Qwest, the Denver-based telecommunications firm which provides local telephone service in 14 western states, has rejoined the US Telecom Association, a lobbying group. Qwest left USTA eight years ago. At the time, the Washington Post reported: "Depending on whom you talk to, USTA either suspended [Qwest] for not paying its rather hefty dues or the company quit the group after growing apart." At the time, Qwest's annual dues were nearly $800,000, but the company had negotiated a 25 percent reduction.
