Qwest, Bigger Rivals to Vie for U.S. Pacts

Sprint Is Left Off List Of Bidders for Upgrade To Federal Telecom Grid

AT&T Inc., Verizon Communications Inc. and Qwest Communications International Inc. were named by the government as the competitors for a giant federal telecommunications contract, worth a total of nearly $20 billion over the next decade.

Sprint Nextel Corp., until now a major supplier of telecommunications services to the federal government, was left off the list, a setback for the company whose list of woes is growing.

The General Services Administration said the three will take part in its "Networx Universal" program, which will overhaul the telecom infrastructure of the majority of federal agencies. The contracts will be awarded over the ...