Table of Contents

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the Quarterly Period Ended SeptemberJune 30, 20212022
or
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from to
Commission file number 001-35134
LEVEL 3 PARENT, LLC
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware47-0210602
(State of Incorporation)(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
1025 Eldorado Blvd.,
Broomfield,CO80021-8869
(Address of principal executive offices)(Zip Code)
(720) 888-1000
(Registrant’s telephone number,
including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of Each ClassNoneTrading Symbol(s)Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
THE REGISTRANT, A WHOLLY-OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF LUMEN TECHNOLOGIES, INC., MEETS THE CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS H(1) (a) AND (b) OF FORM 10-Q AND IS THEREFORE FILING THIS FORM WITH REDUCED DISCLOSURE PURSUANT TO GENERAL INSTRUCTION H(2).

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).  Yes No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filerAccelerated filer
Non-accelerated filerSmaller reporting company
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes No

All of the limited liability company interest in the registrant is held by an affiliate of the registrant. None of the interest is publicly traded.
1


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS
* All references to "Notes" in this quarterly report refer to these Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

2


Table of Contents

Unless the context requires otherwise, references in this report to "Level 3," “we,” “us,” "its," the "Company" and "our" refer to Level 3 Parent, LLC and its predecessor Level 3 Communications, Inc., and their respective consolidated subsidiaries. References to "Lumen Technologies" or "Lumen" refer to our ultimate parent company, Lumen Technologies, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This report and other documents filed by us under the federal securities law include, and future oral or written statements or press releases by us and our management may include, forward-looking statements about our business, financial condition, operating results or prospects. These "forward-looking" statements are defined by, and are subject to the "safe harbor" protections under, the federal securities laws. These statements include, among others:

forecasts of our anticipated future results of operations, cash flows or financial position;

statements concerning the anticipated impact of our transactions, investments, product development, buildout plans, and other initiatives, including synergies or costs associated with these initiatives;

statements about our liquidity, profitability, profit margins, tax position, tax assets, tax rates, asset values, contingent liabilities, growth opportunities, growth rates, acquisition and divestiture opportunities, business prospects, regulatory and competitive outlook, market share, product capabilities, investment and expenditure plans, business strategies, distribution and securities repurchase plans, leverage, capital allocation plans, financing alternatives and sources, and pricing plans;

statements regarding how the health and economic challenges raised by the COVID-19 pandemic may impact our business, operations, cash flowsfinancial position, operating results or financial position;prospects; and

other similar statements of our expectations, beliefs, future plans and strategies, anticipated developments and other matters that are not historical facts, many of which are highlighted by words such as “may,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “plan,“plans,” “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” "forecasts," “projects,” "proposes," "targets," “intends,” “likely,” “seeks,” “hopes,” or variations or similar expressions with respect to the future.

These forward-looking statements are based upon our judgment and assumptions as of the date such statements are made concerning future developments and events, many of which are beyond our control. These forward-looking statements, and the assumptions upon which they are based, (i) are not guarantees of future results, (ii) are inherently speculative and (iii) are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual events and results may differ materially from those anticipated, estimated, projected or implied by us in those statements if one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if our underlying assumptions prove incorrect. All of our forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by reference below to our discussion of factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, estimated, projected or implied by us in those forward-looking statements. Factors that could affect actual resultsThese factors include but are not limited to:

the effects of competition from a wide variety of competitive providers, including decreased demand for our more mature service offerings and increased pricing pressures;

the effects of new, emerging or competing technologies, including those that could make our products less desirable or obsolete;

our ability to successfully and timely attain our key operating imperatives, including simplifying and consolidating our network, simplifying and automating our service support systems, strengthening our relationships with customers and attaining projected cost savings;

our ability to safeguard our network, and to avoid the adverse impact of possible cyber-attacks, security breaches, service outages, system failures, or similar events impacting our network or the availability and quality of our services;

3


Table of Contents

the effects of ongoing changes in the regulation of the communications industry, including the outcome of legislative, regulatory or judicial proceedings relating to content liability standards, intercarrier compensation, broadband deployment, data protection, privacy and net neutrality;

our ability to effectively retain and hire key personnel;

possible changes in thecustomer demand for our products and services, including increased demand for high-speed data transmission services;

our ability to successfully maintain the quality and profitability of our existing product and service offerings and to introduce profitable new offerings on a timely and cost-effective basis;

our ability to generate cash flows sufficient to fund our financial commitments and objectives, including our capital expenditures, operating costs, debt repayments and distributions;

our ability to successfully and timely implement our operating plans and corporate strategies, including our deleveraging strategy;

our ability to successfully and timely consummate the pending divestiture of our Latin American business on the terms proposed, to realize the anticipated benefits therefrom and to operate our retained business successfully thereafter;

changes in our operating plans, corporate strategies and capital allocation plans, whether based upon changes in our cash flows, cash requirements, financial performance, financial position, market or regulatory conditions, or otherwise;

the impact of any future material acquisitions or divestitures that we may transact;

the negative impact of increases in the costs of Lumen’s pension, healthcare for active and retired employees, post-employment or other benefits, including those caused by changes in markets, interest rates, mortality rates, demographics or regulations;

the potential negative impact of customer complaints, government investigations, security breaches or service outages impacting us or our industry;

adverse changes in our access to credit markets on favorable terms, whether caused by changes in our financial position, lower credit ratings, unstable markets or otherwise;

our ability to meet the terms and conditions of our debt obligations and covenants, including our ability to make transfers of cash in compliance therewith;

our ability to maintain favorable relations with our security holders, key business partners, suppliers, vendors, landlords and financial institutions;

Lumen's ability to meet evolving environmental, social and governance ("ESG") expectations and benchmarks, and effectively communicate its ESG strategies;

our ability to collect our receivables from, or continue to do business with, financially-troubled customers;

Lumen's ability to use its net operating loss carryforwards in the amounts projected;

our ability to continue to use or renew intellectual property used to conduct our operations;

any adverse developments in legal or regulatory proceedings involving us or our affiliates, including Lumen Technologies;

changes in tax, pension, healthcare or other laws or regulations, or in general government funding levels, including those arising from pending proposals of the Biden Administration to increase infrastructure spending andrecently-enacted federal income tax rates;legislation promoting increased broadband spending;

4


Table of Contents

the effects of changes in accounting policies, practices or assumptions, including changes that could potentially require additional future impairment charges;
4


Table of Contents


continuing uncertainties regarding the impact that COVID-19 disruptions and vaccination policies could have on our business, operations, cash flows and corporate initiatives;

the effects of adverse weather, terrorism, epidemics, pandemics, rioting, societal unrest, or other natural or man-made disasters or disturbances;

the potential adverse effects if our internal controls over financial reporting have weaknesses or deficiencies, or otherwise fail to operate as intended;

the effects of changes in interest rates and inflation;

the effects of more general factors such as changes in interest rates, in exchange rates, in operating costs, in public policy, in the views of financial analysts, or in general market, labor, economic or geo-political conditions; and

other risks referenced in the "Risk Factors" section or other portions of this report or other of our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").

Additional factors or risks that we currently deem immaterial, that are not presently known to us or that arise in the future could also cause our actual results to differ materially from our expected results. Given these uncertainties, investors are cautioned not to unduly rely upon our forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements for any reason, whether as a result of new information, future events or developments, changed circumstances, or otherwise. Furthermore, any information about our intentions contained in any of our forward-looking statements reflects our intentions as of the date of such forward-looking statement, and is based upon, among other things, existing regulatory, technological, industry, competitive, economic and market conditions, and our assumptions as of such date. We may change our intentions, strategies or plans (including our distribution or other capital allocation plans) at any time and without notice, based upon any changes in such factors, in our assumptions or otherwise.

5


Table of Contents

PART I-FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
LEVEL 3 PARENT, LLC
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(UNAUDITED)
Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
2021202020212020
(Dollars in millions)
OPERATING REVENUE
Operating revenue$1,934 1,918 5,797 5,782 
Operating revenue - affiliates56 53 167 153 
Total operating revenue1,990 1,971 5,964 5,935 
OPERATING EXPENSES
Cost of services and products (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)897 857 2,643 2,623 
Selling, general and administrative305 300 872 922 
Operating expenses - affiliates116 101 354 274 
Depreciation and amortization431 429 1,304 1,250 
Total operating expenses1,749 1,687 5,173 5,069 
OPERATING INCOME241 284 791 866 
OTHER (EXPENSE) INCOME
Interest income - affiliate16 13 49 39 
Interest expense(90)(99)(272)(301)
Other (expense) income, net(9)41 29 
Total other expense, net(83)(45)(222)(233)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES158 239 569 633 
Income tax expense37 42 150 147 
NET INCOME$121 197 419 486 

Three Months Ended June 30,Six Months Ended June 30,
2022202120222021
(Dollars in millions)
OPERATING REVENUE
Operating revenue$1,896 1,929 $3,786 3,863 
Operating revenue - affiliates57 56 113 111 
Total operating revenue1,953 1,985 3,899 3,974 
OPERATING EXPENSES
Cost of services and products (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)836 868 1,687 1,746 
Selling, general and administrative318 273 632 567 
Operating expenses - affiliates162 131 308 238 
Depreciation and amortization405 436 801 873 
Total operating expenses1,721 1,708 3,428 3,424 
OPERATING INCOME232 277 471 550 
OTHER (EXPENSE) INCOME
Interest income - affiliate15 15 31 33 
Interest expense(95)(89)(185)(182)
Other (expense) income, net(14)(21)10 
Total other expense, net(94)(68)(175)(139)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES138 209 296 411 
Income tax expense41 62 85 113 
NET INCOME$97 147 $211 298 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.


6


Table of Contents


LEVEL 3 PARENT, LLC
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME
(UNAUDITED)

Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
2021202020212020
(Dollars in millions)
NET INCOME$121 197 419 486 
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of $13, $(21), $16 and $(2) tax(93)41 (101)(179)
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax(93)41 (101)(179)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME$28 238 318 307 

Three Months Ended June 30,Six Months Ended June 30,
2022202120222021
(Dollars in millions)
NET INCOME$97 147 $211 298 
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of $32, $(4), $42, and $3 tax(184)80 (115)(8)
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax(184)80 (115)(8)
COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME$(87)227 $96 290 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
7


Table of Contents


LEVEL 3 PARENT, LLC
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
September 30, 2021 (unaudited)December 31, 2020
(Dollars in millions)
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents$215 190 
Accounts receivable, less allowance of $39 and $45620 683 
Note receivable - affiliate1,468 1,468 
Assets held for sale2,657 — 
Other238 297 
Total current assets5,198 2,638 
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $2,998 and $2,8189,011 10,518 
GOODWILL AND OTHER ASSETS
Goodwill6,667 7,405 
Other intangible assets, net5,907 6,605 
Other, net1,459 1,410 
Total goodwill and other assets14,033 15,420 
TOTAL ASSETS$28,242 28,576 
LIABILITIES AND MEMBER'S EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Current maturities of long-term debt$24 14 
Accounts payable407 495 
Accounts payable - affiliates76 869 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
Salaries and benefits166 220 
Income and other taxes98 111 
Current operating lease liabilities283 241 
Other143 159 
Liabilities held for sale412 — 
Current portion of deferred revenue289 315 
Total current liabilities1,898 2,424 
LONG-TERM DEBT10,402 10,373 
DEFERRED REVENUE AND OTHER LIABILITIES
Deferred revenue1,335 1,396 
Operating lease liabilities942 903 
Other468 575 
Total deferred revenue and other liabilities2,745 2,874 
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 10)00
MEMBER'S EQUITY
Member's equity13,532 13,139 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss(335)(234)
Total member's equity13,197 12,905 
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND MEMBER'S EQUITY$28,242 28,576 

(UNAUDITED)
June 30, 2022December 31, 2021
(Dollars in millions)
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents$154 146 
Accounts receivable, less allowance of $37 and $39580 642 
Note receivable - affiliate1,468 1,468 
Assets held for sale2,865 2,708 
Other263 239 
Total current assets5,330 5,203 
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $3,547 and $3,2028,936 9,042 
GOODWILL AND OTHER ASSETS
Goodwill6,627 6,666 
Other intangible assets, net5,387 5,725 
Other, net1,681 1,459 
Total goodwill and other assets13,695 13,850 
TOTAL ASSETS$27,961 28,095 
LIABILITIES AND MEMBER'S EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Current maturities of long-term debt$28 26 
Accounts payable428 381 
Accounts payable - affiliates77 18 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
Salaries and benefits126 176 
Income and other taxes92 83 
Current operating lease liabilities353 299 
Other117 150 
Liabilities held for sale479 435 
Current portion of deferred revenue298 291 
Total current liabilities1,998 1,859 
LONG-TERM DEBT10,383 10,396 
DEFERRED REVENUE AND OTHER LIABILITIES
Deferred revenue1,442 1,404 
Operating lease liabilities1,134 953 
Other452 474 
Total deferred revenue and other liabilities3,028 2,831 
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 8)00
MEMBER'S EQUITY
Member's equity13,018 13,360 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss(466)(351)
Total member's equity12,552 13,009 
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND MEMBER'S EQUITY$27,961 28,095 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

