Fergie's Tech Blog

Qwest suing city of Portland, Oregon, over muni network

Thanks to David Isenberg for pointing this out.

Mike Rogoway writes in The (Portland) Oregonian reports on September 8, 2005:

Qwest Communications International Inc. has opened a new front in its long-running legal battle with the city of Portland, suing to rein in the city's internal telecommunications system.

Portland launched its network in 2002 to get around the rates Qwest and other telecom companies charge for phone lines and high-speed Internet connections. Portland's $14 million system links several city offices, and a few government agencies outside the city, to a network of fiber-optic cable that carries city phone calls and Internet traffic.

The Integrated Regional Network Enterprise is known by its initials, IRNE, pronounced "Ernie." Portland says IRNE provides super-fast Internet connections the city couldn't otherwise afford. The city, however, estimates it has already spent $150,000 on legal fees defending the system against earlier challenges from Qwest and others.

posted by Fergie @ 9/12/2005 09:48:00 AM