Qwest blacks out Internet provider

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Phone giant Qwest has pulled the plug on New Mexico's largest independently run provider of Internet services.

Qwest contends SkyWi Inc. owes it $1.7 million for wholesale Internet services and said it sent a Monday deadline for paying half that amount.

SkyWi retails telephone digital-subscriber lines and wireless Internet services to government agencies, businesses and private consumers across New Mexico and in severzal other states.  SkyWi recently took over two previously independent New Mexico Internet serive Prociers , One Connect and Zianet.

According to Qwest ,SkyWi had been warned it would be disconnected if it didn't meet the Monday deadline.  A Qwest spokesperson wouldn't say whether SkyWi customers were notified.

Skiwi recently sued Qwest alleging it was trying to put the company out of business through anticompetitive practices.

The state Public Regulation Commission began an emergency hearing on the shutdown today at 4 p.m.

KRQE News 13 will have more on this developing story in its newscasts this evening and on News 13 on KASA Fox 2 at 9 p.m.