8


Table of Contents

LEVEL 3 PARENT, LLC
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(UNAUDITED)
Nine Months Ended September 30,
20212020
(Dollars in millions)
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income$419 486 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization1,304 1,250 
Deferred income taxes122 124 
Changes in current assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable(41)(101)
Accounts payable(34)(139)
Other assets and liabilities, net(74)(195)
Other assets and liabilities, affiliate(780)364 
Changes in other noncurrent assets and liabilities, net33 116 
Other, net(8)39 
Net cash provided by operating activities941 1,944 
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital expenditures(874)(1,124)
Collections on note receivable - affiliate— 122 
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment and other assets52 105 
Net cash used in investing activities(822)(897)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Net proceeds from issuance of long-term debt891 2,020 
Distributions(25)(1,075)
Payments of long-term debt(932)(2,056)
Other(1)(4)
Net cash used in financing activities(67)(1,115)
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash52 (68)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period205 338 
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period$257 270 
Supplemental cash flow information:
Income taxes paid, net$(23)(20)
Interest paid (net of capitalized interest of $11 and $18)$(304)(323)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash:
Cash and cash equivalents$215 256 
Cash and cash equivalents included in assets held for sale36 — 
Restricted cash included in Other current assets
Restricted cash included in Other, net noncurrent assets12 
Total$257 270 

Six Months Ended June 30,
20222021
(Dollars in millions)
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income$211 298 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization801 873 
Deferred income taxes54 92 
Changes in current assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable33 (26)
Accounts payable(29)(9)
Other assets and liabilities, net(113)(74)
Other assets and liabilities, affiliate85 (499)
Changes in other noncurrent assets and liabilities, net64 13 
Other, net78 (35)
Net cash provided by operating activities1,184 633 
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital expenditures(554)(591)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment and other assets52 
Net cash used in investing activities(553)(539)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Net proceeds from issuance of long-term debt— 891 
Distributions(553)(25)
Payments of long-term debt(64)(925)
Other— (1)
Net cash used in financing activities(617)(60)
Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash14 34 
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period191 205 
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period$205 239 
Supplemental cash flow information:
Income taxes paid, net$(23)(16)
Interest paid (net of capitalized interest of $8 and $8)$(182)(190)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash:
Cash and cash equivalents$154 233 
Cash and cash equivalents included in assets held for sale48 — 
Restricted cash included in Other current assets
Restricted cash included in Other, net noncurrent assets
Total$205 239 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
9


Table of Contents

LEVEL 3 PARENT, LLC
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF MEMBER'S EQUITY
(UNAUDITED)
Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
2021202020212020
(Dollars in millions)
MEMBER'S EQUITY
Balance at beginning of period$13,412 13,301 13,139 13,724 
Net income121 197 419 486 
Cumulative effect of adoption of ASU 2016-13, Measurement of Credit Losses, net of $2 tax
— — — (3)
Distributions— (400)(25)(1,118)
Other(1)(2)(1)
Balance at end of period13,532 13,096 13,532 13,096 
ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
Balance at beginning of period(242)(399)(234)(179)
Other comprehensive (loss) income(93)41 (101)(179)
Balance at end of period(335)(358)(335)(358)
TOTAL MEMBER'S EQUITY$13,197 12,738 13,197 12,738 

Three Months Ended June 30,Six Months Ended June 30,
2022202120222021
(Dollars in millions)
MEMBER'S EQUITY
Balance at beginning of period$13,264 13,290 13,360 13,139 
Net income97 147 211 298 
Distributions(343)(25)(553)(25)
Balance at end of period13,018 13,412 13,018 13,412 
ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
Balance at beginning of period(282)(322)(351)(234)
Other comprehensive (loss) income(184)80 (115)(8)
Balance at end of period(466)(242)(466)(242)
TOTAL MEMBER'S EQUITY$12,552 13,170 $12,552 13,170 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
10


Table of Contents

LEVEL 3 PARENT, LLC
Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements
(UNAUDITED)

Unless the context requires otherwise, references in this report to "Level 3," “we,” “us,” "its," the “Company” and “our”, refer to Level 3 Parent, LLC and its predecessor, Level 3 Communications, Inc. and their respective subsidiaries. References to "Lumen Technologies" or "Lumen" refer to our ultimate parent company, Lumen Technologies, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.

(1) Background

General

We are an international facilities-based technology communications provider (that is, a provider that owns or leases a substantial portion of the property, plant and equipment necessary to provide our services) of a broad range of integrated communications services. We created our communications network by constructing our own assets and through a combination of purchasing other companies and purchasing or leasing facilities from others. We designed our network to provide communications services that employ and take advantage of rapidly improving underlying optical, Internet Protocol, computing and storage technologies.

Basis of Presentation

Our consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2020,2021, which was derived from our audited consolidated financial statements, and our unaudited interim consolidated financial statements provided herein have been prepared in accordance with the instructions for Form 10-Q. Certain information and footnotenote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") have been condensed or omitted pursuant to rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). However, in our opinion, the disclosures made therein are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. We believe these consolidated financial statements include all normal recurring adjustments necessary to fairly present the results for the interim periods. The consolidated results of operations and cash flows for the first ninesix months of the year are not necessarily indicative of the consolidated results of operations and cash flows that might be expected for the entire year. These consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.2021.

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include our accounts and the accounts of our subsidiaries in which we have a controlling interest. Intercompany amounts and transactions with our consolidated subsidiaries have been eliminated. Transactions with our non-consolidated affiliates (Lumen Technologies and its other subsidiaries, referred to herein as affiliates) have not been eliminated. Due to exchange restrictions and other conditions, effective at the end of the third quarter of 2015 we deconsolidated our Venezuelan subsidiary and began accounting for our investment in our Venezuelan subsidiary using the cost method of accounting. The factors that led to our conclusions at the end of the third quarter of 2015 continued to exist through the third quarter of 2021.

We reclassified certain prior period amounts to conform to the current period presentation, including our revenue by product and service categories. See Note 4—Revenue Recognition for additional information. These changes had no impact on total operating revenue, total operating expenses or net income for any period.

Operating lease assets are included in other, net under goodwill and other assets on our consolidated balance sheets. Other, net included affiliate operating lease assets of $243$418 million and $83$294 million as of SeptemberJune 30, 20212022 and December 31, 2020,2021, respectively. Additionally, current operating lease liabilities included the current portion of affiliate operating lease liabilities of $67$112 million and $31$82 million as of SeptemberJune 30, 20212022 and December 31, 2020,2021, respectively, and operating lease liabilities included the noncurrent portion of affiliate operating lease liabilities of $187$317 million and $65$224 million as of SeptemberJune 30, 20212022 and December 31, 2020,2021, respectively.

11


Table of Contents

Segments

Our operations are integrated into and reported as part of Lumen Technologies. Lumen's chief operating decision maker ("CODM") is our CODM, but reviews our financial information on an aggregate basis only in connection with our quarterly and annual reports that we file with the SEC. Consequently, we do not provide our discrete financial information to the CODM on a regular basis. As such, we have determined that we have 1 reportable segment.

11


Table of Contents

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Refer to the significant accounting policies described in Note 1 — Background and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies to the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes in Part II, Item 8 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.

Assets Held for Sale

We classify assets and related liabilities as held for sale when: (i) management has committed to a plan to sell the assets, (ii) the net assets are available for immediate sale, (iii) there is an active program to locate a buyer and (iv) the sale and transfer of the net assets is probable within one year. Assets and liabilities held for sale are presented separately on our consolidated balance sheets with a valuation allowance, if necessary, to recognize the net carrying amount at the lower of cost or fair value, less costs to sell. Depreciation of property, plant and equipment and amortization of finite-lived intangible assets and right-of-use assets are not recorded while these assets are classified as held for sale. For each period that assets are classified as being held for sale, they are tested for recoverability. Unless otherwise specified, the amounts and information in the notes presented do not include assets and liabilities that have been reclassified as held for sale as of September 30, 2021. See Note 2—Planned Divestiture of the Latin American Business for additional information.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

Government Assistance

On January 1, 2022, we adopted Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2021-10, "Government Assistance (Topic 832): Disclosures by Business Entities about Government Assistance” (“ASU 2020-10”). This ASU increases transparency in financial reporting by requiring business entities to disclose information about certain types of government assistance they receive. The ASU only impacts annual financial statement note disclosures. Therefore, the adoption of ASU 2021-10 did not have a material impact to our consolidated financial statements.

Leases

On January 1, 2022, we adopted ASU 2021-05, “Leases (Topic 842): Lessors—Certain Leases with Variable Lease Payments” (“ASU 2021-05”). This ASU (i) amends the lease classification requirements for lessors to align them with practice under ASC Topic 840, (ii) provides criteria for lessors to classify and account for a lease with variable lease payments that do not depend on a reference index or a rate as an operating lease; and (iii) provides guidance with respect to net investments by lessors under operating leases and other related topics. The adoption of ASU 2021-05 did not have a material impact to our consolidated financial statements.

Debt

On January 1, 2021, we adopted ASU 2020-09, "Debt (Topic 470) Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to SEC Release No. 33-10762" ("” (“ASU 2020-09"2020-09”). This ASU amends and supersedes various SEC paragraphsguidance to reflect SEC Release No. 33-10762, which includes amendments to the financial disclosure requirements applicable to registered debt offerings that include credit enhancements, such as subsidiary guarantees. The adoption of ASU 2020-09 did not have a material impact to our consolidated financial statements.

Investments

On January 1, 2021, we adopted ASU 2020-01, "Investments - Investments—Equity Securities (Topic 321), Investments - Investments—Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323), and Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815) - Clarifying the Interactions between Topic 321, Topic 323, and Topic 815)" ("ASU 2020-01"2020-01”). This ASU, among other things, clarifies that a company should consider observable transactions that require a company to either apply or discontinue the equity method of accounting under Topic 323, Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures, for the purposes of applying the measurement alternative in accordance with Topic 321 immediately before applying or upon discontinuing the equity method. As of SeptemberJune 30, 2021,2022, we determined there was no application or discontinuation of the equity method during the reporting periods.periods covered by this report. The adoption of ASU 2020-01 did not have ana material impact to our consolidated financial statements.

Income Taxes

On January 1, 2021, we adopted ASU 2019-12, "Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (Topic 740)Taxes”" (" (“ASU 2019-12"2019-12”). This.This ASU removes certain exceptions for investments, intra-period allocations and interim calculations, and adds guidance to reduce complexity in accounting for income taxes. The adoption of ASU 2019-12 did not have a material impact to our consolidated financial statements.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In March 2022, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued ASU 2022-02, “Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Troubled Debt Restructurings (“TDR”) and Vintage Disclosures” (“ASU 2022-02”). These amendments eliminate the TDR recognition and measurement guidance, enhance existing disclosure requirements and introduce new requirements related to certain modifications of receivables made to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty. ASU 2020-02 will become effective for us in the first quarter of fiscal 2023 and early adoption is permitted. As of June 30, 2022, we do not expect ASU 2022-02 to have an impact to our consolidated financial statements.

12


Table of Contents

MeasurementIn March 2022, the FASB issued ASU 2022-01, “Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Fair Value Hedging-Portfolio Layer Method” (ASU 2022-01). The ASU expands the current single-layer method to allow multiple hedged layers of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments

We adopteda single closed portfolio under the method. ASU 2016-13, "Measurement2020-01 will become effective for us in the first quarter of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments" ("fiscal 2023 and early adoption is permitted. As of June 30, 2022, we do not expect ASU 2016-13") on January 1, 2020 and recognized a cumulative adjustment2022-01 to have an impact to our accumulated deficit as of the date of adoption of $3 million, net of tax effect of $2 million. Please refer to Note 6—Credit Losses on Financial Instruments for more information.consolidated financial statements.


Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In March 2020,October 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04,2021-08, “Business Combinations (Topic 805): Accounting for Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities from Contracts with Customers” (“ASU 2021-08”), which requires entities to apply Topic 606 to recognize and measure contract assets and contract liabilities in a business combination. ASU 2021-08 will become effective for us in the first quarter of fiscal 2023 and early adoption is permitted. As of June 30, 2022, we do not expect ASU 2021-08 to have an impact to our consolidated financial statements.

