Press Releases

NATIONAL COUNCIL OF THE LEWIS & CLARK BICENTENNIAL
RECEIVES $320,000 QWEST FOUNDATION GRANT

Grant to Fund Signature Events and National Educational Campaign

July 12, 2004 -- The Qwest Foundation, Qwest Communications’ giving program, is donating $320,000 to the National Council of the Lewis & Clark Bicentennial to help commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Lewis & Clark expedition. This grant is the largest corporate gift ever received by the council, as well as the largest education donation given by the Qwest Foundation in 2004. The donation will help fund eight bicentennial signature events in seven states in Qwest’s local service territory; a Lewis & Clark educational campaign; and brochures, posters and other materials.

“The Lewis & Clark expedition is an unsurpassed tale of adventure and endurance, yet the bicentennial events must be more than a commemoration of a long-ago adventure,” said Robert R. Archibald, president of the National Council of the Lewis & Clark Bicentennial. “This is an opportunity for all of us to evaluate the long chain of cause and effect that links past, present and future, and we’re thankful to have the support of the Qwest Foundation.”

The council selected communities from Virginia to Oregon to host its national heritage signature events, which began in January 2003 and extend through September 2006. Each community was chosen for its place in the expedition’s chronology, its historical relevance, cultural diversity, tribal involvement and geographic location.

“Lewis & Clark set out on an extraordinary journey more than 200 years ago, and Qwest will help make that journey come alive for kids today,” said Ric Padilla, vice president of corporate responsibility for Qwest. “Education is the backbone of our communities, and we are proud to be a part of an organization that will enhance school curriculum, enrich the minds of children, and teach them about this important part of American history.”

Qwest is sponsoring eight of the 15 signature events on the Lewis & Clark trail, all taking place in states in Qwest’s local service territory.

Signature events in 2004:

• Fort Calhoun/Omaha, Neb. July 31-Aug. 3
• Oacoma and Chamberlain, S.D. Aug. 27-Sept. 26
• Bismarck, N.D. Oct. 22-27

Signature events in 2005:

• Fort Benton and Great Falls, Mont. June 1-July 4
• Long Beach, Wash. to Cannon Beach, Ore. Nov. 11-25

Signature events in 2006:

• Lewiston, Idaho June. 14-17
• Billings, Mont. July 22-25
• New Town, N.D. Aug. 17-20

The first signature event receiving Qwest support and funding is in Fort Calhoun/Omaha. This event commemorates Lewis & Clark's journey through Iowa and Nebraska and also honors the expedition’s First Tribal Council. Planned activities include living history demonstrations, American-Indian cultural areas, and educational interactive workshops designed for all ages and interests. For more information please visit www.lewisandclark200.org.

In addition to the National Council grant, the Qwest Foundation also will launch the “Go Back to School with Lewis & Clark” educational campaign. This program will offer educators CD-ROMs that will allow them to easily incorporate lesson plans on Lewis & Clark into their teaching. In addition, an educational campaign Web site will be launched to show visitors how much easier Lewis & Clark’s journey would have been if they would have had all of the communications technologies students have today.

The Qwest Foundation plans to distribute the educational CD-ROMs to organizations such as the Boys & Girls Club and the YMCA in signature event markets beginning in Omaha.

For more information on the Qwest Foundation please visit www.qwest.com/foundation.

About Qwest
Qwest Communications International Inc. (NYSE: Q) is a leading provider of voice, video and data services to more than 25 million customers. The company’s 46,000 employees are 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.

Forward Looking Statement Note

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 SEC's current investigation into our accounting policies, practices and procedures and certain 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.