Though AT&T, Verizon and BellSouth reportedly turned over tens of millions of phone records to the National Security Agency after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks – and Denver-based Qwest did not – other phone companies operating in Colorado say they were not approached by the government.
McLeodUSA must be “too small of a fish,” to attract the government’s attention, said Bryce Nemitz, a spokesman for the phone company based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It serves customers in 25 states, including Colorado, and has about $160 million in revenues.
“I don’t know how many call records we have, but compared to a Bell that does billions of call records, we have very few,” Nemitz said.
Bresnan Communications, a cable company with more than 5,000 phone customers in western Colorado and surrounding states, didn’t hear from the NSA either, said Alex Weimer, a spokesman for the company, based in Purchase, N.Y.
But even if Bresnan had heard from the government, it wouldn’t turn over confidential customer information without a subpoena, court order or search warrant, Weimer said.
Comcast Corp. also has a policy against releasing customer records or monitoring phone calls without proper legal authorization, said spokeswoman Cindy Parsons. The Philadelphia-based company serves 700,000 cable TV subscribers in Colorado. It also provides Internet and phone service.
Qwest was reportedly the only Baby Bell not to turn over its records to the NSA. The company has declined to comment.
A Chicago-based telecommunications analyst said the NSA request put all phone companies in a tough position.
“They want to do what’s right in participating in national security, but it’s a sensitive issue for customers,” said Craig Clausen of New Paradigm Resources Group.
Staff writer Beth Potter can be reached at 303-820-1503 or bpotter@denverpost.com.