In January 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-01, "Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial ReportingScope"" ("ASU 2020-04" or "Reference Rate Reform"2021-01"), designed to ease the burden of accountingwhich clarifies that certain optional expedients and exceptions in Topic 848 for contract modifications relatedand hedge accounting apply to derivatives that are affected by the global market-wide reference rate transition period. Subject to certain criteria,discounting transition. ASU 2020-04 provides qualifying entities2021-01 also amends the option to apply expedients and exceptions in Topic 848 to contract modificationscapture the incremental consequences of the scope clarification and hedging accounting relationships made until December 31, 2022.to tailor the existing guidance to derivative instruments affected by the discounting transition. These amendments are effective immediately and may be applied prospectively to contract modifications made and hedging relationships entered into or evaluated on or before December 31, 2022. ASU 2020-042021-01 provides optionaloption guidance for a limited time to ease the potential burden in accounting for reference rate reform. Based on our review of our key material contracts through SeptemberJune 30, 2021,2022, we do not expect ASU 2020-042021-01 to have anya material impact on theto our consolidated financial statements.

(2) PlannedRecently Completed Divestiture of the Latin American Business

On July 25, 2021,August 1, 2022, affiliates of Level 3 Parent, LLC, executedan indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Lumen Technologies, Inc., closed the sale of Lumen's Latin American business pursuant to a definitive agreement to divest our Latin American business to an affiliate of a fund advised by Stonepeak Partners LP in exchangedated July 25, 2021. See Note 11—Subsequent Events for $2.7 billion cash, subject to certain working capital and other purchase price adjustments and related transaction expenses (estimated to be approximately $50 million). We expect to close the transaction in the first half of 2022, upon receipt of all requisite regulatory approvals in the U.S. and certain countries where the Latin American business operates, as well as the satisfaction of other customary conditions.

The actual amount of our net after-tax proceeds fromadditional information regarding this divestiture could vary substantially from the amounts we currently estimate, particularly if we experience delays in completing the transaction or if there are changes in other assumptions that impact our estimates.divestiture.

We do not believe this divestiture transaction represents a strategic shift for Level 3. Therefore, the Latin American business does not meet the criteria to be classified as a discontinued operation. As a result, we will continue to report our operating results for the Latin American business in our consolidated operating results untilthrough the transaction is closed.disposal date. The pre-tax net income of the Latin American business is estimated to be as follows in the table below:

Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
2021202020212020
LowHighLowHighLowHighLowHigh
(Dollars in millions)
Pre-tax net income$59 72 36 45 $131 160 108 131 
Three Months Ended June 30,Six Months Ended June 30,
2022202120222021
(Dollars in millions)
Pre-tax net income$95 47 178 75 

As of SeptemberJune 30, 20212022 in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, the assets and liabilities of our Latin American business (the "disposal group") are classified as held for sale and are measured at the lower of (i) the carrying value when we classifiedof the disposal group as held for sale and (ii) the fair value of the disposal group less costs to sell. Effective with the designation of the disposal group as held for sale on July 25, 2021, we suspended recording depreciation of property, plant and equipment and amortization of finite-lived intangible assets and right-of-use assets are not recorded while these assets are classified as held for sale. We estimate that we would have recorded an additional $26$48 million and $97 million of depreciation, intangible amortization, and amortization of right-of use assets for the three and ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20212022, respectively if the Latin American business did not meet the held for sale criteria.

13


Table of Contents

As a result of our evaluation of the recoverability of the carrying value of the assets and liabilities held for sale relative to the agreed upon sales price, adjusted for costs to sell, we did not record any estimated loss on disposal during the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2021. The2022. We re-evaluate the recoverability of the disposal group will be evaluated each reporting period untilthrough the closingdisposal date. For information on the August 1, 2022 disposal of the transaction.Latin American business, see Note 11—Subsequent Events.

13


Table of Contents

The principal components of the held for sale assets and liabilities as ofSeptember 30, 2021 the dates below are as follows:

September 30, 2021
(Dollars in millions)
Assets held for sale
Cash and cash equivalents$36 
Accounts receivable, less allowance of $383 
Other current assets75 
Property, plant and equipment, net accumulated depreciation of $4451,545 
Goodwill (1)
718 
Customer relationships and other intangibles, net129 
Other non-current assets71 
Total assets held for sale$2,657 
Liabilities held for sale
Accounts payable$76 
Salaries and benefits22 
Income and other taxes32 
Current portion of deferred revenue28 
Other current liabilities10 
Deferred income taxes, net116 
Other non-current liabilities128 
Total liabilities held for sale$412 
______________________________________________________________________
June 30, 2022December 31, 2021
(Dollars in millions)
Assets held for sale
Cash and cash equivalents$48 39 
Accounts receivable, less allowance of $2 and $394 83 
Other current assets79 81 
Property, plant and equipment, net accumulated depreciation of $431 and $4341,714 1,591 
Goodwill (1)
720 713 
Customer relationships and other intangibles, net130 126 
Other non-current assets80 75 
Total assets held for sale$2,865 2,708 
Liabilities held for sale
Accounts payable$110 101 
Salaries and benefits21 23 
Income and other taxes37 27 
Current portion of deferred revenue27 26 
Other current liabilities
Deferred income taxes, net149 129 
Other non-current liabilities128 122 
Total liabilities held for sale$479 435 

(1)    The assignment of goodwill was based on the relative fair value of the disposal group compared toand the fair valueportion of the total Company prior to being reclassified as held for sale.remaining reporting unit.

(3) Goodwill, Customer Relationships and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill, customer relationships and other intangible assets consisted of the following:
September 30, 2021December 31, 2020
(Dollars in millions)
Goodwill$6,667 7,405 
Customer relationships, less accumulated amortization of $2,617 and $2,246$5,487 6,156 
Capitalized software, less accumulated amortization of $322 and $256387 401 
Trade names, less accumulated amortization of $98 and $8333 48 
Total other intangible assets, net$5,907 6,605 
June 30, 2022December 31, 2021
(Dollars in millions)
Goodwill$6,627 6,666 
Customer relationships, less accumulated amortization of $3,096 and $2,779$4,977 5,325 
Capitalized software, less accumulated amortization of $368 and $349401 378 
Trade names, less accumulated amortization of $122 and $10922 
Total other intangible assets, net$5,387 5,725 

Our goodwill was derived from Lumen's acquisition of us where the purchase price exceeded the fair value of the net assets acquired.

14


Table of Contents

We assess our goodwill for impairment annually, or under certain circumstances, more frequently, such as when events or changes in circumstances indicate there may be impairment. We are required to write down the value of goodwill only when our assessment determines the carrying value of equity of our reporting unit exceeds its fair value. Our annual impairment assessment date for goodwill is October 31, at which date we assess goodwill at our reporting unit. In reviewing the criteria for reporting units, we have determined that we are 1 reporting unit.

The reclassification of held for sale assets, as described in Note 2—Planned Divestiture of the Latin American Business, was considered an event or change in circumstance which required an assessment of our goodwill for impairment as of July 31, 2021. We performed a pre-reclassification goodwill impairment test to determine whether there was an impairment prior to the reclassification and to determine the July 31, 2021 fair values to be utilized for goodwill allocation to the disposal group to be reclassified as assets held for sale. We concluded it is more likely than not that the fair value of our reporting unit exceeded the carrying value of equity of our reporting unit at July 31, 2021. We also performed a post-reclassification goodwill impairment test using our estimated post-divestiture cash flows and carrying value of equity to evaluate whether the fair value of our reporting unit that will remain following the divestiture exceeds the carrying value of the equity of the reporting unit after reclassification of assets held for sale.
14


At July 31, 2021, we estimated the fair value of equity by considering both a market approach and a discounted cash flow methodology. The market approach includes the use of comparable multiples of publicly traded companies whose services are comparable to ours. The discounted cash flow methodology is based on the present value of projected cash flows and a terminal value equal to the present value of all normalized cash flows after the projection period. As of July 31, 2021, based on our assessment performed, the estimated fair value of our equity exceeded our carrying value of equity by approximately 17%. We concluded that we did not have any impairment as of July 31, 2021.

Table of Contents

The following table shows the rollforward of goodwill from December 31, 20202021 through SeptemberJune 30, 2021:2022:
(Dollars in millions)
As of December 31, 20202021 (1)
$7,405 
Reclassified as held for sale (2)
(718)6,666 
Effect of foreign currency exchange rate changes(20)(39)
As of SeptemberJune 30, 2021 2022(1)
$6,6676,627 

(1)Goodwill at SeptemberJune 30, 20212022 and December 31, 20202021 is net of accumulated impairment loss of $3.6 billion and $3.7 billion, respectively. The change in accumulated impairment losses at September 30, 2021 is a result of amounts reclassified to held for sale related to our planned divestiture.
(2)Represents the amount of goodwill, net of accumulated impairment loss reclassified as held for sale related to our planned divestiture. See Note 2—Planned Divestiture of the Latin American Business.billion.

Total amortization expense for finite-lived intangible assets for both the three months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2022 and 2021 totaled $186 million and 2020 totaled $210$216 million, respectively, and for the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2022 and 2021, and 2020 totaled $637$378 million and $626$427 million, respectively. As of SeptemberJune 30, 2021,2022, the gross carrying amount of goodwill, customer relationships, capitalized software, indefinite-life and other intangible assets was $15.6 billion.
15


Table of Contents


We estimate that total amortization expense for intangible assets for the years ending December 31, 20212022 through 20252026 will be as provided in the table below. As a result of reclassifying our disposal groupLatin American business as being held for sale on our SeptemberJune 30, 20212022 consolidated balance sheet, the amounts presented below do not include the future amortization of the intangible assets for the disposal group.business to be divested. See Note 2—PlannedRecently Completed Divestiture of the Latin American Business for more information.
(Dollars in millions)(Dollars in millions)
2021 (remaining three months)$200 
2022736 
2022 (remaining six months)2022 (remaining six months)$367 
20232023708 2023716 
20242024704 2024712 
20252025689 2025687 
20262026643 

(4) Revenue Recognition

Beginning in the first quarter of 2021, weWe categorize our products and services and related revenue among the following categories:
Compute and Application Services, which include our Edge Cloud services, IT solutions, Unified Communications and Collaboration ("UC&C"), data center, content delivery network ("CDN") and Managed Securitymanaged security services;
IP and Data Services, which include Ethernet, IP, and VPN data networks, including software-defined wide area networks ("SD WAN") based services, Dynamic Connections and Hyper WAN;
Fiber Infrastructure Services, which include dark fiber, optical services and equipment;
Voice and Other, which include Time Division Multiplexing ("TDM") voice, private line and other legacy services; and
Affiliate Services, which include communications services provided to our affiliates that we also provide to our external customers.
15


Disaggregated Revenue by Service Offering

The following tables providetable provides disaggregation of revenue from contracts with customers based on service offering for the three and ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20212022 and 2020.2021. It also shows the amount of revenue that is not subject to ASC 606, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers" ("ASC 606"), but is instead governed by other accounting standards:
Three Months Ended September 30, 2021Three Months Ended September 30, 2020Three Months Ended June 30, 2022Three Months Ended June 30, 2021
Total Revenue
Adjustments for Non-ASC 606 Revenue (1)
Total Revenue from Contracts with CustomersTotal Revenue
Adjustments for Non-ASC 606 Revenue (1)
Total Revenue from Contracts with CustomersTotal Revenue
Adjustments for Non-ASC 606 Revenue(1)
Total Revenue from Contracts with CustomersTotal Revenue
Adjustments for Non-ASC 606 Revenue(1)
Total Revenue from Contracts with Customers
(Dollars in millions)(Dollars in millions)
Compute and Application ServicesCompute and Application Services$287 (126)161 274 (124)150 Compute and Application Services$283 (126)157 283 (127)156 
IP and Data ServicesIP and Data Services890 — 890 878 — 878 IP and Data Services883 — 883 888 — 888 
Fiber Infrastructure ServicesFiber Infrastructure Services412 (56)356 379 (55)324 Fiber Infrastructure Services403 (57)346 401 (55)346 
Voice and OtherVoice and Other345 (3)342 387 (2)385 Voice and Other327 (4)323 357 (3)354 
Affiliate ServicesAffiliate Services56 (56)— 53 (53)— Affiliate Services57 (57)— 56 (56)— 
Total revenueTotal revenue$1,990 (241)1,749 1,971 (234)1,737 Total revenue$1,953 (244)1,709 1,985 (241)1,744 

16


Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020Six Months Ended June 30, 2022Six Months Ended June 30, 2021
Total Revenue
Adjustments for Non-ASC 606 Revenue (1)
Total Revenue from Contracts with CustomersTotal Revenue
Adjustments for Non-ASC 606 Revenue (1)
Total Revenue from Contracts with CustomersTotal Revenue
Adjustments for Non-ASC 606 Revenue (1)
Total Revenue from Contracts with CustomersTotal Revenue
Adjustments for Non-ASC 606 Revenue (1)
Total Revenue from Contracts with Customers
(Dollars in millions)(Dollars in millions)
Compute and Application ServicesCompute and Application Services$850 (380)470 814 (371)443 Compute and Application Services$560 (254)306 563 (254)309 
IP and Data ServicesIP and Data Services2,659 — 2,659 2,639 — 2,639 IP and Data Services1,769 — 1,769 1,769 — 1,769 
Fiber Infrastructure ServicesFiber Infrastructure Services1,210 (164)1,046 1,116 (157)959 Fiber Infrastructure Services794 (111)683 798 (108)690 
Voice and OtherVoice and Other1,078 (8)1,070 1,213 (6)1,207 Voice and Other663 (8)655 733 (5)728 
Affiliate ServicesAffiliate Services167 (167)— 153 (153)— Affiliate Services113 (113)— 111 (111)— 
Total revenueTotal revenue$5,964 (719)5,245 5,935 (687)5,248 Total revenue$3,899 (486)3,413 3,974 (478)3,496 

(1) Includes lease revenue which is not within the scope of ASC 606.

