Exhibit 99.1

[logo]
                                                         1025 Eldorado Boulevard
                                                      Broomfield, Colorado 80021
                                                                  www.Level3.com


                                                                    NEWS RELEASE


Level 3 contacts:

Media:            Josh Howell                       Investors:        Robin Grey
                  720-888-2517                                      720-888-2518

                  Chris Hardman                                 Sandra Curlander
                  720-888-2292                                      720-888-2501


                       Level 3 Announces Proposed Private
                    Offering of 12.25% Senior Notes due 2013

BROOMFIELD,  Colo., April 3, 2006 -- Level 3 Communications,  Inc. (Nasdaq:LVLT)
today announced that its  subsidiary,  Level 3 Financing,  Inc.,  plans to offer
$300 million  aggregate  principal  amount of 12.25%  Senior Notes due 2013 in a
proposed private offering to "qualified institutional buyers" as defined in Rule
144A  under the  Securities  Act of 1933 and  outside  the United  States  under
Regulation S under the  Securities  Act of 1933.  This  offering  represents  an
additional  offering  of the 12.25%  Senior  Notes due 2013 that were  issued on
March 14,  2006.  The notes  offered  in this  offering  are  being  offered  as
additional  notes under the same  indenture as the 12.25% Senior Notes issued on
March 14, 2006,  and will be treated under that  indenture as a single series of
notes with the outstanding 12.25% Senior Notes.

The senior notes will not be registered  under the Securities Act of 1933 or any
state  securities  laws and,  unless so  registered,  may not be offered or sold
except pursuant to an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of
the Securities Act of 1933 and applicable state securities laws.

The  debt  represented  by the  senior  notes  will  constitute  purchase  money
indebtedness  under  the  indentures  of Level 3 and the net  proceeds  from the
offering  will  be used  to  finance  the  cash  purchase  price  of  Level  3's
acquisition of Progress  Telecom,  which was  consummated on March 20, 2006. The
net proceeds  remaining  after funding that  acquisition  will be used solely to
fund the cost of construction,  installation, acquisition, lease, development or
improvement of any other assets to be used in Level 3's communications


business.  The offering is expected to be completed  during the week of April 3,
2006, subject to market conditions.

About Level 3 Communications
Level  3  (Nasdaq:LVLT)  is  an  international  communications  and  information
services company.  The company operates one of the largest Internet backbones in
the world, is one of the largest  providers of wholesale dial-up service to ISPs
in North America and through its customers,  is the primary provider of Internet
connectivity  for millions of broadband  subscribers.  The company offers a wide
range  of  communications  services  over  its  broadband  fiber  optic  network
including   Internet   Protocol   (IP)   services,   broadband   transport   and
infrastructure  services,  colocation services,  and patented softswitch managed
modem and voice services. Its Web address is www.Level3.com.

The  company  offers  information  services  through  its  subsidiary,  Software
Spectrum,  and fiber-optic and satellite  video delivery  solutions  through its
subsidiary,  Vyvx. For additional information,  visit their respective Web sites
at www.softwarespectrum.com and www.vyvx.com.

The Level 3 logo is a registered service mark of Level 3 Communications, Inc. in
the United  States  and/or other  countries.  Level 3 services are provided by a
wholly owned subsidiary of Level 3 Communications, Inc.

Forward-Looking Statement
Some of the statements made by Level 3 in this press release are forward-looking
in  nature.  Actual  results  may differ  materially  from  those  projected  in
forward-looking  statements.  Level 3 believes  that its  primary  risk  factors
include,  but are not limited to:  increasing the volume of traffic on Level 3's
network;  developing  new products and services that meet  customer  demands and
generate acceptable margins;  successfully  completing commercial testing of new
technology  and  information  systems  to support  new  products  and  services,
including voice transmission services; stabilizing or reducing the rate of price
compression on certain of our  communications  services;  integrating  strategic
acquisitions; attracting and retaining qualified management and other personnel;
ability  to meet  all of the  terms  and  conditions  of our  debt  obligations;
overcoming  Software  Spectrum's  reliance  on  financial   incentives,   volume
discounts and marketing funds from software  publishers;  and reducing  downward
pressure  of  Software  Spectrum's  margins  as a  result  of the use of  volume
licensing and maintenance  agreements.  Additional  information concerning these
and other  important  factors can be found  within  Level 3's  filings  with the
Securities  and  Exchange  Commission.  Statements  in this  release  should  be
evaluated in light of these important factors.


                                                       -30-