DENVER, May 10, 2004 ? Qwest Communications International Inc. (NYSE: Q) today announced that it has expanded its relationship with EarthLink (NASDAQ:ELNK) ? a major national Internet service provider (ISP). EarthLink will purchase from Qwest nationwide dial Internet access, giving EarthLink added resources to continue providing quality Internet access to millions of customers in the U.S.

According to industry analysts, dial-up remains the most popular Internet access method, with nearly 54.5 million subscribers and 80 percent of the entire online access market. Because of this trend, Qwest continues to expand dial port Internet access agreements with several large, nationwide ISPs, including EarthLink.

?Qwest?s relationship with EarthLink is important to us because it helps bring more users onto the nationwide Qwest network,? said Cliff Holtz, executive vice president for Qwest business markets group. ?We?re pleased the Qwest-Earthlink relationship has grown on several levels over the past 12 months ? we?re extending the dial-up agreement, and we are working with EarthLink as it leverages Qwest DSL to deploy high-speed Internet access to residential customers in the Qwest 14 state region. We look forward to continuing our long-standing and positive relationship with EarthLink.?

Qwest?s dial Internet access network delivers 56K and ISDN dial-up access from more than 2,690 points-of-presence (POPs) nationwide and covers approximately 85 percent of the U.S. population with a local dial-up call. Also Qwest?s dial network has market-leading capacity, giving end-users a better dial experience through fewer busy signals and less oversubscription.

?Using Qwest?s network helps us deliver top quality service that meets the needs of our customers,? said Steve Dean, vice president, EarthLink Network Group. ?Qwest has proven to be a reliable network partner with a dedicated account team to help handle our communications requirements.?

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.

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: the duration and extent of the current economic downturn in our 14-state local service area, including its effect on our customers and suppliers; 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; further delays in making required public filings with the SEC; 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.

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