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.