Merger With Qwest
In 1996, reports appearing in The Denver Post and the Rocky Mountain News revealed that CLECs had lodged complaints with the FCC against U S WEST, including multiple complaints from Qwest Communications International, Inc. The complaints alleged US West neglected or seriously delayed release of "bundled loops" as required by the Telecommunications Act of 1996, making it difficult for competitors to provide local telephone service to their customers. Other competitors began following suit, and charged U S WEST with monopoly-like or anti-trust type behavior.
During the winter of 1999–2000, U S WEST announced that it had received an unsolicited purchase offer from Qwest Communications International, Inc. At the time, U S West had been attempting to merge with Global Crossing, but for months this deal had been stalled through the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). US West management publicly refused Qwest's offer. Qwest eventually purchased enough US West stock to enable Qwest to take control of the Board of Directors in March 2000.
On June 30, 2000, U S WEST, Inc. and Qwest Communications International, Inc. combined via merger. U S WEST, Inc. was merged into Qwest Communications International, Inc. with all of U S WEST's direct subsidiaries becoming direct subsidiaries of Qwest.
After the merger, the Bell Operating Company subsidiary was renamed from U S WEST Communications, Inc. to Qwest Corporation and other subsidiaries were similarly renamed to reflect the Qwest name.
After Qwest was acquired by CenturyLink in 2011, the Qwest brand was replaced by the CenturyLink brand. Subsidiaries, with the exception of Qwest Management Company (founded as US West Investment Management Company), which became CenturyLink Investment Management Company, retained the Qwest name and adopted d/b/a names.
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