<PAGE>

                                                                   Exhibit 4.5

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                               CREDIT AGREEMENT

                                     Among

                    QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC.

                             BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
                            as Administrative Agent

                             BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
                             THE BANK OF NEW YORK
                           FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK
                                CITIBANK, N.A.
                              as Arranging Agents

                                      and

                                    LENDERS

                           Dated as of March 9, 2000

                                     With

                        BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
                as Lead Arranger and Sole Book Running Manager

                         FIRST UNION SECURITIES, INC.
                           BNY CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.
                           SALOMON SMITH BARNEY INC.
                                as Co-Arrangers

                         FIRST UNION SECURITIES, INC.
                             THE BANK OF NEW YORK
                           SALOMON SMITH BARNEY INC.
                           as Co-Syndication Agents


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>

                               TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>

<C>                <S>                                                                               <C>

                               ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS
            1.01.  Definitions.....................................................................   1
            1.02.  Accounting and Other Terms......................................................  26

                               ARTICLE II.  THE LOAN FACILITY
            2.01.  Loans...........................................................................  27
            2.02.  Making Advances.................................................................  27
            2.03.  Evidence of Debt for Borrowed Money.............................................  28
            2.04.  Optional Prepayments............................................................  28
            2.05.  Mandatory Prepayments...........................................................  29
            2.06.  Repayment.......................................................................  29
            2.07.  Interest........................................................................  30
            2.08.  Default Interest................................................................  30
            2.09.  Continuation and Conversion Elections...........................................  31
            2.10.  Fees............................................................................  32
            2.11.  Reduction of Commitments........................................................  32
            2.12.  Funding Losses..................................................................  33
            2.13.  Computations and Manner of Payments.............................................  33
            2.14.  Yield Protection; Changed Circumstances.........................................  34
            2.15.  Use of Proceeds.................................................................  36
            2.16.  Uncommitted Increase of the Loans...............................................  37
            2.17.  Rights of Borrower in Respect of Consequential Losses...........................  40
            2.18.  Rights of Borrower in Respect of Failure of any Lender to Fund..................  40

                               ARTICLE III  CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
            3.01.  Conditions Precedent to the Initial Advance.....................................  41
            3.02.  Conditions Precedent to All Advances............................................  42

                               ARTICLE IV  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
            4.01.  Representations and Warranties..................................................  43
            4.02.  Survival of Representations and Warranties......................................  50

                               ARTICLE V  GENERAL COVENANTS
            5.01.  Preservation of Existence and Similar Matters...................................  51
            5.02.  Business; Compliance with Applicable Law........................................  51
            5.03.  Maintenance of Properties.......................................................  51
            5.04.  Accounting Methods and Financial Records........................................  51
            5.05.  Insurance.......................................................................  51
            5.06.  Payment of Taxes and Claims.....................................................  51
            5.07.  Visits and Inspections..........................................................  52
            5.08.  Use of Proceeds.................................................................  52
            5.09.  Indemnity.......................................................................  52
            5.10.  Environmental Law Compliance....................................................  53
            5.11.  Restricted Subsidiary Designation...............................................  53
            5.12.  Fiber Capacity..................................................................  53
            5.13.  UCC Filings.....................................................................  54
</TABLE>

                                      ii
<PAGE>

<TABLE>

<C>                <S>                                                                               <C>
            5.14.  Sinking Funds and Defeasance....................................................  54
            5.15.  Reimbursement of Costs and Expenses.............................................  54

                               ARTICLE VI  INFORMATION COVENANTS
            6.01.  Quarterly Financial Statements and Information..................................  54
            6.02.  Annual Financial Statements and Information.....................................  55
            6.03.  Compliance Certificates.........................................................  55
            6.04.  Copies of Other Reports and Notices.............................................  55
            6.05.  Notice of Litigation, Default and Other Matters.................................  56
            6.06.  ERISA Reporting Requirements....................................................  57
            6.07.  Copies of Other Reports and Notices Regarding U S WEST Restricted Subsidiaries..  58

                               ARTICLE VII  NEGATIVE COVENANTS
            7.01.  Financial Covenants.............................................................  58
            7.02.  Debt for Borrowed Money.........................................................  59
            7.03.  Liens...........................................................................  62
            7.04.  Investments.....................................................................  63
            7.05.  Liquidation, Disposition and Merger.............................................  64
            7.06.  Guaranties; Contingent Liabilities..............................................  66
            7.07.  Restricted Payments.............................................................  66
            7.08.  Affiliate Transactions..........................................................  67
            7.09.  Compliance with ERISA...........................................................  68
            7.10.  Capital Stock...................................................................  68
            7.11.  Sale and Leaseback..............................................................  68
            7.12.  Sale or Discount of Receivables.................................................  69
            7.13.  Limitation on Restrictive Agreements............................................  69
            7.14.  Amendment of Material Agreements................................................  69
            7.15.  Name Changes....................................................................  70
            7.16.  Unrestricted Subsidiaries.......................................................  70
            7.17.  Limitation on IRU Agreements....................................................  70
            7.18.  Acquisitions, Creation of Subsidiaries..........................................  70

                               ARTICLE VIII  EVENTS OF DEFAULT
            8.01.  Events of Default...............................................................  72
            8.02.  Remedies upon Default...........................................................  76
            8.03.  Cumulative Rights...............................................................  76
            8.04.  Waivers.........................................................................  77
            8.05.  Performance by Administrative Agent or any Lender...............................  77
            8.06.  Expenditures....................................................................  77
            8.07.  Control.........................................................................  77
            8.08.  Compliance Concerning U S WEST Companies and Their Assets.......................  77

                               ARTICLE IX  THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
            9.01.  Authorization and Action........................................................  79
            9.02.  Administrative Agent's Reliance, Etc............................................  79
            9.03.  Bank of America, N.A. and Affiliates............................................  80
            9.04.  Lender Credit Decision..........................................................  80
            9.05.  Indemnification by Lenders......................................................  80
</TABLE>

                                      iii
<PAGE>

<TABLE>

<C>                <S>                                                                               <C>
            9.06.  Successor Administrative Agent..................................................  80

                               ARTICLE X  MISCELLANEOUS
           10.01.  Amendments and Waivers..........................................................  81
           10.02.  Notices.........................................................................  82
           10.03.  Parties in Interest.............................................................  84
           10.04.  Assignments and Participations..................................................  84
           10.05.  Sharing of Payments.............................................................  85
           10.06.  Right of Set-off................................................................  85
           10.07.  Costs, Expenses, and Taxes......................................................  85
           10.08.  Rate Provision..................................................................  86
           10.09.  Severability....................................................................  87
           10.10.  Exceptions to Covenants.........................................................  87
           10.11.  Counterparts....................................................................  87
           10.12.  GOVERNING LAW; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.............................................  87
           10.13.  ENTIRE AGREEMENT................................................................  88
           10.14.  Release of Conditional Early Release Unlimited Guaranty.........................  88
           10.15.  Confidentiality.................................................................  88

</TABLE>

                                      iv
<PAGE>

                                      v
<PAGE>

                                      vi
<PAGE>

                        Table of Schedules and Exhibits



                                         Schedules
                                         ---------
<TABLE>

<S>               <C>  <C>
Schedule 1.01     -    Terms and Conditions of Subordinated Debt

Schedule 1.02     -    Map of Nationwide Fiber Optic Communications Network
Schedule 1.03     -    List of certain U S WEST Guarantees to be assumed by the Borrower
Schedule 4.01(a)  -    Jurisdictions of Incorporation, Ownership and Capital Structure - the Borrower and its
                       Restricted Subsidiaries
Schedule 4.01(f)  -    Non-Compliance with FCC or any applicable PUC
Schedule 4.01(h)  -    Existing Litigation of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries
Schedule 4.01(p)  -    Environmental Disclosure
Schedule 4.01(q)  -    Description of Subsidiaries and Equity Investments
Schedule 7.02     -    Existing Debt and Liabilities of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries
Schedule 7.03     -    Existing Liens of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries
Schedule 7.04     -    Existing Investments of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries
Schedule 7.06     -    Existing Guaranties of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries
Schedule 7.08     -    Permitted Affiliate Non-Market Transactions
Schedule 7.16     -    Permitted Transactions among the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries and the Unrestricted
                  -    Subsidiaries

<CAPTION>
                                         Exhibits
                                         --------
<S>               <C>  <C>
Exhibit A         -    Form of Note
Exhibit B         -    Form of Compliance Certificate
Exhibit C         -    Form of Borrowing Notice
Exhibit D         -    Form of Conversion/Continuation Notice
Exhibit E         -    Form of Assignment and Acceptance
Exhibit F         -    Form of Conditional Early Release Unlimited Guaranty
Exhibit G         -    Form of Notice of Change of Senior Unsecured Debt Rating
Exhibit H         -    Form of Confidentiality Agreement for U S WEST Information

</TABLE>
                                      vii
<PAGE>

                                $1,000,000,000

                    QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC.

                               CREDIT AGREEMENT

     THIS CREDIT AGREEMENT is dated as of March 9, 2000, among QWEST
COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Borrower"), the
Lenders (as defined below) and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as a Lender and
Administrative Agent, with BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC, as Lead Arranger and
Sole Book Running Manager, FIRST UNION SECURITIES, INC., BNY CAPITAL MARKETS,
INC. AND SALOMON SMITH BARNEY INC. as Co-Arrangers, FIRST UNION SECURITIES,
INC., THE BANK OF NEW YORK and SALOMON SMITH BARNEY INC., as Co-Syndication
Agents,  BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., THE BANK OF NEW YORK, FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK
and CITIBANK, N.A. as Arranging Agents and the Co-Agents (as defined below).

                                 BACKGROUND.

     WHEREAS, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereby are
entering into a Credit Agreement which provides for one 364-day revolving credit
facility in the amount of $1,000,000,000, which has an uncommitted increase
possibility of $1,000,000,000 for a possible  maximum outstanding amount under
the agreement of $2,000,000,000.

                                 AGREEMENT.

     NOW, THEREFORE, for valuable consideration hereby acknowledged, the parties
hereto agree as follows:

                            ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS

     1.01.  Definitions.  As used in this Agreement, the following terms have
the respective meanings indicated below (such meanings to be applicable equally
to both the singular and plural forms of such terms):

     "Acquisition Date" means the date of consummation of the U S WEST
Acquisition.

     "Administrative Agent" means Bank of America, N.A., in its capacity as
Administrative Agent hereunder, or any successor Administrative Agent appointed
pursuant to Section 9.06 hereof.

     "Advance" means an advance made by a Lender to the Borrower pursuant to
Section 2.01 hereof, including Refinancing Advances.

     "Affiliate" means a Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more
intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled By or is Under Common Control with
another Person.

                                       1
<PAGE>

     "Agreement" means this Credit Agreement, as hereafter amended, modified,
increased, extended, restated or supplemented from time to time.

     "Annualized Operating Cash Flow" means the product of (a) Operating Cash
Flow for the most recently completed two fiscal quarters, times (b) two.

     "Applicable Commitment Fee Percentage" means the per annum commitment fees
set forth below for the Loans, as adjusted in each case according to the
circumstances set forth below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

           Senior                 Commitment
       Unsecured Debt           Fee Percentage
   Ratings of the Borrower
----------------------------------------------
<S>                            <C>

BB- / Ba3 or lower                       0.275%
----------------------------------------------
BB / Ba2                                 0.225%
----------------------------------------------
BB+ / Ba1                                0.200%
----------------------------------------------
BBB- / Baa3                              0.175%
----------------------------------------------
BBB / Baa2 or                            0.150%
higher
----------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

After each date which the Administrative Agent receives from the Borrower a
Notice of Change of Senior Unsecured Debt Rating in accordance with the terms of
Section 6.02(c) hereof, the Applicable Commitment Fee Percentage payable by the
Borrower shall be subject to reduction or increase, as applicable and as set
forth in the table above, three Business Days after receipt by the
Administrative Agent of each such notice.  In the event that the Senior
Unsecured Debt Rating of the Borrower has ratings differing (a) by up to one
level, the lowest Applicable Commitment Fee Percentage will apply and (b) by
more than one level, the Applicable Commitment Fee Percentage for the level
immediately below the highest Senior Unsecured Debt Rating will apply.  Except
as set forth in the following sentence, any such increase or reduction in the
Applicable Commitment Fee Percentages provided for herein shall be effective
three Business Days after receipt by Administrative Agent of such Notice of
Change of Senior Unsecured Debt Rating.  If any such Notice of Change of Senior
Unsecured Debt Rating is not timely delivered in accordance with the terms of
Section 6.02(c) hereof, the Applicable Commitment Fee Percentages shall be
determined as if the Senior Unsecured Debt Rating is BB- / Ba3 or lower,
effective from the date such Notice of Change of Senior Unsecured Debt Rating
should have been received until such time as such notice is received.

     "Applicable Law" means in respect of any Person, all provisions of Laws of
Tribunals applicable to such Person, and all orders and decrees of all courts
and arbitrators in proceedings or actions to which the Person in question is a
party.

     "Applicable Margin" means, (a) with respect to LIBOR Advances, 1.00% per
annum which may be adjusted based on the below listed situations, and (b) with
respect to Base Advances, 0.000% per annum, in each case which may be adjusted
based on the below listed situations as follows: after the date which the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders receive a Compliance Certificate required

                                       2
<PAGE>

to be delivered in accordance with the terms of Section 6.01 and Section 6.02
hereof, the Applicable Margin will be adjusted as set forth in the last
paragraph of this definition to the following per annum percentages set forth in
Column B below applicable in the following situations set forth in Column A
below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

               Column A                            Column B                 Column C
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Applicable                 Usage
                                                    Margin                 Premium**
                                                 Percentages*
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                           More than
                                                                        $667,000,000 is
                Senior                    Base Advances      LIBOR      drawn under the
            Unsecured Debt                                  Advances     Loans and the
        Rating of the Borrower                                           Existing Bank
                                                                            Facility
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                      <C>              <C>           <C>
BB- / Ba3 or lower                            0.500%        1.500%            0.000%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BB / Ba2                                      0.250%        1.250%            0.000%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BB+ / Ba1                                     0.000%        1.000%            0.000%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BBB- / Baa3                                   0.000%        0.750%            0.125%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BBB / Baa2 or                                 0.000%        0.500%            0.125%
higher
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
               *   At all times that the Total Leverage Ratio is greater than
               4.00 to 1.00, the Applicable Margin Percentage set forth in
               Column B above in each case shall be increased by .250%.

               ** If the sum of (i) the aggregate amount of outstanding Loans
               plus (ii) the aggregate amount of outstanding loans under the
               Existing Bank Facility exceeds $667,000,000, then the Applicable
               Margins set forth in Column B above for LIBOR Advances shall be
               increased by the percentage amount set forth in Column C above.

After the date which the Administrative Agent receives a Compliance Certificate
in accordance with the terms of Section 6.01 and Section 6.02 hereof, the
Applicable Margin payable by the Borrower shall be subject to reduction or
increase, as applicable and as set forth in the table above, (a) three Business
Days after receipt by the Administrative Agent of each Notice of Change of
Senior Unsecured Debt Rating, and (b) on a quarterly basis according to the
performance of the Borrower as tested by the Total Leverage Ratio.  In the event
that the Senior Unsecured Debt Rating of the Borrower has ratings differing (i)
by up to one level, the highest Senior Unsecured Debt Rating will apply and (ii)
by more than one level, the Applicable Margin for the level immediately below
the highest Senior Unsecured Debt Rating will apply.   Except as set forth in
the following sentence, any such increase or reduction in the Applicable Margin
provided for herein shall be effective (A) three Business Days after receipt by
Administrative Agent of each Notice of Change of Senior Unsecured Debt Rating
delivered in accordance with the terms of Section 6.02(c) hereof and (B) three
Business Days after receipt by the Administrative Agent of the applicable
financial statements and

                                       3
<PAGE>

corresponding Compliance Certificate delivered in accordance with Section
6.01(a) hereof. If financial statements, Compliance Certificate and/or a Notice
of Change of Senior Unsecured Debt Rating of the Borrower setting forth the
Total Leverage Ratio and the Senior Unsecured Debt Rating are not received by
the Administrative Agent by the dates required pursuant to Section 6.01 or 6.02
hereof (as such times may be extended by a waiver in accordance with the terms
hereof), the Applicable Margin shall be determined as if the Total Leverage
Ratio exceeds 4.00 to 1.00 and the Senior Unsecured Debt Rating is BB- / Ba3 or
lower, during such time and until such time as such financial statements,
Compliance Certificate and/or Notice of Change of Senior Unsecured Debt Rating
are received. For the final quarter of any fiscal year of the Borrower, at the
Borrower's option, the Borrower may provide the unaudited financial statements
of the Borrower, subject only to year-end adjustments, for the purpose of
determining the Total Leverage Ratio and adjusting the Applicable Margin.

