play by core American values. GOOD JOB!! Wish there were more like you guys.
May 16th, 2006 at 5:03 am
I’m glad to know that there are some companies and people left in America who AREN’T spineless and have the decency to respect their customer’s privacy! Now if only our government had the same decency! Thank you Qwest!
May 16th, 2006 at 5:09 am
I applaud Qwest’s refusal, and wish I could switch my service over to them. I’d do it in a heartbeat (despite my year long DSL contract with AT&T) if they had service in California!
May 16th, 2006 at 5:21 am
NYSE:Q
Switch to Qwest!!!!!!
May 16th, 2006 at 5:23 am
Thank you, Qwest! I am a business customer and I applaud your decision.
May 16th, 2006 at 5:30 am
Thank you for having the courage to stand up to one very intimidating administration. Your insistance on knowing the facts and following the law have prevailed here, and I sincerely hope your stellar business ethics and sense of principle will make many of us VERY loyal customers.
May 16th, 2006 at 5:36 am
THANK YOU for helping obey the laws of our great land!
May 16th, 2006 at 5:58 am
I applaud your stance in defiance of NSA’s request without a court order.
May 16th, 2006 at 6:28 am
[...] Tom Zeller, who covers blogging for the NY Times wrote Qwest Goes From the Goat to the Hero about Qwest’s stellar performance in the recent NSA-phone company imbroglio. Qwest was the one one of four national telecommunications giants to just say no to Big Brother when he came knocking for phone records on all their customers: …News of the N.S.A. program, particularly in this fiercely polarized political climate, has turned a beleaguered regional phone company with a somewhat lackluster customer-service record into a gleaming political touchstone and a beacon of consumer protection. [...]
May 16th, 2006 at 6:33 am
Thanks guys. Real Americans. I appreciate it. You could have handed the records and the freedom of security of Americans (contrary to popular belief) to the government. God given, inalienable rights. Not yours government. Fuck off. Thanks Qwest!
May 16th, 2006 at 7:16 am
Thank you for standing up for our civil liberties and privacy rights – We appreciate you and applaud your courage
May 16th, 2006 at 8:08 am
You now have my phone service. Thank you.
May 16th, 2006 at 8:37 am
Dear Qwest,
Thank you for taking a stand to show the President and our elected representatives what it means to be under the law and faithful to the constitution. Your stand shows such courage, and loyalty to your customers and the USA. I am looking into becoming one of your customers soon. Our Government should be so loyal to its people!
Grace and Peace,
Matthew
http://www.GodFamilyRepublic.org
May 16th, 2006 at 8:56 am
I live in Seattle where US West and now Qwest provide service. I’ve never liked the company much. Some days I hate them, some days I tolerate them, some days they even do their jobs right.
But when I heard about the NSA-phone company farce Qwest sure came out smelling like a rose.
My cell service was with Verizon Wireless. When I called to complain about their cooperation with the feds, it took several days before I found out they weren’t participating. But I had to first read that in the WashPost. The first time I spoke w. a Verizon Wireless customer service mgr. she didn’t even know that VW was NOT participating. She led me to believe they were.
Then the only statement a VW corporate spokesperson would make to me was “Verizon Wireless customers are not affected by this situation.” He simply would not make any other statement on the subject. So I figured that if Verizon Wireless didn’t really want to talk about where it stood on this, I’d rather go with a company that stood up to the feds & told ‘em where to go & was willing to tell the world about it.
My cell service will switch to Qwest tomorrow (already have landline service w. them). My blog post about this is linked to this comment.
May 16th, 2006 at 10:38 am
Well done!
May 16th, 2006 at 10:58 am
I was about to shop for a LD carrier but you just earned my business for quite sometime to come Qwest … After all the Nacchio stuff, it’s great that a local Denver company would tell Bush and all his NeoCon zealots to go straight to hell! I could not possibly be prouder of you!!!!!
May 16th, 2006 at 11:05 am
thanks qwest. even though your corporate scandals in early 2001 cost me almost all of my personal investments. (as the stock fell from $60 to $2) you really did a good job protecting my phone records from the government. (and our false guided president)
May 16th, 2006 at 11:26 am
Good job guys, it’s comforting to know there is still some ethical backbone in this world of multiple and overlapping interests.
May 16th, 2006 at 11:34 am
Great to know my company has the ethics to know right from wrong!
May 16th, 2006 at 11:46 am
As a customer who has considered going only with a cell phone, this gives me food for thought. I may have to become a bigger customer of Qwest. All this change of attitude about Qwest is due to their stance on the NSA snooping.
I now have great respect for Qwest!
May 16th, 2006 at 11:49 am
Thank you, thank you. If more corporations protected our privacy we could go back to feeling secure again in our own homes. (and our own country too) It is a crime that anyone can get all possible records about us. This should be stopped.
May 16th, 2006 at 11:50 am
Thanks guys! Finally the terrorists have a company they can rely on!
May 16th, 2006 at 12:17 pm
Rule of law…what does this mean? I know for absolutely sure that when it is applied to my everday life, that there are few ambiguities; however when it comes to our President, it seems to mean nothing at all. There is a FISA court Mr. President….use it. If you cannot secure subpoenas, well then you are SOL.
My Constitutional rights do not cease to exist because it makes things easier for the government to catch terrorists. Hell if we wanted to makes things easier for the government in this ‘war on terrorism’, let’s just get rid of this pesky Constitution all together. I bet we could catch all sorts of terrorists, along with adulterers, cheats, liars, and hypocrites. Perhaps the phone transcripts of those who aren’t attending a Christian church regularly should be reviewed especially close as well. While we are at it, maybe even have everyone live in a little box like milkfed veal too, until the value of our physical self is greater than the value of our human spirit, then it’s off to the processing plant. After all, it’s for the good of everyone, right? It’s effective and efficient, right?
