This discussion prompeted a memory of this article from 1998 in Wired: http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/6.05/qwest.html http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/6.

This discussion prompeted a memory of this article from 1998 in Wired: http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/6.05/qwest.html http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/6.05/qwest.html Regarding the origin of the Qwest network: "Philip Anschutz, who owns more than 86 percent of Qwest - 55 percent of a combined Qwest-LCI - previously owned the Southern Pacific Railroad. When he sold the railroad to Union Pacific in 1996, he negotiated to buy the rights of way alongside the tracks of both railroads. Combined, they represent the cable route of a significant portion of the network. The rest of the cable is run along lines for which Qwest leases the right of way for up to 50 years, or along interstate highways, where it leases rights of way from transportation authorities for 20 or 25 years. Eighty-five percent of the Qwest network is strung along railroads."