     "Arranging Agents" means Bank of America, N.A., The Bank of New York, First
Union National Bank and CitiBank, N.A. and any other successor arranging agent
agreed to by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the other Arranging
Agents.

     "Assignment and Acceptance" means an assignment and acceptance entered into
by a Lender and an assignee in accordance with the terms and conditions of
Section 10.04 hereof, and accepted by Administrative Agent, in the form of
Exhibit E hereto.
---------

     "Auditor" means KPMG Peat Marwick, L.L.P., or other independent certified
public accountants selected by the Borrower and reasonably acceptable to
Arranging Agents.

     "Authorized Officer" means, with respect to the Borrower and its Restricted
Subsidiaries respectively, any of the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief
Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the General Counsel or the
Treasurer of the Borrower and any other officer designated as an Authorized
Officer by an Authorized Officer to the Administrative Agent in writing.

     "Backbone" means that portion of the Original Borrower's and the Original
Restricted Subsidiaries' nationwide fiber optic communications network
identified on Schedule 1.02 hereto, consisting of approximately 18,815 route
              -------------
miles of fiber optic cable (i) owned, constructed or acquired, or to be owned,
constructed or acquired, by the Borrower and the Original Restricted
Subsidiaries or (ii) related to which the Borrower has been granted an IRU, as
such Backbone may be adjusted or redirected through changes to designated routes
by the Borrower and the Original Restricted Subsidiaries from time to time as
the Borrower  and the Original Restricted Subsidiaries may deem advisable in its
reasonable business judgment.

     "Bank Affiliate" means the holding company of any Lender, or any wholly
owned direct or indirect subsidiary of such holding company or of such Lender.

     "Base Advance" means an Advance under the Loans bearing interest at the
Base Rate.

     "Base Rate" means a per annum interest rate equal to the lesser of (a) the
Highest Lawful Rate, and (b) the sum of the Applicable Margin plus the higher of
(i) a fluctuating rate per annum as shall be in effect from time to time
announced or published by Bank of America, N.A. as its prime rate, and which may
not necessarily be the lowest interest rate charged by Bank of America, N.A.,
and (ii) the Federal Funds Rate in effect at such time plus .50%.


                                       4
<PAGE>

     "Board of Directors" means the Board of Directors of the Borrower or any
committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such Board.

     "Borrowing" means a borrowing of the same Type made on the same day.

     "Borrowing Notice" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02(a) hereof.

     "Business Day" means a day on which banks are open for the transaction of
business as required by this Agreement in New York, New York, Denver, Colorado
and Dallas, Texas and, with respect to any LIBOR Advance, a domestic business
day in London, England and a day on which commercial banks are open for
international business in London, England (including dealings in United States
dollar deposits), and as otherwise relevant to the determination to be made or
the action to be taken.

     "Capital Expenditures" means capital expenditures, as defined in accordance
with GAAP.

     "Capital Leases" means capital leases and subleases, as defined in
accordance with GAAP.

     "Capital Stock" means, as to any Person, the equity interests in such
Person, including, without limitation, the shares of each class of capital stock
of any Person that is a corporation, each class of partnership interests
(including without limitation, general, limited and preference units) in any
Person that is a partnership, and each membership interest in any Person that is
a limited liability company.

     "Change of Control" means the occurrence of any one or more of the
following events: (i) any Person or group of Persons (within the meaning of
Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), other than
Philip F. Anschutz or the Anschutz Company or any of their Affiliates, shall
obtain ownership or control in one or more series of transactions of more than
fifty percent (50%) of the common stock of the Borrower or fifty percent (50%)
of the voting power of the Borrower entitled to vote on the election of members
of the board of directors of the Borrower, or (ii) any event which results in
the Borrower's failure to own and control, directly or indirectly, 100% of the
Capital Stock of any Guarantor, so long as such Guarantor is obligated under the
Conditional Early Release Unlimited Guaranty; provided that nothing in the U S
                                              -------------
WEST Acquisition shall constitute a Change of Control.

     "Closing Date" means the date hereof.

     "Co-Agents" means each of ABN AMRO Bank N.V., Dresdner Bank AG, New York
and Grand Caymen Branches, Royal Bank of Canada, The Bank of Nova Scotia, Bank
One, N.A., Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch and/or Cayman Island Branch and The
Industrial Bank of Japan, Limited,  New York Branch.

     "Co-Arrangers" means First Union Securities, Inc., BNY Capital Markets,
Inc. and Salomon Smith Barney Inc.

     "Co-Syndication Agents" means The Bank of New York, First Union Securities,
Inc. and Salomon Smith Barney Inc.

                                       5
<PAGE>

     "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any
reference to any provision of the Code shall include all successor provisions
thereto.

     "Commitment" means with respect to the Loans, $1,000,000,000, as it may be
increased from time to time in accordance with the terms of Section 2.16 hereof,
or as reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.11 hereof.

     "Commitment Fee" means the fee set forth in Section 2.10(a) hereof.

     "Communications Act" means, collectively, the Communications Act of 1934,
as amended by the Telecommunications Act of 1996, and as further amended, and
the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as from time to time in
effect.

     "Compliance Certificate" means a certificate of an Authorized Officer in
the form of Exhibit B hereto, (a) certifying that such individual has no actual
            ---------
knowledge that a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, or
if a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, a statement as
to the nature thereof and the action being taken or proposed to be taken with
respect thereto, (b) setting forth detailed calculations with respect to the
covenants described in Section 7.01 hereof, (c) certifying to the appropriate
Senior Unsecured Debt Rating, Applicable Margin and Applicable Commitment Fee
Percentage, (d) certifying as to consummated Permitted Acquisitions described in
Section 7.18 (d)(ii) hereof, (e) prior to and during the Waiver Period,
certifying as to any changes in Original Restricted Subsidiaries, Unrestricted
Subsidiaries that are not U S WEST Companies and  Qwest Material Subsidiaries
and (f) after the Waiver Period, certifying as to any changes in Original
Restricted Subsidiaries, Unrestricted Subsidiaries that are not U S WEST
Companies and Consolidated Material Subsidiaries.

     "Confidentiality Agreement" means a confidentiality agreement in favor of U
S WEST to be executed by Lenders wishing to receive confidential information
regarding U S WEST Companies prior to the Acquisition Date, substantially in the
form of Exhibit H attached hereto.
        ---------

     "Conditional Early Release Unlimited Guaranty" means the Guaranty, executed
in substantially similar form by the Guarantor, guarantying payment and
performance of the Obligations, substantially in the form of Exhibit F attached
                                                             ---------
hereto, as such agreement may be amended, modified, renewed or extended from
time to time, and each subsequent guaranty substantially (with or without the
conditional early release) in the form of Exhibit F hereto executed by any
                                          ---------
Person, as each such agreement may be amended, modified, renewed or extended
from time to time.

     "Consequential Loss" with respect to (a) the Borrower's payment of all or
any portion of the then-outstanding principal amount of a LIBOR Advance on a day
other than the last day of the related Interest Period, including, without
limitation, payments made as a result of the acceleration of the maturity of a
Note, (b) subject to Administrative Agent's prior consent, a LIBOR Advance made
on a date other than the date on which the Advance is to be made according to
Section 2.02(a) or Section 2.09 hereof to the extent such Advance is made on
such other date at the request of the Borrower, or (c) any of the circumstances
specified in Sections 2.04, 2.05, 2.06 and 2.11 hereof on which a LIBOR Advance
may cause a Consequential Loss to be incurred, means any actual out of pocket
loss, cost or expense incurred by any Lender as a result of the timing of the
payment or

                                       6
<PAGE>

Advance or in liquidating, redepositing, redeploying or reinvesting the
principal amount so paid or affected by the timing of the Advance or the
circumstances described in Sections 2.04, 2.05, 2.06 or 2.11 hereof, which
amount shall be the sum of (i) the interest that, but for the payment or timing
of Advance, such Lender would have earned in respect of that principal amount,
reduced, if such Lender is able to redeposit, redeploy, or reinvest the
principal amount, by the interest earned by such Lender as a result of
redepositing, redeploying or reinvesting the principal amount plus (ii) any
expense or penalty incurred by such Lender by reason of liquidating,
redepositing, redeploying or reinvesting the principal amount. Each
determination by each Lender of any Consequential Loss is, in the absence of
manifest error, presumptive evidence of the validity of such claim.

     "Consolidated Material Subsidiary" means on any date of determination after
the Waiver Period, any Restricted Subsidiary that generated in the most recently
completed 12 month period in excess of 10% of the consolidated Operating Cash
Flow of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries and "Consolidated Material
Subsidiaries" means, on any date of determination after the Waiver Period, the
smallest group of one or more Restricted Subsidiaries which in the aggregate
generated in the most recently completed 12 month period not less than 80% of
the consolidated Operating Cash Flow of the Borrower and its Restricted
Subsidiaries.

     "Consolidated Net Income" means, with respect to the Borrower and the
Restricted Subsidiaries, the net income of the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, determined in accordance with GAAP.

     "Consolidated Net Worth" means, with respect to the Borrower and the
Restricted Subsidiaries, the net worth of the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, determined in accordance with GAAP.

     "Contingent Liability" means, as to any Person, any obligation or Guaranty,
contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or having the economic
effect of guaranteeing any Debt or obligation of any other Person in any manner,
whether directly or indirectly, including without limitation any obligation of
such Person, direct or indirect, (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply
funds for the purchase or payment of) such Debt or to purchase (or to advance or
supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment of such Debt, (b)
to purchase Property or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such
Debt of its payment, or (c) to maintain the solvency, working capital, equity,
cash flow, fixed charge or other coverage ratio, or any other financial
condition of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay any
Debt or to comply with any agreement relating to any Debt or obligation, but
excluding endorsement of checks, drafts and other instruments in the ordinary
course of business, provided that this definition of "Contingent Liability"
                    -------------
shall not include Guaranties by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of the
Borrower of any obligations of the Borrower or any Wholly Owned Restricted
Subsidiary.

     "Continue," "Continuation" and "Continued" each refer to the continuation
pursuant to Section 2.09 hereof of a LIBOR Advance from one Interest Period to
the next Interest Period.

     "Control" or "Controlled By" or "Under Common Control" mean possession,
direct or indirect, of power to direct or cause the direction of management or
policies (whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or
otherwise); provided that, in any event any Person which beneficially owns (a)
            --------
25% or more (in number of votes) of the securities having ordinary voting power
for the election of directors of a corporation shall be conclusively presumed to
control
                                       7
<PAGE>

such corporation and (b) 25% or more of the interest in capital or profits of a
partnership shall be conclusively presumed to control such partnership.

     "Controlled Group" means all members of a controlled group of corporations
other than any U S WEST Company and all trades or businesses (whether or not
incorporated) other than any U S WEST Company which are under common control
with the Borrower, any Obligor, any Original Restricted Subsidiary or any
Unrestricted Subsidiary that is not a U S WEST Company and which, together with
Borrower, any Obligor, any Original Restricted Subsidiary or any Unrestricted
Subsidiary that is not a U S WEST Company, are treated as a single employer
under Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code.

     "Conversion or Continuance Notice" has the meaning set forth in Section
2.09(b) hereof.

     "Debt" means all obligations, contingent or otherwise, which in accordance
with GAAP are required to be classified on the balance sheet as liabilities, and
in any event including (without duplication) (a) Capital Leases, (b) Contingent
Liabilities that are required to be recorded in accordance with GAAP, (c)
liabilities secured by any Lien on any Property, regardless of whether such
secured liability is with or without recourse, and (d) installment payment non-
compete agreements.

     "Debt for Borrowed Money" means, with respect to any Person or Persons at
any date, without duplication, all Debt of such Person or Persons that
constitutes (a) all obligations of such Person or Persons for borrowed money,
letters of credit (or applications for letters of credit) or other similar
instruments, (b) all obligations of such Person or Persons evidenced by bonds,
debentures, notes or other similar instruments, excluding any surety or
performance bonds, (c) all obligations of such Person or Persons to pay the
deferred purchase price of property or services, but only if such deferral is in
excess of 90 days, provided that, trade accounts payable and other accrued
                   -------- ----
liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business shall not be considered
Debt for Borrowed Money, (d) all obligations under Capital Leases of such Person
or Persons, (e) installment payment non-compete agreements for such Person or
Persons, provided that when this definition is applicable to the Borrower and
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, only the amount by which all such non-
compete agreements for the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries when
aggregated together exceed $5,000,000, and (f) all Contingent Liabilities
relating to obligations of another Person (other than the Borrower or a Wholly
Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower with respect to Debt of another
Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary or the Borrower) of the type described in (a)
through (e) above.

     "Debtor Relief Laws" means applicable bankruptcy, reorganization,
moratorium, or similar Laws, or principles of equity affecting the enforcement
of creditors' rights generally.

     "Default" means any event specified in Section 8.01 hereof, whether or not
any requirement in connection with such event for the giving of notice, lapse of
time, or happening of any further condition has been satisfied.

     "Designated U S WEST Restricted Subsidiary" means U S WEST Communications,
Inc.

     "Disposition" and "Disposed" means any sale, lease, abandonment, transfer,
disposal, exchange or other transfer of ownership, leasehold interest or control
of any asset.

                                       8
<PAGE>

     "Distribution" means, as to any Person, (a) any declaration or payment of
any distribution or dividend (other than a common stock dividend or a dividend
in options, warrants or other rights to acquire common Capital Stock of a
Person) on, or the making of any pro rata distribution, loan, advance, or
investment to or in any holder of, any partnership interest or shares of Capital
Stock or other equity interest of such Person (or the establishment of a sinking
fund or otherwise setting aside of funds for any such purpose), or (b) any
purchase, redemption, or other acquisition or retirement for value of any shares
of partnership interest or Capital Stock or other equity interest of such Person
(or the establishment of a sinking fund or otherwise setting aside of funds for
any such purpose).

     "Environmental Claim" means any written notice by any Tribunal alleging
liability for damage to the environment, or by any Person alleging liability for
personal injury (including sickness, disease or death), resulting from or based
upon (a) the presence or release (including sudden or non-sudden, accidental or
non-accidental, leaks or spills) of any Hazardous Material at, in or from
property, whether or not owned by the Borrower or any of its Original Restricted
Subsidiaries, or (b) circumstances forming the basis of any violation, or
alleged violation, of any Environmental Law.

     "Environmental Laws" means the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act (42 U.S.C. (S)9601 et seq.) ("CERCLA"), the
Hazardous Material Transportation Act (49 U.S.C. (S)1801 et seq.), the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act (42 U.S.C. (S)6901 et seq.) ("RCRA"), the Federal
Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. (S)1251 et seq.), the Clean Air Act (42
U.S.C. (S)7401 et seq.), the Toxic Substances Control Act (15 U.S.C. (S)2601 et
seq.), and the Occupational Safety and Health Act (29 U.S.C. (S)651 et seq.)
("OSHA"), as such laws have been or hereafter may be amended or supplemented,
and any and all analogous federal, or state or local, Laws in effect from time
to time.

     "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended, and the rulings and regulations issued thereunder, as from time to time
in effect.

