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Qwest Expands Outreach to Low-Income Residents on Tribal Lands; More are Now Eligible for Low-Cost Telephone ServiceDENVER --(Business Wire)-- April 28, 2005 -- Qwest (NYSE: Q) today announced an expanded outreach effort aimed at promoting low-cost telephone service to individuals living on the more than 60 tribal lands across its 14-state region. The effort, combined with new federal guidelines making more residents eligible for Qwest's Tribal Lifeline and Tribal Link-Up telephone assistance programs, means even more now qualify for low-cost telecommunications installation and service. "Qwest is proud of its role in connecting families with technology and telecommunications services on tribal lands," said Paula Kruger, Qwest executive vice president, consumer markets. "Partnering with tribal leaders, we will work to increase awareness of these programs, and encourage more to sign up for them." Under recently expanded Federal Poverty Guidelines, customers whose household income is at or below 135 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines now qualify for assistance. Household income was not part of the eligibility requirements before. Qwest will expand its outreach, working with leaders in tribal communities throughout its 14-state region to publicize the availability of these programs. That outreach includes public service announcements and on-the-ground marketing on reservations and at Native American "pow wows," which draw thousands of participants. Qwest's outreach efforts are designed to encourage eligible participants to sign up. Qwest began offering Tribal Lifeline and Tribal Link-Up in June 2000, when the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) established the programs in an effort to promote telephone service in underserved tribal areas. Tribal Lifeline provides residential customers who live on tribal lands with basic local telephone service for as low as $1.00 per month, plus applicable taxes and surcharges. Tribal Link-Up, reduces the cost of installing a customer's main telephone line by 50 percent. Individuals living on tribal lands qualify for the Tribal Lifeline and Tribal Link-Up if they participate in one of the following low-income programs. -0- *T 1. Medicaid 2. Food Stamps 3. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) 4. Head Start (Meeting Income Requirement) 5. Tribally Administered Temporary Housing for the Needy Families 6. Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance Programs 7. Federal Public Housing Assistance 8. Low-income Home Energy Assistance 9. National School Lunch Program 10. Any other qualifying program approved by the state Lifeline and Link-Up program *T As of this week, individuals can also qualify for Tribal Lifeline if their household income is at or below 135 percent of the Federal Poverty guidelines. Enrollment is easy. Qualified individuals need to complete and return a simple application that can be obtained by calling Qwest at 1-800-244-1111. The application can also be found at the Qwest Web site at www.qwest.com/TAP. About Qwest Qwest Communications International Inc. (NYSE: Q) is a leading provider of voice, video and data services. With more than 40,000 employees, Qwest is committed to the "Spirit of Service" and providing world-class services that exceed customers' expectations for quality, value and reliability. For more information, please visit the Qwest Web site at www.qwest.com. Forward-Looking Statement Note This release may contain projections and other forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements may differ materially from actual future events or results. Readers are referred to the documents filed by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission, specifically the most recent reports which identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: access line losses due to increased competition, including from technology substitution of our access lines with wireless and cable alternatives; our substantial indebtedness, and our inability to complete any efforts to de-lever our balance sheet through asset sales or other transactions; any adverse outcome of the current investigation by the U.S. Attorney's office in Denver into certain matters relating to us; adverse results of increased review and scrutiny by regulatory authorities, media and others (including any internal analyses) of financial reporting issues and practices or otherwise; rapid and significant changes in technology and markets; any adverse developments in commercial disputes or legal proceedings, including any adverse outcome of current or future legal proceedings related to matters that are the subject of governmental investigations, and, to the extent not covered by insurance, if any, our inability to satisfy any resulting obligations from funds available to us, if any; potential fluctuations in quarterly results; volatility of our stock price; intense competition in the markets in which we compete including the likelihood of certain of our competitors consolidating with other providers or otherwise reorganizing their capital structure to more effectively compete against us; changes in demand for our products and services; acceleration of the deployment of advanced new services, such as broadband data, wireless and video services, which could require substantial expenditure of financial and other resources in excess of contemplated levels; higher than anticipated employee levels, capital expenditures and operating expenses; adverse changes in the regulatory or legislative environment affecting our business; changes in the outcome of future events from the assumed outcome included in our significant accounting policies; our ability to utilize net operating losses in projected amounts; and our inability to provide any assurance as to whether we will be successful in our effort to acquire MCI, whether in the event of an acquisition we realize synergies in the amounts, at the times and at the related costs projected and whether regulatory approvals will be received within the timeframe projected and that such approvals will not be materially adverse to the projected operations of the combined company following the merger. The information contained in this release is a statement of Qwest's present intention, belief or expectation and is based upon, among other things, the existing regulatory environment, industry conditions, market conditions and prices, the economy in general and Qwest's assumptions. Qwest may change its intention, belief or expectation, at any time and without notice, based upon any changes in such factors, in Qwest's assumptions or otherwise. The cautionary statements contained or referred to in this release should be considered in connection with any subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements that Qwest or persons acting on its behalf may issue. This release may include analysts' estimates and other information prepared by third parties for which Qwest assumes no responsibility. Qwest undertakes no obligation to review or confirm analysts' expectations or estimates or to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements and other statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. By including any information in this release, Qwest does not necessarily acknowledge that disclosure of such information is required by applicable law or that the information is material. The Qwest logo is a registered trademark of Qwest Communications International Inc. in the U.S. and certain other countries. |