As a society, where do we draw the line of individual liberty versus the good of our country? Our President seems to think that he and his administration know best where to draw this line, and that somehow he can simply disregard the parts that get in his way. I however, know that this line has already been set by our founding Fathers, our legislative branch, and our judicial system. No offense Mr. President, but you are not above the law. In fact, if it was up to me, you would be charged with treason this very day, because you swore to uphold our Constitution, but instead you have actively engaged in activities which circumvent it; from this data collection without court approval, to indefinite detention of the accused without legal representation.
Kudos however goes to Qwest for understanding the simple fact that my telecom usage information is not public domain without a court order…period. Now if our President would like to become a judge instead, well then let’s have him start in traffic court first, then work his way up the ranks. Oh but wait, maybe that criminal record (DUI), might get in the way of that…I guess it’s back to the Texas Rangers then, or some other place where Daddies clout and connections will make things all better…
Again, thank you Qwest for protecting my information from a President and administration who beleive Constitutional laws are quaint artifacts of a bygone era. Because of your steasfast commitment to the rule of law, I will continue to do business with you. Oh, and by the way, can we work on this DSL availability in my neighborhood issue now?
May 16th, 2006 at 12:22 pm
Awesome! Thanks for standing up for the little guy and fighting the opening of this pandora’s box. The BushCo “trust us” policy will not protect us. “Trust us?” …as Larry the Cable Guy said, “It’s pronounced, ‘Baloney!’ “
May 16th, 2006 at 12:23 pm
As a Qwest employee, we are REQUIRED to read and acknowledge an Employee Code of Conduct on a yearly basis. This Code of Conduct includes customer records and phone call data and the fact that under NO circumstances do you talk about anything related to a customer without a court order. Anyone who violates this code can be terminated immediately. This is not only a Qwest requirement, it’s the LAW. The fact is that the Bush Administration expected us to break a law that was enacted back in the 1930′s.
May 16th, 2006 at 12:52 pm
I never would have dreamed that the defender of our civil rights would be a telecom. Thank you, Quest, for having the courage to keep my private life private. You are restoring my faith in American institutions, which has been badly shaken by the out-of-control regime.
May 16th, 2006 at 12:54 pm
Thank you Qwest. Why you may ask. Qwest took a real risk in the fight to keep our freedom. They should be remembered in history. This should be the turning point. Really, I would hope that the history books remember Qwest as the only american phone company with the guts to stand up for the constitution.
Chris Moats
May 16th, 2006 at 12:59 pm
Thank you Qwest for respecting the rights of American citizens, and telling Big Government and George Bush to mind their own business.
May 16th, 2006 at 12:59 pm
thank you for not being involved in this NSA project.
May 16th, 2006 at 1:07 pm
Thank you Qwest for respecting our Constitutional Right to privacy and not breaking to this current administration and their shady ways. I work for Corporate America and, at times, been on conference calls that contained confidential company information. We are way past the time to stand up to this corrupt administration. I’m happy to have been an associate of Qwest.
May 16th, 2006 at 1:11 pm
Thank you for not assisting the Administration in its further trampling of our freedoms. Job well done!
May 16th, 2006 at 1:17 pm
Thank you for sticking to the principles. I will be looking into switching my service provider.
May 16th, 2006 at 1:30 pm
I lost a lot of money on your stock, like a lot of people did, and your refusal to go along with the Bush administration’s request goes some way toward molifies my feelings toward you to some considerable degree. You have done a service to our country. Thanks.
May 16th, 2006 at 1:33 pm
Thank you Qwest.
May 16th, 2006 at 1:35 pm
THANK YOU!
May 16th, 2006 at 1:37 pm
Thank you to the Board of Directors and management of Qwest for following the law and not bowing the Bush Administration. Too often civil liberties are the first thing to go when the country is threatened. The greater threat is the administration currently in power. As a user of your phone service, I am glad my telecom stood up to the demands of an unaccountable government agency. Thanks again.
May 16th, 2006 at 1:46 pm
Just called t-mobile and signed up for their family plan, transferring my qwest number in the process. Dropping qwest from my home will save me $400 a year!
May 16th, 2006 at 1:50 pm
Thank you for protecting our privacy rights and for standing up for the rights of Americans.
May 16th, 2006 at 1:56 pm
Instead of being “applauded” you should be ASHAMED !!!
Why are people so paranoid? Keep your nose clean and you have NOTHING to worry about, period!!!!!! Believe me, the Government could care less that Mary and Jane are planning a picnic this weekend.
May 16th, 2006 at 1:58 pm
Thank you for doing the right thing and standing up for your customer’s rights.
May 16th, 2006 at 2:19 pm
Thank you for helping keep safe the rights of all Americans to be free of government intrusion.
May 16th, 2006 at 2:21 pm
Sure wish Qwest had service here in TN. I contacted Verizon and told them I wanted a public apology and a promise to never monitor cell phone calls again without a warrant. They practically denied that they are doing so! Unfortunately, the wireless options in my area are minimal. I feel violated. We can never trust wireless carriers again. Bush is leading the US into a Fascist state reminisent of Nazi Germany. When will Americans wake up? He is doing everything possible (deficit spending, insane foreign policy, guttin social security, letting big companies renig on pensions, tax breaks for the most wealthy, open borders, etc. etc) to weaken the US middle class, yet at the same time stepping up the fascist control of the government. Hello, Bush is NOT a conservative republican!! He is a Fascist dictator who has taken executive branch control to unprecidented levels. And the “democrats” are no better – they let him do it. If we had a true two-party system, this president would have been impeached 4 years ago.
May 16th, 2006 at 2:25 pm
QWest Morons, Rows and rows of anonymous numbers do NOT constitute a violation of privacy. I’m cancelling my Qwest DSL and DirecTV account, you traitorous bastards.
May 16th, 2006 at 2:25 pm
Thank you QWest for protecting the rights of the American People.
