Its retail and wholesale arms would maintain separate locations, books, records and accounts and have a separate leadership and employee base. Qwest's wholesale unit would own and operate all network facilities and would be prohibited from providing retail service. It would not be allowed to discriminate in favor of the retail unit, and vice versa. And finally, the PUC would have the authority to approve transactions between the affiliates, as well as provide standards of conduct with penalties for violations of conduct. But we continue running into roadblocks put up by Qwest.
Structural separation is the only solution.
Every day we watch competitors perish and as a result, consumers have less choice today than they had a year ago, last month or even last week. Structural separation is stiff stuff, but in this case, cosmetic surgery will not do. Qwest is the common denominator. Therefore, this legislation deals with means, motive and opportunity. Competition, choice and consumers require drastic action and we applaud Senator Limmer's willingness to make this stand for Minnesotans.