Qwest to Equip U.S. Speedskating Team with Technology to Stay Better C

    Business Editors/Sports Editors/Technology Editors

    DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 19, 2005--American speedskating Olympic athletes and coaches will be better connected to friends, family and fans thanks to a partnership between U.S. Speedskating and Qwest Communications International Inc. (NYSE: Q)
    Qwest will serve as a gold-level sponsor of the U.S. Speedskating team through the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Turin, Italy. As part of the arrangement, Qwest will provide team members with the company's wireless, high-speed Internet access and voice services.
    "Qwest's sponsorship extends beyond supporting our financial objectives," said U.S. Speedskating President Andy Gabel, who is himself an Olympic silver medal winner in the sport. "The technology Qwest is providing to our organization and athletes allows us to function at a much higher level than before, and this will directly lead to the success of our teams."
    Qwest's 14-state service region is home to short- and long-track training centers, three of the nation's five Olympic-quality long-track speedskating venues (Salt Lake City; Roseville, Minn; Butte, Mont.) and is home to most of the team's members.
    "We've got a group of amazingly talented athletes training, competing and living in our own backyard," said Richard C. Notebaert, Qwest chairman and CEO. "We are extremely proud to provide our Spirit of Service to the U.S. Speedskating team in their bid to bring medals home from Turin in 2006. When we were presented with the opportunity to keep the team connected with Qwest wireless, high-speed Internet access and voice services, we jumped at the chance to support them."
    As part of the sponsorship package, Qwest is providing athletes with wireless, broadband and other technologies to help ensure connectively with coaches, family, teammates, friends and fans. Qwest will also support the team's overall community service efforts.
    "Training, skating and competing is a 24/7 job for us," said speedskater and Olympic Gold medalist Casey FitzRandolph. "Qwest's sponsorship not only helps us speedskaters manage our careers but gives us the technology and connectivity tools to help us maintain our competitive edge."

    About U.S. Speedskating

    U.S. Speedskating is the governing body of speedskating in the United States. The organization's chief responsibility is to prepare athletes and teams to represent the United States for international competition.

    About Qwest

    Qwest Communications International Inc. (NYSE: Q) is a leading provider of voice, video and data services. With more than 40,000 employees, Qwest is committed to the "Spirit of Service" and providing world-class services that exceed customers' expectations for quality, value and reliability. For more information, please visit the Qwest Web site at www.qwest.com.

    This release may contain projections and other forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements may differ materially from actual future events or results. Readers are referred to the documents filed by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission, specifically the most recent reports which identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: access line losses due to increased competition, including from technology substitution of our access lines with wireless and cable alternatives; our substantial indebtedness, and our inability to complete any efforts to de-lever our balance sheet through asset sales or other transactions; any adverse outcome of the current investigation by the U.S. Attorney's office in Denver into certain matters relating to us; adverse results of increased review and scrutiny by Congress, regulatory authorities, media and others (including any internal analyses) of financial reporting issues and practices or otherwise; rapid and significant changes in technology and markets; any adverse developments in commercial disputes or legal proceedings, including any adverse outcome of current or future legal proceedings related to matters that are the subject of governmental investigations, and, to the extent not covered by insurance, if any, our inability to satisfy any resulting obligations from funds available to us, if any; potential fluctuations in quarterly results; volatility of our stock price; intense competition in the markets in which we compete including the likelihood of certain of our competitors emerging from bankruptcy court protection or otherwise reorganizing their capital structure and competing effectively against us; changes in demand for our products and services; acceleration of the deployment of advanced new services, such as broadband data, wireless and video services, which could require substantial expenditure of financial and other resources in excess of contemplated levels; higher than anticipated employee levels, capital expenditures and operating expenses; adverse changes in the regulatory or legislative environment affecting our business; and changes in the outcome of future events from the assumed outcome included in our significant accounting policies.
    The information contained in this release is a statement of Qwest's present intention, belief or expectation and is based upon, among other things, the existing regulatory environment, industry conditions, market conditions and prices, the economy in general and Qwest's assumptions. Qwest may change its intention, belief or expectation, at any time and without notice, based upon any changes in such factors, in Qwest's assumptions or otherwise. The cautionary statements contained or referred to in this release should be considered in connection with any subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements that Qwest or persons acting on its behalf may issue. This release may include analysts' estimates and other information prepared by third parties for which Qwest assumes no responsibility.
    Qwest undertakes no obligation to review or confirm analysts' expectations or estimates or to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
    By including any information in this release, Qwest does not necessarily acknowledge that disclosure of such information is required by applicable law or that the information is material.

    The Qwest logo is a registered trademark of Qwest Communications International Inc. in the U.S. and certain other countries.

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CONTACT: Qwest Communications Media Contact: Robert Toevs, 303-965-6264 Bob.toevs@qwest.com or Investor Contact: Stephanie Comfort, 800-567-7296 IR@qwest.com

KEYWORD: COLORADO MONTANA MINNESOTA UTAH INDUSTRY KEYWORD: SPORTS TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORKING PRODUCT SOURCE: Qwest Communications

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