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Dwight Holmes wrote:
<blockquote
cite="mid:8123da3c0802160709v786eb68bncee9a9a8cddae5c9@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite">I'm just sorry Qwest isn't an available option for us in
this part of<br>
the country. I'd love to reward them with my business for their<br>
courage and fortitude in standing up to the government and refusing<br>
to break the law.</blockquote>
There are some Qwest services available to Maryland customers.<br>
Details are below, but first a quote I found interesting from a May <br>
2006 USA Today article:<br>
<br>
"Among the big telecommunications companies, only Qwest has <br>
refused to help the NSA, the sources said. According to multiple <br>
sources, Qwest declined to participate because it was uneasy <br>
about the legal implications of handing over customer information <br>
to the government without warrants."<br>
<br>
The article also says...<br>
<br>
The agency's goal is "to create a database of every call ever made" <br>
within the nation's borders, ... it means that the government has <br>
detailed records of calls they made — across town or across the <br>
country — to family members, co-workers, business contacts and <br>
others. ... It is the largest database ever assembled in the world ...<br>
<br>
The whole article is an interesting read, find it here:<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-05-10-nsa_x.htm">http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-05-10-nsa_x.htm</a><br>
<br>
And yes, it has some "balancing" counter statements - mostly quotes <br>
from the white house saying they aren't really doing this.<br>
<br>
<b>Qwest Services Available in MD</b><br>
<br>
Qwest offers long distance service for conventional phone lines.<br>
(I use to have their long distance service and was quite happy with it.)<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.qwest.com/residential/ld/index_oor.html">http://www.qwest.com/residential/ld/index_oor.html</a><br>
(If really interested, search the internet for better deals).<br>
<br>
You can probably get cell phone service from them and wireless Internet<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://shop.qwest.com/en/US/wireless/service?cmd=QW_PlansList&marketSegment=RES#">https://shop.qwest.com/en/US/wireless/service?cmd=QW_PlansList&marketSegment=RES#</a><br>
<br>
They now offer VOIP packages as well. I am fuzzy on the details <br>
and availability, but it appears to be available here in Riverdale:<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://qwest.usdirect.com/riverdale-qwest-bundle-md.html">http://qwest.usdirect.com/riverdale-qwest-bundle-md.html</a><br>
(If that link is transient, try <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://qwest.usdirect.com/">http://qwest.usdirect.com/</a> then <br>
click on Maryland, then Riverdale).<br>
<br>
-Rob<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
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