Operating Lease Income

We lease various dark fiber, office facilities, colocation facilities, switching facilities, other network sites and service equipment to third parties under operating leases. Lease and sublease revenue are included in operating revenue in our consolidated statements of operations.

For the three months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20212022 and 2020,2021, our gross rental income was $202$203 million and $197$202 million, respectively, which represents approximately 10% of our operating revenue for both periods. For the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20212022 and 2020,2021, our gross rental income was $601$406 million and $565$399 million, respectively, which represents approximately 10% of our operating revenue for both periods.
16



Customer Receivables and Contract Balances

The following table provides balances of customer receivables, contract assets and contract liabilities, net of amounts reclassified as held for sale as of SeptemberJune 30, 20212022 and December 31, 2020:2021:
September 30, 2021December 31, 2020June 30, 2022December 31, 2021
(Dollars in millions)(Dollars in millions)
Customer receivables (1) (2)
$618 683 
Customer receivables (1)
Customer receivables (1)
$577 640 
Contract assets (3)(2)
Contract assets (3)(2)
32 38 
Contract assets (3)(2)
33 35 
Contract liabilities (4)(3)
Contract liabilities (4)(3)
259 385 
Contract liabilities (4)(3)
254 247 

(1)Reflects gross customer receivables of $657$614 million and $728$679 million, net of allowance for credit losses of $37 million and $39 million, and $45 million, at SeptemberJune 30, 20212022 and December 31, 2020,2021, respectively.
(2)As of SeptemberJune 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, amount excludesthese amounts exclude customer receivables reclassified as held for sale of $82 million.$94 million and $83 million respectively.
(3)(2)As of SeptemberJune 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, no amounts have been reclassified as held for sale.
(4)(3)As of SeptemberJune 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, amount excludesamounts exclude contract liabilities reclassified as held for sale of $62 million.$59 million and $58 million respectively.

17


Contract liabilities are consideration we have received from our customers or billed in advance of providing the goods or services promised in the future. We defer recognizing this consideration until we have satisfied the related performance obligation to the customer. Contract liabilities include recurring services billed one month in advance and installation and maintenance charges that are deferred and recognized over the actual or expected contract term, which typically ranges from one to five years depending on the service. Contract liabilities are included within deferred revenue and liabilities held for sale in our consolidated balance sheets. During the three and ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2021,2022, we recognized $30$23 million and $151$108 million, respectively, of revenue that was included in contract liabilities of $305 million as of January 1, 2021.2022, including contract liabilities that were classified as held for sale. During the three and ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2020,2021, we recognized $29$28 million and $158$121 million, respectively, of revenue that was included in contract liabilities of $385 million as of January 1, 2020.2021.

Performance Obligations

As of SeptemberJune 30, 2021, our estimated2022, we expect to recognize approximately $3.7 billion of revenue expected to be recognized in the future related to performance obligations associated with existing customer contracts that are partially or wholly unsatisfied is approximately $3.6 billion.unsatisfied. We expect to recognize approximately 85%84% of this revenue through 2023,2024, with the balance recognized thereafter.

These amounts exclude (i) the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for contracts for which we recognize revenue at the amount to which we have the right to invoice for services performed (for example, uncommitted usage or non-recurring charges associated with professional or technical services to be completed), (ii) contracts that are classified as leasing arrangements that are not subject to ASC 606 and (iii) the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for contracts which relate to our recently completed divestiture.

17


Contract Costs

The following tables providetable provides changes in our contract acquisition costs and fulfillment costs:
Three Months Ended September 30, 2021Three Months Ended September 30, 2020Three Months Ended June 30, 2022Three Months Ended June 30, 2021
Acquisition CostsFulfillment CostsAcquisition CostsFulfillment CostsAcquisition Costs
Fulfillment Costs (1)
Acquisition CostsFulfillment Costs
(Dollars in millions)(Dollars in millions)
Beginning of period balanceBeginning of period balance$75 124 77 122 Beginning of period balance$77 100 75 123 
Costs incurredCosts incurred15 22 14 21 Costs incurred14 22 15 23 
AmortizationAmortization(14)(21)(15)(22)Amortization(13)(20)(15)(22)
Reclassified as held for sale (1)
— (27)— — 
Change in contract costs held for sale (1)
Change in contract costs held for sale (1)
— (1)— — 
End of period balanceEnd of period balance$76 98 76 121 End of period balance$78 101 75 124 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020Six Months Ended
June 30, 2022
Six Months Ended
June 30, 2021
Acquisition CostsFulfillment CostsAcquisition CostsFulfillment CostsAcquisition Costs
Fulfillment Costs (1)
Acquisition CostsFulfillment Costs
(Dollars in millions)(Dollars in millions)
Beginning of period balanceBeginning of period balance$78 122 79 121 Beginning of period balance$76 99 78 122 
Costs incurredCosts incurred44 68 44 65 Costs incurred29 43 29 46 
AmortizationAmortization(46)(65)(47)(65)Amortization(27)(40)(32)(44)
Reclassified as held for sale (1)
— (27)— — 
Change in contract costs held for sale (1)
Change in contract costs held for sale (1)
— (1)— — 
End of period balanceEnd of period balance$76 98 76 121 End of period balance$78 101 75 124 
(1)RepresentsThe beginning balance for both the amountsthree and six months ended June 30, 2022 excluded fulfillment costs reclassified as held for sale related to our planned divestiture. See Note 2—Planned Divestiture of the Latin American Business.$27 million, respectively. The ending balance for June 30, 2022 excluded fulfillment costs reclassified as held for sale of $28 million.

18


Acquisition costs include commission fees paid to employees as a result of obtaining contracts. Fulfillment costs include third party and internal costs associated with the provision, installation and activation of services to customers, including labor and materials consumed for these activities.

Deferred acquisition and fulfillment costs are amortized based on the transfer of services on a straight-line basis over the average expected customercontract life of approximately 3034 months for our business customers. Amortized fulfillment costs are included in cost of services and products, and amortized acquisition costs are included in selling, general and administrative expenses in our consolidated statements of operations. The amount of these deferred costs that are anticipated to be amortized in the next 12 months are included in other current assets on our consolidated balance sheets. The amount of deferred costs expected to be amortized beyond 12 months is included in other non-current assets on our consolidated balance sheets. Deferred acquisition and fulfillment costs are assessed for impairment on an annual basis.

18
(5) Leases


We primarily lease to or from third parties various office facilities and colocation facilities, equipment and dark fiber. Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet; we recognize lease expense for these leases on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

During the third quarter of 2021, we rationalized our lease footprint and ceased using 13 leased property locations that were underutilized. We determined that we no longer needed the leased space and, due to the limited remaining term on the contracts, concluded that we had neither the intent nor ability to sublease the properties. For the both the three and nine month periods ending September 30, 2021, we incurred accelerated lease costs of approximately $15 million. In conjunction with our plans to continue to reduce costs, we expect to continue our real estate rationalization efforts and may incur additional costs in future periods.

(6)(5) Credit Losses on Financial Instruments

In accordance with ASC 326, "Financial Instruments - Credit Losses," we aggregate financial assets with similar risk characteristics to align our expected credit losses with the credit quality or deterioration over the life of such assets. We periodically monitor certain risk characteristics within our aggregated financial assets and revise their composition accordingly, to the extent internal and external risk factors change each reporting period. Financialchange. We separately evaluate financial assets that do not share risk characteristics with other financial assets are evaluated separately.assets. Our financial assets measured at amortized cost primarily consist of accounts receivable.

We use a loss rate method to estimate our allowance for credit losses. Our determination of the current expected credit loss rate begins with our usereview of historical loss experience as a percentage of accounts receivable. We measure our historical loss period based on the average days to recognize accounts receivable as credit losses. When asset specific characteristics and current conditions change from those in the historical period, due to changes in our credit and collections strategy, certain classes of aged balances, or credit loss and recovery policies, we perform a qualitative and quantitative assessment to adjust our historical loss rate. We use regression analysis to develop an expected loss rate using historical experience and economic data over a forecast period. We measure our forecast period based on the average days to collect payment on billed accounts receivable. To determine our current allowance for credit losses, we combine the historical and expected credit loss rates and apply them to our period end accounts receivable.

If there is aan unexpected deterioration of a customer's financial condition or if future default ratesan unexpected change in general differ from currently anticipated default rates (including changes caused by COVID-19),economic conditions, including macroeconomic events, we mayassess the need to adjust the allowance for credit losses, whichlosses. Any such resulting adjustments would affect earnings in the period that adjustments are made.

The assessment of the correlation between historical observed default rates, current conditions and forecasted economic conditions requires judgment. Alternative interpretations of these factors could have resulted in different conclusions regarding the allowance for credit losses. The amount of credit loss is sensitive to changes in circumstances and forecasted economic conditions. Our historical credit loss experience, current conditions and forecast of economic conditions may also not be representative of the customers' actual default experience in the future.future and we may use methodologies that differ from those used by other companies.

19


The following table presents the activity of our allowance for credit losses for our accounts receivable portfolio:
(Dollars in millions)
Beginning balance at December 31, 20202021$4539 
Provision for expected losses147 
Write-offs charged against the allowance(21)(12)
Recoveries collected42 
Reclassified asChange in allowance in assets held for sale (1)
(3)
Ending balance at SeptemberJune 30, 20212022$3937 
(1)Represents the amounts reclassifiedAs of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, amount excludes allowance for credit losses classified as held for sale related to our planned divestiture.of $2 million and $3 million, respectively. See Note 2—PlannedRecently Completed Divestiture of the Latin American Business.

19
(7)


(6) Long-Term Debt

The following chart reflects our consolidated long-term debt, including finance leases and other obligations, unamortized discounts and premiums, net and unamortized debt issuance costs, but excluding intercompany debt:
Interest Rates (1)
Maturities (1)
September 30, 2021December 31, 2020
Interest Rates (1)
Maturities (1)
June 30, 2022December 31, 2021
(Dollars in millions)(Dollars in millions)
Level 3 Financing, Inc.Level 3 Financing, Inc.Level 3 Financing, Inc.
Senior Secured Debt: (2)
Senior Secured Debt: (2)
Senior Secured Debt: (2)
Senior notesSenior notes3.400% - 3.875%2027 - 2029$1,500 1,500 Senior notes3.400% - 3.875%2027 - 2029$1,500 1,500 
Tranche B 2027 Term Loan (3) (5)
LIBOR + 1.75%20273,111 3,111 
Tranche B 2027 Term Loan (3)
Tranche B 2027 Term Loan (3)
LIBOR + 1.75%20273,111 3,111 
Senior Notes and other debt:Senior Notes and other debt:Senior Notes and other debt:
Senior notes (4)
Senior notes (4)
3.625% - 5.375%2025 - 20295,515 5,515 
Senior notes (4)
3.625% - 5.375%2025 - 20295,515 5,515 
Finance leases and other obligationsFinance leases and other obligationsVariousVarious323 255 Finance leases and other obligationsVariousVarious308 319 
Unamortized premiums, netUnamortized premiums, net36 60 Unamortized premiums, net30 34 
Unamortized debt issuance costsUnamortized debt issuance costs(59)(54)Unamortized debt issuance costs(53)(57)
Total long-term debtTotal long-term debt10,426 10,387 Total long-term debt10,411 10,422 
Less current maturitiesLess current maturities(24)(14)Less current maturities(28)(26)
Long-term debt, excluding current maturitiesLong-term debt, excluding current maturities$10,402 10,373 Long-term debt, excluding current maturities$10,383 10,396 

(1)As of SeptemberJune 30, 2021.2022.
(2)See Note 6—7—Long-Term Debt in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 20202021 for a description of certain parent or subsidiary guarantees and liens securing this debt.
(3)The Tranche B 2027 Term Loan had an interest rate of 1.835% at September3.416% and 1.854% as of June 30, 20212022 and 1.897% at December 31, 2020.2021, respectively.
(4)This debt is fully and unconditionally guaranteed by certain affiliates of Level 3 Financing, Inc., including Level 3 Parent, LLC and Level 3 Communications, LLC.
(5)See Note 1— Background for our considerations of the impact of Reference Rate Reform on our debt subject to rate reference changes from LIBOR.
20


New Issuances

On January 13, 2021, Level 3 Financing, Inc. issued $900 million aggregate principal amounts of its 3.750% Sustainability-Linked Senior Notes due 2029 (the "Sustainability-Linked Notes"). The net proceeds were used, together with cash on hand, to redeem certain of its outstanding senior note indebtedness. See "—Redemption of Senior Notes" below. The Sustainability-Linked Notes are guaranteed by Level 3 Parent, LLC and Level 3 Communications, LLC.

