Qwest Communications International Inc.,

Qwest Communications International Inc.,

Denver, CO, has reached agreement for what it calls "the last major acquisition" of the rights of way needed to complete its 13,000-mi coast-to-coast fiber network. The company agreed with Norfolk Southern Railway to install fiber-optic cable along the railway`s rights-of-way in eight cities in the southeastern United States. Qwest says it now has 91% of the rights it needs to finish the network by the end of next year; acquisition of the remaining 9% is currently "being negotiated." Meanwhile, the company also announced the activation of a 1277-mi section of its network, linking Sacramento, CA, with Denver. The activation means the company has 2100 route-mi of its network in service.