Qwest claims AT&T used its network while also routing long-distance calls over AT&T’s own high-speed Internet system.
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Qwest spokesman Bill Myers told the Associated Press that it has been able to estimate the amount of fees AT&T has allegedly incurred, a number he did not disclose.
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AT&T has declined to comment on the matter.
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SBC Communications has filed a similar lawsuit against AT&T, alleging that is owed $141 million in back fees.
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State and federal laws require long-distance companies such as AT&T to pay local carriers for moving calls between their networks and the long-distance carriers’ systems. Myers said AT&T contended it doesn’t need to pay access charges because the traffic was on their Internet backbone for a portion of the route.