May 16th, 2006 at 2:37 pm
Thanks to Qwest for acting as a responsible corporate citizen of this country by refusing to bow to unethical and illegal pressure from the NSA. I hope Qwest offers service to whatever area I’ll be moving to in the near future.
May 16th, 2006 at 2:39 pm
Scary times we live in when our persident is above the law and big corporate business is the follower.
Wow!
Thank you Qwest!
May 16th, 2006 at 2:44 pm
Thank you so much for standing up against the unreasonable requests from the government. It’s a shame! We don’t know what else they have been spying on the people.
May 16th, 2006 at 2:53 pm
“Live free or Die” is part of this country and that is what Qwest stood for by not allowing big brother these records. Anyone who thinks we are safe in a free society are very wrong, the government had evidence in their hands concerning 9/11 and blew it, so you don’t think that will happen again when it involves the government, get real. Way to go Qwest, you get all my business!!!!
May 16th, 2006 at 2:56 pm
THANK YOU Qwest for having the backbone to say NO to the Federal Government….You just made my “Most Admired Companies” List !!!!!
May 16th, 2006 at 2:59 pm
thanks for standing up for an individual’s rights!
May 16th, 2006 at 3:02 pm
Thank you Quest
It is too bad that we have to thank a company for doing what is lawful and right. However, in a time when business and government are hardly distinguishable, I guess we do. So, again, thanks for your patriotic actions in protecting Americans’ privacy.
May 16th, 2006 at 3:05 pm
Thank you Qwest for having the spine to stick up for my rights. You restored my faith in corporate morality, and I’ll never switch to another carrier.
May 16th, 2006 at 3:10 pm
Thank you Qwest for your integrity, We are really happy to be your customers
Sincerely
Don and Pat Swearngain
303-280-3818
May 16th, 2006 at 3:20 pm
Now that BellSouth has denied that it gave phone records to the NSA, I took a closer look at this story.
The only public confirmation that I can find of Qwest’s alleged refusals comes from the lawyers from Joe Nacchio, former CEO of Qwest.
Joe Nacchio is under indictment for insider trading.
Have we all been had?
May 16th, 2006 at 3:26 pm
Thank you Qwest for standing up for your customers and country, and for being my phone and dsl provider.
Thank you Qwest for your early vision for the internet and investment in broadband infrastructure.
Thank you also to the creators of this site for providing this forum ~
May 16th, 2006 at 3:30 pm
Qwest,
I have never before been proud to be a client of a corporation or service; now I am. Thank you for standing up to the NSA and preserving our rights. As usual, I am ashamed of many people in this country who do not understand the ramifications of encouraging governmental actions contrary to the law. I am happy that Qwest does understand! The next time I get a flyer with my bill that asks me to add services to my existing QWest account, I will.
May 16th, 2006 at 3:36 pm
Thank you Quest for integrity in the face of government manipulation. Do you serve Connecticut ? If you do we will switch our phone service.
May 16th, 2006 at 3:47 pm
My late father was with AT&T and Bell Labs for nearly a half century. He would have been proud that the successor to NW Bell has taken a stand for the REAL users of the phones: the consumers. Thanks, Qwest!
GcB
May 16th, 2006 at 3:48 pm
I have a new hero, and it’s…gasp…a corporation.
It’s a bird…it’s a plane…its QWEST.
Immediately after hearing that my phone company (verizon) decided to play lap dog to our dictator king George, and turn over my records to NSA, I called Qwest to switch my service. Unfortunately, they do not cover the California region for domestic service. But I’ll keep looking till I can dump verizon for a company that will stand up against the Nazis now running our government.
Thanks Qwest for upholding the constitution and our laws in a time when even the president thinks he is above all our laws.
May 16th, 2006 at 3:56 pm
thank you Quest for believing in America and for having the guts to stand up to a crooked government that is bringing shame on all Americans past, present, and future. may others be encouraged by your stand. may God bless America.
May 16th, 2006 at 4:03 pm
Big applause to Qwest for standing up for the privacy of it’s customers instead of selling them out for the almighty dollar! If you were in MD, we would switch to you in a minute to protest the outrageous behavior of Verizon!
May 16th, 2006 at 4:16 pm
I am a long-time customer of Qwest and suddenly much happier about it. Thank you for your courage to follow the law.
May 16th, 2006 at 4:25 pm
Major props to Qwest, standing up to the Bush Nazi regime takes some guts. This just gives me another reason to hate sbc/at&t and I cannot wait to switch to another isp/phone provider. I would go to Qwest in a second if they were around here.
May 16th, 2006 at 4:28 pm
I want to commend your company for not providing cart blanc phone records of your customers. Without a court order those records should be confidential. Thanks for being a good corporate citizen.
May 16th, 2006 at 4:41 pm
Stand strong, Qwest! Oppose illegal governmental activities in whatever name! Uphold the Constitution and, in doing so, force the government to do so as well!
May 16th, 2006 at 5:05 pm
This isn’t about fighting terrorism – it’s about a separation of powers in our government that the Imperial Bush wants to abolish. Thank you Qwest for supporting our Constitution.
May 16th, 2006 at 5:09 pm
Congratulations Qwest for NOT breaking the law! If you would have done so our business would have changed over to a third-party provider yesterday!
Tibby
May 16th, 2006 at 5:15 pm
I am dumping AT&T (Southwestern Bell) soon as I find alternative service. Wish I could reward Qwest with my business. (Come to Texas soon!)
May 16th, 2006 at 5:26 pm
Thanks to the people at Qwest that have what it take to stand up for our rights.
May 16th, 2006 at 5:30 pm
Just cancelled my AT&T credit card.Used it for sixteen years,but will not do business with a company that help this adminastration spy on u.s.citizens.
May 16th, 2006 at 6:03 pm
Dear Qwest:
I want to thank Qwest for resisting pressure to provide customer calling records to the administration when they declined to seek legal authorization.
