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This is our limited cable TV offering, separate from our satellite TV partnership with DirecTV.
Does Qwest’s Privacy Policy apply to all of its customers?
What sensitive personal information does Qwest maintain in its records about its customers?
Does Qwest sell my personal information to third parties who use it for marketing?
What are the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC’s) rules regarding CPNI?
Does Qwest monitor activity on its own websites to target its own ads?
Does Qwest monitor clicks on its ads when they are displayed on other websites?
Does Qwest assist with online searches?
Does Qwest use cookies or similar technologies when I visit one of its websites?
What happens when other companies advertise on Qwest websites?
Does Qwest use flash cookies in any of its applications?
How can I disable cookies or other Internet information collection technologies?
Is there something special I need to do regarding flash cookies?
Does Qwest’s network reveal personal information like the number I am calling or who calls me?
Does Qwest allow customers to view information about others’ uses of Qwest services?
Who should I contact at Qwest if I want my customer information sent to someone other than myself?
Who can I call or contact if I have questions about Qwest’s Privacy Policy?
Does Qwest’s Privacy Policy apply to all of its customers?
Yes. It applies to our residential and business customers. In some cases, often in the business context and with respect to certain services like Qwest Digital Vault (our data backup service), we may have written agreements with customers that contain specific provisions related to confidentiality or information security. In these cases, the terms of the written agreement will apply. Also, a separate privacy notice applies to our Qwest Choice TV service (which is our limited cable television offering, separate from our partnership with DirecTV). You can find that notice by clicking here.
In all other instances, the terms of this Privacy Policy apply.
What sensitive personal information does Qwest maintain in its records about its customers?
Probably the most sensitive information we keep in our records about our customers are social security numbers (SSN), driver's license numbers and bank account or credit card information. We collect SSNs and driver’s license numbers to verify identity and in connection with decisions about creditworthiness and deposits. And we have credit card or bank routing information for customers who make electronic payments. We do not have medical information in our customer records generally. But we maintain some information about disabilities in order to serve our customers who need us to be aware of their situations. And on occasion, our customers or someone acting on their behalf may want us to be aware of some other kind of medical condition in connection with our delivery of services.
We also have records that reflect how customers use our systems, including information about telephone calls and Internet usage. See the relevant sections of our Privacy Policy for more information.
What does Qwest do if there is an unauthorized disclosure of customer information or a security breach?
Qwest protects customer information, but occasionally information is inappropriately disclosed either through an error or as a result of the malicious or unlawful activities of others. When the information involves Customer Proprietary Network Information (CPNI) (which is information about the telecommunications services you subscribe to and how you use them), we report the unauthorized disclosure to the Department of Justice as required by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). A number of state laws require us to notify individuals or state agencies of certain kinds of unauthorized disclosures. We comply with those laws too. And we look at each situation involving an unauthorized disclosure to determine if individuals should be notified even if there is no legal obligation for notice.
If you think information about you or others has been disclosed without proper authorization, please contact us at privacy@qwest.com, or write us at Qwest Privacy Group, 1801 California Street, Suite 1160, Denver, CO 80202.
Does Qwest sell my personal information to third parties who use it for marketing?
We sell limited personal information (such as names, addresses and telephone numbers) to our official directory publisher from which they may create marketing lists. If you have elected to have your name, address and telephone number published in white pages directories (which means that it will be public information), we allow that information to be used by our official directory publisher and purchasers of our directory assistance offerings for their own marketing or to create marketing lists. To choose not to be included on lists that may be used by others for marketing, click here.
And we sell name, address and telephone number information to directory assistance providers as required by FCC rules. Under those rules, the only restrictions we can put on use by directory assistance providers are previously identified customer imposed limitations (such as a non-published or do not market status). Directory Assistance providers must abide by those customer imposed restrictions.
We also make personal information available to other carriers who provide local or long distance service and who state they have our customer’s approval to access and use it. These providers may use the information to market to our customers.
And we allow credit evaluation and reporting businesses that we share information with to keep the information in their databases for their business purposes. We may also allow companies to match information provided to them by their potential customers with name and address information in our databases to confirm the identity of their potential customers.
Outside the situations identified above, we do not sell our customers’ information to businesses that would use it for marketing.
Who are Qwest’s partners?
We offer satellite digital television through a strategic partnership with DirecTV. You can access DirecTV’s privacy policy here.
We offer wireless services through an agency relationship with Verizon Wireless. You can access Verizon Wireless' privacy policy at verizonwireless.com/privacy.
We offer WiFi-based Internet access through a partnership with AT&T. You can access AT&T’s privacy policy here.
