U.S. West lands telecom deal

U.S. West, a Denver-based telecommunications company, has snagged its first

major telecom contract from the federal government — a $60 million deal

that it will split with wireless telecom company Winstar Communications

Inc.

Under the contract, which U.S. West announced June 23, the companies

will be serving Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn., area.

It marks Winstar's seventh Metropolitan Area Acquisition award from

the General Services Administration. The companies will provide a range

of communications services, including voice phone, to federal agencies and

offices within a large metropolitan area.

The GSA administers the program with the aim of keeping federal phone

costs down in local areas by permitting regional companies to compete for

the business.

The agency already has awarded MAA contracts for Atlanta; Boston; Buffalo,

N.Y.; Chicago; Cincinnati; Cleveland; Indianapolis; Los Angeles; Miami;

New York; St. Louis; and San Francisco.