SANTA FE— State Public Regulation Commission officials cannot by law speak privately with Qwest Communications officials about a settlement proposal, but Gov. Bill Richardson can and has. The PRC and Qwest are in court over whether the company must invest more than $200 million in the state's telecom system or refund the money to consumers. The New Mexico Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the case Feb. 14. Richardson met with Qwest officials at their request in Aspen, Colo., last August. Ned Farquhar, a senior adviser to the governor, also met privately with company officials seven times between July and...