This is a truly frightening time in this country … and for a company’s leadership to stand up forthrightly agains this kind of abuse of power gives me a small ray of hope that what we stand for might survive.
I am looking for phone service alternatives and intend to remove myself from Verizon as soon is practical.
W.S.A.
Baltimore, MD
May 16th, 2006 at 6:13 pm
Thank you for supporting Privacy Rights.
May 16th, 2006 at 6:14 pm
I am proud to be a Qwest customer. Thank you, Qwest, for taking a principled stand against the Bush-league erosion of our Bill of Rights!
May 16th, 2006 at 6:16 pm
Ohh, Qwest… you found a way to make me love you after all.
May 16th, 2006 at 6:26 pm
Thanks!
May 16th, 2006 at 6:30 pm
THank you for being the lone beacon in a sea of unlwfule wiretapping.
May 16th, 2006 at 6:30 pm
Thanks qwest for doing the right thing. I wish you were a provider in Texas and I would make the switch.
May 16th, 2006 at 6:36 pm
Thank you for supporting our privacy rights. I have always had Qwest service and will continue to do so.
May 16th, 2006 at 6:46 pm
QWest, you are the rare leader of these days.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COURAGE TO DO THE RIGHT THING!!!!
May 16th, 2006 at 6:46 pm
A little odd perhaps, but thanks for complying with the law?
May 16th, 2006 at 6:49 pm
I actually already e-mailed Qwest a thank you when the story broke, before I heard of this site. When I first started reading the story, before I read that Qwest didn’t sell me out I thought, that’s it, I am canceling phone service. I was proud and happy to be a Qwest customer after I read the entire story. I am just an average American nothing to hide or worry about with my phone records, but the idea that the government is doing this with no supervision, well that smacks of Nazi Germany to me. I thank you today for being a moral company that safeguards my privacy as you are charged to do under the law. I have passed the story along to countless friends and relatives urging them to leave their phone companies if they do not have Qwest. In the long run the companies that you cannot trust will have their clientele leave them. Then I guess there’s nothing to spy on….
May 16th, 2006 at 6:51 pm
I don’t use Qwest. I don’t have them available as I am not in their footprint. I do however applaud their actions of protecting the privacy of their clients. I am dissappointed that Verizon seems to have not done so.
May 16th, 2006 at 6:56 pm
I’ve cancelled my ISP account with AT&T and will cancel my Verizon Cell account as soon as the current term expires.
I am glad I have QWEST as my local phone company.
THANK YOU QWEST for standing up and doing the right thing.
May 16th, 2006 at 7:13 pm
thanks qwest. i’m ashamed of all the other phone service carriers. i’ll look into qwest service when my cingular contract expires.
May 16th, 2006 at 7:35 pm
I appreciate that your company will stand up to the abuse of power of this administration.
May 16th, 2006 at 7:40 pm
Thank you so much! I hope other businesses will learn from your company’s courage.
May 16th, 2006 at 7:50 pm
I am disturbed by the sheep mentality of the American people. I wonder what it will take for American to wake up and realize that our rights are slipping away. People in other countries probably never thought their government would cross the line until they were dragged from their homes in the middle of the night. Thanks Qwest for being the lighthouse for those of us stranded is the revolting sea of denial.
May 16th, 2006 at 8:40 pm
Qwest is getting too much credit for doing the right thing; they did it for the publicity. Since broadband phone services have become mainstream, their customers are leaving in droves. I’ve lived all over the US, and Qwest’s reliability and customer service are the worst I’ve ever encountered.
May 16th, 2006 at 8:43 pm
Since we already have a FISA court that is being bypassed (for national security). I guess it would be appropriate to have a DISA court for our of our domestic surveillance for customers outside Qwest territory. I’m glad glad that Joe Nacchio did something right!
May 16th, 2006 at 8:44 pm
Thanks Qwest! Allah will bless you and reward you for your assistance in the jihad against the west.
As a reward al-qaeda will now switch all of it’s business to you. We will need to make a bulk purchase of cell phones. Do you have a discounted replacement purchase plan in case one of our cell phones is destroyed?
May 16th, 2006 at 9:33 pm
Thank you Qwest, for following the law of the land.
May 16th, 2006 at 9:40 pm
Thanks Qwest!
May 16th, 2006 at 10:23 pm
Thanks for not being a sell out. I am glad now I have Qwest.
May 16th, 2006 at 10:24 pm
THANK YOU FOR FOLLOWING THE LAW! IT IS A SAD DAY WHEN THAT IS THE EXCEPTION AND NOT THE RULE!
May 16th, 2006 at 10:50 pm
SalAssalamu alykom,
Thank you Qwest!!
Allah Akhbar!! Qwest Akhbar!!!
May 16th, 2006 at 11:17 pm
Just wanting to say thank you Qwest, we have been looking at shutting off our ground line lately but have decided to not do so. Cannot wait till you get your WiMax up in Denver and come down to Colorado Springs with it
.
May 16th, 2006 at 11:25 pm
Thank you Qwest for respecting the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States. Enough is enough! There is no reason at all for the N.S.A. to be sying warrentlessly on millions of Americans under the guise of catching a few terrorists. This is really just a right-wing government ploy to spy on and thereby control racial and ethnic minorities, political critics of the Bush regime of all races (patriots), for the purposes of strengthening the fascist regime already in place. Let’s organize a national boycott of BellSouth, Verizon, MCI and AT&T and let our money speak for us!
May 16th, 2006 at 11:39 pm
Thanks for making us all LESS safe. What if the next attack came your way?? Since you Don’t want to participate, how about we save $ and leave YOU unprotected?
May 17th, 2006 at 12:03 am
Oh my goodness! Our Constitution is being shredded to itsy bitsy pieces, but you are protecting us. Thank you! You’re not our government, which should be protecting us from this, but we appreciate your honest practices. Thank you for obeying the law.
