EXHIBIT 23.3
 
              CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
 
  We have issued our report dated March 12, 1997, accompanying the
consolidated financial statements of Phoenix Network, Inc. and subsidiaries
appearing in the Form S-4 registration statement filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission for Qwest Communications International Inc. We have also
issued our reports dated March 12, 1997, accompanying the consolidated
financial statements of Phoenix Network, Inc. and subsidiaries appearing in
the 1996 Annual Report of the Company to its stockholders and accompanying the
schedule included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended on Form 10-
K/A, for the year ended December 31, 1996. We have issued our reports dated
March 28, 1996 (except for note A, as to which the date is October 8, 1996),
accompanying the consolidated financial statements and supplemental
consolidated financial statements of Phoenix Network, Inc. and subsidiaries
appearing in the Company's Form 8-K dated January 23, 1997. We have issued our
reports dated February 16, 1996, accompanying the consolidated financial
statements of Americonnect, Inc. and subsidiaries appearing in Phoenix
Network, Inc.'s Form 8-K dated January 23, 1997. We consent to the use of our
report on the 1996 consolidated financial statements in the Form S-4 and to
the use of our name as it appears under the captions "PHOENIX SELECTED
FINANCIAL DATA" and "EXPERTS". In addition, we consent to the incorporation by
reference in the Registration Statement of the aforementioned reports.
 
                                          Grant Thornton LLP
 
Denver, Colorado
February 12, 1998