Redemption of Senior Notes

On February 12, 2021, Level 3 Financing, Inc. redeemed all $900 million aggregate principal amount of its outstanding 5.375% Senior Notes due 2024. This transaction resulted in a gain of $16 million.

Long-Term Debt Maturities

Set forth below is the aggregate principal amount of our long-term debt as of SeptemberJune 30, 20212022 (excluding unamortized premiums, net, and unamortized debt issuance costs)costs, and intercompany debt), maturing during the following years.
(Dollars in millions)
2021 (remaining three months)$
202224 
202327 
202432 
2025837 
2026 and thereafter9,522 
Total long-term debt$10,449 
years:

(Dollars in millions)
2022 (remaining six months)$17 
202327 
202432 
2025838 
2026811 
2027 and thereafter8,709 
Total long-term debt$10,434 
20


Covenants

The term loan and senior notes of Level 3 Financing, Inc. contain extensive affirmative and negative covenants. Such covenants include, among other things and subject to certain significant exceptions, restrictions on their ability to declare or pay dividends, repay certain other indebtedness, create liens, incur additional indebtedness, make investments, engage in transactions with their affiliates including Lumen Technologies and its other subsidiaries, dispose of assets and merge or consolidate with any other person. Also, in connection with a "change of control" of Level 3 Parent, LLC, or Level 3 Financing, Inc., Level 3 Financing will be required to offer to repurchase or repay certain of its long-term debt at a price of 101% of the principal amount of debt repurchased or repaid, plus accrued and unpaid interest.

Certain of Lumen's and our debt instruments contain cross-payment default or cross-acceleration provisions.

Compliance

As of SeptemberJune 30, 2021,2022, we believe we were in compliance with the provisions and financial covenants contained in our material debt agreements in all material respects.

21


(8)Property, Plant and Equipment

Net property, plant and equipment is composed of the following:
September 30, 2021December 31, 2020
(Dollars in millions)
Land$305 320 
Fiber conduit and other outside plant (1)
5,495 6,186 
Central office and other network electronics (2)
3,185 3,388 
Support assets (3)
2,480 2,722 
Construction-in-progress (4)
544 720 
Gross property, plant and equipment12,009 13,336 
Accumulated depreciation(2,998)(2,818)
Net property, plant and equipment$9,011 10,518 
_______________________________________________________________________________
(1)Fiber, conduit and other outside plant consists of fiber and metallic cable, conduit, poles and other supporting structures.
(2)Central office and other network electronics consists of circuit and packet switches, routers, transmission electronics and electronics providing service to customers.
(3)Support assets consist of buildings, data centers, computers and other administrative and support equipment.
(4)Construction in progress includes construction and property of the aforementioned categories that has not been placed in service as it is still under construction.

As of September 30, 2021, we classified certain property, plant and equipment as held for sale and discontinued recording depreciation on the disposal group. See Note 2—Planned Divestiture of the Latin American Business for more information.

We recorded depreciation expense of $221 million and $667 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and $219 million and $624 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020.

(9)(7) Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Our financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable, note receivable-affiliate and long-term debt, excluding finance leaseleases and other obligations. Due to their short-term nature, the carrying amounts of our cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, note receivable-affiliate and accounts payable approximate their fair values.

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between independent and knowledgeable parties who are willing and able to transact for an asset or liability at the measurement date. We use valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when determining fair value and then we rank the estimated values based on the reliability of the inputs used following the fair value hierarchy.

We determined the fair values of our long-term debt, including the current portion, based primarily on inputs other than quoted market prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable such as discounted future cash flows using current market interest rates.

The three input levels in the hierarchy of fair value measurements are defined by the FASB are generally as follows:
Input LevelDescription of Input
Level 1Observable inputs such as quoted market prices in active markets.
Level 2Inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable.
Level 3Unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exists.
22


Table of Contents


The following table presents the carrying amounts and estimated fair values of our long-term debt, excluding finance leases,financial liabilities as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, as well as the input level used to determine the fair values indicated below:
September 30, 2021December 31, 2020
Input LevelCarrying AmountFair ValueCarrying AmountFair Value
(Dollars in millions)
Liabilities-Long-term debt, excluding finance leases2$10,103 10,208 10,132 10,340 
June 30, 2022December 31, 2021
Input LevelCarrying AmountFair ValueCarrying AmountFair Value
(Dollars in millions)
Liabilities-Long-term debt, excluding finance leases2$10,103 8,867 10,103 10,090 

21
(10)


Table of Contents

(8) Commitments, Contingencies and Other Items

We are subject to various claims, legal proceedings and other contingent liabilities, including the matters described below, which individually or in the aggregate could materially affect our financial condition, future results of operations or cash flows. As a matter of course, we are prepared to both litigate these matters to judgment as needed, as well as to evaluate and consider reasonable settlement opportunities.

Irrespective of its merits, litigation may be both lengthy and disruptive to our operations and could cause significant expenditure and diversion of management attention. We review our litigation accrual liabilities on a quarterly basis, but in accordance with applicable accounting guidelines only establish accrual liabilities when losses are deemed probable and reasonably estimable and only revise previously established accrual liabilities when warranted by changes in circumstances, in each case based on then-available information. As such, as of any given date we could have exposure to losses under proceedings as to which no liability has been accrued or as to which the accrued liability is inadequate. Amounts accrued for our litigation and non-income tax contingencies at SeptemberJune 30, 20212022 aggregated to approximately $40$44 million and are included in other current liabilities, other liabilities, andor liabilities held for sale in our consolidated balance sheet as of such date. The establishment of an accrual does not mean that actual funds have been set aside to satisfy a given contingency. Thus, the resolution of a particular contingency for the amount accrued could have no effect on our results of operations but nonetheless could have an adverse effect on our cash flows.

Telephone Consumer Protection Act Litigation

In December 2020, Lumen was named as a defendant in Diana Mey v. CenturyLink Communications, LLC, et al., an action pending in the US District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia alleging violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act for delivering unsolicited calls to her mobile phone. She asserts claims on behalf of herself and a putative class of similarly situated persons. The complaint seeks damages, statutory awards, costs and fees, and other relief. We are defending the claims asserted.

Peruvian Tax Litigation

In 2005, the Peruvian tax authorities ("SUNAT") issued tax assessments against 1 of our Peruvian subsidiaries asserting $26 million of additional income tax withholding and value-added taxes ("VAT"), penalties and interest for calendar years 2001 and 2002 on the basis that the Peruvian subsidiary incorrectly documented its importations. In May 2021, the Company paid the remaining amount on the fractioning regimes entered into by the Company to pay the amount assessed while it was appealed.

We challenged the assessments via administrative and then judicial review processes. In October 2011, the highest administrative review tribunal (the Tribunal) decided the central issue underlying the 2002 assessments in SUNAT's favor. We appealed the Tribunal's decision to the first judicial level, which decided the central issue in favor of Level 3. SUNAT and we filed cross-appeals with the court of appeal. In May 2017, the court of appeal issued a decision reversing the first judicial level. In June 2017, we filed an appeal of the decision to the Supreme Court of Justice, the final judicial level. Oral argument was held before the Supreme Court of Justice in October 2018. A decision on this case is pending.


In October 2013, the Tribunal decided the central issue underlying the 2001 assessments in SUNAT’s favor. We appealed that decision to the first judicial level in Peru, which decided the central issue in favor of SUNAT. In June 2017, we filed an appeal with the court of appeal.appeals. In November 2017, the court of appeals issued a decision affirming the first judicial level and we filed an appeal of thethat decision to the Supreme Court of Justice. Oral argument was held beforeIn May 2021, the Supreme Court of Justice issued its final decision in favor of the Company. The Company provided additional information to SUNAT regarding 2001 tax payments and, in June 2019. In May 2021,2022, SUNAT notified the Company was served with a favorable and finalof its decision fromregarding the Supreme Court of Justice.2001 refund amount. In July 2022, the Company appealed that decision to the Tax Court. The Company expects an order for SUNAT to comply with the Supreme Court of Justice's decision.appeal is pending.

2322


Table of Contents

Brazilian Tax Claims

The São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro state tax authorities have issued tax assessments against our Brazilian subsidiaries for the Tax on Distribution of Goods and Services (“ICMS”), mainly with respect to revenue from leasing certain assets and revenue from the provision of Internet access services by treating such activities as the provision of communications services, to which the ICMS tax applies. We filed objections to these assessments in both states, arguing, among other things that neither the lease of assets nor the provision of Internet access qualifies as “communication services” subject to ICMS.

We have appealed to the respective state judicial courts the decisions by the respective state administrative courts that rejected our objections to these assessments. In cases in which state lower courts ruled partially in our favor finding that the lease assets are not subject to ICMS, in connection, the State appealed those rulings. In other cases, the assessment was affirmed at the first administrative level and our appealwe have appealed to the second administrative level is pending.level. Other assessments are still pending state judicial decisions.

We are vigorously contesting all such assessments in both states and view the assessment of ICMS on revenue from equipment leasing and Internet access to be without merit. TheseWe believe these assessments, if upheld, could result in a loss of up to $47$51 million as of SeptemberJune 30, 2021,2022, in excess of the reserved accruals established for these matters.

Other Proceedings, Disputes and Contingencies

From time to time, we are involved in other proceedings incidental to our business, including patent infringement allegations, regulatory hearings relating primarily to our rates or services, actions relating to employee claims, various tax issues, environmental law issues, grievance hearings before labor regulatory agencies and miscellaneous third-party tort actions.

We are currently defending several patent infringement lawsuits asserted against us by non-practicing entities, many of which are seeking substantial recoveries. These cases have progressed to various stages and 1 or more may go to trial duringwithin the fourth quarter of 2021 or during 2022next twelve months if they are not otherwise resolved. Where applicable, we are seeking full or partial indemnification from our vendors and suppliers. As with all litigation, we are vigorously defending these actions and, as a matter of course, are prepared to litigate these matters to judgment, as well as to evaluate and consider all reasonable settlement opportunities.

We are subject to various foreign, federal, state and local environmental protection and health and safety laws. From time to time, we are subject to judicial and administrative proceedings brought by various governmental authorities under these laws. Several such proceedings are currently pending, but none individually is reasonably expected to exceed $300,000 in fines and penalties.

The outcome of these other proceedings described under this heading is not predictable. However, based on current circumstances, we do not believe that the ultimate resolution of these other proceedings, after considering available defenses and any insurance coverage or indemnification rights, will have a material adverse effect on us.

The matters listed above in this Note do not reflect all of our contingencies. For additional information on our contingencies, see Note 16—Commitments, Contingencies and Other Items to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of Part II of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.2021. The ultimate outcome of the above-described matters may differ materially from the outcomes anticipated, estimated, projected or implied by us in certain of our statements appearing above in this Note, and proceedings currently viewed as immaterial by us may ultimately materially impact us.

2423


Table of Contents

(11)(9) Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

The table below summarizes changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss recorded on our consolidated balance sheets by component for the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2021:2022:
Pension PlansForeign Currency Translation Adjustment and OtherTotalPension PlansForeign Currency Translation Adjustment and OtherTotal
(Dollars in millions)(Dollars in millions)
Balance at December 31, 2020$(13)(221)(234)
Balance at December 31, 2021Balance at December 31, 2021$(354)(351)
Other comprehensive loss, net of taxOther comprehensive loss, net of tax— (101)(101)Other comprehensive loss, net of tax— (115)(115)
Net other comprehensive lossNet other comprehensive loss— (101)(101)Net other comprehensive loss— (115)(115)
Balance at September 30, 2021$(13)(322)(335)
Balance at June 30, 2022Balance at June 30, 2022$(469)(466)

The table below summarizes changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss recorded on our consolidated balance sheets by component for the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2020:2021:
Pension PlansForeign Currency Translation Adjustment and OtherTotal
(Dollars in millions)
Balance at December 31, 2019$(181)(179)
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax— (179)(179)
Net other comprehensive loss— (179)(179)
Balance at September 30, 2020$(360)(358)

During the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, there were no reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in our statements of operations.
Pension PlansForeign Currency Translation Adjustment and OtherTotal
(Dollars in millions)
Balance at December 31, 2020$(13)(221)(234)
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax— (8)(8)
Net other comprehensive loss— (8)(8)
Balance at June 30, 2021$(13)(229)(242)

(12)(10) Other Financial Information

Other Current Assets

The following table presents details of other current assets reflected in our consolidated balance sheets:

September 30, 2021December 31, 2020June 30, 2022December 31, 2021
(Dollars in millions)(Dollars in millions)
Prepaid expensesPrepaid expenses$108 106 Prepaid expenses$132 109 
Contract fulfillment costsContract fulfillment costs48 63 Contract fulfillment costs49 48 
Contract acquisition costsContract acquisition costs44 47 Contract acquisition costs46 45 
Contract assetsContract assets29 34 Contract assets26 28 
OtherOther47 Other10 
Total other current assetsTotal other current assets$238 297 Total other current assets$263 239 
_______________________________________________________________________________
(1)As of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, other current assets excludes $79 million and $81 million respectively, that have been reclassified as held for sale.