     "ERISA Affiliate" means any Person, other than a U S WEST Company, that for
purposes of Title IV of ERISA is a member of the Controlled Group of the
Borrower, any Obligor, any Original Restricted Subsidiary or any Unrestricted
Subsidiary that is not a U S WEST Company, or is under common control with
Borrower, any Obligor, any Original Restricted Subsidiary or any Unrestricted
Subsidiary that is not a U S WEST Company, within the meaning of Section 414(c)
of the Code, and the regulations and rulings issued thereunder.

     "ERISA Event" means (a) a reportable event, within the meaning of Section
4043 of ERISA, unless the 30-day notice requirement with respect thereto has
been waived by the PBGC with respect to a Plan, (b) the issuance by the
administrator of any Plan of a notice of intent to terminate such Plan, pursuant
to Section 4041(a)(2) of ERISA (including any such notice with respect to a plan
amendment referred to in Section 4041(e) of ERISA), (c) the withdrawal by the
Borrower, any Original Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower, or an ERISA
Affiliate from a Multiple Employer Plan during a Plan year for which it was a
substantial employer, as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA, (d) the failure
by the Borrower, any Original Restricted Subsidiary, or any ERISA Affiliate to
make a payment to a Plan required under Section 302 of ERISA, (e) the adoption
of an amendment to a Plan by the Borrower, an Original Restricted Subsidiary or
an ERISA Affiliate requiring the provision of security to such Plan, pursuant to
Section 307 of ERISA, or (f) the institution by the PBGC of proceedings to
terminate a Plan, pursuant to Section 4042 of ERISA, or

                                       9
<PAGE>

the occurrence of any event or condition that constitutes grounds under Section
4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to
administer, a Plan.

     "Event of Default" means any of the events specified in Section 8.01 of
this Agreement, provided there has been satisfied any requirement in connection
therewith for the giving of notice, lapse of time, or happening of any further
condition.

     "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from
time to time.

     "Existing Bank Facility" means that certain credit facility in the amount
of $1,000,000,000 initially made available to the Borrower on March 31, 1999, as
amended by that certain First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, among,
inter alia, the Borrower, Bank of America, N.A. as Administrative Agent and the
----- ----
lenders party thereto, as amended from time to time.

     "Existing Bank Facility Closing Date" means March 31, 1999.

     "Existing Bank Facility Documentation" means that certain First Amended and
Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of March 9, 2000, in the amount of
$1,000,000,000, among the Borrower, Bank of America, N.A. as Administrative
Agent and the other lenders defined therein and all other agreements and
documentation relating to the Existing Bank Facility, as amended from time to
time.

     "Existing Financing" means collectively, the Qwest 9.47% Senior Discount
Notes, the Qwest 10.875% Senior Notes, the Qwest 8.29% Senior Discount Notes,
the Qwest 7.50% Senior Notes, the Qwest 7.25% Senior Notes, the LCI Notes and
the Trol Transaction, in each case in effect on any relevant date of reference
and only to the extent that any indebtedness exists under any such documentation
on such date.

     "Existing Financing Documentation" means collectively, the Qwest 9.47%
Senior Discount Notes Documentation, the Qwest 10.875% Senior Notes
Documentation, the Qwest 8.29% Senior Discount Notes Documentation, the Qwest
7.50% Senior Notes Documentation, the Qwest 7.25% Senior Notes Documentation,
the LCI Notes Documentation and the Trol Transaction Documentation.

     "FCC" means the Federal Communications Commission, or any governmental
agency succeeding to the functions thereof.

     "Federal Funds Rate" means, for any period, a fluctuating interest rate per
annum equal for each day during such period to the weighted average of the rates
on overnight federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve
System arranged by federal funds brokers, as published for such day (or, if such
day is not a Business Day, for the next preceding Business Day) by the Federal
Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day which
is a Business Day, the average of the quotations for such date on such
transactions received by Administrative Agent from three federal funds brokers
of recognized standing selected by it.

     "Fee Letter" means that certain Fee Letter dated February 8, 2000, between
the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and all other fee letters executed
among the Borrower or any Lender[s]

                                      10
<PAGE>

relating to this Agreement and the Loans, as such letters may be amended,
modified, substituted, replaced, or increased from time to time.

     "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles applied on a
consistent basis.  Application on a consistent basis shall mean that the
accounting principles observed in a current period are comparable in all
material respects to those applied in a preceding period, except for new
developments or statements promulgated by the Financial Accounting Standards
Board and other changes in accounting methods permitted by generally accepted
accounting principles.

     "Guarantor" means LCI.

     "Guaranty" means a guaranty executed by any Person of the obligations of
another Person, or any agreement by which such Person assumes, guarantees,
endorses, contingently agrees to purchase or provide funds for the payment of,
or otherwise becomes liable upon, the obligation of any other Person, or agrees
to maintain the net worth or working capital or other financial condition of any
other Person, or otherwise assures any creditor or such other Person against
loss, including, without limitation, any comfort letter that has the effect of
assuring any such creditor against loss, or take-or-pay contract and shall
include without limitation, the contingent liability of such Person in
connection with any application for a letter of credit.

     "Hazardous Materials" means all materials subject to regulation under any
Environmental Law, including without limitation materials listed in 49 C.F.R.
(S) 172.101, Hazardous Substances, explosive or radioactive materials, hazardous
or toxic wastes or substances, petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos, or
material containing asbestos.

     "Hazardous Substances" means hazardous waste as defined in the Clean Water
Act, 33 U.S.C. (S) 1251 et seq., the Comprehensive Environmental Response
Compensation and Liability Act as amended by the Superfund Amendments and
Reauthorization Act, 42 U.S.C. (S) 9601 et seq., the Resource Conservation
Recovery Act, 42 U.S.C. (S) 6901 et seq., and the Toxic Substances Control Act,
15 U.S.C. (S) 2601 et seq.

     "Highest Lawful Rate" means at the particular time in question the maximum
rate of interest which, under Applicable Law, any Lender is then permitted to
charge on the Obligations.  If the maximum rate of interest which, under
Applicable Law, any Lender is permitted to charge on the Obligations shall
change after the date hereof, the Highest Lawful Rate shall be automatically
increased or decreased, as the case may be, from time to time as of the
effective time of each change in the Highest Lawful Rate without notice to the
Borrower.

     "Income Tax Expense" means the aggregate income Taxes accrued by the
Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for the relevant period of
determination.

     "Insufficiency" means, with respect to any Plan, the amount, if any, of its
unfunded benefit liabilities within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(18) of ERISA.

     "Interest Coverage Ratio" means, on any date of determination for the
Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, the ratio of (a) Operating Cash Flow
for the most recently completed 12 month period to (b) the aggregate amount of
cash Interest Expense actually paid during the most recently completed 12 month
period, provided that, for purposes of this calculation, Operating Cash
        -------------

                                      11
<PAGE>

Flow and Interest Expense shall be calculated as if all assets (including the
acquisition of Capital Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries) acquired on any date
during the period of determination were acquired on the first day in such period
of determination, and all assets (including the acquisition of Capital Stock of
Restricted Subsidiaries) sold on any date during the period of determination
were sold on the first day in such period of determination.

     "Interest Expense" means, for the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries
on a consolidated basis for any period of determination, the gross interest
expense for any period on Total Debt, determined in accordance with GAAP, minus
the sum of (a) interest income for such period, plus (b) to the extent not
included in the determination of such gross interest expense, upfront costs or
fees expended during such period in connection with the execution and delivery
of documentation relating to the Loan Papers.

     "Interest Period" means, with respect to any LIBOR Advance, the period
beginning on the date the Advance is made or continued as a LIBOR Advance and
ending one, two, three or six months thereafter (as the Borrower shall select),
provided, however, that:
--------  -------

          (a) the Borrower may not select any Interest Period that ends after
     any scheduled principal repayment date unless, after giving effect to such
     selection, the aggregate principal amount of LIBOR Advances having Interest
     Periods that end on or prior to such principal repayment date, shall be at
     least equal to the principal amount of Advances due and payable on and
     prior to such date;

          (b) whenever the last day of any Interest Period would otherwise occur
     on a day other than a Business Day, the last day of such Interest Period
     shall be extended to occur on the next succeeding Business Day, provided,
                                                                     --------
     however, that if such extension would cause the last day of such Interest
     -------
     Period to occur in the next following calendar month, the last day of such
     Interest Period shall occur on the next preceding Business Day;

          (c) whenever the first day of any Interest Period occurs on a day of
     an initial calendar month for which there is no numerically corresponding
     day in the calendar month that succeeds such initial calendar month by the
     number of months equal to the number of months in such Interest Period,
     such Interest Period shall end on the last Business Day of such succeeding
     calendar month; and

          (d) Interest Periods for LIBOR Advances must be six months or less.

     "Interest Rate Protection Agreement" means an interest rate swap, cap,
collar or similar interest rate protection agreement between the Borrower, any
Lender or any Bank Affiliate.

     "Investment" means any direct or indirect purchase or other acquisition of,
or a beneficial interest in, any Capital Stock or other securities of any other
Person, or any direct or indirect loan, advance, or capital contribution to or
investment in any other Person, including without limitation the incurrence or
sufferance of Debt or accounts receivable of any other Person that are not
current assets or do not arise from sales to that other Person in the ordinary
course of business.

     "IRU" means an indefeasible right to use fiber or telecommunications
capacity, including the right to use the related transport and network
equipment.

                                      12
<PAGE>

     "IRU Agreement" means an agreement pursuant to which an interest in an IRU
is sold or leased or otherwise transferred.

     "KPNQwest Joint Venture" means the KPNQwest Joint Venture as described on
Schedule 4.01(q) hereto.
-------- -------

     "Law" means any constitution, statute, law, ordinance, regulation, rule,
order, writ, injunction, or decree of any Tribunal.

     "LCI" means LCI International, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

     "LCI Notes" means those certain $350,000,000 7.25% Senior Notes Due 2007
issued by LCI.

     "LCI Notes Documentation" means that certain Indenture related to the LCI
Notes and all other agreements and documentation relating to the LCI Notes.

     "Lead Arranger" means Banc of America Securities LLC.

     "Lenders" means the lenders listed on the signature pages of this
Agreement, and each transferee which hereafter becomes a party to this Agreement
pursuant to Section 10.04 hereof or Section 2.16 hereof, or pursuant to an
amendment to this Agreement, in each case who is owed any portion of the
Obligations, and each Bank Affiliate that is owed any portion of the Obligations
pursuant to (i) an Interest Rate Protection Agreement or (ii) Section 2.14 or
Section 2.17 hereof, in each case for so long as each such Person is owed any
portion of the Obligations or is obligated to make any Advance hereunder.

     "Lending Office" means, with respect to each Lender, its branch or
affiliate, (a) initially, the office of each Lender, branch or affiliate
identified on each Lender's signature page hereto, and (b) subsequently, such
other office of each Lender, branch or affiliate as each Lender may designate to
the Borrower and Administrative Agent as the office from which the Advances of
each Lender will be made and maintained and for the account of which all
payments of principal and interest on the Advances and the Commitment Fee will
thereafter be made.  Lenders may have more than one Lending Office for the
purpose of making Base Advances and LIBOR Advances.

     "LIBOR Advance" means an Advance under the Loans bearing interest at the
LIBOR Rate.

     "LIBOR Lending Office" means, with respect to each Lender, the office
designated as its "LIBOR Lending Office" on each Lender's signature page hereto,
or such other office of Lender or any of its affiliates hereafter designated by
notice to the Borrower and Administrative Agent.

     "LIBOR Rate" means, for any LIBOR Advance for any Interest Period
therefore, a rate per annum equal to the lesser of (a) the Highest Lawful Rate
and (b) the sum of (i) the Applicable Margin, plus (ii) the rate per annum
(rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest one-one hundredth (1/100th) of
one percent (1%)) appearing on Telerate Page 3750 (or any successor page) as the
London interbank offered rate for deposits in United States dollars at
approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day
of such Interest Period.  If for any reason such rate is not available, the term
"LIBOR Rate" shall mean, for any LIBOR Advance for any Interest Period therefor,
the rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest one-one

                                      13
<PAGE>

hundredth (1/100th) of one percent (1%)) appearing on Reuters Screen LIBO page
as the London interbank offered rate for deposits in United States dollars at
approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day
of such Interest Period for a term comparable to such Interest Period; provided,
                                                                       --------
however, if more than one rate is specified on Reuters Screen LIBO Page, the
-------
applicable rate shall be the arithmetic mean of all such rates.

     "License" means, as to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of the
Borrower, any license, permit, consent, certificate of need, authorization,
certification, accreditation, franchise, approval, or grant of rights by, or any
filing or registration with, any Tribunal or third Person (including without
limitation, the FCC or any applicable PUC) necessary for such Person to own,
maintain, or operate its business or Property.

     "Lien" means any mortgage, pledge, security interest, encumbrance, lien, or
charge of any kind, any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any
lease in the nature thereof, and the filing of or agreement to give any
financing statement or other similar form of public notice under the Laws of any
jurisdiction (except for the filing of a financing statement or notice in
connection with an (a) operating lease or (b) the true consignment of goods to
the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary as consignee).

     "Litigation" means any proceeding, claim, lawsuit or arbitration, conducted
by or before any Tribunal or arbitrator, including without limitation
proceedings, claims, lawsuits, under or pursuant to any environmental,
occupational, safety and health, antitrust, unfair competition, securities, Tax,
or other Law, or under or pursuant to any contract, agreement, or other
instrument.

     "Loan Increase" means the aggregate amount of each increase in the Loans
hereunder in accordance with the terms of Section 2.16 hereof.

     "Loans" means the $1,000,000,000 364 day revolving loan made by the Lenders
in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and (a) each increase to such
revolving loan in accordance with Section 2.16 hereof and (b) any additional new
loan hereunder added in accordance with the terms of Section 2.16 hereof.

     "Loan Papers" means this Agreement, the Notes, the Conditional Early
Release Unlimited Guaranty, the Fee Letter, financing statements, any Interest
Rate Protection Agreement and related documents entered into by the Borrower
with any Lender or any Bank Affiliate, other fee letters, Assignment and
Acceptances, post-closing letters, all security agreements, pledges, mortgages,
deeds of trust, assignments, leasehold mortgages, leasehold deeds of trust,
collateral assignments and other agreements and documentation relating to the
Liens securing the Obligations, and all other documents, instruments,
agreements, or certificates executed or delivered from time to time by any
Person in connection with this Agreement or as security for the Obligations
hereunder, granting collateral or otherwise, as each such agreement may be
amended, modified, substituted, replaced or extended from time to time.

     "Majority Lenders" means, on any date of determination, any combination of
Lenders having collectively at least 51% of the aggregate amount of Advances
under this Agreement; provided, however, that if no Advances are outstanding
under this Agreement, such term means any combination of Lenders having
Specified Percentages equal to at least 51% of the aggregate Commitment.

                                      14
<PAGE>

     "Material Adverse Change" means any circumstance or event that (a) is
material and adverse to the financial condition, business, results of operations
or Properties of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole,
(b) materially and adversely affects the validity or enforceability of any
Material Loan Document or (c) causes an Event of Default.

     "Material Adverse Effect" means any circumstance or event that (a)
materially and adversely affects the financial condition, business, results of
operations or Properties of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries taken
as a whole or (b) materially and adversely affects the validity or
enforceability of any Material Loan Document.

     "Material Licenses" means those Licenses of the Borrower and its Restricted
Subsidiaries (whether FCC, PUC or otherwise) without which a Substantial Portion
of the Backbone will not be permitted to operate.   For purposes of this
definition of "Material Licenses", "Substantial Portion" means any portion of
the Backbone the failure of which to operate will have the effect of reducing
Operating Cash Flow for the Borrower and its Original Restricted Subsidiaries by
more than ten percent (determined by the most recently completed 12 month
period).

