Qwest chief executive Richard Notebaert said Wednesday the company may support legislation that requires Internet-access providers to keep records of consumer behavior but is not actively lobbying for the mandate.
“If somebody has a bill and we’re supportive of the bill … that doesn’t mean we’re out beating a drum and lobbying everybody we can get our hands on,” Notebaert said in an interview with The Denver Post.
On Tuesday, Qwest chief privacy officer Jennifer Mardosz said the company supports legislation proposed by Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colorado, that would require Internet-access providers to retain data on their customers for law-enforcement purposes.
On Wednesday, Mardosz clarified that statement, saying Qwest “is not calling for mandatory federal data-retention laws.”
Added Notebaert: “We keep records. We do it voluntarily. We didn’t need a law. Maybe others do. This is a big deal to us. Maybe we’re overly zealous on the child-protection issue.”
Notebaert also said Qwest continues to look for companies to acquire, especially systems integrators and hosting firms.
“We are constantly scanning and looking at multiple companies,” he said.
In response to a question about whether other companies are eyeing Qwest as an acquisition target, he said, “They haven’t called me and said, ‘We’re looking at you.”‘
Staff writer Andy Vuong can be reached at 303-820-1209 or avuong@denverpost.com.