24


Table of Contents

(11) Subsequent Events

Divestiture of the Latin American Business

On August 1, 2022, we completed the sale of our Latin American business to an affiliate of a fund advised by Stonepeak Partners LP in exchange for cash proceeds of approximately $2.7 billion subject to certain post-closing adjustments. We expect to recognize a gain on the transaction in operating income during the third quarter of 2022. In connection with the sale, Lumen has entered into a transition services agreement under which it will provide to the purchaser various support services and certain long-term agreements under which Lumen and the purchaser will provide to each other various network and other commercial services.

Distributions to Parent

As of the date of this report, $75 million of distributions were made to our parent in the third quarter of 2022.

Tender Offer and Consent Solicitation

On July 25, 2022, Lumen initiated a tender offer to repurchase (i) any and all of $1.575 billion aggregate principal amount of certain of our outstanding Level 3 Financing, Inc. senior notes and (ii) certain other Lumen Technologies, Inc. and affiliated subsidiary senior notes, subject to certain repurchase caps and sublimits and various other terms and conditions. This offer, which was made pursuant to an Offer to Purchase and Consent Solicitation Statement dated July 25, 2022, has an early tender date of August 5, 2022, and will expire on August 19, 2022, unless extended. In addition, we announced a consent solicitation to eliminate substantially all of the restrictive covenants, eliminate certain events of default, and modify certain redemption notice requirements contained in the respective indentures for Level 3 senior notes subject to the tender offer.

Debt Repayment

On August 3, 2022, we repaid approximately $700 million aggregate principal amount of our Tranche B 2027 Term Loan.

25


Table of Contents

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Unless the context requires otherwise, references in this report to “Level 3 Communications, Inc.,” "Level 3," “we,” “us,” "its," the “Company” and “our” refer to Level 3 Parent, LLC and its consolidated subsidiaries. References to "Lumen Technologies" or "Lumen" refer to our ultimate parent company, Lumen Technologies, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.

All references to "Notes" in this Item 2 of Part I refer to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 1 of Part I of this report.

Certain statements in this report constitute forward-looking statements. See "Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" appearing at the beginning of this report and "Risk Factors" referenced in Item 1A of Part II of this report or other of our filings with the SEC for a discussion of certain factors that could cause our actual results to differ from our anticipated results or otherwise impact our business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity or prospects.

Overview

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations ("MD&A") included herein should be read in conjunction with MD&A and the other information included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020,2021, and with the consolidated financial statements and related notes in Item 1 of Part I of this report. The results of operations and cash flows for the first ninesix months of the year are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations and cash flows that might be expected for the entire year.

We are an international facilities-based technology and communications company engaged in providing a broad array of integrated communication services to our business customers. We created our communications network by constructing our own assets and through a combination of purchasing other companies and purchasing or leasing facilities from others. We designed our network to provide communications services that employ and take advantage of rapidly improving underlying optical, Internet Protocol, computing and storage technologies.

On July 25, 2021,August 1, 2022, affiliates of Level 3 Parent, LLC entered into a definitive agreement to divestsold our Latin American business to an affiliate of a fund advised by Stonepeak Partners LP in exchange for cash proceeds of approximately $2.7 billion, cash, subject to certain working capital and other purchase price adjustments and related transaction expenses (estimated to be approximately $50 million). For more information, see (i)post-closing adjustments. See Note 2—Planned Divestiture of the Latin American Business to our consolidated financial statements in Item 1 of Part I of this report and (ii) the risk factors included in Item 1A of Part II of this report.11—Subsequent Events for additional details.

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic

As previously outlineddescribed in greater detail in Item 7 of Part II of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020,2021, in response to the safety and economic challenges arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic and in a continued attempt to mitigate the negative impact on our stakeholders, we have taken a variety of steps to ensure the availability of our network infrastructure, to promote the safety of our employees and customers, to enable us to continue to adapt and provide our products and services worldwide to our customers, and to strengthen our communities. As vaccination rates increase, weWe expect to continue revising our responses to the pandemic or take additional steps necessary to adjust to changed circumstances.

AsSocial distancing, business and school closures, travel restrictions, and other actions taken in response to the pandemic have impacted us, our customers and our business since March 2020. Additionally, as discussed in further detail in our prior reports, the pandemic resulted in (i) increases in certain revenue streams and decreases in others, (ii) increases in allowances for credit losses through the endovertime expenses, (iii) operational challenges resulting from shortages of 2020, (iii) increasescertain components and other supplies that we use in overtime expenses,our business, and (iv) delays in our cost transformation initiatives and (v) an acceleration of our real estate rationalization efforts and the incurrence of related costs.initiatives. We believe we are also experiencingexperienced delayed decision-making by certain of our customers in the current environment. Theseduring 2021. Thus far, these changes didhave not materially impactimpacted our financial performance or financial position during 2020,position. However, we continue to monitor global disruptions and barring any substantial deteriorationwork with our vendors to mitigate supply chain risks.

We reopened our offices in prevailing health or economic conditions, are not expectedApril 2022 under a "hybrid" working environment, which will permit some of our employees the flexibility to materially impact us inwork remotely at least some of the near term.time for the foreseeable future.
26


Table of Contents


Effective December 8, 2021, we plan to comply with President Biden's September 2021 Executive Order requiring covered employees of federal contractors to be vaccinated against COVID-19. For additional information, see "Risk Factors" in Item 1A of Part II of this report.


Products, Services and Revenue

Beginning in the first quarter of 2021, weWe categorize our products and services and related revenue among the following categories:
Compute and Application Services, which include our Edge Cloud services, IT solutions, Unified Communications and Collaboration ("UC&C"), data center, content delivery network ("CDN") and Managed Securitymanaged security services;
IP and Data Services, which include Ethernet, IP, and VPN data networks, including software-defined wide area networks ("SD WAN") based services, Dynamic Connections and Hyper WAN;
Fiber Infrastructure Services, which include dark fiber, optical services and equipment;
Voice and Other, which include Time Division Multiplexing ("TDM") voice, private line and other legacy services; and
Affiliate Services, which include communications services provided to our affiliates that we also provide to our external customers.
From time to time, we may change the categorization of our products and services.

Results of Operations

The following table summarizes the results of our consolidated operations for the three and ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20212022 and SeptemberJune 30, 2020:2021:
Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,Three Months Ended June 30,Six Months Ended June 30,
20212020202120202022202120222021
(Dollars in millions)(Dollars in millions)
Operating revenueOperating revenue$1,990 1,971 5,964 5,935 Operating revenue$1,953 1,985 3,899 3,974 
Operating expensesOperating expenses1,749 1,687 5,173 5,069 Operating expenses1,721 1,708 3,428 3,424 
Operating incomeOperating income241 284 791 866 Operating income232 277 471 550 
Other expense, netOther expense, net(83)(45)(222)(233)Other expense, net(94)(68)(175)(139)
Income before income taxesIncome before income taxes158 239 569 633 Income before income taxes138 209 296 411 
Income tax expenseIncome tax expense37 42 150 147 Income tax expense41 62 85 113 
Net incomeNet income$121 197 419 486 Net income$97 147 211 298 

For a discussion of certain trends that impact our business, see the MD&A discussion of trends impacting Lumen’s non-mass markets business included in Lumen’s reports filed with the SEC, including its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended SeptemberJune 30, 2021.2022.

27


Table of Contents

Operating Revenue

The following tables summarizetable summarizes our consolidated operating revenue recorded under our above-described revenue categories:categories described above:

Three Months Ended September 30,Three Months Ended June 30,
20212020% Change20222021% Change
(Dollars in millions)(Dollars in millions)
Compute and Application ServicesCompute and Application Services$287 274 %Compute and Application Services$283 283 — %
IP and Data ServicesIP and Data Services890 878 %IP and Data Services883 888 (1)%
Fiber Infrastructure ServicesFiber Infrastructure Services412 379 %Fiber Infrastructure Services403 401 — %
Voice and OtherVoice and Other345 387 (11)%Voice and Other327 357 (8)%
Affiliate ServicesAffiliate Services56 53 %Affiliate Services57 56 %
Total operating revenueTotal operating revenue$1,990 1,971 %Total operating revenue$1,953 1,985 (2)%

Nine Months Ended September 30,Six Months Ended June 30,
20212020% Change20222021% Change
(Dollars in millions)(Dollars in millions)
Compute and Application ServicesCompute and Application Services$850 814 %Compute and Application Services$560 563 (1)%
IP and Data ServicesIP and Data Services2,659 2,639 %IP and Data Services1,769 1,769 — %
Fiber Infrastructure ServicesFiber Infrastructure Services1,210 1,116 %Fiber Infrastructure Services794 798 (1)%
Voice and OtherVoice and Other1,078 1,213 (11)%Voice and Other663 733 (10)%
Affiliate ServicesAffiliate Services167 153 %Affiliate Services113 111 %
Total operating revenueTotal operating revenue$5,964 5,935 — %Total operating revenue$3,899 3,974 (2)%

Our total operating revenue increaseddecreased by $19$32 million and $29$75 million, respectively, for the three and ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2021,2022, as compared to the three and ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20202021 primarily due to increasesdecreases in IP, dark fiberIT Solutions, Ethernet services, VPN data networks, voice and wavelength services,private line and managed security,ready access revenue, which were partially offset by declinesgrowth in voiceIP, cloud services, wavelengths and other, CDN services, IT solutions, VPN data network, and ethernet services.managed security revenue.

28


Table of Contents

Operating Expenses

The following tables summarizetable summarizes our consolidated operating expenses:

Three Months Ended September 30,Three Months Ended June 30,
20212020% Change20222021% Change
(Dollars in millions)(Dollars in millions)
Cost of services and products (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)Cost of services and products (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)$897 857 %Cost of services and products (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)$836 868 (4)%
Selling, general and administrativeSelling, general and administrative305 300 %Selling, general and administrative318 273 16 %
Operating expenses - affiliatesOperating expenses - affiliates116 101 15 %Operating expenses - affiliates162 131 24 %
Depreciation and amortizationDepreciation and amortization431 429 — %Depreciation and amortization405 436 (7)%
Total operating expensesTotal operating expenses$1,749 1,687 %Total operating expenses$1,721 1,708 %

Nine Months Ended September 30,Six Months Ended June 30,
20212020% Change20222021% Change
(Dollars in millions)(Dollars in millions)
Cost of services and products (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)Cost of services and products (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)$2,643 2,623 %Cost of services and products (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)$1,687 1,746 (3)%
Selling, general and administrativeSelling, general and administrative872 922 (5)%Selling, general and administrative632 567 11 %
Operating expenses - affiliatesOperating expenses - affiliates354 274 29 %Operating expenses - affiliates308 238 29 %
Depreciation and amortizationDepreciation and amortization1,304 1,250 %Depreciation and amortization801 873 (8)%
Total operating expensesTotal operating expenses$5,173 5,069 %Total operating expenses$3,428 3,424 — %

Cost of Services and Products (Exclusive of depreciation and amortization)

Cost of services and products (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) increaseddecreased by $40$32 million and $20$59 million, respectively, for the three and ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2021,2022, as compared to the three and ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2020,2021, primarily due to higher customer premise equipment expenses, higher network expenses,decreases in facility costs and accelerated lease costs as part of ourlower real estate rationalization during the third quarter of 2021. These increases were partially offset by lower employee-related expenses resulting from lower headcount and lower facility costs due to lower voice usage.power costs.

Selling, General and Administrative

Selling, general and administrative increased by $5$45 million and $65 million, respectively, for the three and six months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2021,2022, as compared to the three and six months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20202021 primarily due to higher employee related expenses in both the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 as well as a gain on sale of assets in the third quarter of 2020 that did not recur in the third quarter of 2021. The increase was partially offset by lower bad debt expenses, reduced salaries and wages, and lower allocated corporate expenses. Selling, general and administrative decreased by $50 million for the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2021, as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2020 due primarily to a reduction in salaries and wages and employee-related benefits, lower bad debt expense and lower insurance costs. These reductions were partially offset by a lower gain on sale of assets in 2021 compared to 2020, and higher professional fees and external commissions.2021.