     "Material Loan Document" means any of this Agreement, each Note, the
Conditional Early Release Unlimited Guaranty, each Fee Letter, each Assignment
and Acceptance, each Interest Rate Protection Agreement entered into between any
Lender or any Bank Affiliate and the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, and
any other written agreement executed by and among the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary and the Administrative Agent and/or the Lenders and/or the Bank
Affiliates, in each case in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan
Papers from time to time during the term of this Agreement, as each may be
amended, modified, substituted, replaced or extended from time to time.

     "Maturity Date" means 364 days after the date hereof, or such earlier date
on which the total amount of outstanding Obligations are due and payable
(including, without limitation, whether by acceleration, scheduled reduction of
the Commitment to zero, mandatory or voluntary commitment reduction of the
Commitment to zero, installment payments or otherwise) and after which the
Commitment has been reduced to zero.

     "Maximum Amount" means the maximum amount of interest which, under
Applicable Law, a Lender is permitted to charge on the Obligations.

     "Multiemployer Plan" means a multiemployer plan, as defined in Section
4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which the Borrower, any Original Restricted Subsidiary
of the Borrower, or any ERISA Affiliate is making or accruing an obligation to
make contributions, or has within any of the preceding five plan years made or
accrued an obligation to make contributions, such plan being maintained pursuant
to one or more collective bargaining agreements.

     "Multiple Employer Plan" means a single employer plan, as defined in
Section 4001(a)(15) of ERISA, that (a) is maintained for employees of the
Borrower, any Original Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower, or any ERISA
Affiliate and at least one Person other than the Borrower, any Original
Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower and any ERISA Affiliate, or (b) was so
maintained and in respect of which the Borrower, any Original Restricted
Subsidiary of the Borrower, or any

                                      15
<PAGE>

ERISA Affiliate could have liability under Section 4064 or 4069 of ERISA in the
event such plan has been or were to be terminated.

     "Net Proceeds" means the gross cash proceeds received by the Borrower or
any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with, or as a result of, any Disposition
of any asset that is not a Permitted Asset Sale, minus (so long as each of the
following are estimated in good faith and certified to the Administrative Agent
in reasonable detail by an Authorized Officer) (a) actual taxes (estimated in
good faith by not less than three Responsible Officers) incurred as a result of
such Disposition (after giving effect to all tax benefits available to the
Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary), (b) reasonable and customary
transaction costs paid or payable by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary
that are related to such Disposition and payable to a Person other than an
Unrestricted Subsidiary or an Affiliate of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries,
and (c) any principal, interest, fees, expenses and other amounts paid or
payable within 30 days after the Disposition of any such assets in connection
with the repayment of indebtedness owed to a third Person that is not an
Affiliate of the Borrower or an Unrestricted Subsidiary, which such indebtedness
is secured by Liens on such assets to the extent such Liens are permitted by
Section 7.02(g), Section 7.02(h) or not prohibited by Section 7.03 hereof.

     "Note" means each Note of the Borrower evidencing Advances hereunder,
substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, together with any extension,
                             ---------
renewal or amendment thereof, or substitution therefor.

     "Notice of Change of Senior Unsecured Debt Rating" means that certain
Notice of Change in the Senior Unsecured Debt Rating in the form of Exhibit G
                                                                    ---------
hereto.

     "Obligations" means all present and future obligations, indebtedness and
liabilities, and all renewals and extensions of all or any part thereof, of the
Borrower and each other Obligor or Restricted Subsidiary to Lenders,
Administrative Agent arising from, by virtue of, or pursuant to this Agreement,
any of the other Loan Papers and any and all renewals and extensions thereof or
any part thereof, or future amendments thereto, all interest accruing on all or
any part thereof and reasonable attorneys' fees incurred by the Administrative
Agent and Arranging Agents for the preparation of this Agreement and
consummation of this credit facility, execution of waivers, amendments and
consents, and in connection with the enforcement or the collection of all or any
part thereof, and reasonable attorneys' fees incurred by the Lenders or any Bank
Affiliate in connection with the enforcement or the collection of all or any
part of the Obligations during the continuance of an Event of Default, in each
case whether such obligations, indebtedness and liabilities are direct,
indirect, fixed, contingent, joint, several or joint and several, provided that
                                                                  -------- ----
the definition of Obligations as used in this Agreement shall specifically
include (i) all amounts owed by any Obligor or any Restricted Subsidiary
pursuant to the terms of any Interest Rate Protection Agreement entered into by
the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary with the Administrative Agent, any
Lender or any Bank Affiliate, plus (ii) all amounts owed any Bank Affiliate in
accordance with the terms of Section 2.14 hereof or 2.17 hereof.  Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, "Obligations" includes all amounts
which would be owed by the Borrower, each other Obligor or Restricted Subsidiary
and any other Person (other than Administrative Agent or Lenders) to
Administrative Agent, Lenders or any Bank Affiliate under any Loan Paper, but
for the fact that they are unenforceable or not allowable due to the existence
of a bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding involving the Borrower,
any other Obligor, any Restricted Subsidiary or any other Person (including all
such amounts which would become due or would be secured but for the filing of
any petition in

                                      16
<PAGE>

bankruptcy, or the commencement of any insolvency, reorganization or like
proceeding of the Borrower, any other Obligor, any Restricted Subsidiary or any
other Person under any Debtor Relief Law).

     "Obligor" means (a) the Borrower, (b) the Guarantor so long as such
Guarantor is obligated under the Conditional Early Release Unlimited Guaranty,
(c) each other Person liable for performance of any of the Obligations and (d)
each other Person the Property of which secures the performance of any of the
Obligations.

     "Offering Memorandum" means that certain Confidential Offering Memorandum
dated February 2000 prepared in connection with the syndication of the Loans.

     "Operating Cash Flow" means, for the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries, for any period, the consolidated net income (loss) for such period
taken as a single accounting period, plus the sum of the following amounts for
such period to the extent included in the determination of such consolidated net
income or loss, without duplication:  (a) depreciation expense, (b) amortization
expense and other non-cash charges, expenses or losses reducing income, (c)
Interest Expense, (d) Income Tax Expense and (e) extraordinary losses, minus the
sum of (i) extraordinary gains and (ii) non-cash income.

     "Original Borrower" means the Borrower as it existed immediately prior to
the U S WEST Acquisition.

     "Original Restricted Subsidiary" means any Restricted Subsidiary that is
not a U S WEST Company.

     "Participating Lenders" shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section
2.16(a)(i) hereof.

     "PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, or any successor
agency or entity performing substantially the same functions.

     "Permitted Acquisition" means acquisitions made by the Borrower or any
Original Restricted Subsidiary of (a) assets (except Capital Stock) used in the
Telecommunications Business, including, without limitation, the internet,
internet protocol, web hosting and electronic commerce or (b) the Capital Stock
of a Person operating in the Telecommunications Business, including, without
limitation, the internet, internet protocol, web hosting and electronic
commerce, so long as any such Person becomes a Wholly Owned Restricted
Subsidiary.

     "Permitted Asset Sales" means (a) Dispositions of assets  in the ordinary
course of business and in accordance with the Borrower's past practices and (b)
Dispositions of equipment that is worn out, obsolete, damaged or otherwise
unsuitable for use in the business.

     "Permitted Investments" means, (a) so long as U S WEST has a  Senior
Unsecured Debt Rating of BBB- or Baa3 or higher immediately prior to the
consummation of such acquisition, the U S WEST Acquisition and (b) cash and non-
cash Investments made after November 29, 1999 (which such Investments are not
otherwise permitted by  subsections (a) through (f), or (h) through (n) of
Section 7.04 hereof), the sum of which in the aggregate for the Borrower and the
Restricted Subsidiaries under this definition does not exceed at any time
outstanding, $1,000,000,000.

                                      17
<PAGE>

Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent and at the time that any series of
Investments permitted under Section 7.04 hereof constitutes an acquisition of
the Capital Stock of a Person that becomes a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary
that is also permitted by the terms of Section 7.18 hereof or is acquired by a U
S WEST Restricted Subsidiary, such series of Investments shall no longer be
included as an Investment in determining the outstanding Investments for
inclusion in the basket set forth above.

     "Permitted Liens" means, as applied to any Person:

     (a) any Lien in favor of the Lenders to secure the Obligations hereunder;

     (b) (i) Liens on real estate for real estate Taxes not yet delinquent or
claims being diligently contested in good faith, (ii) Liens created by lease
agreements, licenses or similar interests, or by statute or common law to secure
the payments of rental, license amounts or similar amounts and other sums not
yet due thereunder, (iii) Liens on leasehold interests, licenses or similar
interests created by the lessor, licensee or grantor thereunder in favor of any
mortgagee of the leased premises, and (iv) Liens for Taxes, assessments,
governmental charges, levies or claims that are not yet delinquent or remain
payable without penalty or are being diligently contested in good faith by
appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP
shall have been set aside on such Person's books, but only so long as no
foreclosure, restraint, sale or similar proceedings have been commenced with
respect thereto;

     (c) Liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, laborers and materialmen
and other similar Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business for sums not
yet due or being contested in good faith, if such reserve or appropriate
provision, if any, as shall be required by GAAP shall have been made therefor,
and in addition to the foregoing, Liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics,
laborers and materialmen and other similar Liens incurred in the ordinary course
of business that in the aggregate do not secure liabilities in excess of
$10,000,000 outstanding at any one time;

     (d) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with
worker's compensation, unemployment insurance or similar legislation;

     (e) Easements, right-of-way, zoning restrictions, servitudes, matters of
public record, restrictions and other similar encumbrances on the use of real
property which do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the
business of such Person as being conducted;

     (f) Liens in respect of judgments or awards for which appeals or
proceedings for review are being prosecuted and in respect of which a stay of
execution upon any such appeal or proceeding for review shall have been secured,
provided that (i) such Person shall have established adequate reserves for such
-------------
judgments or awards, (ii) such judgments or awards shall be fully insured
(subject to deductibles) and the insurer shall not have denied coverage, or
(iii) such judgments or awards shall have been bonded to the satisfaction of the
Majority Lenders;

     (g) Any Liens existing on the Closing Date which are described on Schedule
                                                                       --------
7.03 hereto and not otherwise described elsewhere in the definition of Permitted
----
Liens, and Liens resulting from the permitted refinancing of the related Debt
for Borrowed Money of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, provided
                                                                    --------
that the Debt for Borrowed Money of the Borrower and its Restricted
----

                                      18
<PAGE>

Subsidiaries secured thereby shall not be increased and the Liens shall not
cover additional assets of the Borrower or any such Restricted Subsidiary;

     (h) Liens, deposits, or pledges to secure the performance of bids, tenders,
contracts (other than contracts for the payment of money), leases, public or
statutory obligations, surety, stay appeal, indemnity, performance or other
similar bonds, or other similar obligations arising in the ordinary course of
business;

     (i) Liens arising solely by virtue of any statutory or common law provision
relating to banker's liens, rights of set-off or similar rights and remedies as
to deposit accounts or other funds maintained with a creditor or deposit
accounts or other funds maintained with a creditor depository institution;
provided that (i) such deposit account is not a dedicated cash collateral
-------------
account and is not subject to restrictions against access by the Borrower in
excess of those set forth by regulations promulgated by the Board of Governors
of the Federal Reserve System or any governmental authority succeeding to any of
its principal functions, and (ii) such deposit account is not intended by the
Borrower to provide collateral to the depository institution; and

     (j) any UCC-1 or UCC-3 filing against the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary (i) which were filed in connection with Debt which has been repaid in
full and extinguished, (ii) with respect to which an Authorized Officer of the
Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary has not had actual knowledge of their
existence for more than 30 days, (iii) with respect to which any commitment,
obligation or liability of the Borrower or any such Restricted Subsidiary and
any such lender or creditor has been terminated and (iv) with respect to which
all documentation creating any lien, hypothecation or security interest related
to such UCC filing has been terminated whether pursuant to its terms or
otherwise.

     "Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness" means Debt of the applicable Obligor
or Original Restricted Subsidiary to the extent all of the net proceeds thereof
are used to refinance Debt of such Obligor or Original Restricted Subsidiary,
provided that after giving effect to the incurrence of such Debt, the Borrower
-------------
is in pro forma compliance with the terms of this Agreement, and provided
further that (i) the material terms of such new Debt are no more restrictive
than the Existing Financing Documentation (including, without limitation, the
maturity, financial covenants and restrictive covenants), (ii) the maturity of
such new Debt is no shorter than the Debt being refinanced, (iii) the priority
of any such new Debt shall remain unchanged (if such Debt to be refinanced is
Subordinated Indebtedness, the subordination provisions shall remain
substantially unchanged in the new refinanced Debt) and (iv) other than with
respect to the LCI Notes in which case the Borrower may become obligated on such
LCI Notes and the Guarantor may be released, the parties obligated on (or with
respect to) such Debt remain the same.

     "Person" means an individual, partnership, joint venture, corporation,
limited liability company, trust, Tribunal, unincorporated organization, and
government, or any department, agency, or political subdivision thereof.

     "Plan" means a Single Employer Plan or a Multiple Employer Plan.

     "Preferred Stock", as applied to the Capital Stock of any Person, means
Capital Stock of any class or classes (however designated) which is preferred as
to the payment of dividends or

                                      19
<PAGE>

distributions, or as to the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or
involuntary liquidation or dissolution of such Person, over shares of Capital
Stock of any other class of such Person.

     "Prohibited Transaction" has the meaning specified in Section 4975 of the
Code or Section 406 of Title I of ERISA.

     "Property" means all types of real, personal, tangible, intangible, or
mixed property, whether owned or hereafter acquired in fee simple or leased by
the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries.

     "PUC" means any state regulatory agency or body that exercises jurisdiction
over the rates or services or the ownership, construction or operation of any
long distance network facility or telecommunications systems or over Persons who
own, construct or operate a long distance network facility or telecommunications
systems, in each case by reason of the nature or type of the business subject to
regulation and not pursuant to laws and regulations of general applicability to
Persons conducting business in such state.

     "Quarterly Date" means the last Business Day of each March, June, September
and December during the term of this Agreement.

     "Qwest Material Subsidiary" means on any date of determination, any
Original Restricted Subsidiary that generated in the most recently completed 12
month period in excess of 10% of the Operating Cash Flow of the Original
Borrower and its Original Restricted Subsidiaries, and "Qwest Material
Subsidiaries" means the smallest group of one or more Original Restricted
Subsidiaries which in the aggregate generated in the most recently completed 12
month period not less than 80% of the Operating Cash Flow of the Original
Borrower and its Original Restricted Subsidiaries.

     "Qwest 8.29% Senior Discount Notes" means those certain 8.29% Senior
Discount Notes Due 2008 issued by the Borrower.

     "Qwest 8.29% Senior Discount Notes Documentation" means that certain
Indenture dated January 29, 1998 related to the Qwest 8.29% Senior Discount
Notes and all other agreements and documentation relating to the Qwest 8.29%
Senior Discount Notes.

     "Qwest 9.47% Senior Discount Notes" means those certain 9.47% Senior
Discount Notes Due 2007 issued by the Borrower.

     "Qwest 9.47% Senior Discount Notes Documentation" means that certain
Indenture dated October 15, 1997 related to the Qwest 9.47% Senior Discount
Notes and all other agreements and documentation relating to the Qwest 9.47%
Senior Discount Notes.

     "Qwest 7.50% Senior Notes" means those certain 7.50% Senior Notes Due 2008
issued by the Borrower.

     "Qwest 7.50% Senior Notes Documentation" means that certain Indenture dated
November 4, 1998 related to the Qwest 7.50% Senior Notes and all other
agreements and documentation relating to the Qwest 7.50% Senior Notes.

                                      20
<PAGE>

     "Qwest 10.875% Senior Notes" means those certain 10.875% Senior Notes Due
2007 issued by the Borrower.

     "Qwest 10.875% Senior Notes Documentation" means that certain Indenture
dated August 28, 1997 related to the Qwest 10.875% Senior Notes and all other
agreements and documentation relating to the Qwest 10.875% Senior Notes.

     "Qwest 7.25% Senior Notes" means those certain 7.25% Senior Notes Due 2008
issued by the Borrower.

