DENVER, June 26, 2006 - Qwest Communications International Inc. (NYSE: Q) today announced that it has signed an extended three-year, $5.4 million agreement with St. Louis, Mo.-based Scottrade, Inc., a leading online brokerage firm. With this service upgrade, Qwest will connect more than 260 Scottrade branches using Qwest iQ NetworkingTM service, the company's multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) wide-area networking (WAN) solution.

Scottrade chose this upgrade to accommodate its large amount of growth and the need for additional applications. Qwest will migrate Scottrade from a Qwest Private Routed Network, one of the market-leading IP virtual private network (VPN) data networking solutions, to Qwest iQ Networking, which is a new suite of WAN services that powers customers' business operations on its nationwide IP network.

"Scottrade differentiates itself from competitors through its 268 branch offices, and Qwest's superior customer service will continue to provide our customers with the reliability they have come to expect from our branch locations," said Ian Patterson, chief information officer of Scottrade. "Qwest understands our business and was easy to do business with."

"We are excited to be a part of the solution for the tremendous growth of Scottrade," said Tom Richards, executive vice president of business markets group for Qwest. "Scottrade is a longtime Qwest customer, and we are proud to continue to provide the company with the Spirit of Service network philosophy that fits its business needs."

Qwest launched iQ Networking in early 2004 to give customers an end-to-end WAN service that supports the entire spectrum of data, voice and video business applications. Qwest iQ Networking focuses on solving problems, reducing total cost and delivering an unparalleled service experience.

About Scottrade
Scottrade is a leader in online investing and is currently ranked "Highest in Investor Satisfaction with Online Trading Services" by J.D. Power and Associates (www.jdpower.com). The October 2005 announcement was the sixth consecutive time Scottrade has received the honor.

Scottrade serves individual investors who are comfortable making their own investment decisions. Scottrade is unique in the industry because it boasts very low commission rates while offering easily accessible, local branch office support of online trading in 268 locations nationwide. Scottrade.com is the online trading site of Scottrade and offers customers the convenience of placing orders online for just $7 per trade. In addition to its online capabilities, Scottrade staffs each branch location with a licensed branch manager plus additional brokers and assistants.

About Qwest
Qwest Communications International Inc. (NYSE: Q), through its operating subsidiaries, is a leading provider of high-speed Internet, data, video and voice services. With nearly 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 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.