U S West puts 500,000 access lines up for sale

During the next year and a half, U S West plans to sell 500,000 access lines, as well as related central office and outside plant equipment, to competitors.

The lines, in 45 exchanges in 10 states, are expected to be sold primarily to competitive local exchange carriers, a U S West spokeswoman said. "We're doing this for multiple reasons-the growing demand of our customers and the regulatory environment being the primary drivers," she said. "Other carriers can bring services to customers that we simply can't offer right now."

U S West is in talks with several carriers but has not yet announced any buyers; it plans to reach a purchase agreement by late April.

The carrier is selling the lines to refocus on and reinvest in its remaining network, the spokeswoman said. "Everybody wants high-speed access right now," she said. "Our ability to compete is contingent on us having the resources to provide those services."

The regulatory environment may be a stronger driver, said a spokesman for the Association of Local Telecommunications Services. "It's obvious what's going on here. They're re-doubling their efforts to look like they're being more cooperative with their competitors," he said.

U S West, which CLECs derisively call U S Worst, must address more issues before it has truly opened its network to competitors, the spokesman added. However, he believes many CLECs could be interested in buying the lines, which, being in predominantly rural areas, should be profitable.

The sale, which makes up about 3% of U S West's 16.5 million access lines, is the third of its type; similar deals were completed in 1992 and 1995.

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