     "Qwest 7.25% Senior Notes Documentation" means that certain Indenture dated
November 27, 1998 related to the Qwest 7.25% Senior Notes and all other
agreements and documentation relating to the Qwest 7.25% Senior Notes.

     "Refinancing Advance" means any Advance which is used to pay the principal
amount (or any portion thereof) of an Advance at the end of its Interest Period
and which, after giving effect to such application, does not result in an
increase in the aggregate amount of outstanding Advances.

     "Release Date" means the date on which the Notes have been paid, all other
Obligations due and owing have been paid and performed in full, and the
Commitment has been terminated.

     "Repayment Event" means (a) with respect to Debt for Borrowed Money of the
Borrower and the Original Restricted Subsidiaries, any event or circumstance
which meets any of the following criteria:  (i) causes any mandatory redemption,
prepayment or other repayment in full (excluding any scheduled repayments) of
any Debt for Borrowed Money of the Borrower and its Original Restricted
Subsidiaries or (ii) permits the holders of any Debt for Borrowed Money of the
Borrower and its Original Restricted Subsidiaries to redeem in full, to demand
the prepayment or repayment in full of such Debt for Borrowed Money and (b) with
respect to Debt for Borrowed Money of the U S WEST Restricted Subsidiaries, any
event or circumstance which meets any of the following criteria:  (i) causes any
mandatory redemption, prepayment or other repayment in full (excluding any
scheduled repayments) of any Debt for Borrowed Money of any U S WEST Restricted
Subsidiary or (ii) permits the holders of any Debt for Borrowed Money of any U S
WEST Restricted Subsidiary to redeem in full, to demand the prepayment or
repayment in full of any such Debt for Borrowed Money.

     "Responsible Officer" means with respect to the Borrower and its Restricted
Subsidiaries respectively, any Authorized Officer, any Executive Vice President
and any Senior Vice President.

     "Restricted Payments" means, for the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries of the Borrower, (a) any direct or indirect Distribution, dividend
or other payment on account of any equity interest in, or shares of, Capital
Stock or other securities, of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries (or
the establishment of any sinking fund or otherwise the setting aside of any
funds with respect thereto), except such dividends that are paid with common
equity securities of the Borrower; (b) any management, consulting or other
similar fees, or any interest thereon, payable by the Borrower or any of the
Restricted Subsidiaries to any Unrestricted Subsidiary and/or any other
Affiliate of the Borrower other than a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary (or
the establishment of any sinking fund or otherwise the setting aside of any
funds with respect thereto), but specifically excluding any consulting fees
payable by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to a Person that

                                      21
<PAGE>

is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary or an Affiliate of the Borrower, (c) loans or
advances to employees and/or shareholders of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries
of the Borrower; (d) payments of principal and/or interest, or the setting aside
of funds with respect thereto, of any Total Debt except the Obligations; (e)
dividends, distributions, redemptions, repurchases or defeasance of any
preferred stock issuance (or the setting aside of any funds to do so); and (f)
payments of any amounts, fees, advances, loans, investments or otherwise to any
Unrestricted Subsidiary, except Permitted Investments, except that payments by
the Borrower in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares as a result of the U S
WEST Acquisition shall not constitute a Restricted Payment.

     "Restricted Subsidiary" means, as of any date of determination, all those
Subsidiaries of the Borrower that are not Unrestricted Subsidiaries, provided
                                                                     --------
that, notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) all Subsidiaries designated by the
----
Borrower as Restricted Subsidiaries on the Existing Bank Facility Closing Date
shall remain Restricted Subsidiaries until the earlier of either (i) the
Obligations being repaid in full and the Commitments terminated or (ii) the re-
designation of such Restricted Subsidiary by the Borrower with the written
approval of Majority Lenders, and (b) this definition shall, after the
Acquisition Date but subject to Section 8.08 hereof, include all U S WEST
Restricted Subsidiaries.

     "Rights" means rights, remedies, powers, and privileges.

     "Senior Unsecured Debt Rating" means the Borrower's senior unsecured debt
rating as announced by Standard & Poor's Ratings Group, a Division of McGraw-
Hill, Inc. or Moody's Investors Service, Inc.

     "Single Employer Plan" means a single employer plan, as defined in Section
4001(a)(15) of ERISA, that is maintained for employees of the Borrower, any
Original Restricted Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate, other than a Multiple
Employer Plan of the Borrower.

     "Sole Book Running Manager" means Banc of America Securities LLC.

     "Solvent" means, as of any date of determination, with respect to any
Person, that on such date such Person is not "insolvent" (as that term is
defined in section 101 of the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978, as amended from
time to time and any successor statute), (b) such Person does not intend to, and
does not believe that it will, incur debts or liabilities beyond such Person's
ability to pay as such debts and liabilities mature, and (c) such Person is not
engaged in business or a transaction, and is not about to engage in business or
a transaction, for which such Person's Property would constitute an unreasonably
small capital.

     "Special Counsel" means the law firm of Donohoe, Jameson & Carroll, P.C.,
or such other individual or firm acting as special counsel to Administrative
Agent, as designated by Administrative Agent from time to time.

     "Specified Change of Control" means the occurrence of either of the
following events:  (a) with respect to Debt for Borrowed Money of the Borrower
and the Original Subsidiaries, any event which constitutes any "change of
control" or "change in control" as defined in (i) any of the Existing Financing
Documentation or (ii) any other instrument evidencing any then outstanding and
unpaid Debt for Borrowed Money of the Borrower and the Original Restricted
Subsidiaries in excess of $25,000,000, or (b) with respect to Debt for Borrowed
Money of the U S WEST Restricted Subsidiaries, any event which constitutes any
"change of control" or "change in control" as defined

                                      22
<PAGE>

in any of the U S WEST Financing Documentation evidencing any then outstanding
and unpaid Debt for Borrowed Money of the U S WEST Restricted Subsidiaries in
excess of $100,000,000.

     "Specified Percentage" means, as to any Lender, the percentage indicated
beside its name on the signature pages hereof designated as its Specified
Percentage, or as adjusted or specified (i) in any Assignment and Acceptance,
(ii) in any amendment to this Agreement, or (iii) in connection with any
increase in the Loans effected in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.16
hereof.

     "Subordinated Indebtedness" means Debt of the Borrower that is unsecured
and subordinated to the Obligations, such Debt in each case (a) to be pursuant
to the terms and conditions set forth on Schedule 1.01 hereto and (b) to be
                                         -------------
pursuant to documentation containing material terms and conditions no more
onerous or restrictive than this Agreement and the Material Loan Documents.

     "Subsidiary" of any Person means any corporation, limited liability
company, partnership, joint venture, trust or estate of which (or in which) more
than 50% of:

          (a) the outstanding Capital Stock having voting power to elect a
     majority of the board of directors of such corporation (irrespective of
     whether at the time Capital Stock of any other class or classes of such
     corporation shall or might have voting power upon the occurrence of any
     contingency),

          (b) the interest in the capital or profits of such partnership or
     joint venture, or

          (c) the beneficial interest of such trust or estate,

is at the time directly or indirectly owned by such Person, by such Person and
one or more of its Subsidiaries or by one or more of such Person's Subsidiaries.

     "Tangible Assets" means, with respect to any Person on any date of
determination, the tangible assets of such Person and the tangible assets of the
specified Subsidiaries of such Person, in each case determined in accordance
with GAAP on such date.

     "Taxes" means all taxes, assessments, imposts, fees, or other charges at
any time imposed by any Laws or Tribunal.

     "Telecommunications Business" means the business of (i) transmitting, or
providing services relating to the transmission of, voice, data or video through
owned or leased transmission facilities, (ii) constructing, creating, developing
or marketing communications related network equipment, software and other
devices for use in a telecommunications business, or (iii) evaluating,
participating in or pursuing any other activity or opportunity that is primarily
related to those identified in (i) or (ii) above, provided that the
                                                  -------------
determination of what constitutes a telecommunications business under this
definition shall be made in good faith by the Board of Directors.

     "Total Debt" means all Debt for Borrowed Money of the Borrower and its
Restricted Subsidiaries which would be shown on a consolidated balance sheet in
accordance with GAAP, including, without limitation for the Borrower and the
Restricted Subsidiaries, (a) Capital Lease obligations, (b) Debt of any other
Person secured by a Lien on the property of the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary in an amount equal to the lesser of (i) such Debt of such Person and
(ii) the

                                      23
<PAGE>

value of such pledged property, (c) Contingent Liabilities to the extent any
such Contingent Liabilities constitute Debt for Borrowed Money of the Borrower
and its Restricted Subsidiaries, (d) Withdrawal Liability and (e) overdue
interest on any Debt for Borrowed Money of the Borrower and its Restricted
Subsidiaries (but not accrued interest that is not overdue).

     "Total Leverage Ratio" means, on any date of determination, the ratio of
(a) Total Debt on such date to (b) Annualized Operating Cash Flow, provided that
                                                                   -------------
(i) the calculation of Total Debt for purposes of the Total Leverage Ratio will
be net of the sum of any cash balances in excess of $10,000,000 and (ii) for
purposes of this calculation, Operating Cash Flow shall be calculated as if all
assets (including the acquisition of Capital Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries)
acquired on any date during the period of determination were acquired on the
first day in such period of determination, and all assets (including the
acquisition of Capital Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries) sold on any date during
the period of determination were sold on the first day in such period of
determination.

     "Tribunal" means any state, commonwealth, federal, foreign, territorial, or
other court or government body, subdivision, agency, department, commission,
board, bureau, or instrumentality of a governmental body.

     "TROL Transaction" means that certain synthetic lease transaction pursuant
to the TROL Transaction Documentation.

     "TROL Transaction Documentation" means that certain (1) Trust Agreement,
dated as of November 15, 1996, between Bank of America, N.A. (formerly
NationsBank, N.A., successor by merger to NationsBank  of Texas, N.A.), The
Industrial Bank of Japan, Ltd., The Bank of New York, The Bank of Nova Scotia,
PNC Leasing Corp. and Bank One, N.A. (formerly The First National Bank of
Chicago) each as holders, and First Security Bank, National Association, as the
Owner Trust, (2) that certain Participation Agreement, dated as of November 15,
1996, among LCI, as the Construction Agent and as the Lessee, First Security
Bank, National Association, as the Owner Trustee, the various banks and lending
institutions which are parties thereto as holders, the various banks and lending
institutions which are parties thereto from time to time, as the lenders and
Bank of America, N.A. (formerly NationsBank, N.A.) as the agent for the lenders,
(3) that certain Credit Agreement dated as of November 15, 1996 among First
Security Bank, National Association, as the owner trustee as the borrower the
several lenders from time to time party thereto and Bank of America, N.A.
(formerly NationsBank, N.A.), as the agent, (4) those certain Tranche A Notes,
each dated as of November 15, 1996, payable to the order of Bank of America,
N.A. (formerly NationsBank, N.A.), The Industrial Bank of Japan, Ltd., The Bank
of New York, The Bank of Nova Scotia, Bank One, N.A. (formerly, The First
National Bank of Chicago) and PNC Leasing Corp., respectively,  (5) that certain
Unconditional Guaranty Agreement dated as of November 15, 1996 made by LCI as
guarantor in favor of Bank of America, N.A. (formerly NationsBank, N.A.), as
agent for the ratable benefit of the Tranche A lenders, (6) those certain
Tranche B Notes, each dated as of November 15, 1996, payable to the order of
Bank of America, N.A. (formerly NationsBank, N.A.), The Industrial Bank of
Japan, Ltd., The Bank of New York, The Bank of Nova Scotia, Bank One, N.A.
(formerly The First National Bank of Chicago) and PNC Leasing Corp.,
respectively, and (7) all such other documents, receipts, deeds of trust,
security agreements and other agreements and certificates (including, without
limitation, certificates of trust) executed in connection with the foregoing
agreements, in each case as each such agreement, receipt or other document or
certificate has been or shall be amended, extended, waived or modified from time
to time as permitted by the terms of this Agreement.

                                      24
<PAGE>

     "Type" refers to the distinction between Advances bearing interest at the
Base Rate and LIBOR Rate.

     "UCC" means the Uniform Commercial Code as adopted in the State of New
York.

     "Unrestricted Subsidiary" means those Subsidiaries of the Borrower that are
designated in writing to the Administrative Agent and each Lender by the
Borrower as Unrestricted Subsidiaries and all U S WEST Unrestricted
Subsidiaries, provided that no Restricted Subsidiary existing on the Existing
              -------------
Bank Facility Closing Date may be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary
without the prior written consent of Majority Lenders.  Each newly formed or
acquired Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be effective as of the date of formation
or acquisition, respectively.

     "U S WEST" means U S WEST, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

     "U S WEST Acquisition" means that certain acquisition and merger by the
Borrower of U S WEST in accordance with the terms of that certain Agreement and
Plan of Merger, dated as of July 18, 1999 between the Borrower and U S WEST, as
such agreement may be amended, modified, renewed or extended from time to time.

     "U S WEST Company" means any of U S WEST and its Subsidiaries.

     "U S WEST Debt" means all outstanding and unpaid Debt for Borrowed Money of
U S WEST and the U S WEST Restricted Subsidiaries from time to time, and any
permitted refinancings, extensions, modifications and renewals thereof, provided
that, except for the U S WEST Guarantees, in no event shall the Borrower or any
Original Restricted Subsidiary be obligated on such Debt for Borrowed Money.

     "U S WEST Default" means any breach, default, event of default or failure
to comply, under or as defined in, any of the U S WEST Financing Documentation,
in each case only so long as such breach, default, event of default or such
failure shall continue after the applicable grace period and either (i) permits
the holders thereof to accelerate such Debt evidenced thereby in a principal
amount then outstanding and unpaid in excess of $100,000,000, or (ii) results in
a Repayment Event with respect to Debt evidenced thereby in a principal  amount
then outstanding and unpaid in excess of $100,000,000.

     "U S WEST Financing Documentation" means all agreements, instruments and
other documentation evidencing and/or in connection with all U S WEST Debt, as
such agreements, instruments and other documentation may be amended, modified,
waived, refinanced, replaced, renewed or extended from time to time.

     "U S WEST Guarantees" means all Guaranties of Debt of the U S WEST
Restricted Subsidiaries executed by U S WEST, as each such Guarantee may be
amended, modified, renewed or extended from time to time.  To the actual
knowledge of an Authorized Officer, all U S WEST Guarantees in  effect on the
Closing Date are listed on Schedule 1.03 hereto.
                           -------------

     "U S WEST Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness" means Debt of a U S WEST
Restricted Subsidiary to the extent all of the net proceeds thereof are used to
refinance U S WEST Debt of a

                                      25
<PAGE>

U S WEST Restricted Subsidiary, provided that after giving effect to the
                                -------------
incurrence of such Debt, the Borrower is in pro forma compliance with the terms
of this Agreement, and provided further that (i) the parties obligated on (or
with respect to) such Debt do not include the Borrower or any Original
Restricted Subsidiary and (ii) the collateral and/or security for such Debt does
not include any Properties or assets of the Borrower or any of the Original
Restricted Subsidiaries.

     "U S WEST Restricted Subsidiary" means, as of any date of determination
after the date of the U S WEST Acquisition, U S WEST and all the Subsidiaries of
U S WEST that are not U S WEST Unrestricted Subsidiaries, provided that, on and
                                                          -------------
after the Acquisition Date, the Designated U S WEST Restricted Subsidiary shall
remain a U S WEST Restricted Subsidiary until the earlier of either (i) the
Obligations being repaid in full and the Commitments terminated or (ii) the re-
designation of such U S WEST Restricted Subsidiary by the Borrower with the
written approval of Majority Lenders.

     "U S WEST Unrestricted Subsidiary" means, those Subsidiaries of U S WEST
that are designated in writing to the Administrative Agent and each Lender by
the Borrower as U S WEST Unrestricted Subsidiaries from time to time, provided
                                                                      --------
that the Designated U S WEST Restricted Subsidiary may not be designated as a
----
U S WEST Unrestricted Subsidiary without the prior written consent of Majority
Lenders.  Each newly formed or acquired U S WEST Unrestricted Subsidiary shall
be effective as of the date of formation or acquisition, respectively.

