Apollo asks for delay in settling Qwest bill/ Dispute near

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Mar 13, 2003 | by CHRIS WALSH

Colorado Springs-based Apollo Communications LLC asked the Colorado Public Utilities Commission for another week to settle financial disputes that might affect the company's 5,000 phone and Internet clients.

In a ruling last week, the commission gave Apollo until Wednesday to reach an agreement with Qwest Communications International, which says Apollo owes it $812,000.

Qwest, which owns the phone lines Apollo uses, threatened to disconnect Apollo's residential and commercial customers if the bill isn't paid.

Apollo says it shouldn't have to pay the money because it is not Apollo's debt.

The PUC also ordered Apollo to notify its clients they might have to look for new service if the company does not reach an agreement with Qwest.

As the deadline approached, Apollo - backed by Qwest - asked the PUC to extend the deadline to March 19.

The commission will rule on the request today.

"I feel like we're making great progress, and we'll get to some resolution," said Bart Atkinson, Apollo's president and chief executive officer. "We just need a little more time to get this on paper."

An official at the commission would not comment on whether it will approve or deny the request.

The commission granted Apollo more time twice before.

Apollo was created last year to buy the customers and assets of defunct Vanion Inc., which ran into financial problems and owes Qwest the $812,000.

Qwest threatened to disconnect Apollo and its customers last month after Apollo refused to pay the $812,000.

The PUC stepped in and said Qwest couldn't take such an action for a month.

The PUC ordered Apollo to notify customers of the possible disconnection so they could find new service if they wanted.

Atkinson said Apollo and Qwest are close to a deal that may allow Apollo customers to retain phone and Internet service from Apollo.

Talks are focused on how much Apollo owes Qwest since it took over Vanion's clients.

"It is very evident that everybody involved wants to get this resolved to the benefit of the customers," Atkinson said.

"Nobody has the desire to disconnect customers. We want to maintain them in the least destructive way possible."

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