What does Qwest “do”?

Qwest offers a unique and powerful combination of voice and data solutions for businesses, government agencies and consumers – locally and throughout the country.  Our local service area consists of the 14-state region of Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. Customers coast to coast are turning to Qwest’s industry-leading national fiber optic network and its Spirit of Service for quality products and superior customer experience. 

When was Qwest incorporated?

Qwest Communications International Inc. was incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware in 1997.

How many people does Qwest employ?

As of December 31, 2006, Qwest employed approximately 38,000 people.

How long has Qwest been in business?

In 1988, Southern Pacific Telecom was established as a subsidiary of Southern Pacific Railroad to lay telecom cable. The company began offering limited long distance services in 1991, changed its name to Qwest Communications in 1995 and incorporated in 1996 when it began construction of its nationwide fiber optic network. Qwest became a publicly-held company with its successful initial public offering (IPO) in June 1997.

In June 2000, Qwest became a company rich in history that dates back more than 120 years when the company merged with U S West, one of the original regional bell operating companies (aka Baby Bells) that resulted from the divestiture of AT&T in 1984.  The seven Baby Bells were formed from the 22
operating Bell telephone companies known as the Bell System, a system that dates back to the 19th century and the invention of the telephone. 

What is the stock symbol and CUSIP number for Qwest?

Qwest is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol “Q”. Its CUSIP number is 749121109.

Does Qwest pay a dividend?

On December 13, 2007, the board of directors of Qwest Communications International, Inc. (NYSE: Q) declared a quarterly dividend of $0.08 per share. It is the expectation of the board of directors to pay a quarterly dividend going forward.

Qwest last issued a dividend in June 2001.

Can I buy stock directly from Qwest?

No, but Qwest stock can be purchased through a broker of your choice or through The Bank of New York’s BuyDIRECTSM plan.

Note: BuyDIRECTSM is a service mark of The Bank of New York, which is a plan sponsored and administered by The Bank of New York, not Qwest.  For the plan prospectus and enrollment form please visit www.stockbny.com or call The Bank of New York at 1-877-268-2263.

What is Direct Registration (i.e., book-entry ownership)?

Direct Registration is a certificate-less form of stock ownership. Instead of getting a paper stock certificate, your shares are held in your name and kept electronically on our records (through our transfer agent).

The benefits of Direct Registration are:

• You do not have to worry about keeping track of your physical stock certificates;
• You avoid the cost and inconvenience of replacing your stock certificates if they are lost, stolen or destroyed;

Your shares are automatically updated or credited in the event of a corporate action, such as an ownership transfer or stock split.

How do I sell my Qwest shares if I hold them in direct registration (book entry) or certificate form?

Qwest stock can be sold through a broker of your choice by transferring your shares to your brokerage account or through The Bank of New York’s BuyDIRECTSM plan.

Note: BuyDIRECTSM is a service mark of The Bank of New York, which is a plan sponsored and administered by The Bank of New York, not Qwest.  For the plan prospectus and enrollment form please visit www.stockbny.com or call The Bank of New York at 1-877-268-2263.

How do I transfer my Qwest shares to a brokerage account?

If you hold your shares in Direct Registration form you will need to provide your broker with a current statement of holdings. Please contact our transfer agent, The Bank of New York, to request a DRS Advice or account statement.  You may also access your account information through the Bank’s website: www.stockbny.com once you have obtained a PIN.  Your broker will be able to request an electronic transfer of your holdings through their back office.

If you hold your shares in certificate form just take your certificates to your broker. If you do not have your certificates, please notify The Bank of New York in writing and request forms to have your certificate(s) replaces.  See “What if I lost my stock certificate?” below.

I hold my shares in direct registration/book entry. Will I receive a yearly statement regarding my account?

If there is activity with your account (i.e., change in the number of shares, dividends paid, address change), you will receive a statement regarding your account. You will not receive a yearly statement if there is no activity on your account, but you can view your statement online at www.stockbny.com. You are also welcome to contact The Bank of New York at 877-268-2263 to have a statement sent to you.

I still have U S West Communications stock certificates. What should I do with them?

You must exchange your U S West stock certificates for Qwest shares before you can receive any past dividend payments, annual meeting materials and other stockholder information. You must also exchange your certificates prior to selling your stock. Please contact our transfer agent, The Bank of New York, for further instructions or download the Exchange Instruction Booklet.

I still have U S West Media Group stock certificates. What should I do with them?

U S West Media Group became MediaOne, which was bought by AT&T Broadband and then sold to Comcast. To exchange your U S West Media Group shares, you need to contact Comcast’s transfer agent, Computershare, at 888-883-8903.

What if I lost my stock certificate?

If you lost your stock certificate, please notify our transfer agent immediately in writing at:
The Bank of New York
Lost Securities Dept.
P.O. Box 11258
New York, NY 10286-1258
A “stop” will be placed on the certificate to prevent any unauthorized transactions. To replace the certificate, you will need to purchase a “surety bond,” which is approximately 2% of the current market value of the shares (a minimum of $25.00.) The Bank will provide information to assist you with the replacement process.

How do I change the registration information (i.e., transfer) on my shares?

You may download the stock transfer forms from our transfer agent, The Bank of New York. You may also call them at 877-268-2263 if you have questions or need assistance with the transfer of your shares.

How do I calculate my tax/cost basis?

To calculate your tax/cost basis, you may use our online calculator, download the worksheet or have a copy of one sent to you by ordering off the Request Materials site.

Where can I find a historical stock price for Qwest on a certain date?

To find the stock price on a specific date from Qwest’s first day of trading, June 24, 1997 - use the Historical Stock Lookup: Qwest tool.

To find the stock price on a specific date from U. S. West’s first day of trading January 3, 1984 through June 30, 2000 —use the Historical Stock Lookup: U S West tool. 

Where can I find information about the Qwest-U S West merger (i.e., exchange rate, closing stock price)?

Information about the Qwest-U S West merger, as well as other historical corporate actions, can be found on our History of Qwest Stock section.