     "Voting Stock" of a Person means all classes of Capital Stock or other
interests (including partnership interests) of such Person then outstanding and
normally entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote
in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof.

     "Waiver Period" means the period beginning the Acquisition Date and
continuing until the end of the Borrower's second full fiscal quarter that
commences after such date.

     "Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary" means, as of any date of
determination, a Restricted Subsidiary that is owned 100%, directly or
indirectly, by the Borrower, provided that, with respect to foreign Subsidiaries
                             -------------
of the Borrower, "Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary" shall also include those
foreign Subsidiaries of the Borrower that are 99% or above owned directly or
indirectly by the Borrower.

     "Withdrawal Liability" has the meaning given such term under Part I of
Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.

     "Year 2000 Problem" means the risk that computer applications and devices
containing imbedded computer chips used by the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries (or their respective customers and vendors) may be unable to
recognize and perform properly date-sensitive functions involving certain dates
prior to and any date after December 31, 1999.

     1.02.  Accounting and Other Terms.  All accounting terms used in this
Agreement which are not otherwise defined herein shall be construed in
accordance with GAAP on a consolidated basis for the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries, unless otherwise expressly stated herein (acknowledging that
excluding the Unrestricted Subsidiaries is not in accordance with GAAP).
References herein to one gender shall be deemed to include all other genders.
Except where the context otherwise requires, (a) definitions imparting the
singular shall include the plural and vice versa and (b) all

                                      26
<PAGE>

references to time are deemed to refer to New York time. In any calculation made
hereunder, including, without limitation, calculations made under Section 7.01
hereof, to the extent that any such calculations are made in reliance upon
financial information supplied to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in
accordance with the terms hereof and such information is later corrected or
changed in any manner (pursuant to an audited statement or otherwise), all such
calculations made in accordance with the terms hereof shall be changed and
effective retroactively as if the correct information had been delivered
originally.

                        ARTICLE II.  THE LOAN FACILITY

     2.01.  Loans.  Each Lender severally agrees, on the terms and subject to
the conditions hereinafter set forth, to make Advances available to the Borrower
on a Business Day during the period from the Closing Date to the Maturity Date,
in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed at any time outstanding such
Lender's Specified Percentage of the difference between the Commitment and the
sum of Advances then outstanding.  Subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, until the Maturity Date, the Borrower may borrow, repay and reborrow
the Advances; provided, however, that at no time shall the sum of all
              --------  -------
outstanding Advances exceed the Commitment.

     2.02.  Making Advances.

     (a   Advances.  Each Borrowing of Advances shall be made upon the written
notice of the Borrower, received by Administrative Agent not later than (i)
12:00 p.m. central standard time three Business Days prior to the date of the
proposed Borrowing, in the case of Advances which are LIBOR Advances and (ii)
12:00 p.m. central standard time on the date of such Borrowing, in the case of
Advances which are Base Advances.  Each such notice of a Borrowing (a "Borrowing
Notice") shall be by telecopy or telephone, promptly confirmed by letter, in
substantially the form of Exhibit C hereto specifying therein:
                          ---------

               (i)   the date of such proposed Borrowing, which shall be a
     Business Day;

               (ii)  the Type of Advances of which the Borrowing is to be
     comprised;

               (iii) the amount of such proposed Borrowing which shall not
     exceed the unused portion of the Commitment and shall (A) in the case of a
     Borrowing of Base Advances, be in an amount of not less than $2,000,000 or
     an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof (or any lesser amount
     if such amount is the remaining undrawn portion under the Commitment), and
     (B) in the case of a Borrowing of LIBOR Advances, be in an amount of not
     less than $5,000,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess
     thereof; and

               (iv)  if the Borrowing is to be comprised of LIBOR Advances, the
     duration of the initial Interest Period applicable to such Advances.

If the Borrowing Notice fails to specify the duration of the initial Interest
Period for any Borrowing or Refinancing Advance, as applicable, comprised of
LIBOR Advances, such Interest Period shall be one month.  Administrative Agent
shall promptly notify Lenders of each such notice.  Each Lender shall, before
1:00 p.m. on the date of each Advance under the Loans hereunder (other than

                                      27
<PAGE>

a Refinancing Advance), make available to Administrative Agent, at its office at
Bank of America Plaza, 901 Main Street, Dallas, Texas 75202, such Lender's
Specified Percentage of the aggregate Advance requested to be made on that day
in immediately available funds.

     (b   Availability of Funds.  Unless any applicable condition specified in
Article III has not been satisfied, Administrative Agent will make the funds
promptly available to the Borrower (other than with respect to a Refinancing
Advance) by either (i) wiring such amounts pursuant to any wiring instructions,
or (ii) depositing such amount in the account of the Borrower at the
Administrative Agent, in each case as specified by the Borrower to the
Administrative Agent in writing.

     (c   Number of Interest Periods and Maximum Borrowings.  After giving
effect to any Borrowing, (i) there shall not be more than seven different
Interest Periods in effect and (ii) the aggregate principal amount of
outstanding Advances shall not exceed the Commitment.

     (d   Interest Period Limitations.  No Interest Period applicable to any
Advance shall extend beyond the Maturity Date.

     (e   Reliance by Administrative Agent. Unless a Lender shall have notified
Administrative Agent prior to the date of any Advance that it will not make
available its Specified Percentage of any Advance, Administrative Agent may
assume that such Lender has made the appropriate amount available in accordance
with Section 2.02(a) hereof, and Administrative Agent may, in reliance upon such
assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount.  If and to
the extent any Lender shall not have made such amount available to
Administrative Agent, such Lender and the Borrower severally agree to repay to
Administrative Agent immediately on demand such corresponding amount together
with interest thereon, from the date such amount is made available to the
Borrower until the date such amount is repaid to Administrative Agent, at (i) in
the case of the Borrower, the Base Rate, and (ii) in the case of such Lender,
the Federal Funds Rate.

     (f   Failure by Lender to Make Advance.  The failure by any Lender to make
available its Specified Percentage of any Advance hereunder shall not relieve
any other Lender of its obligation, if any, to make available its Specified
Percentage of any Advance.  In no event, however, shall any Lender be
responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make available any portion of
any Advance.

     (g   Indemnification. The Borrower shall indemnify each Lender against any
Consequential Loss incurred by each Lender as a result of (i) any failure to
fulfill, on or before the date specified for an Advance, the conditions to the
Advance set forth herein (including a Refinancing Advance) or (ii) the
Borrower's requesting that an Advance (including a Refinancing Advance) not be
made on the date specified in the Borrowing Notice.

     2.03.  Evidence of Debt for Borrowed Money.  The Advances made by each
Lender under the Loans shall be evidenced by a Note in the amount of such
Lender's Specified Percentage of the Commitment.  The Administrative Agent's and
each Lender's records shall be presumptive evidence as to amounts owed
Administrative Agent and such Lender under the Notes and this Agreement.

     2.04.  Optional Prepayments.

                                      28
<PAGE>

     (a) The Borrower may, upon at least two Business Days prior written notice
to Administrative Agent stating the proposed date and aggregate principal amount
of the prepayment, prepay the outstanding principal amount of any Advances in
whole or in part, together with accrued interest to the date of such prepayment
on the principal amount of LIBOR Advances prepaid without premium or penalty
other than any Consequential Loss; provided, however, that in the case of a
                                   --------  -------
prepayment of a Base Advance, the notice of prepayment may be given by telephone
by 12:00 p.m. central standard time on the date of prepayment.  Each partial
prepayment shall, in the case of Base Advances under the Loans, be in an
aggregate principal amount of not less than $100,000 or a larger integral
multiple of $50,000 in excess thereof and, in the case of LIBOR Advances under
the Loans, be in an aggregate principal amount of not less than $500,000 or a
larger integral multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof.  If any notice of
prepayment is given, the principal amount stated therein, together with accrued
interest on the amount of LIBOR Advances prepaid and the amount, if any, due
under Section 2.12 and Section 2.14 hereof, shall be due and payable on the date
specified in such notice unless the Borrower revokes its notice, provided that,
                                                                 -------------
if the Borrower revokes its notice of prepayment prior to such date specified,
the Borrower shall reimburse the Administrative Agent for the account of all
Lenders for all Consequential Losses suffered by each Lender as a result of the
Borrower's failure to prepay.  A certificate of each Lender claiming
compensation under this Section 2.04(a), setting forth in reasonable detail the
calculation of the additional amount or amounts to be paid to it hereunder shall
be presumptive evidence of the validity of such claim.

     (b) All prepayments made pursuant to this Section 2.04 shall be first
applied to Base Advances then to LIBOR Advances, all without premium or penalty,
except the Borrower must pay together with any such prepayments, any
Consequential Losses.

     2.05.  Mandatory Prepayments.

     (a) Asset Sales and Investments.  To the extent that the Borrower or any of
the Restricted Subsidiaries consummates any Disposition of any asset or any of
its Properties except (i) Dispositions consummated in accordance with the terms
of Section 7.05(a)(i) hereof and (ii) if there exists no Default or Event of
Default both before and after giving effect to any such Disposition,
Dispositions consummated in accordance with the other terms and provisions of
Section 7.05(a) hereof (other than Section 7.05(a)(i) hereof), then the Borrower
shall immediately use or cause to be used 100% of the Net Proceeds of any such
transaction received by or allocated to the Borrower or such Restricted
Subsidiary as the case may be, to repay the Obligations under the Loans except
to the extent that such Net Proceeds are ultimately reinvested within a 12 month
period after any such asset Disposition, in assets used in the
Telecommunications Business, including, without limitation, the internet,
internet protocol, web hosting or electronic commerce of the Borrower or any of
the Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiaries, acquisitions permitted under Section
7.18 hereof or Investments permitted under Section 7.04 hereof.

     (b) Mandatory Prepayments, Generally.  All prepayments made pursuant to
this Section 2.05 shall be first applied to Base Advances then to LIBOR
Advances, all without premium or penalty, except the Borrower must pay together
with such prepayments, any accrued interest on LIBOR Advances repaid by such
prepayments and any Consequential Losses.

     2.06.  Repayment.

                                      29
<PAGE>

     (a) LIBOR Advances.  The principal amount of each LIBOR Advance is due and
payable on the last day of the applicable Interest Period, which principal
payment may be made by means of a Refinancing Advance in accordance with the
terms of Section 2.09 hereof (and subject to the other provisions of this
Agreement).

     (b) Commitment Reduction.  On the date of a reduction of the Commitment
pursuant to Section 2.11 hereof, the aggregate amount of outstanding Advances in
excess of the Commitment as reduced shall in each case be immediately due and
payable.  Each such principal repayment may not be made by means of Refinancing
Advances.

     (c) Maturity Date.  All outstanding Advances under the Loans and all other
Obligations shall be due and payable in full on the Maturity Date.

     (d) Repayments, Generally.  Any repayments made pursuant to this Section
shall be without premium or penalty, except the Borrower must pay together with
any such prepayments, any Consequential Losses.  Repayment of Advances shall
be applied to Base Advances first, and then to LIBOR Advances.

     2.07.  Interest.  Subject to Section 2.08 and Section 10.08 hereof, the
Borrower shall pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Advance from
the date of such Advance until such principal shall be paid in full, at either
the Base Rate or the LIBOR Rate, as set forth in subsection (a) or (b) below, as
selected by the Borrower in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof and as follows:

           (a) Base Advances.  Base Advances shall bear interest at a rate per
     annum equal to the Base Rate as in effect from time to time.  If the amount
     of interest payable in respect of any interest computation period is
     reduced to the Highest Lawful Rate and the amount of interest payable in
     respect of any subsequent interest computation period would be less than
     the Maximum Amount, then the amount of interest payable in respect of such
     subsequent interest computation period shall be automatically increased to
     the Maximum Amount; provided that at no time shall the aggregate amount by
                         -------------
     which interest paid has been increased pursuant to this sentence exceed the
     aggregate amount by which interest has been reduced pursuant to this
     sentence.

           (b) LIBOR Advances.  LIBOR Advances shall bear interest at the rate
     per annum equal to the LIBOR Rate applicable to such Advance.

           (c) Payment Dates.  Accrued and unpaid interest on Base Advances
     shall be paid quarterly in arrears on each Quarterly Date and on the
     Maturity Date. Accrued and unpaid interest in respect of each LIBOR Advance
     shall be paid on the last day of the appropriate Interest Period, on the
     Maturity Date and on the date of any prepayment or repayment of such
     Advance; provided, however, that if any Interest Period for a LIBOR Advance
              -----------------
     exceeds three months, interest shall also be paid on the date which falls
     three months after the beginning of such Interest Period and each three
     months thereafter until such Interest Period expires.

     2.08.  Default Interest.  During the continuation of any Event of
Default, the Borrower shall pay, on demand, interest (after as well as before
judgment to the extent permitted by Law) on the principal amount of all Advances
outstanding and on all other Obligations due and unpaid hereunder at a per annum
rate equal to (a) until, for each LIBOR Advance in existence at such time, the

                                      30
<PAGE>

expiration of the applicable Interest Period relating to such LIBOR Advance, the
lesser of (i) the Highest Lawful Rate and (ii) the applicable LIBOR Rate for
such LIBOR Advance plus 2% and (b) for each Base Advance, the lesser of the (i)
the Highest Lawful Rate and (ii) the Base Rate plus 2%.  LIBOR Advances shall
not be available for selection by the Borrower during the continuance of an
Event of Default.

     2.09.  Continuation and Conversion Elections.

     (a) The Borrower may upon irrevocable written notice to Administrative
Agent and subject to the terms of this Agreement:

               (i)  elect to convert, on any Business Day, all or any portion of
     outstanding Advances which are Base Advances (in an aggregate amount not
     less than $500,000 or an integral multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof)
     into LIBOR Advances; or

               (ii) elect to convert at the end of any Interest Period therefor,
     all or any portion of outstanding Advances which are LIBOR Advances
     comprised in the same Borrowing (in an aggregate amount not less than
     $100,000 or an integral multiple of $50,000 in excess thereof) into Base
     Advances; or

               (iii) elect to continue, at the end of any Interest Period
     therefor, any Advances which are LIBOR Advances;

provided, however, that if the aggregate amount of outstanding LIBOR Advances
--------  -------
comprised in the same Borrowing shall have been reduced as a result of any
payment, prepayment or conversion of part thereof to an amount less than
$500,000, the LIBOR Advances comprised in such Borrowing shall automatically
convert into Base Advances at the end of each respective Interest Period.

     (b) The Borrower shall deliver a notice of conversion or continuation (a
"Conversion or Continuation Notice"), in substantially the form of Exhibit D
                                                                   ---------
hereto, to Administrative Agent not later than (i) 12:00 p.m. central standard
time three Business Days prior to the proposed date of conversion or
continuation, if the Advances (or any portion of either thereof) are to be
converted into or continued as LIBOR Advances; and (ii) 12:00 p.m. central
standard time on the Business Day of the proposed conversion, if the Advances
(or any portion thereof) are to be converted into Base Advances.

     Each such Conversion or Continuation Notice shall be by telecopy or
telephone, promptly confirmed by letter, specifying therein:

               (i)   the proposed date of conversion or continuation;

               (ii)  the aggregate amount of Advances to be converted or
     continued;

               (iii) the nature of the proposed conversion or continuation; and

               (iv)  the duration of the applicable Interest Period.

     (c) If, upon the expiration of any Interest Period applicable to LIBOR
Advances, the Borrower shall have failed to select a new Interest Period to be
applicable to such LIBOR Advances

                                      31
<PAGE>

or if an Event of Default shall then have occurred and be continuing, the
Borrower shall be deemed to have elected to convert such LIBOR Advances into
Base Advances effective as of the expiration date of such current Interest
Period.

     (d) Notwithstanding any other provision contained in this Agreement, after
giving effect to any conversion or continuation of any Advances, there shall not
be outstanding Advances with more than seven different Interest Periods.

