Qwest won’t seek stimulus money now

Qwest Communications will not apply for first-round federal stimulus funds earmarked for expanding broadband Internet access to unserved and underserved areas of the country. “We could not make a business case for applying,” Qwest spokesman Ted Wietecha said.

The company gave no details Wednesday on why it decided to not apply. But the company noted a letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack from USTelecom, an industry group, which criticized terms set out for dispensing funds by the Agriculture Department’s Rural Utilities Service...