The Minnesota Telephone Association continues to protest a 30-year contract between the states

The Minnesota Telephone Association continues to protest a 30-year contract between the state`s Department of Administration and Department of Transportation and private consortium International Communication Services Inc./Universal Communication Networks llc. The contract gives the consortium permission to build and operate a 2000-mi fiber-optic network along the state`s rights-of-way and exclusive use of 1000 mi of rights-of-way, in exchange for free use of 20% of the completed network. The Minnesota Telephone Association, which represents the telecommunications industry in the state, alleges the agreement is illegal, that local taxpayers and telephone users will end up footing part of the bill, that the state departments overstepped their bounds when approving the contract, and that 30 years may be too long a time frame for the contract.