     2.10.  Fees.

     (a) Commitment Fee.  Subject to Section 10.08 hereof, the Borrower shall
pay to Administrative Agent for the account of Lenders pro rata in accordance
with each Lender's Specified Percentage, a commitment fee equal to the
Applicable Commitment Fee Percentage per annum on the average daily amount of
the difference between the Commitment and the sum of all outstanding Advances
(the "Commitment Fee").  The Commitment Fee set forth above shall be payable in
arrears on each Quarterly Date commencing with the first Quarterly Date after
the Closing Date, and continuing until the Maturity Date.

     (b) Other Fees.  Borrower shall pay to Administrative Agent and the Lenders
such other fees as set forth in any Fee Letter addressed to the Administrative
Agent or any Lender.

     2.11.  Reduction of Commitments.

     (a) Mandatory Termination of the Commitment.  The Commitment shall
automatically be reduced to zero and terminate on the Maturity Date.

     (b) Mandatory Reduction of Commitment Due to Asset Sales.  The Commitment
shall be reduced immediately and automatically in an amount equal to any amount
that would be required by Section 2.05(a) hereof to prepay the Loans (regardless
of whether there are any outstanding Obligations under the Loans)  as a result
of any Dispositions of assets and Properties of the Borrower or any of the
Restricted Subsidiaries (this provision in and of itself not constituting
permission to effectuate any asset Dispositions), provided that (i) so long as
                                                  -------------
there exists no Event of Default both immediately before and after giving effect
to such asset Dispositions and both immediately before and after any permitted
reinvestment and (ii) if a Default exists after giving effect to any such
Disposition, so long as such Default does not ultimately become an Event of
Default, the Commitment shall not be automatically and immediately reduced if
the Borrower in good faith intends to reinvest, and such proceeds are ultimately
reinvested within a 12 month period after any such asset Disposition, in assets
used in the Telecommunications Business, including, without limitation, the
internet, internet protocol, web hosting or electronic commerce of the Borrower
or any of the Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiaries, acquisitions permitted under
Section 7.18 hereof or Investments permitted under Section 7.04 hereof.

     (c) Specified Change of Control.  If any Specified Change of Control shall
have occurred and such Specified Change of Control has caused a Repayment Event,
the Commitment shall immediately and automatically be reduced to zero.

     (d) Voluntary Commitment Reductions.  The Borrower may from time to time,
upon notice to Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m., three Business
Days in advance, terminate

                                      32
<PAGE>

in whole or reduce in part the Commitment, as designated by the Borrower;
provided, however, that the Borrower shall pay the accrued interest and the
-----------------
applicable accrued Commitment Fee on the amount of such reduction and all
amounts due, and any partial reduction shall be in an aggregate amount which is
an integral multiple of $5,000,000.

     (f) Commitment Reduction and Repayments, Generally.  To the extent
outstanding Advances exceed the Commitment after any reduction thereof, the
Borrower shall repay, on the date of such reduction, any such excess amount and
all accrued interest thereon, the applicable Commitment Fee on the amount of
such reduction and all amounts due.  Once reduced or terminated, the Commitment
may not be increased or reinstated.  No reduction of the Commitment, either
voluntary or mandatory shall relieve or alter the mandatory reduction and
termination of the Commitment pursuant to this Section 2.11.

     2.12.  Funding Losses.  The Borrower may prepay the outstanding principal
balance of any Advance, in full at any time or in part from time to time in
accordance with the terms of Section 2.04 hereof, provided, that as a condition
                                                  --------
precedent to the Borrower's right to make, and any Lender's obligation to
accept, any such prepayment, each such prepayment shall be in the amount of 100%
of the principal amount to be prepaid, plus, with respect to LIBOR Advances,
accrued unpaid interest thereon to the date of prepayment, plus any other sums
which have become due to Administrative Agent and Lenders under the Loan Papers
on or before the prepayment date but have not been paid, plus (subject to
Section 10.08 hereof) any Consequential Loss.

     The Borrower agrees that each Lender is not obligated to actually reinvest
the amount prepaid in any specific obligation as a condition to receiving any
Consequential Loss, or otherwise.

     2.13.  Computations and Manner of Payments.

     (a) The Borrower shall make each payment hereunder and under the other Loan
Papers not later than 1:00 p.m. on the day when due in same day funds (by wire
transfer or otherwise) to Administrative Agent, for the account of Lenders
unless otherwise specifically provided herein, at Administrative Agent's office
at Bank of America Plaza, 901 Main Street, Dallas, Texas  75202, referencing
Qwest Communications International Inc.  No later than the end of each day when
each payment hereunder is made, the Borrower shall notify Loan Operations at
(214) 508-9192 or such other Person as Administrative Agent may from time to
time specify.

     (b) Unless Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the
Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due hereunder that the
Borrower will not make payment in full, Administrative Agent may assume that
such payment is so made on such date and may, in reliance upon such assumption,
make distributions to Lenders.  If and to the extent the Borrower shall not have
made such payment in full, each Lender shall repay to Administrative Agent
forthwith on demand the applicable amount distributed, together with interest
thereon at the Federal Funds Rate, from the date of distribution until the date
of repayment.  The Borrower hereby authorizes each Lender, if and to the extent
payment is not made when due hereunder, to charge the amount so due against any
account of the Borrower with such Lender.

     (c) Subject to Section 10.08 hereof, interest on LIBOR Advances under the
Loan Papers shall be calculated on the basis of actual days elapsed but computed
as if each year consisted of 360 days.  Subject to Section 10.08 hereof,
interest on Base Advances, the Commitment Fee and other

                                      33
<PAGE>

amounts due under the Loan Papers shall be calculated on the basis of actual
days elapsed but computed as if each year consisted of 365 or 366 days, as
applicable. Such computations shall be made including the first day but
excluding the last day occurring in the period for which such interest, payment
or Commitment Fee is payable. Each determination by Administrative Agent or a
Lender of an interest rate, fee or commission hereunder shall be presumptive
evidence of the validity of such claim. All payments under the Loan Papers shall
be made in United States dollars, and without setoff, counterclaim, or other
defense.

     (d) Whenever any payment to be made hereunder or under any other Loan
Papers shall be stated to be due on a day other than a Business Day, such
payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day, and such extension of
time shall be included in the computation of interest or fees, if applicable;
provided, however, if such extension would cause payment of interest on or
--------  -------
principal of LIBOR Advances to be made in the next following calendar month,
such payment shall be made on the next preceding Business Day.

     (e) Reference to any particular index or reference rate for determining any
applicable interest rate under this Agreement is for purposes of calculating the
interest due and is not intended as and shall not be construed as requiring any
Lender to actually obtain funds for any Advance at any particular index or
reference rate.

     2.14.  Yield Protection; Changed Circumstances.

     (a   If any Lender determines that either (i) the adoption of any
Applicable Law, rule, regulation or guideline regarding capital adequacy and
applicable to commercial banks or financial institutions generally or any change
therein, or any change, after the date hereof, in the interpretation or
administration thereof by any Tribunal, central bank or comparable agency
charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or (ii) compliance by
any Lender (or Lending Office of any Lender) with any request or directive
applicable to commercial banks or financial institutions generally regarding
capital adequacy (whether or not having the force of law) of any such authority,
central bank or comparable agency has the effect of reducing the rate of return
on such Lender's capital as a consequence of its obligations hereunder to a
level below that which such Lender could have achieved but for such adoption,
change or compliance (taking into consideration such Lender's policies with
respect to capital adequacy) by an amount reasonably deemed by such Lender to be
material, then from time to time, within fifteen days after demand by such
Lender, the Borrower shall pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts
as will adequately compensate such Lender for such reduction.  Each Lender will
notify the Borrower of any event occurring after the date of this Agreement
which will entitle such Lender to compensation pursuant to this Section 2.14(a)
as promptly as practicable after such Lender obtains actual knowledge of such
event; provided, no Lender shall be liable for its failure or the failure of any
       --------
other Lender to provide such notification.  A certificate of such Lender
claiming compensation under this Section 2.14(a), setting forth in reasonable
detail the calculation of the additional amount or amounts to be paid to it
hereunder shall be presumptive evidence of the validity of such claim.  If such
Lender demands compensation under this Section 2.14(a), the Borrower may at any
time, on at least five Business Days' prior notice to such Lender (i) repay in
full the then outstanding principal amount of LIBOR Advances, of such Lender,
together with accrued interest thereon, or (ii) convert the LIBOR Advances to
Base Advances in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement; provided,
                                                                   --------
however, that the Borrower shall be liable for the Consequential Loss arising
-------
pursuant to those actions.

                                      34
<PAGE>

     (b) If, after the date hereof, any Tribunal, central bank or other
comparable authority, at any time imposes, modifies or deems applicable any
reserve (including, without limitation, any imposed by the Board of Governors of
the Federal Reserve System), special deposit or similar requirement against
assets of, deposits with or for the amount of, or credit extended by, any
Lender, or imposes on any Lender any other condition affecting a LIBOR Advance,
the Notes, or its obligation to make a LIBOR Advance, and the result of any of
the foregoing is to increase the cost to such Lender of making or maintaining
LIBOR Advances, or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by
such Lender under this Agreement or under the Notes by an amount deemed by such
Lender, to be material, then, within five days after demand by such Lender, the
                        ----
Borrower shall pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will
compensate such Lender for such increased cost or reduction.  Each Lender will
(i) notify the Borrower of any event occurring after the date of this Agreement
that entitles such Lender to compensation pursuant to this Section 2.14(b), as
promptly as practicable after such Lender obtains actual knowledge of the event;
provided, no Lender shall be liable for its failure or the failure of any other
--------
Lender to provide such notification and (ii) use good faith and reasonable
efforts to designate a different Lending Office for LIBOR Advances, of such
Lender if the designation will avoid the need for, or reduce the amount of, the
compensation and will not, in the sole opinion of such Lender, be
disadvantageous to such Lender.  A certificate of such Lender claiming
compensation under this Section 2.14(b), setting forth in reasonable detail the
computation of the additional amount or amounts to be paid to it hereunder shall
be presumptive evidence of the validity of such claim.  If such Lender demands
compensation under this Section 2.14(b), the Borrower may at any time, on at
least five Business Days' prior notice to such Lender (i) repay in full the then
outstanding principal amount of LIBOR Advances, of such Lender, together with
accrued interest thereon, or (ii) convert the LIBOR Advances to Base Advances in
accordance with the provisions of this Agreement; provided, however, that the
                                                  --------  -------
Borrower shall be liable for the Consequential Loss arising pursuant to those
actions.

     (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if the
introduction of or any change in or in the interpretation or administration of
any Law shall make it unlawful, or any central bank or other Tribunal shall
assert that it is unlawful, for a Lender to perform its obligations hereunder to
make LIBOR Advances or to continue to fund or maintain LIBOR Advances hereunder,
then, on notice thereof and demand therefor by such Lender to the Borrower, (i)
each LIBOR Advance will automatically, upon such demand, convert into a Base
Advance and (ii) the obligation of such Lender to make, or to convert Advances
into, LIBOR Advances shall be suspended until such Lender notifies
Administrative Agent and the Borrower that such Lender has determined that the
circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist.

     (d) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Default or Event
of Default, (i) each LIBOR Advance will automatically, on the last day of the
then existing Interest Period therefor, convert into a Base Advance and (ii) the
obligation of each Lender to make, or to convert Advances into, LIBOR Advances
shall be suspended.

     (e) If any Lender notifies Administrative Agent that the LIBOR Rate for any
Interest Period for any LIBOR Advances will not adequately reflect the cost to
such Lender of making, funding or maintaining LIBOR Advances for such Interest
Period, Administrative Agent shall promptly so notify the Borrower, whereupon
(i) each such LIBOR Advance will automatically, on the last day of the then
existing Interest Period therefor, convert into a Base Advance and (ii) the
obligation of such Lender to make, or to convert Advances into, LIBOR Advances
shall be

                                      35
<PAGE>

suspended until such Lender notifies Administrative Agent that such Lender has
determined that the circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist and
Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower of such fact.

     (f) Failure on the part of any Lender to demand compensation for any
increased costs, increased capital or reduction in amounts received or
receivable or reduction in return on capital pursuant to this Section 2.14 with
respect to any period shall not constitute a waiver of any Lender's right to
demand compensation with respect to such period or any other period, subject,
however, to the limitations set forth in this Section 2.14.

     (g) The obligations of the Borrower under this Section 2.14 shall survive
any termination of this Agreement, provided that, in no event shall the Borrower
                                   -------------
be required to make a payment under this Section 2.14 with respect to any event
of which the Lender making such claim had knowledge more than 12 months prior to
demand for such payment.

     (h) Determinations by Lenders for purposes of this Section 2.14 shall be
presumptively correct.  Any certificate delivered to the Borrower by a Lender
pursuant to this Section 2.14 shall include in reasonable detail the basis for
such Lender's demand for additional compensation and a certification that the
claim for compensation is consistent with such Lender's treatment of similar
customers having similar provisions generally in their agreements with such
Lender.

     (i) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, no Lender not
organized under the Laws of the United States or any State (or which has a Bank
Affiliate not organized under the Laws of the United States or any State) shall
be entitled to compensation pursuant to this Section 2.14 with respect to any
amount which would otherwise be due under this Section 2.14 but which is the
result of an act of a Tribunal of the country in which such Lender or Bank
Affiliate is organized.

     2.15.  Use of Proceeds.  The Borrower agrees to use the proceeds of the
Loans exclusively to:

          (a)  Prior to such time as the Senior Unsecured Debt Rating is BBB- or
          Baa3 or better and the Conditional Early Release Unlimited Guaranty
          has been released in accordance with the terms of Section 10.14
          hereof:

               In accordance with certain of the Existing Financing
          Documentation, finance or refinance all or any part of the cost of,
          the construction, installation, acquisition or improvement by the
          Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (as defined in the Existing
          Financing Documentation) of the Borrower of any new
          "Telecommunications Assets" (as defined below) constructed, installed,
          acquired or improved after March 31, 1997, provided that (i) the
                                                     -------------
          proceeds of such debt are expended for such purposes within a 270 day
          period of making such construction, installation, acquisition or
          improvement, and (ii) the amount of such debt does not exceed 100% of
          the cost of the construction, installation, acquisition or improvement
          of the applicable Telecommunications Assets.  For purposes of this
          paragraph, "Telecommunications Assets" means all assets, rights
          (contractual or otherwise) and properties, whether tangible or
          intangible, used or intended for use in connection with the business
          of (A) transmitting or providing services relating to the

                                      36
<PAGE>

          transmission of, voice, data or video through owned or leased
          transmission facilities, (B) constructing, creating, developing or
          marketing communications related network equipment, software and other
          devices for use in a telecommunications business, or (C) evaluating,
          participating or pursuing any other activity or opportunity that is
          primarily related to those identified in (A) or (B) above, provided
                                                                     --------
          that the determination of what constitutes such businesses shall be
          ----
          made in good faith by the Board of Directors.

          (b)  After the Senior Unsecured Debt Rating is BBB- or Baa3 or better
          and the Conditional Early Release Unlimited Guaranty has been released
          in accordance with the terms of Section 10.14 hereof:

                (A) finance working capital, (B) finance acquisitions permitted
          under Section 7.18 hereof, (C) finance Capital Expenditures and (D)
          for other general corporate purposes of the Borrower.