As to Stan Henderson, whom I see does not approve of your actions, sir, the war on terror is a war that can not be won. It is a war on an IDEA. You can not win a war on anger or a war on liberalism or a war on communism. THESE ARE IDEAS, and as long as people can still think for themselves, a war on an idea can not be won. This war on terror is a very well executed maneuver by the administration and Republicans in general to gain more powers than the Constitution allows and to keep those powers by perpetuating the same fears that you express in your comment.
May 17th, 2006 at 12:09 am
What a bunch of horse hockey. Qwest sold my name to every telemarketer in the country prior to the do-not-call list. Then they tried to charge me for plans to reduce the numbers of calls I received from them. Now when the government comes calling to help protect me from terrorists, Qwest suddenly decides there is one organization to whom they won’t supply numbers. Probably because they couldn’t charge for it.
May 17th, 2006 at 12:16 am
Thank-you Qwest for doing the right thing and saying no to the government, By obeying the law your customers can be proud of your company. Thanks again for standing up for the constitution.
May 17th, 2006 at 12:51 am
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! I also emailed customer service when I found out!
May 17th, 2006 at 12:54 am
In any instance, protecting the rights of the people is an admirable action. But in our time, Qwest’s actions ought to be commended on an entirely separate level.
As we all continue to witness the Bush administration’s ineptitude and impracticality . . . its failure to protect America by hardly acknowledging the wishes of all its citizens; its constant infringement upon our rights through unlawful actions; its continuing lies, unfortunately now out of necessity in order to cover up previous lies . . . one question stands out above all: can somebody in office please take responsibility for something they have miscalculated or failed to disclose or just flat out lied about? At the very least, can someone reference that mistakes have been made? And please, not in the political way, which addresses only part of the problem.
Past blunders by this administration and its continuance to move forward despite never addressing the full scope of the problem is coming at a severe cost to our country and us as people. There has been significant damage to the elements that make our nation so great, like the constitution and the rights we possess as citizens. Even more harm has occurred to our spirits, as we live in constant fear of practically everything while having complete distrust in our government’s ability to tell the truth, yet alone perform its duties.
One more thing: can somebody tell me what happened to our system of checks and balances and why is it failing so miserably? It seems as though these problems will only continue to manifest if the other branches continue to liberally check our powerful executives.
All that said, hopefully we can all come to the realization of the potential gravity of a stance like Qwest’s, a stance taken by a corporation that stands up to our misguided government. If only more similar ones could occur, starting with us individuals and up the big corporations, then, and only then, can we deter this Administration’s poor decisions and get our nation back on the right track, back to being a government by the people and for the people.
Thank you Qwest for being the leader that hopefully more will follow!
May 17th, 2006 at 1:09 am
Thanks for upholding the law that protects us. I’ll be a customer for years to come.
May 17th, 2006 at 1:44 am
Just sayin’ thanks; you guys behave like real Americans.
May 17th, 2006 at 1:58 am
There is more than meets the eye. QWEST is involved with the NSA, Seek and you will find….
DEEP THROAT
May 17th, 2006 at 2:02 am
Thank you so much for upholding our privacy!! I am outraged by the constant trampling of our rights by this Administration.Its very commendable to see that even when tempted by money you did not sell our privacy. I am and will continue to be one of your costumer. Thank you!!
May 17th, 2006 at 2:04 am
I know what you know. There is more to this story and the MSM is missing it.
Go to Westfields and you will get more clues….
May 17th, 2006 at 2:17 am
QWEST is a front corporation for the NSA–the plan has worked. You all are being played. WAKE UP!!!!
May 17th, 2006 at 2:20 am
I dont get what it is all about! Most Phone companies worldwide are required by LAW to store Call Data Records. That is part of consumer protection in case of disputes over phone bills. So your data (maybe for a year) is already logged. And Phone company emplyees have access to the data.
So it is not the issue if collection of Call Data Records is legal or not, it is how this data is being used.
I dont think that the NSA cares about a man calling his girlfriend (scanning through hundred of Million of CDRs), but they care more about the calls going to and from suspect phone numbers. Well, they might even get court orders to allow them to use the information.
It is funny how people think that THEY are the focus of all attention. But rest assure, they do not care about where YOU order your Pizza.
Remember the London bombings? I did not see any complains when the bombers were apprehended based on videos from the CCTV cameras that monitor most of London.
And QWest. How many months do you keep the CDRs and how many people have access to them?
May 17th, 2006 at 2:22 am
THINK FOR YOURSELF. QUESTION AUTHORITY.
May 17th, 2006 at 2:25 am
Don’t get fooled again….
May 17th, 2006 at 2:25 am
Thanks/
Do you offer services in CA ?
May 17th, 2006 at 2:34 am
The MSM is missing a bigger story and QWEST is right at the center of it. Let’s try some investigative reporting and discover the REALSTORY
May 17th, 2006 at 3:42 am
We are delighted to congratulate Qwest for “doing the right thing” and acting in accordance to the law of the land. As even more loyal customers, we celebrate independent thinking in the West!
May 17th, 2006 at 5:49 am
Everyone should be careful visiting a web site like this as Bush may be spying on it.
May 17th, 2006 at 6:55 am
Bush’s spying program could be called “no peep left behind”
May 17th, 2006 at 11:35 am
Not only has Qwest been holding out against monopolistic AT&T, but it has also refused to bow under pressure to release phone call information illegally to the NSA. Way to go!
May 17th, 2006 at 12:14 pm
Thank you for your stand. Do you provide your services in my area, Yellow Springs, Ohio 45387?
If so, please forward me information; I need to consider switching from AT&T.
I am very angry about this. What baffles me is that, in general, the American people do not seem to get upset about anything our government is doing.
We should be in the streets wildly protesting.
May 17th, 2006 at 12:50 pm
Here is Verizon’s lame lame excuse given to me as their customer! NOTE: They sold MY PRIVATE information and this is their response:
Dear W. Hagan,
Thank you for contacting the Verizon eCenter. My name is Keith, and I will be handling your request today.
