Qwest Communications International Inc. Q3 2008 Earnings Call Transcript

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2008-10-29 11:06:14.0

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Question-and-Answer Session

Operator

(Operator Instructions) Your first question comes from Michael Rollins – Citigroup.

Michael Rollins - Citigroup

I was wondering if you can outline what we should be thinking about in terms of future settlement payments from any remaining litigation or any of the inquiries into, I think there were some tax issues at a state level that you were still working through.

And then secondly, if I could just ask a little bit more about the business revenue trend in the quarter. If you could break out with a little bit more detail the equipment revenue. And could you describe what you’re seeing on the competitive environment? I know you talked a little bit about it but are you seeing increasing price competition, whether it’s in the government sector or in the larger enterprise sector?

Edward A. Mueller

The litigation we think is pretty much behind us. There may be some small litigation payments but we think that’s pretty much behind us.

I will let Tom handle the question on the business.

Thomas E. Richards

CPE or data integration generally accounts for somewhere between 12% and 15% of BMG’s ongoing revenue and this quarter we came at the high end, and as Joe alluded to, we would expect that to drop back to a more normal rate in the fourth quarter.

And from a pricing perspective, we are not seeing anything abnormal would be the way I would describe it, from aggressive initiatives in the business market segment. As you heard Ed mention, we are seeing some aggressive pricing initiatives in the wholesale segment, but really at this point, on the whole, not so much in the business markets group.

Joseph J. Euteneuer

You referenced tax payments. We don’t have any material tax issues that we are aware of at this point that would change anybody’s model.

Operator

Your next question comes from Simon Flannery - Morgan Stanley.

Simon Flannery - Morgan Stanley

I think last quarter you talked about the capex budget for 2009 being flat with 2008. In light of the recent macro and credit market developments, how are you thinking about possibilities to take the capital spending down, given the growth opportunities?

And on the balance sheet, Joe, you talked about the put option in 2010. We have seen a couple of other companies do convert for equity exchanges. Is that something that you might entertain?

Edward A. Mueller

 

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