US regulators have told Qwest that it cannot cut off the internet connection of an ISP SkyWi because the outfit owed it $1.7 million.

The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission ordered Qwest to immediately begin the process of restoring service to critical SkyWi customers or else face trouble. Qwest switched off SkyWi because of unpaid debts, the only problem was that the ISP boosted some pretty important customers, including hospitals who depended on their connection to the world wide wibble.

The committee wants SkyWi to give Qwest a list of its customers prioritized by public health and safety and also by economic concerns by today and release control of customers' telephone numbers to enable those customers to seek alternative providers.

Qwest had asked SkyWi to pay more than $580,000 by Monday to continue the service when it didn't come up with the readies it should not have been surprised to lose its connection, a  Qwest spokesman said. SkyWi's chief development officer, Don Levy, said while it owes money to Qwest, it does not owe $1.7
million.

SkyWi sued Qwest in December, alleging anti-competitive behavior.