This message is in response to your email dated May 16, 2006. You inquired about the National Security Agency (NSA) news article . I will be happy to assist you.
We appreciate that the USA Today article and other reports about the possibility that the NSA is able to analyze local call data records is causing concern. Please be assured that Verizon places the highest value
on protecting the privacy of our customers.
Anything to do with the NSA is of course highly classified, so we can not comment on whether or not the news article causing concern is even accurate. But we can say that, to the extent that we cooperate with
government authorities, we are confident that we are complying with all applicable statutes. We appreciate the continuing opportunity to provide you with service.
Thank you for using Verizon. We appreciate your business.
Sincerely,
Keith
Verizon eCenter
MY RESPONSE:
Sounds like a lot of double talk to me. I believe that if the report was not accurate you would have been understandably offended and openly say you didn’t do this. I have written a letter to our PUC asking that other phone companies, Quest, be allowed to provide service to our area so we can choose the company that respects the privacy of it’s customers.
THEIR FINAL RESPONSE (AGAIN…NOTE that I am a customer!)
Dear W. Hagan,
Thank you for your email response. I cannot comment any further on this matter.
Thank you for using Verizon. We appreciate your business.
Sincerely,
Keith
Verizon eCenter
WHAT A BUNCH OF BALONEY!!!!!!!
May 17th, 2006 at 1:51 pm
Thank you for defending our freedoms – I wish all of America would follow your example.
May 17th, 2006 at 2:37 pm
Thank you Qwest. Apparently 1/2 the country thinks we should worship money and blindly trust our government, thank God the other 1/2 is still here fighting for liberty and truth. I’d rather be killed by terrorists than give up my personal freedoms (which is exactly WHY THE TERRORISTS R WINNING). Thank you Qwest for protecting my rights!!!
May 17th, 2006 at 3:05 pm
The Bush spy team motto should be “no peep left behind”
May 17th, 2006 at 3:07 pm
Good for you Qwest! That one thing you did by not supplying the government with private information is very impressive. You have moved up several notches in my eyes and I will now consider you for my communication needs. Thanks again Jonathan AZ
May 17th, 2006 at 4:04 pm
Way to go, Qwest! You’ve made a happy Denver customer even happier.
May 17th, 2006 at 4:09 pm
I am currently not a customer, but I will be switching everything possible over to Qwest. Money talks in this country and mine is going to Qwest.
May 17th, 2006 at 4:10 pm
Thank you Qwest for having the courage to say no to the Bush administration bullies. Before this story broke, I considered the phone companies pretty much the same, but no longer. I will support your business and I will not switch services because I believe you will protect your customers’ privacy.
May 17th, 2006 at 4:12 pm
Thanks. This plus amongst your many blackeyes helps your image.
May 17th, 2006 at 4:17 pm
Thanks for doing good
May 17th, 2006 at 5:35 pm
Thanks QWest for having the courage to stand up for the constitutionally protected right of American citizens to “be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures”, for helping to ensure that this right “shall not be violated [without a] warrant[] . . . issue[ed] . . . upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”
May 17th, 2006 at 5:44 pm
Congrats to Joseph Nacchio and Qwest for standing up to the NSA and acting like a true American
May 17th, 2006 at 5:49 pm
In the age of Enron, it is nice to see a corporation actually taking some responsibility for its clients.
This isn’t a question of fighting terrorists–if the Bush administration had bothered to secure FISA warrants or even allowed any oversight at all, there would be no furor. Instead they chose to overreach and “bypass” the legal mechanisms in place to protect US citizens.
Ignoring the laws of the nation is no way to make the nation safe.
May 17th, 2006 at 8:06 pm
I have no problem with my phone records being saved by the government, but ONLY with proper legal steps taken to obtain them. My thanks to Qwest for their legal department and executives standing up to the Bush administration. Political capital to this administration, which was next to nothing when you think of his 51% win, was enough that they think they can do whatever they want without oversight or abiding by any precedents.
May 17th, 2006 at 8:44 pm
Thank you USA Today and Qwest – you have both helped to hinder the KGB tactics of the Bush Administration. I have been a US citizen since 1955. My family fled Estonia when the Russians were re-invading Estonia in 1944. My father was an officer in the Estonian Army and he would have been killed by the KGB because of his brave deeds against the Soviet Union. My father has always said that the American people are brave, and that they will never stand for the brutal spying, torture, deportation to Siberia, and murder that was the brought upon the Eastern European countries by the KGB. My father would have been ashamed of seeing how the Bush Administration has adopted the KGB tactics of spying, torture, deportation to foreign, and murder on the American people. He would have expected the American people to throw out the Bush Administration and demand that the corrupt corporations stop supporting the destruction of American.
May 18th, 2006 at 12:37 am
THANK YOU!!!
May 18th, 2006 at 12:55 am
Way to go Qwest! I’m proud to live in your home town and be a customer of the only company that resisted unreasonable and unwarranted incursions into individual privacy. I’d switch to you if I weren’t already a customer.
May 18th, 2006 at 3:50 am
First, I congratulate Qwest on its bold denial of the NSA and it’s attempt to spy on the country it serves. Bravo to you. And with that note, I state this, in all seriousness:
It is time to revolt against this administration and the power it exercises across the world. Since 9-11, I have seen nothing but total misuse and corruption of our government and its resources. That terrible day should have been a day of re-evaluation of our path as a great society, but it has turned into a power play for a few hundred thousand americans and others across the globe, while we that make up the majority of america’s population are floating the bill and suffering for their mistakes. This has gone on too long. It states clearly that when our government has become so corrupt that it steals from and destroys the will of the people, it is time for that governmental structure to go BYE BYE and time to start over again. We had a good foundation and a good path, much blood has been shed and continues to be every day, and it is time for a major change. I ask all who read this to go to your phones, call your senators and representatives and start making a difference right now, before it is too late….
