One can see why Dick Notebaert recommended Edward Mueller for the top job at Qwest Communications.

They espouse similar customer-first philosophies, and they have been friends for years.

Unlike Notebaert, Mueller said he's not a "CrackBerry" addict - obsessed with checking his BlackBerry communications device. Notebaert said he's kicked his habit.

"I have an iPod, but it's sheer enjoyment, so I'm not hooked to it," Mueller said. "I did have a Tivo (to replay) golf tournaments, sporting events that I wanted to watch live and couldn't."

Mueller (pronounced "Miller") is looking at houses in the Denver area. His wife, Susan, will move here with him, as soon as Mueller's stepdaughter finishes high school in Marin County, Calif.

The Missouri native said he grew up a St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan. "Don't put that," Mueller said quickly, adding that he will be a "substitute Rockies fan."

Mueller may not know that he's in good company, and that Denver is mostly forgiving. Former Gov. Bill Owens was a Los Angeles Dodgers fan, and Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper is a Philadelphia Phillies fan.

Rocky reporter Jeff Smith had a brief telephone interview with Mueller on Monday. Here are some excerpts:

When did you meet Dick Notebaert?

I knew Dick many, many years ago. I got close to Dick when I moved to Chicago (to take the top Ameritech job in 2000), personally and civically. He stayed at our house when he was trying to get my (Williams-Sonoma) business. I have a huge respect for Dick.

What is your first priority?

To learn, to get up to speed. I have a lot of experience in the telephone business. The learning is more about what (Qwest) is doing.

You have to learn the technology words, buzz words. Mine is 'catch up quick.'

How are you planning to combat the competitive onslaught from cable TV companies in Qwest's largest metro areas?

I think that's a really good question. Obviously, we have our DirecTV play. I think the best way to combat (competition) at this point is figure out how the market responds - what customers want or don't want.

To combat (competition) you have to have extraordinary service. (Communications companies) all have about the same content. (You have to ask) why would the subscriber want to be with us?

(Mueller said he's been a DirecTV customer since the early 1990s. SBC, where he worked at the time, was installing DirecTV in the early 1990s, he said.)

Do you worry about not having enough capital to invest in a video strategy? (Verizon, for example, is investing billions in bringing TV services over fiber to the home.)

No. I like our strategy.

How would you describe the video strategy?

Video (mostly DirecTV) hooked to broadband, hooked to a (communications) bundle. A lot of it (the decision of whether to put in one's own TV infrastructure) has to do with economics. I don't think there's any debate over the more bandwidth you have the better, and that the medium of fiber is great. The debate probably would be how much of a return could you make (in Qwest's rural 14-state region).

Many analysts think the company needs to be more aggressive on the acquisition front so it can drive more traffic onto its nationwide fiber-optic network. What is your merger and acquisition plan?

Being opportunistic if a transaction came along that was really interesting.

Do you have a position yet on how you'd like to reward stockholders?

I think the standard candidates are out there (stock buyback or dividend). The board really makes the call. I do share Dick's enthusiasm for getting the hard-fought gains to shareholders.

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