Microsoft provides email service to many of our residential and small business broadband access customers. You can access Microsoft's privacy policy here.
A number of other businesses support Qwest products and services. Just like it does in its contracts with the partners identified above, Qwest’s contracts with these other businesses require that information about Qwest's customers be protected and used only as needed for the provision of the service.
What are the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC’s) rules regarding CPNI?
For the FCC’s description of CPNI and the rules applicable to it, please click here: http://www.fcc.gov/cib/consumerfacts/phoneaboutyou.html.
Marketing rules. The FCC has categorized consumer CPNI into three “buckets”: local, long distance, and wireless service. The CPNI that a carrier can use to market its services to its customers - without their approval - depends on what service buckets the customer already buys from. Carriers are permitted to use CPNI for marketing similar products within a service bucket (if a customer buys only one service) or buckets (if a customer buys out of more than one bucket).
For example, if you subscribe to our local service, we are allowed to use that local service information to sell you additional local service products and services. And if you have services from two buckets from us - such as local and long distance services - we are permitted to use information about either service to offer you additional products from either bucket. But, for example, if you have only local service from us, we are not permitted to use that CPNI to target you for interstate long distance service marketing.
Approval requirements. We can get customer approval to use CPNI across service buckets in two different ways. We can ask and have you say “yes” or we can tell you we are going to use it and rely on your not telling us “no.” We can ask for your long-term approval (that lasts until you withdraw it) or we can ask for your approval each time we interact with you (short-term approval).
Non-marketing uses of CPNI. Service providers (or their agents) are allowed to use consumer CPNI for various non-marketing purposes without specific customer approval. These activities include installing, providing, billing for, and collecting for services. We may also use CPNI without specific approval to protect our rights or property or those of our customers or other carriers and to address fraud, abuse or unlawful subscriptions to or use of our services.
Access requirements. Before speaking with a caller about account information, Qwest takes steps to authenticate the identity of the caller and confirm that he or she is authorized to have access to information on the account. Per FCC rules, Qwest will not discuss call detail information with customers over the telephone unless the customer provides specific information about the calls in question, such as in the context of a billing inquiry. And we will not release CPNI in a retail store unless our customer presents a valid photo ID, such as a driver’s license or a state identity card. Additionally, our customers cannot access online account information using only account information or generally known information. Rather, online account access is restricted through security code and password requirements.
Does Qwest monitor activity on its own websites to target its own ads?
Yes. We use information about your activity on Qwest websites to determine the content we show you at our sites and to generate ads. Doing so lets us customize product availability and pricing for your community, and at myqwest.com lets us customize ads based on the content you are viewing there.
Does Qwest monitor clicks on its ads when they are displayed on other websites?
No, but the ad networks we work with do. When we place ads on others’ websites, the ad networks we work with give us general information about users who click on our ads, including the types of browsers they use and their cities and states. They use that information to predict what Qwest ads may be most effective in a location.
Does Qwest use Internet tracking technologies to track my web activity on non-Qwest websites for purposes of targeting ads?
No. Qwest does not use Internet tracking technologies, such as deep packet inspection or DPI, to track web browsing activities for the purpose of tailoring relevant advertising.
Does Qwest assist with online searches?
Qwest web.help may make search suggestions when an Internet user types a nonexistent or unavailable web address or enters a search term into some browsers’ address bars. Qwest web.help suggests links that might help complete the search. Users can click on one of those suggested links or try their search a different way. More information about this feature can be found in the Qwest High Speed Internet Agreement, which is available at http://www.qwestservice.com/legal/highspeedinternetsubscriberagreement and at http://www.qwest.net/web.help/.
If you would prefer not to receive the Qwest web.help service, you may follow the opt-out instructions at http://www.qwest.net/web.help/.
Does Qwest use cookies or similar technologies when I visit one of its websites?
Yes. Cookies are files that many web publishers place on your computer when you visit their sites. We use cookies and similar technologies to identify your browser, to personalize your visit (for example, by remembering your user name and offering you products available in your location), and to see whether your computer has any additional software needed to access some material on the site.
Does Qwest use cookies or other kinds of browser tracking technologies when it advertises on others’ websites?
The ad networks that work with Qwest when we advertise on others’ sites do use these kinds of technologies.
What happens when other companies advertise on Qwest websites?
When other companies advertise on Qwest websites like myqwest.com, the ad networks and advertisers we work with to place ads there may put a cookie or web beacon on your computer. The ad networks use these cookies and web beacons to keep track of what ads are displayed and whether users click on the ads (both as required by their relationships with advertisers), and to better understand the ads that users like. All the ad networks we work with agree to the Network Advertising Initiative (NAI) Principles and participate in the NAI’s opt-out process.