Operating Expenses - Affiliates

Operating expenses - affiliates increased by $15$31 million and $80$70 million, respectively, for the three and ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2021,2022, as compared to the three and ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2020,2021, primarily due to higher affiliate lease expensesexpense for circuits and colocation facilities. The increase for the nine months ended was also partially due to transferring certain employees to other affiliates, which results in expenses being allocated back to us through operating expenses - affiliates rather than included in selling, general and administrative expenses.
29


Table of Contents


Depreciation and Amortization

The following tables providetable provides detail regarding depreciation and amortization expense:

Three Months Ended September 30,Three Months Ended June 30,
20212020% Change20222021% Change
(Dollars in millions)(Dollars in millions)
DepreciationDepreciation$221 219 %Depreciation$219 220 — %
AmortizationAmortization210 210 — %Amortization186 216 (14)%
Total depreciation and amortizationTotal depreciation and amortization$431 429 — %Total depreciation and amortization$405 436 (7)%

Nine Months Ended September 30,Six Months Ended June 30,
20212020% Change20222021% Change
(Dollars in millions)(Dollars in millions)
DepreciationDepreciation$667 624 %Depreciation$423 446 (5)%
AmortizationAmortization637 626 %Amortization378 427 (11)%
Total depreciation and amortizationTotal depreciation and amortization$1,304 1,250 %Total depreciation and amortization$801 873 (8)%

Depreciation expense increaseddecreased by $2$1 million and $43$23 million, respectively, for the three and ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2021,2022, as compared to the three and ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2020. The increases were2021 primarily due to increases of $19 million and $55 million, respectively, resulting from the net growth in depreciable assets and increases of $2 million and $7 million, respectively due foreign currency exchange rate impacts. The increases are partially offset by a decrease of $20 million for both periods due to discontinuing the depreciation of the tangible assets reclassified as held for sale of our Latin American business upon entering into our divestiture agreement. We estimate we would have recorded an additional $37 million and $74 million, respectively, of depreciation expense during the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 if we had not agreed to sell this business. This was partially offset by an increase of $34 million and $52 million, respectively, resulting from the net growth in depreciable assets during the three and six months ended June 30, 2022.

Amortization expense was unchangeddecreased by $30 million and increased by $11$49 million, respectively, for the three and ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2021,2022, as compared to the three and ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2020.2021. For the three and ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20212022, amortization expense increaseddecreased by $2$14 million and $6$23 million, respectively, associated with the net growthreduction in amortizable assets and increased by $3$10 million and $6$20 million, respectively, due to the accelerated amortization of decommissioned applications. Amortization expense for the nine month comparative period also increased by $3 million due foreign currency exchange rate impacts. These increases in amortization expense are partially offset by a decrease of $5 million for both periods due to discontinuing the amortization of the intangible assets reclassified as held for sale of our Latin American business upon entering into our divestiture agreement.

Goodwill Impairment

The reclassification of held for sale assets, as described in Note 2—Planned Divestiture of the Latin American Business, was considered a change in event or circumstance which required an assessment of our goodwill for impairment as of July 31, 2021. We performed a pre-reclassification goodwill impairment test using our estimated post-divestiture cash flows and carrying value of equity to determine whether there was an impairment prior to the reclassification of these assets to held for sale and to determine the July 31, 2021 fair values to be utilized for goodwill allocation regarding the disposal group to be reclassified as assets held for sale. We concluded it is more likely than not that the fair value of our reporting unit exceeded the carrying value of equity of our reporting unit at July 31, 2021.

30


Table of Contents

We also performed a post-reclassification goodwill impairment test using our estimated post-divestiture cash flows and carrying value of equity to determine whether the fair value of our reporting unit that will remain following the divestiture exceeds the carrying value of the equity of the reporting unit after reclassification of assets held for sale. At July 31, 2021, we estimated the fair value of our remaining reporting unit by considering both a market approach and a discounted cash flow methodology. Based on our assessment performed, we concluded it was more likely than not that the fair value of our remaining reporting unit exceeded the carrying value of equity of our remaining reporting unit at July 31, 2021. Therefore, we concluded we did not have any impairment as of our assessment date.

Note 3—Goodwill, Customer Relationships and Other Intangible Assets for further details on these tests and impairment charges.

Other Consolidated Results

The following tables summarizetable summarizes other expense, net and income tax expense:

Three Months Ended September 30,Three Months Ended June 30,
20212020% Change20222021% Change
(Dollars in millions)(Dollars in millions)
Interest income - affiliateInterest income - affiliate$16 13 23 %Interest income - affiliate$15 15 — %
Interest expenseInterest expense(90)(99)(9)%Interest expense(95)(89)%
Other (expense) income, netOther (expense) income, net(9)41 nmOther (expense) income, net(14)nm
Total other expense, netTotal other expense, net$(83)(45)84 %Total other expense, net$(94)(68)38 %
Income tax expenseIncome tax expense$37 42 (12)%Income tax expense$41 62 (34)%

Nine Months Ended September 30,Six Months Ended June 30,
20212020% Change20222021% Change
(Dollars in millions)(Dollars in millions)
Interest income - affiliateInterest income - affiliate$49 39 26 %Interest income - affiliate$31 33 (6)%
Interest expenseInterest expense(272)(301)(10)%Interest expense(185)(182)%
Other income, net29 nm
Other (expense) income, netOther (expense) income, net(21)10 nm
Total other expense, netTotal other expense, net$(222)(233)(5)%Total other expense, net$(175)(139)26 %
Income tax expenseIncome tax expense$150 147 %Income tax expense$85 113 (25)%

nm Percentages greater than 200% and comparisons between positive and negative values or to/from zero values are considered not meaningful.

Interest Income - Affiliate

Interest income - affiliate increased by $3 million and $10 million, respectively,remained flat for the three and nine months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2021,2022 and decreased by $2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022 as compared to the three and ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2020 primarily due to an increase in the average interest rate associated with our note receivable - affiliate balance.2021.

Interest Expense

Interest expense decreasedincreased by $9$6 million and $29$3 million respectively, for the three and ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2021,2022, as compared to the three and ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20202021. The increase was primarily due to (i) a decreasean increase in our average long-term debt from $11.0 billion to $10.4 billion and a decrease in the average interest raterates from 3.85%(i) 3.53% to 3.53%3.82% for the three months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20212022 as compared to the three months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2020,2021, and (ii) a decrease in the average interest rate from 4.08%3.61% to 3.60%3.77% for the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20212022 as compared to the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2020.2021.

31


Table of Contents

Other (Expense) Income, Net

The following tablestable summarizes our total other (expense) income, net:

Three Months Ended September 30,% ChangeThree Months Ended June 30,% Change
2021202020222021
(Dollars in millions)(Dollars in millions)
Gain on extinguishment of debt$— 27 nm
Foreign currency (loss) gainForeign currency (loss) gain(11)15 nmForeign currency (loss) gain(11)nm
OtherOther(1)nmOther(3)(2)50 %
Total other (expense) income, netTotal other (expense) income, net$(9)41 nmTotal other (expense) income, net$(14)nm

Nine Months Ended September 30,% ChangeSix Months Ended June 30,% Change
2021202020222021
(Dollars in millions)(Dollars in millions)
Gain on extinguishment of debtGain on extinguishment of debt$16 27 (41)%Gain on extinguishment of debt$— 16 nm
Foreign currency (loss) gain(14)nm
Interest income— nm
Foreign currency gainForeign currency gain(20)(3)nm
OtherOther(1)(6)(83)%Other(1)(3)(67)%
Total other income, netTotal other income, net$29 (97)%Total other income, net$(21)10 nm

nm Percentages greater than 200% and comparisons between positive and negative values or to/from zero values are considered not meaningful.

Income Tax Expense

For both the three months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20212022 and 2020,2021, our effective income tax rate was 23.4% and 17.6%, respectively.29.7%. For the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20212022 and 2020,2021, our effective income tax rate was 26.4%28.7% and 23.2%27.5%, respectively.


32


Table of Contents

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Overview

As of SeptemberJune 30, 2021,2022, we held cash and cash equivalents, including cash and cash equivalents classified as held for sale, of $251$202 million, of which $67$94 million were held in foreign bank accounts for funding our foreign operations. Due to various factors, our access to foreign cash is generally more restricted than our access to domestic cash.

We anticipate that any future liquidity needs will be met through (i) our cash provided by operating activities (ii) amounts due to us from Lumen Technologies (iii) proceeds from the plannedrecently completed divestiture of our Latin American business, (iv) our ability to refinance our debt obligations and (v) capital contributions, advances or loans from Lumen Technologies or its affiliates if and to the extent they have available funds or access to funds that they are willing and able to contribute, advance or loan.


Impact of PlannedRecently Completed Divestiture of our Latin American Business

As discussed in Note 2—PlannedRecently Completed Divestiture of the Latin American Business, to our consolidated financial statements in Item 1 of Part 1 of this report, we executed a definitive agreement to divestsold our Latin American business on July 25, 2021.August 1, 2022. As further described elsewhere herein, this transaction provided us with a substantial amount of cash proceeds, but ultimately will reduce our base of income-generating assets that generate our recurring cash from operating activities.

Debt and Other Financing Arrangements

As of SeptemberJune 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020,2022, our long-term debt (including current maturities and finance leases) outstanding totaled $10.4 billion for both periods.billion. See Note 7—6—Long-Term Debt.

Subject to market conditions, from time to time we expect to continue to issue term debt or senior notes to refinance our maturing debt. The availability, interest rate and other terms of any new borrowings will be impacted by the ratings assigned us by the three major credit rating agencies, among other factors. As of the date of this report, the credit ratings for the senior secured and unsecured debt of Level 3 Financing, Inc. were as follows:

BorrowerMoody's Investor Services, Inc.Standard & Poor'sFitch Ratings
Level 3 Financing, Inc.
UnsecuredBa3BBBB
SecuredBa1BBB-BBB-

Our credit ratings are reviewed and adjusted from time to time by the rating agencies. Any future changes in the senior unsecured or secured debt ratings of Level 3 Financing, Inc. could impact our access to debt capital or adjust our borrowing costs. See "Risk Factors—Financial Risks" in Item 1A of Part I of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.2021.

See Note 7—6—Long-Term Debt for additional information about our long-term debt.

Letters of Credit

It is customary for us to use various financial instruments in the normal course of business. These instruments include letters of credit. Letters of credit are conditional commitments issued on our behalf in accordance with specified terms and conditions. As of SeptemberJune 30, 2021,2022, we had outstanding letters of credit or other similar obligations of approximately $9$8 million, of which $5$3 million was collateralized by restricted cash. We do not believe exposure to loss related to our letters of credit is material.

Future Contractual Obligations

For information regarding our estimated future contractual obligations, see the MD&A discussion included in Item 7 of Part II of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.2021.

33


Table of Contents


Historical InformationCash Flow Activities

The following table summarizes our consolidated cash flow activities:
Nine Months Ended September 30,Six Months Ended June 30,
20212020$ Change20222021$ Change
(Dollars in millions)(Dollars in millions)
Net cash provided by operating activitiesNet cash provided by operating activities$941 1,944 (1,003)Net cash provided by operating activities$1,184 633 551 
Net cash used in investing activitiesNet cash used in investing activities$(822)(897)(75)Net cash used in investing activities$(553)(539)14 
Net cash used in financing activitiesNet cash used in financing activities$(67)(1,115)(1,048)Net cash used in financing activities$(617)(60)557 

Operating Activities

Net cash provided by operating activities decreasedincreased by $1.0 billion$551 million for the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2021,2022, as compared to the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2020,2021, primarily due to a decrease inpayments on accounts payable - affiliate during the contribution from working capital related to a reduction in advances from affiliates and a decrease in net income adjustedsix months ended June 30, 2021, as well as higher collections on accounts receivable for non-cash items.the six months ended June 30, 2022. Cash provided by operating activities is subject to variability period over period as a result of timing, including the collection of receivables and payments of interest, accounts payable, and bonuses.

Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities decreasedincreased by $75$14 million for the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2021,2022, as compared to the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2020 primarily due to a decrease in capital expenditures.2021. The decrease was partially offset by lower collections on affiliate notes receivable andprimarily due to a decrease in proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment.equipment, which was slightly offset by a decrease in capital expenditures.

Financing Activities

Net cash used in financing activities decreasedincreased by $1.0 billion$557 million for the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2021,2022, as compared to the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20202021 primarily due to a decreasean increase in repayments of long-term debtdistributions paid to our parent and a decrease in distributions paid, whichnet proceeds from issuance of long-term debt. This was partially offset by a decrease in net proceeds from issuancerepayments of long-term debt.

Other Matters

We are subject to various legal proceedings and other contingent liabilities that individually or in the aggregate could materially affect our financial condition, future results of operations or cash flows. See Note 10—8—Commitments, Contingencies and Other Items for additional information.