May 18th, 2006 at 4:52 am
Qwest officially wins at life. Thank you for taking a stand.
May 18th, 2006 at 9:47 am
I wish you provided service to NYC! Kudos to what looks to be the last decent telecommunications company in the U.S.! Now that’s true American patriotism!
May 18th, 2006 at 12:09 pm
Thanks Qwest!
Goodbye ATT after 36 years!!!
May 18th, 2006 at 2:29 pm
My verizon contract is up…I’m switching to Qwest.
May 18th, 2006 at 4:03 pm
Thanks Qwest for doing the right thing I have AT&T so I can’t get qwest. But I will switch over to Voice over IP and dump AT&T as soon as I can.
May 18th, 2006 at 6:19 pm
Thank you Qwest for having the moral fibre to stand up to the totalitarian Bush regime. It is about time that people stood up and said “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it any more!”
May 18th, 2006 at 6:40 pm
I was really shocked to hear that you guys actually stood up to this regime. Kudos to you! I hope everybody drops their carrier and switches to Qwest!
May 18th, 2006 at 7:16 pm
i wish you provided service in california. i would’ve switched immediately. i rather do business with a company that still maintains its integrity & ethics.
i commend you for standing up to the government & protecting the privacy of your lucky subscribers. you and google stand the tallest amongst them all. AT&T take a lesson!
May 18th, 2006 at 7:26 pm
Thankyou Qwest how wonderful it is to see a company stand up to this crazy administration. I called my senators today and demanded Qwest get a shout out on the floor of congress for sticking up for thier privacy agreement.
May 18th, 2006 at 7:42 pm
thank you qwest. great to see an organization taking a stand for the right issues.
May 18th, 2006 at 7:43 pm
It is disappointing to me that qwest is not willing to aid in the effort to avoid a re-play of 9/11. I for one will therefore never be a qwest customer and will do my utmost to persuade others to do the same thing. Thanks for the opportunity to post.
Mike
May 18th, 2006 at 7:59 pm
Thank you for honoring the constitution. I don’t want to see another 9/11 but I don’t want to see all of our civil liberties trampled to the ground. Then we are no better off than the terrorists.
May 18th, 2006 at 8:03 pm
Thanks Qwest, for not upholding our rights and not giving in to the Bush admin. We appreciate you!
May 18th, 2006 at 8:04 pm
Sorry!, For upholding our rights “scratch” the “not
May 18th, 2006 at 8:05 pm
thank you for having the gumption to resist this fascist move by the govt. of the United States. This is not my govt., nor the one so many fought for in WWII or Korea or Viet Nam. I truly appreciate your temerity to refuse this blatantly illegal action. Kudos.
May 18th, 2006 at 8:16 pm
Thanks Qwest,
When people in the future ask “how come nobody stood up to the Nazi’s when they took over the USA?” You can be proud you did your job. I dumping ATT now!!
May 18th, 2006 at 8:34 pm
When our safety is in jeparody, I could care less about the NSA knowing who I have called. The majority of Americans feel the same way. Stand up and support our President. He is only trying to make sure that another 911 never happens again.
May 18th, 2006 at 9:14 pm
Thank you Qwest – you will have my business from now on.
May 18th, 2006 at 9:54 pm
Thank You Qwest.
You have some interesting products and you are Nation Wide Company too.
Thanks!
May 18th, 2006 at 10:55 pm
I just wanted to post a thought. How many Americans would be comfortable with turning over their private information such as has been done by the NSA, if it would have prevented a 9/11 type incident. One must take into mind that it may not have been the exact same events of 9/11, but tragic events nonetheless. I would certainly face the events of 9/11 again, to not have my privacy and civil liberties infringed upon. Even if it may have meant my life.
May 18th, 2006 at 11:30 pm
If Qwest were my telephone company, I’d drop them as soon as possible. I expect my government to protect me in any way possible and if establishing a data base that spots trends in ‘unusual’ phone traffic, then I expect them to do so.
We can effectively fight terrorism with technology. If the democrats and other bleeding-heart-liberals want to take this advantage away from Americans and simply react after the fact, then bring it on. I’d suggest you and your politicians run on that platform. As for me and the majority of Americans (Red States), we’ll use all means possible to prevent suicide bombers on American soil.
DW – Ohio
May 19th, 2006 at 12:09 am
If the Dave Warford’s (see previous post) of the world want to surrender their fundamental rights for security then they should go live in a country that doesn’t have a Consititution like we do. Our ancestors fought and died for these rights and I’ll be damned if I am going to surrender those rights just because the government says I should. Either show me a warrant or get out of my private life.
May 19th, 2006 at 1:11 am
Finally, corparate america get it right! The government should be afraid of the people, not the people of the government.
May 19th, 2006 at 2:38 am
Back in the day, sometimes ‘little’ people gave up their freedoms, and money, to bigger, more powerful groups or empires for “protection” too.
Know what that was called?
Extortion.
Know who they were paying? -and subjugating their inalienable human liberties and dignity to?
The Mob.
Wikipedia, on “extortion”:
Extortion is a criminal offense, which occurs when a person obtains money, behaviour, or other goods or services from another by wrongfully threatening or inflicting harm to this person, reputation, or property. Euphemistically, refraining from doing harm is sometimes called *protection.* Extortion is commonly practiced by organized crime groups.
May 19th, 2006 at 4:06 am
Funny. I just read the Telecommunication Act of 1996 and it states in:
SEC. 702. PRIVACY OF CUSTOMER INFORMATION.