We do not allow the ad networks or advertisers who advertise on our sites to place cookies or web beacons in order to gather information that identifies users individually or builds profiles about their web use. But, such cookies may already exist on your computer as a result of visits to other websites. Advertising networks may use those pre-existing cookies to collect information about your visit to our websites. And they may combine that information with other information they have collected from other websites relating to your activities on the web.
To learn more about the NAI and its opt-out process, web beacons, cookies and how to block or remove them, see "How can I disable cookies or other Internet information collection technologies?" below.
Does Qwest use flash cookies in any of its applications?
Yes. Flash cookies (or local shared objects) are similar to traditional browser cookies but are stored on your computer when you use Adobe Flash and are generally associated with movies, games and other similar applications. Many websites use flash cookies for tracking and storing user information and some preferences such as audio volume. We use flash cookies and traditional cookies on our websites.
How can I disable cookies or other Internet information collection technologies?
Cookies. You can set your computer preferences to (1) notify you each time a website tries to place a cookie on your computer and give you the option of accepting or rejecting it, (2) accept cookies from sites you visit (often referred to as first party cookies) but not from other sites (often referred to as third party cookies), or (3) block all cookies. Your browser may support other options with respect to cookies, including removing those that have already been placed on your computer. If you reject or block cookies, you may not be able to use or see some features on websites. To learn how to set your cookie preferences, see your browser’s Help section.
The Network Advertising Initiative (NAI) also has a tool that lets you opt-out of several third-party ad servers’ and networks’ cookies simultaneously, http://networkadvertising.org/managing/opt_out.asp. The tool will not block ads. It will only prevent the ads that appear on your computer from being selected based on your location and the ad server’s analysis of cookies on your computer. Also, this opt-out itself relies on cookies. That means that you will have to opt-out again if you delete cookies, change browsers, or buy a new computer.
Web beacons. Web beacons (which are also sometimes called web bugs) are tracking objects that are embedded in a web page or email. Usually invisible to the user, they report to the site’s owner or email sender that a browser has viewed the page or email. For more information, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_beacon.
Is there something special I need to do regarding flash cookies?
Flash cookies. Flash cookies are larger than regular cookies, and they are not stored in the same place on the user’s computer. Nor are they deleted when a user deletes cookies. You can see what flash cookies are on your computer and delete the ones you don’t want by visiting Adobe’s Settings Manager page.
Does Qwest’s network reveal personal information like the number I am calling or who calls me?
We record some calling and called number information in our network, generally when we provide long distance services. We do not generally record such information when we provide local services except in connection with services like Caller ID, Call Trace, Last Call Return and other similar services. Other business services, such as Private Branch Exchanges (PBX) and Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), also collect information about called and calling numbers.
Number transmission and presentation. Telephone networks transmit telephone numbers regardless of the number’s published status. Networks do not know if a number is published or non-published, listed or non-listed in some printed or online directory. So, when a subscriber with a non-published or non-listed number makes an unblocked call (see Number Blocking below), the party receiving the call may see the caller’s name and number displayed on its caller ID or similar equipment.
Number blocking. In some cases, a Qwest customer can block the transmission of its telephone number to the called party. Instructions on how to do this are found in our official directory (but generally blocking requires either a prior arrangement or dialing using a * followed by two numbers).
Does Qwest allow customers to view information about others’ uses of Qwest services?
Some Qwest services allow the customer (usually the person who pays the bill) broad access to information about usage of the services on the customer’s account. For example, a customer may set up services so that information about calls, such as the numbers calling in or being called or the times of calls, can be seen on a television screen or through a web portal. Voice messages also might be accessible in these ways or through the customer’s email. It may be that not all the calls or all the messages were made by or meant for the customer. In fact, they may be meant for other users of the services. So we require our customer to represent that he or she has authority to access, review or take action with respect to the information that might be displayed or made available. We also attempt to provide notice to those who may be affected by the gathering of information (especially voice and text messages) in these easy to access locations.
Who should I contact at Qwest if I want my customer information sent to someone other than myself?
Please send your written request to Qwest’s Security Response Center, 1801 California Street, Suite 1100, Denver, CO 80202.
Who can I call or contact if I have questions about Qwest’s Privacy Policy?
For questions about this policy or our practices, please email us at privacy@qwest.com or write us at Qwest Privacy Group, 1801 California Street, Suite 1160, Denver, CO 80202.
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