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Level 3 Selected As Primary Provider of Voice Services to Cable One

Posted on: Monday, 7 November 2005, 09:00 CST

BROOMFIELD, Colo., Nov. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Level 3 Communications today announced a multi-year contract to provide voice services to Cable One, the cable broadcasting division of The Washington Post Company. Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, Cable One operates 52 cable systems serving 720,000 subscribers in 19 states.

Under the terms of the agreement, Level 3 will provide Cable One with Level 3's (3)VoIP Enhanced(SM) Local service, enabling Cable One's new digital calling solution. Level 3's (3)VoIP Enhanced Local service is a voice over IP (VoIP) solution that enables companies who operate their own class 5 feature servers to launch IP-based local and long-distance communications services to residential and enterprise customers via any broadband connection.

"We have an aggressive timeline for developing our digital voice services, which we expect to launch in 2006," said Steve Fox, vice president of digital services and technology for Cable One. "To meet this milestone we looked to Level 3 to provide the network and services that will decrease our time to market. The relationship we've formed with Level 3 is ideal. We're able to build our calling services based on their industry leading network while retaining the ownership, control and flexibility of our services."

"Our network has been built to allow cable operators such as Cable One to cost effectively speed the development and deployment of high-quality VoIP services that include important features such as our Level (3) E-911 Direct(SM) service," said Myrle McNeal, senior vice president of Local Voice Services for Level 3. "The cable segment is a core focus for the company and we currently provide a number of services to many of the largest cable operators in the nation. We look forward to working with Cable One to develop digital phone services and drive widespread VoIP adoption."

Level 3 has been providing a wholesale VoIP solution with its (3)VoIP Enhanced Local service since May 2004. The service is used by cable operators, as well as carriers, Internet Service providers and other companies eager to have a quick to market, cost-effective, regulatory-compliant IP voice solution. Level (3) E-911 Direct, a portfolio of E-911 solutions, includes an FCC compliant solution for nomadic VoIP providers and a fixed-line solution with network connections to PSAPs that serve approximately 67% of all US households.

(3)VoIP Enhanced Local Service

(3)VoIP Enhanced Local service provides the essential components required to offer high-quality VoIP service. These components include network trunking, local numbers, local number portability, E-911, operator assistance, directory listings, and directory assistance. At the same time, the (3)VoIP Enhanced Local solution allows Level 3 customers to retain the flexibility to manage and control end-user features without the challenges of implementing complex interconnection arrangements.

For more information about Level 3's broad portfolio of voice over IP (VoIP) services, please visit http://www.level3.com/.

About Cable One

Cable One, the cable division of The Washington Post Company , operates 52 cable systems serving 705,000 subscribers in 19 states. For more information about Cable One, visit http://www.cableone.net/.

About Level 3 Communications

Level 3 is an international communications and information services company. The company operates one of the largest Internet backbones in the world, is one of the largest providers of wholesale dial-up service to ISPs in North America and is the primary provider of Internet connectivity for millions of broadband subscribers, through its cable and DSL partners. The company offers a wide range of communications services over its 23,000-mile broadband fiber optic network including Internet Protocol (IP) services, broadband transport and infrastructure services, colocation services, and patented softswitch managed modem and voice services. Its Web address is http://www.level3.com/.

The company offers information services through its subsidiaries, Software Spectrum and (i)Structure. On October 25, 2005, Level 3 announced it signed a definitive agreement to sell (i)Structure for approximately $81.5 million. Closing is subject to certain conditions. For additional information, visit their respective Web sites at http://www.softwarespectrum.com/ and http://www.i-structure.com/.

The Level 3 logo is a registered service mark and Level(3) E-911 Direct is a service mark of Level 3 Communications, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. (3)VoIP Enhanced is a service mark of Level 3 Enhanced Services, LLC in the United States and/or other countries. Level 3 services are offered by wholly owned subsidiaries of Level 3 Communications, Inc.

Forward-Looking Statement

Some of the statements made by Level 3 in this press release are forward-looking in nature. Actual results may differ materially from those projected in forward-looking statements. Level 3 believes that its primary risk factors include, but are not limited to: developing new products and services that meet customer demands and generate acceptable margins; increasing the volume of traffic on Level 3's network; overcoming the softness in the economy given its disproportionate effect on the telecommunications industry; integrating strategic acquisitions; attracting and retaining qualified management and other personnel; successfully completing commercial testing of new technology and information systems to support new products and services, including voice transmission services; ability to meet all of the terms and conditions of our debt obligations; overcoming Software Spectrum's reliance on financial incentives, volume discounts and marketing funds from software publishers; reducing downward pressure of Software Spectrum's margins as a result of the use of volume licensing and maintenance agreements; and reducing rate of price compression on certain of the Company's existing transport and IP services. Additional information concerning these and other important factors can be found within Level 3's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Statements in this release should be evaluated in light of these important factors.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990721/LVLTLOGOPRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

Level 3 Communications

CONTACT: Media, Alison Heller of Level 3, +1-720-888-1277, or SarahRector, +1-303-634-2674, sarah.rector@ogilvypr.com, for Level 3; or Investors,Robin Grey, +1-720-888-2518, or Sandra Curlander, +1-720-888-2501, both ofLevel 3

Web site: http://www.level3.com/http://www.cableone.net/

Source: PRNewswire-FirstCall

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