Qwest named official telecommunications provider for the convention

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The Democratic National Convention Committee has named Qwest as the Official Telecommunications Provider for the 2008 Democratic National Convention. This news shouldn't be a huge surprise as Qwest is based in Denver and has pledged $6 million to the DNCC for the convention.

“Qwest has been a longtime partner of the Denver business community – and today we are proud to call them our partner, too,” said Leah D. Daughtry, CEO of the DNCC. “Qwest’s state-of-the-art network and skilled union labor force will play a significant role in helping us deliver a spectacular event to the American people and media outlets around the world.”

As the official telecommunications provider, Qwest will provide wireline voice and data services, including high-speed Internet, for the DNCC, delegates and more than 15,000 members of the media expected to visit Denver for the Convention. Qwest also will supply the cabling for voice and data services for the DNCC and media at the Pepsi Center, site of the 2008 Democratic National Convention.

Update from Matt: Colorado Confidential has more on the bigger change taking place:

The Qwest pledge of $6 million to the 2008 Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) in Denver demonstrates the change in political party fortunes at a deeper level. Qwest, its telecom rivals, Comcast and Level 3, and the communications industry in general are shifting their political donations from Republicans to Democrats.
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But the strong financial support of the Democratic convention appears to be part of a sea change in telecom political donations. In 2004, for instance, Qwest gave 33 percent of its campaign donations to Democrats and 67 percent to Republicans via its political action committee. So far in the 2008 election cycle, its PAC donations have been split 50-50 between the two parties. And this doesn't even include the $6 million to the convention.

Level 3 Communications in the past has been more even-handed between Dems and Repubs. In 2004, it gave 54 percent to Democratic candidates and 46 percent to Republicans. But so far in the 2008 cycle, its PAC has given 89 percent to Democrats and 11 percent to Republicans.