`(3) AGGREGATE CUSTOMER INFORMATION- A telecommunications
carrier that receives or obtains customer proprietary network
information by virtue of its provision of a telecommunications
service may use, disclose, or permit access to aggregate
customer information other than for the purposes described in
paragraph (1). A local exchange carrier may use, disclose, or
permit access to aggregate customer information other than for
purposes described in paragraph (1) only if it provides such
aggregate information to other carriers or persons on
reasonable and nondiscriminatory terms and conditions upon
reasonable request therefor.
and the definition:
`(2) AGGREGATE INFORMATION- The term `aggregate customer
information’ means collective data that relates to a group or
category of services or customers, from which individual
customer identities and characteristics have been removed.
So the only link between the CDRs and an individual is the phone number in the directories that the customers aggreed to have published.
And BTW, 702 also says:
`(d) EXCEPTIONS- Nothing in this section prohibits a
telecommunications carrier from using, disclosing, or permitting
access to customer proprietary network information obtained from
its customers, either directly or indirectly through its agents–
`(1) to initiate, render, bill, and collect for
telecommunications services;
`(2) to protect the rights or property of the carrier, or to
protect users of those services and other carriers from
fraudulent, abusive, or unlawful use of, or subscription to,
such services; or
Communicating with terrorists is against the law, so communicating over a phone service is an unlawful use of the service.
But the act does not stipulate the the service provider MUST disclose information, merely that they are not PROHIBITED from doing it. So QWest has the right to refuse. (And you have a right to subscribe with a secret number. That would then require a court order to link CDRs to a person)
May 19th, 2006 at 8:17 am
Response 441 by Dave Warford in Ohio is way off the mark. He wrongly thinks that majority of Americans are in Red States and that they support Bush Admin and NSA spying. I guess he does not read the newspapers or even watch the biased Fox news regarding the rapid color change in the USA – the Red States becoming Blue States – the Republicans have screwed up America so badly in the last 5 years that the American people can not wait to kick them out of office. Only 30% of Americans approve of Bush and Republicans job.
May 19th, 2006 at 8:47 am
I would like to say thank you qwest for protecting and exercising our rights. If only we the people could join together and stand up for our Rights and Our Freedom,
for our kids sake
f
May 19th, 2006 at 2:39 pm
Someone needs to stand up and say “NO”.
I have a different view of you company.
May 19th, 2006 at 4:07 pm
We’re switching. It’s worth the $175 early termination fee to support Qwest. For all of these people who support Bush and his belief that he has power and authority in this time of “war”, think about how he’s beginning to sound eerily similar to McCarthey. Then it was the communists…this time it’s the terrorists. And once one of your neighbors decides to get even with you and call you a terrorist, who’s to say? Who will be there to protect you?
Enough. We’ve had enough.
Think for yourself. It’s patriotic.
May 20th, 2006 at 12:30 am
THANK YOU VERY MUCH QWEST!!!
I wish I could switch, but it’s not in our area. Imagine feeling violated by a seemingly inoccuous utility!!
Hey, the Dave Warford’s of this earth, our current government IS the enemy. If no one out there is afraid of the truth, here’s a good site to peruse. If there is anyone out there who knows a 9/11 family member, you owe it to them to show them this:
http://www.st911.org/
’twill blow your mind.
May 20th, 2006 at 3:45 pm
wow, this totally changes my opinion of Qwest! what a brave, patriotic thing to do! thanks for putting your customers’ rights before government intrusion!
May 20th, 2006 at 9:16 pm
You are national HEROS! I wish we had you here in the MIDWEST…PLEASE EXPAND YOUR SERVICES!!
May 22nd, 2006 at 3:39 pm
Thank you, Qwest, for standing up for our Constitutional rights. Our government is steadily chipping away at our liberties; your refusal to cooperate with the NSA phone monitering request is helping to arrest the erosion of our rights. I am a supporter of Qwest and others like you who continue to protect our rights against illegal intrusions.
May 23rd, 2006 at 8:54 pm
Well I have been a qwest customer and now am very happy that I made that decision…I was planning on switching for better internet speeds but now I think I’ll stay.
Cheers!!
May 25th, 2006 at 7:29 pm
I’m changing companies today. Even if it costs a little more, it’s worth it to have a company willing to stand up for our rights.
May 26th, 2006 at 2:19 am
Thank you, Qwest, for standing up to the NSA. I don’t know if your motives were to help preserve our freedoms, but that’s exactly what you did and I’m thankful that you did it.
May 26th, 2006 at 2:18 pm
Thank you, Qwest for your courage in standing up for our Constitutional rights by refusing to support government wiretapping.
May 29th, 2006 at 2:01 am
Thank you, Qwest, for being one of the largest supporters of spam on the internet. CLEARLY the rights of your subscribers are more important to you than anything else, as long as they’re paying your bills.
Like anyone’s reading this crap anyway…..
June 8th, 2006 at 12:04 am
If Qwest ever starts serving my area, I’m dropping AT&T like a hot potato.
July 1st, 2006 at 11:21 pm
I pledge alligiance to the United States of America.. AS IT WAS DESIGNED. Not I pledge alligiance to the failing corrupt nation formerly known as the United States. Way to tell the government where to stick it. I can’t stand to see how all the others fall to such obvious violation of the bill of rights, just because the bottom of the barrel scum of the universe thinks they rule the world with an iron fist. Thank you Qwest for standing up for what is right!
September 10th, 2006 at 5:18 am
Thank you Qwest. Very rare indeed for someone to stand up to these nazis.
September 12th, 2006 at 9:09 am
Dear Qwest,
Thank you for your patriotism in defending the values which can make this country great again.
September 26th, 2006 at 7:44 pm
==
TUESDAY
September 26, 2006
RE: CALL CENTER in Portland, Oregon
Hey, hey, thank you Qwest, for
shutting down the call center in downtown Portland where that average service of all the CWA union-workers is, like, 25 years!!
It’s great that a company like Qwest wants to fire these people so it can farm customer service jobs out to $5/hour places instead of paying union wages and benefits.
-Robert Hill-
==
October 7th, 2006 at 11:59 pm
Dear Qwest
Thank you for not selling out to the Bush Push.