EXHIBIT 99

                        U S WEST and CWA Reach Tentative
                           Agreement on Labor Contract


DENVER,  Aug.  31 -- U S WEST and the  Communications  Workers of  America  have
reached a  tentative  agreement  on a new  three-year  contract.  The  agreement
provides U S WEST employees with an attractive  wage and benefits  package,  and
innovative  efforts which will improve customer service -- including a voluntary
pay-for-performance  plan  that  rewards  employees  for  improving  service  to
customers.   Reductions  in  mandatory   overtime  are  provided  and  for  more
notification of schedule changes and flexibility on vacation time.

Over three years,  the  tentative  agreement  will  increase  wages by 10.9% and
pensions by 21%. The agreement  also provides for more flexible work  schedules,
and quality call monitoring.

The agreement ends a strike called by CWA at midnight  August 15, 1998. The pact
now must be ratified by employees,  who will begin  returning to work as soon as
possible, at their next scheduled tour of duty.