U.S. West to spend $35 million to develop 'self-healing' phone networks in 5 cities

U.S. West Inc will invest $35 million to develop 'self healing' telephone systems in five cities by 1991. Self-healing telephone systems are designed to recover from emergencies such as fires and earthquakes. They target customers that need to move large amounts of voice and data traffic such as long-distance carriers, government agencies and major corporations. U.S. West will charge $626 a month for five miles of alternate-route protection. More elaborate circuitry will be available at higher prices. U.S. West's plans involve fiber-optic systems in: Minneapolis-St. Paul; Denver, CO; Portland, OR; Seattle, WA; and Phoenix, AZ.