Exhibit 99.1
QWEST ANNOUNCES BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPOINTMENTS
Caroline “Caz” Matthews and R. David Hoover Join Qwest Board
DENVER, Dec. 15, 2005 – Qwest Communications International Inc. (NYSE: Q) today announced that its board of directors has approved the appointments to the Qwest board of Caroline “Caz” Matthews, president of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia, and R. David Hoover, chairman, president and CEO of Ball Corporation.
Prior to joining Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia in December 2004, Matthews served as president of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s West Region in Denver after having worked as the group’s chief operating officer. She joined Anthem’s corporate finance department in 1988 and later served in senior capacities with the company’s information technology and finance departments. In 2004, Matthews was awarded the Frances Wisebart Jacobs “Woman in Philanthropy” award from the Mile High United Way and was named CEO of the Year by the Denver Business Journal.
Hoover has held a succession of leadership roles at Ball Corporation, where he has worked since 1970. He was named chief operating officer in 2000, and was elected president and CEO the next year; he was elected chairman in 2002. Hoover serves on the boards of Energizer Holdings, Inc., and Irwin Financial Corporation. He is also a member of the University of Colorado at Denver Business School Board of Advisors and the Colorado Forum.
“I’m looking forward to the perspective and talent Caz and David will bring to the Qwest board,” said Richard C. Notebaert, Qwest chairman and CEO.
The additions of Matthews and Hoover will bring Qwest’s board membership to 13.
About Qwest
Qwest Communications International Inc. (NYSE: Q) is a leading provider of high-speed Internet, data, video and voice services. With approximately 40,000 employees, Qwest is committed to the “Spirit of Service” and providing world-class services that exceed customers’ expectations for quality, value and reliability. For more information, please visit the Qwest Web site at www.qwest.com.
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Forward Looking Statement Note
This release may contain projections and other forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements may differ materially from actual future events or results. Readers are referred to the documents filed by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission, specifically the most recent reports which identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: access line losses due to increased competition, including from technology substitution of our access lines with wireless and cable alternatives; our substantial indebtedness, and our inability to complete any efforts to de-lever our balance sheet through asset sales or other transactions; any adverse outcome of the current investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s office in Denver into certain matters relating to us; adverse results of increased review and scrutiny by regulatory authorities, media and others (including any internal analyses) of financial reporting issues and practices or otherwise; rapid and significant changes in technology and markets; any adverse developments in commercial disputes or legal proceedings, including any adverse outcome of current or future legal proceedings related to matters that are the subject of governmental investigations, and, to the extent not covered by insurance, if any, our inability to satisfy any resulting obligations from funds available to us, if any; potential fluctuations in quarterly results; volatility of our stock price; intense competition in the markets in which we compete including the likelihood of certain of our competitors consolidating with other providers or otherwise reorganizing their capital structure to more effectively compete against us; changes in demand for our products and services; acceleration of the deployment of advanced new services, such as broadband data, wireless and video services, which could require substantial expenditure of financial and other resources in excess of contemplated levels; higher than anticipated employee levels, capital expenditures and operating expenses; adverse changes in the regulatory or legislative environment affecting our business; changes in the outcome of future events from the assumed outcome included in our significant accounting policies; and our ability to utilize net operating losses in projected amounts.
The information contained in this release is a statement of Qwest’s present intention, belief or expectation and is based upon, among other things, the existing regulatory environment, industry conditions, market conditions and prices, the economy in general and Qwest’s assumptions. Qwest may change its intention, belief or expectation, at any time and without notice, based upon any changes in such factors, in Qwest’s assumptions or otherwise. The cautionary statements contained or referred to in this release should be considered in connection with any subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements that Qwest or persons acting on its behalf may issue. This release may include analysts’ estimates and other information prepared by third parties for which Qwest assumes no responsibility.
Qwest undertakes no obligation to review or confirm analysts’ expectations or estimates or to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements and other statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
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Contacts: | Media Contact: | Investor Contact: |
| Chris Hardman | Stephanie Comfort |
| 303-992-2085 | 800-567-7296 |
| chris.hardman@qwest.com | IR@qwest.com |