Lumen Technologies is involved in several legal proceedings to which we are not a party that, if resolved against it, could have a material adverse effect on its business and financial condition. As a wholly owned subsidiary of Lumen Technologies, our business and financial condition could be similarly affected. You can find descriptions of these legal proceedings in Lumen's quarterly and annual reports filed with the SEC. Because we are not a party to any of the matters, we have not accrued any liabilities for these matters.

As part of itsFederal officials have proposed infrastructure plan, the Biden Administration has proposed investing substantial sumschanges to expand internet access in the United States. The Administration seeks several other changescurrent programs and laws that could impact Lumen or us, including proposals designed to increase broadband access, increase competition among broadband providers, lower broadband costs and re-adopt "net neutrality" rules similar to those adopted under the Obama Administration. ProposedIn November 2021, the U.S. Congress enacted legislation or regulations, if enacted or adopted, could impact us orthat appropriated $65 billion to improve broadband affordability and access, primarily through federally funded state grants. As of the scopedate of our services. Currently, we believethis report, various state and federal agencies are continuing to take steps in anticipation of making grants to eligible applicants, so it is premature to speculate on the potential impact of these proposalsthis legislation on Lumen or us.

34


Table of Contents

Summarized Financial Information

Level 3 Financing, Inc., our wholly owned subsidiary, has registered two series of currently outstanding Senior Notes that are fully and unconditionally and jointly and severally guaranteed on an unsubordinated unsecured basis by Level 3 Parent, LLC and Level 3 Communications, LLC. Level 3 Financing, Inc., Level 3 Parent, LLC and Level 3 Communications, LLC are collectively referred to as the “Obligor Group.”

In conjunction with the registration of those Level 3 Financing, Inc. Senior Notes under the Securities Act of 1933, we have presented below the accompanying summarized financial information pursuant to SEC Regulation S-X Rule 13-01 "Guarantors and issuers of guaranteed securities registered or being registered."

The summarized financial information set forth below excludes subsidiaries that are not within the Obligor Group and presents transactions between the Obligor Group and the subsidiaries that do not guarantee the Senior Notes (the “Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries”). Investment in and equity in earnings of subsidiaries have been excluded from the summarized financial information.

The following tables presenttable presents summarized financial information specified in Rule 1-02(bb)(1) of Regulation S-X for the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2021:2022:

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021Six Months Ended June 30, 2022
Level 3 Parent, LLCLevel 3 Financing, Inc.Level 3 Communications, LLCLevel 3 Parent, LLCLevel 3 Financing, Inc.Level 3 Communications, LLC
(Dollars in millions)(Dollars in millions)
Operating revenueOperating revenue$— — 3,088 Operating revenue$— — 2,101 
Operating revenue-affiliates— — 177 
Operating revenue - affiliatesOperating revenue - affiliates— — 120 
Operating expensesOperating expenses(76)2,954 Operating expenses— 1,965 
Operating expenses-affiliates— — 284 
Operating income (loss)76 (1)27 
Operating expenses - affiliatesOperating expenses - affiliates— — 256 
Operating lossOperating loss— (1)— 
Net income (loss)Net income (loss)3,365 (66)(3,380)Net income (loss)2,373 266 (2,738)
35


Table of Contents



The following tables present summarized financial information reflected in our consolidated balance sheet as of SeptemberJune 30, 20212022 and December 31, 2020,2021, respectively:

September 30, 2021
Level 3 Parent, LLCLevel 3 Financing, Inc.Level 3 Communications, LLC
(Dollars in millions)
Advances to affiliates$23,280 29,908 — 
Note receivable-affiliate1,468 — — 
Other current assets35 — 490 
Operating lease assets - affiliates— — 703 
Other noncurrent assets294 1,663 8,751 
Accounts payable-affiliates74 64 274 
Current operating lease liabilities-affiliates— — 172 
Due to affiliates— — 59,655 
Other current liabilities63 753 
Non-current operating lease liabilities-affiliates— — 541 
Other noncurrent liabilities89 10,106 2,637 
December 31, 2020June 30, 2022
Level 3 Parent, LLCLevel 3 Financing, Inc.Level 3 Communications, LLCLevel 3 Parent, LLCLevel 3 Financing, Inc.Level 3 Communications, LLC
(Dollars in millions)(Dollars in millions)
Advances to affiliatesAdvances to affiliates$19,985 30,062 — Advances to affiliates$25,980 30,695 247 
Note receivable-affiliate1,468 — — 
Note receivable - affiliateNote receivable - affiliate1,468 — — 
Other current assetsOther current assets18 — 432 Other current assets— 478 
Operating lease assets - affiliatesOperating lease assets - affiliates— — 472 Operating lease assets - affiliates— — 891 
Other noncurrent assetsOther noncurrent assets271 1,595 8,811 Other noncurrent assets271 1,731 8,814 
Accounts payable-affiliates85 21 773 
Current operating lease liabilities-affiliates— — 107 
Accounts payable - affiliatesAccounts payable - affiliates68 67 290 
Current operating lease liabilities - affiliatesCurrent operating lease liabilities - affiliates— — 245 
Due to affiliatesDue to affiliates— — 55,114 Due to affiliates— — 64,440 
Other current liabilitiesOther current liabilities101 774 Other current liabilities88 606 
Non-current operating lease liabilities-affiliates— — 377 
Non-current operating lease liabilities - affiliatesNon-current operating lease liabilities - affiliates— — 657 
Other noncurrent liabilitiesOther noncurrent liabilities83 10,131 2,636 Other noncurrent liabilities81 10,105 2,819 

December 31, 2021
Level 3 Parent, LLCLevel 3 Financing, Inc.Level 3 Communications, LLC
(Dollars in millions)
Advances to affiliates$24,161 30,473 174 
Note receivable - affiliate1,468 — — 
Other current assets— 509 
Operating lease assets - affiliates— — 737 
Other noncurrent assets271 1,687 8,701 
Accounts payable - affiliates73 64 174 
Current operating lease liabilities - affiliates— — 189 
Due to affiliates— — 61,657 
Other current liabilities89 747 
Non-current operating lease liabilities - affiliates— — 560 
Other noncurrent liabilities88 10,106 2,872 


36


Table of Contents

Market Risk

At SeptemberJune 30, 2021,2022, we were exposed to market risk from changes in interest rates on our variable rate long-term debt obligations. We seek to maintain a favorable mix of fixed and variable rate debt in an effort to limit interest costs and cash flow volatility resulting from changes in rates.

As of SeptemberJune 30, 2021,2022, we had approximately $10.1 billion (excluding unamortized premiums, net, unamortized debt issuance costs and finance leases) of long-term debt outstanding, 69% of which bears interest at fixed rates and is therefore not exposed to interest rate risk. We also held approximately $3.1 billion of floating rate debt exposed to changes in the LIBOR.London InterBank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"). A hypothetical increase of 100 basis points in LIBOR relative to this debt would decrease our annual pre-tax earnings by $31 million. Additionally, our credit agreements contain language about a possible change from LIBOR to an alternative index.

36


Table of Contents

By operating internationally, we are exposed to the risk of fluctuations in the foreign currencies used by our international subsidiaries, including the British Pound, the Euro, the Brazilian Real and the Argentinian Peso. Although the percentages of our consolidated revenue and costs that are denominated in these currencies are immaterial, our consolidated results of operations could be adversely impacted by volatility in exchange rates or an increase in the number of foreign currency transactions.

Certain shortcomings are inherent in the method of analysis presented in the computation of exposures to market risks. Actual values may differ materially from those presented above if market conditions vary from the assumptions used in the analyses performed. These analyses only incorporate the risk exposures that existed at SeptemberJune 30, 2021.2022.

Other Information

Lumen's and our website is www.lumen.com. We routinely post important investor information in the "Investor Relations" section of our website at ir.lumen.com. The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, our website is not part of this quarterly report. You may obtain free electronic copies of annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K filed by us or our ultimate controlling member Lumen Technologies, Inc., and all amendments to those reports, in the "Investor Relations" section of our website (ir.lumen.com) under the heading "SEC Filings." These reports are available on our website as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with the SEC.

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Omitted pursuant to General Instruction H(2).

37


Table of Contents

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”)) designed to provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file or furnish under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. These include controls and procedures designed to ensure this information is accumulated and communicated to our senior management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer, Jeff K. Storey, and our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Indraneel Dev,Chris Stansbury, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of SeptemberJune 30, 2021.2022. Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded our disclosure controls and procedures were effective, as of SeptemberJune 30, 2021,2022, in providing reasonable assurance the information required to be disclosed by us in this report was accumulated and communicated in the manner provided above.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Other than the implementation of controls over reporting for the assets and liabilities to be sold through our previously announced divestiture, thereThere have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in RulesRule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that occurred during the thirdsecond quarter of 20212022 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Inherent Limitations of Internal Controls

The effectiveness of our or any system of disclosure controls and procedures is subject to certain limitations, including the exercise of judgment in designing, implementing and evaluating the controls and procedures, the assumptions used in identifying the likelihood of future events and the inability to eliminate misconduct completely. As a result, there can be no assurance that our disclosure controls and procedures will detect all errors or fraud. By their nature, our or any system of disclosure controls and procedures can provide only reasonable assurance regarding management's control objectives.
3738


Table of Contents

PART II-OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

The information contained in Note 10—8—Commitments, Contingencies and Other Items, included in Item 1 of Part I of this quarterly report on Form 10-Q is incorporated herein by reference. The ultimate outcome of the matters described in Note 108 may differ materially from the outcomes anticipated, estimated, projected or implied by us in certain of our statements appearing in such Note, and proceedings currently viewed as immaterial by us may ultimately materially impact us. For more information, see “Risk Factors—Legal and Regulatory Risks—Our pending legal proceedings could have a material adverse impact on us” in Item 1A of Part I of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.2021.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

Our operations and financial results are subject to various risks and uncertainties, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition or future results. We urge you to carefully consider (i) the other information set forth in this report and (ii) the risk factors discussed in Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, as supplemented by the following additional risk factors.

We may not be able to complete our pending divestiture of our Latin American business or realize the benefits of this transaction.

On July 25, 2021, certain of our affiliates agreed to sell our Latin American business and enter into various post-closing commercial agreements with the purchaser designed to ensure the continuity of services to customers. The completion of this divestiture is subject to receipt of several regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions, the satisfaction of which is not assured. The pendency of this divestiture could impact us in several ways, including impacting relationships with our customers, vendors and employees, restricting our operations and diverting management’s attention from operating our business in the ordinary course. Even if we successfully complete the divestiture, we may (i) incur greater tax or costs or realize fewer benefits than anticipated under the purchase agreement and the post-closing commercial agreements that we plan to enter into with the purchaser and (ii) experience operational difficulties segregating the divested assets from our retained assets. Moreover, the divestiture will reduce our future cash flows.

COVID-19 vaccination requirements could potentially result in personnel shortages or disruptions.

Effective December 8, 2021, we plan to comply with President Biden’s September 2021 Executive Order requiring covered employees of federal contractors to be vaccinated against COVID-19. This mandate will require all of our domestic employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or face termination, unless a religious or medical exemption applies. This requirement could make it more difficult to retain or attract employees who oppose vaccination mandates and are ineligible for an exemption. In addition, certain of our contractors and vendors may also be subject to this Executive Order. It is possible that any resulting personnel shortages could have a material adverse impact on our operating results or financial condition.


ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

The following disclosure is being made under Section 13(r) of the Exchange Act out of an abundance of caution:

We are required to engage on a regular basis with the Russian Federal Security Service (“FSB”) in the FSB’s official capacity of regulating our use of technology in Russia in connection with providing commercial services therein through our local subsidiary. On March 2, 2021, the U.S. Secretary of State designated the FSB as a party subject to the provisions of U.S. Executive Order No. 13382 issued in 2005. We do not derive any gross revenues or net profits directly associated with any such dealings by us with the FSB and all such dealings are explicitly authorized by General License 1B issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control. We plan to continue these activities as required to continue to provide commercial services in Russia.2021.

3839


Table of Contents

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
Exhibits identified in parentheses below are on file with the SEC and are incorporated herein by reference. All other exhibits are provided as part of this electronic submission.
Exhibit
Number
Description
22.1*
31.1*
31.2*
32.1*
32.2*
101*
The following materials from the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Level 3 Parent, LLC for the quarter ended SeptemberJune 30, 2021,2022, formatted in Inline XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language); (i) Consolidated Statements of Operations, (ii) Consolidated Statements ofOf Comprehensive (Loss) Income, (Loss), (iii) Consolidated Balance Sheets, (iv) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, (v) Consolidated Statements of Member's Equity and (vi) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
104*Cover page formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101.

*    Exhibit filed herewith.
3940


Table of Contents

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized on NovemberAugust 4, 2021.2022.
 LEVEL 3 PARENT, LLC
 By:/s/ Andrea Genschaw
Andrea Genschaw
Senior Vice President, - Controller
 (Principal Accounting Officer)
4041