     2.16.  Uncommitted Increase of the Loans.  At any time, and subject to
the terms set forth below, from time to time, upon request by the Borrower to
Administrative Agent and any other existing Lender selected by the Borrower and
the Administrative Agent, the Loans shall increase by up to $1,000,000,000 to a
maximum of $2,000,000,000 in the manner set forth in (a) below, so long as the
conditions set forth in (b) and (c) below have been satisfied:

          (a) (i)   Each increase in the Loans may be effected by an increase in
          the Commitment or by the addition of another facility, as agreed by
          the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and other
          creditors agreeing to participate in such increase (the "Participating
          Lenders"), provided that, the Borrower shall not be entitled to (A)
          increase the Commitment more than three times during the term of this
          Agreement, and (B) put a new loan facility in place under the terms of
          this Agreement more than once during the term of this Agreement.  All
          such increases effected in accordance with the terms of this Section
          2.16 in the aggregate shall not exceed $1,000,000,000,

               (ii) Each potential Participating Lender specified by the
          Borrower shall have received not less than ten Business Days' prior
          written notice from the Borrower requesting such increase in the
          Commitment or additional new facility.  Each Participating Lender
          shall commit to an amount not less than $15,000,000, but shall accept
          any allocation amount designated by the Borrower and the
          Administrative Agent that is equal to or less than its proposed
          portion of the increase in the Loans,

               (iii) The Administrative Agent shall have received from the
          Borrower (A) a certificate from the Borrower certifying to the
          Administrative Agent and the Participating Lenders that (I) no other
          approvals or consents from any Person are required by any such Person
          except to the extent they have been received, including without
          limitation, any necessary approvals under the Existing Financing
          Documentation or otherwise and (II) the matters set forth in Section
          2.16(b) below are true and correct both before and after giving effect
          to any proposed increase in the Loans and (B) financial projections in
          form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Participating Lenders
          and demonstrating compliance with the financial covenants set forth in
          Section 7.01 hereof throughout the term of this Agreement,

                                      37
<PAGE>

               (iv) Each Participating Lender (including any new Lenders party
          hereto) shall have received a promissory note reflecting such
          Participating Lender's new Commitment amount or new facility loan
          amount, and the Borrower and each existing and new Participating
          Lender agree to execute any and all such documents reasonably deemed
          necessary by the Administrative Agent in order to effectuate this
          Section 2.16,

               (v) On or prior to the date of increase, each new creditor being
          added to the credit facility as a Lender shall deliver to the Borrower
          and the Administrative Agent documentation evidencing such new
          Lender's acceptance of this Agreement and all the other Loan Papers in
          form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent
          and the Borrower (and making such Lender a party to this Agreement and
          the other Loan Papers), and

               (vi) On or after the date of increase, the Administrative Agent
          shall deliver to each Lender notice of the new Specified Percentages
          adjusted to give effect to the increase in the Commitment.

     (b) Each increase of the Loans shall be subject to the following
conditions:

               (i) On any date of proposed increase (A) prior to the Acquisition
          Date, the representations and warranties contained in Article IV
          hereof shall be true and correct at such time in all material
          respects, both before and after giving effect to the increase of the
          Loans, except those representations and warranties that specifically
          speak as of a particular date, and (B) on and after the Acquisition
          Date (I) all of the representations and warranties of the Original
          Borrower and the Original Restricted Subsidiaries under this Agreement
          shall be true and correct at such time in all material respects, both
          before and after giving effect to the increase of the Loans, except
          those representations and warranties that specifically speak as of a
          particular date and (II) there shall exist no U S WEST Default,

               (ii) (A) Prior to the Acquisition Date, no event attributable to
          the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary shall have occurred that is,
          or would reasonably be expected to cause, a Material Adverse Change
          since December 31, 1998, and (B) on and after the Acquisition Date (I)
          no event attributable to the Original Borrower or any Original
          Restricted Subsidiary shall have occurred that is, or would reasonably
          be expected to cause, a Material Adverse Change since December 31,
          1998; and (II) since the Acquisition Date, no event attributable to
          the assets or liabilities of any U S WEST Restricted Subsidiary shall
          have occurred that has had a Material Adverse Effect,

               (iii)   There shall not exist a Default or an Event of Default
          hereunder and none shall exist as a result of (A) any such increase in
          the Loans or (B) the making of any Advance under such increase on the
          effective date of such increase, and

               (iv) Promptly upon notice thereof, payment by the Borrower of any
          Consequential Losses (breakage) that are incurred by any Lender in
          connection with

                                      38
<PAGE>

          any such increase in the Loans and the necessary reallocation among
          the existing Lenders and/or new creditors, but only to the extent the
          Borrower is notified of such Consequential Losses prior to the
          effective date of any such increase in the Loans.

     (c) Notwithstanding anything herein or in any other Loan Paper to the
contrary,

               (i)    the Borrower is not obligated to request participation
          from, or allocate to, any existing Lender any portion of the proposed
          increase.  Each existing Lender agrees and acknowledges that new
          creditors may be allocated all or any portion of the proposed increase
          upon the determination of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent,

               (ii)   the addition of any new facility hereunder will require an
          amendment to this Agreement to effectuate such new facility, but in no
          event shall (i) the material terms of any such new facility be more
          restrictive than the comparable terms of the Loans and (ii) the
          maturity of the new facility be earlier than the Maturity Date,
          provided that the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries may incur
          -------------
          up to $1,000,000,000 (but not in excess of) in the aggregate
          outstanding at any one time of Debt for Borrowed Money (including,
          without limitation, Subordinated Indebtedness) and Preferred Stock
          with a maturity prior to the Maturity Date,  provided, that (x) Debt
                                                       --------------
          for Borrowed Money of Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary with a
          maturity prior to the Maturity Date in existence on the Closing Date,
          (y)  U S WEST Debt with a maturity prior to the Maturity Date in
          existence prior to the Acquisition Date and (z) any Debt for Borrowed
          Money incurred at any time pursuant to Section 7.02(c) hereof, Section
          7.02(e) hereof and Section 7.02(g) hereof with a maturity date prior
          to the Maturity Date shall be excluded from such $1,000,000,000
          aggregate limitation contained in this paragraph,

               (iii)  creditors participating in any new facility (or increase
          to the Commitment) will become "Lenders" and be entitled to the same
          Rights as each existing Lender, including without limitation,
          comparable terms regarding pro rata prepayment, repayment and
          commitment reduction, and the benefit of the Conditional Release
          Unlimited Guaranty, and

               (iv)   No Lender shall be obligated to increase the dollar amount
          of its Specified Percentage of the Loans without its written consent
          in its sole discretion.  In connection with any increase to the
          Commitment or new loan facility in accordance with the terms of this
          Section 2.16, each existing Lender (regardless of whether such Lender
          is participating in such increase), each new creditor and the Borrower
          agree to execute any and all amendments and/or agreements reasonably
          requested by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower to effectuate
          the intent of this Section 2.16.

                                      39
<PAGE>

     2.17.  Rights of Borrower in Respect of Consequential Losses.

     (a) Duty to Mitigate.  If (i) any Lender shall request compensation under
Section 2.14(a) or (b) hereof or (ii) any Lender delivers a notice described in
Section 2.14(c) or (e) hereof then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts
(which shall not require such Lender to suffer any disadvantage or burden
reasonably deemed by it (in good faith) to be significant, including without
limitation, to incur an unreimbursed loss or unreimbursed cost or expense or
otherwise take any action inconsistent with its internal policies or legal or
regulatory restrictions), promptly thereafter, (x) to file any certificate or
document reasonably requested in writing by the Borrower or (y) to assign its
Rights and delegate and transfer its obligations hereunder to another of its
offices, branches or Bank Affiliates, if such filing or assignment would reduce
its claims for compensation under Section 2.14(a) or (b) hereof or enable it to
withdraw its notice pursuant to Section 2.14(c) or (e) hereof, as the case may
be, in the future.  The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and
expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such filing or
assignment, delegation and transfer.

     (b) Replacement of a Lender Upon Request for Compensation.  If any Lender
has requested compensation or reimbursement in accordance with the terms of
Section 2.14 hereof and (i) such request is not the result of any uniform
changes in the statutes or regulations for capital adequacy, and (ii) the
Borrower and such Lender are unable to reach a written agreement regarding such
request within 30 days following written notice by such Lender to the Borrower
and the Administrative Agent of such request, then after the expiration of 30
days following the delivery of the notice under Section 2.14 hereof, the
Borrower may replace such Lender in whole with another Lender acceptable to the
Arranging Agents pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance and in accordance with
Section 10.04 hereof, provided that, such Lender is replaced at par value of all
                      -------------
Obligations owing such Lender plus all accrued interest and fees, provided
further, that Borrower pays the assignment and acceptance fee set forth in
Section 10.04(a) hereof for such replacement.  Until such time as any Lender is
replaced by the Borrower, the Borrower shall reimburse or compensate such Lender
in accordance with the terms of Section 2.14 hereof.

     2.18.  Rights of Borrower in Respect of Failure of any Lender to Fund.
If any Lender shall breach its agreement to make any Advance available in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement (and each other Lender shall have
made its portion of the Advance available to the Borrower) then, such Lender
shall, promptly upon the written request of the Borrower to such Lender and the
Administrative Agent, assign all of its Rights and duties hereunder and under
the other Loan Papers pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance in accordance
with the terms of Section 10.04 hereof to another financial institution or
lender designated by the Borrower and acceptable to the Arranging Agents in
accordance with the terms of Section 10.04 hereof, provided that,
                                                   -------------
notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall any Lender be required to take
any such action if (a) such Lender is owed any payments by the Borrower pursuant
to this Agreement or the other Loan Papers, (b) there exists any Default or
Event of Default.

                                      40
<PAGE>

                       ARTICLE III  CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

     3.01.  Conditions Precedent to the Initial Advance.  The obligation of
each Lender to make the initial Advance under the Loans is subject to receipt by
the Administrative Agent of each of the following, in form and substance
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, with a copy (except for the Notes) for
each Lender:

     (a) a loan certificate of the Borrower certifying as to the accuracy of its
representations and warranties in the Loan Papers, certifying that no Default or
Event of Default has occurred under the terms of this Agreement, and including a
certificate of incumbency with respect to each Authorized Officer, and
containing a representation that the following items are attached thereto and
remain unchanged and valid, except as shown on any such attachments:  (i) copies
of the Articles of Incorporation of the Borrower and each of the Qwest Material
Subsidiaries, certified to be true, complete and correct by the secretary of
state of each such Person's respective state of incorporation, (ii) copies of
the By-Laws of the Borrower and each of the Qwest Material Subsidiaries and
(iii) copies of a certificate of good standing and a certificate of existence
for the Borrower in Delaware and each of the Qwest Material Subsidiaries' state
of incorporation, and other material states determined by the Borrower;

     (b) in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent (i) a duly
executed and completed Note for each Lender in an amount equal to such Lender's
Specified Percentage of the Commitment and (ii) a duly executed and completed
Conditional Early Release Unlimited Guaranty of the Obligations by the
Guarantor;

     (c) a loan certificate of the Borrower certifying that a copy of the
resolutions of the Borrower and the Guarantor, authorizing them to execute,
deliver and perform this Agreement, the Notes and the other Loan Papers to which
each of them is a party is attached and is a true and accurate copy;

     (d) copies of all amendments, if any, with respect to the Existing
Financing Documentation entered into prior to the Closing Date, with a
certificate attached thereto executed by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower
certifying that the attached copies are true and accurate and have not been
amended, waived or consented to except as set forth therein;

     (e) all other Loan Papers to be delivered on the Closing Date duly executed
and completed, dated the Closing Date;

     (f) opinions addressed to Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders
dated the Closing Date of (i) corporate counsel to the Borrower and each
Restricted Subsidiary, to the extent applicable, with respect to organizational
matters, authorization, execution, etc., (ii) special FCC counsel and/or PUC
counsel to the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, as applicable, in form
reasonably acceptable to the Arranging Agents, and (iii) corporate counsel to
the Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary, to the extent applicable, that the
execution of this Agreement and the Loan Papers, the borrowing by the Borrower
of the Loans (including, without limitation, the use of the proceeds of the
Loans) and the performance of all its obligations under the Loan Papers are
permitted by the Existing Financing Documentation and that the Loans are pari
passu with the Existing Financing;

                                      41
<PAGE>

     (g) a duly completed Compliance Certificate evidencing no Default or Event
of Default dated as of the Closing Date, and a pro forma compliance certificate
dated the Closing Date demonstrating the Borrower's compliance with each of the
financial covenants contained in Section 7.01 hereof through December 31, 2000
with supporting projections;

     (h) a certificate from the Borrower stating that there has been no material
adverse change in the financial condition, business or operations of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries since December 31, 1998;

     (i) payment to the Administrative Agent, Arranging Agents and Lenders of
all fees due and payable as required in accordance with the terms of any Fee
Letter or other written agreement among the parties;

     (j) in form and substance satisfactory to the Arranging Agents, such other
documents, instruments and certificates as the Administrative Agent or any
Arranging Agent may reasonably require in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby, including without limitation the status, organization or
authority of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary; and

     (k)  an executed and complete copy of  that certain First Amended and
Restated Credit Agreement, among, inter alia, the Borrower, Bank of America,
                                  ----- ----
N.A. as Administrative Agent and the lenders party thereto.

     3.02.  Conditions Precedent to All Advances.  The obligation of each
Lender to make each Advance hereunder (excluding each Refinancing Advance) shall
be subject to the further conditions precedent that on the date of such Advance
reasonably satisfactory to the Arranging Agents:

     (a) (i) Prior to the Acquisition Date, all of the representations and
warranties of the Borrower under this Agreement shall be true and correct at
such time in all material respects, both before and after giving effect to the
application of the proceeds of the Advance, except those representations and
warranties that specifically speak as of a particular date, and (ii) on and
after the Acquisition Date (A) all of the representations and warranties of the
Original Borrower and the Original Restricted Subsidiaries under this Agreement
shall be true and correct at such time in all material respects, both before and
after giving effect to the application of the proceeds of the Advance, except
those representations and warranties that specifically speak as of a particular
date and (B) there shall exist no U S WEST Default;

     (b) The incumbency of the Authorized Officers shall be as stated in the
certificate of incumbency delivered in the Borrower's loan certificate pursuant
to Section 3.01(a) or as subsequently modified and reflected in a certificate of
incumbency delivered to the Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent may,
without waiving this condition, consider it fulfilled and a representation by
the Borrower made to such effect if no written notice to the contrary, dated on
or before the date of such Advance, is received by the Administrative Agent from
the Borrower prior to the making of such Advance;

     (c) There shall not exist a Default or an Event of Default hereunder and
none shall exist as a result of making any such Advance, and the Administrative
Agent shall have received written or telephonic certification thereof by an
Authorized Officer of the Borrower (which certification, if telephonic, shall be
followed promptly by written certification);

                                      42
<PAGE>

     (d) (i) Prior to the Acquisition Date, no event attributable to the
Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary shall have occurred that is, or would
reasonably be expected to cause, a Material Adverse Change since December 31,
1998, and (ii) on and after the Acquisition Date (A) no event attributable to
the Original Borrower or any Original Restricted Subsidiary shall have occurred
that is, or would reasonably be expected to cause, a Material Adverse Change
since December 31, 1998; and (B) since the Acquisition Date, no event
attributable to the assets or liabilities of any U S WEST Restricted Subsidiary
shall have occurred that has had a Material Adverse Effect; and

     (e) The (i) the aggregate outstanding Advances after giving effect to such
proposed Advance shall not exceed the Commitment, (ii) the Borrower shall
represent and warrant that the use of the proceeds of the Advance complies with
Section 2.15(b) hereof (and the delivery of a Borrowing Notice shall constitute
such representation) and (iii) such Advance is permitted Debt under the Existing
Financing Documentation, including, without limitation, (I) prior to the time
that the Senior Unsecured Debt Rating is BBB- or Baa3 or better, Section
1011(b)(iii) of the Indentures relating to the Qwest 8.29% Senior Discount
Notes, Qwest 9.47% Senior Discount Notes, Qwest 7.50% Senior Notes and the Qwest
10.875 Senior Notes and (II) after the Senior Unsecured Debt Rating is BBB- or
Baa3 or better, Section 1011(a) of the Indentures relating to the Qwest 8.29%
Senior Discount Notes, Qwest 9.47% Senior Discount Notes, Qwest 7.50% Senior
Notes and the Qwest 10.875 Senior Notes.

                  ARTICLE IV  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

     4.01.  Representations and Warranties.  The Borrower hereby represents
and warrants to each Lender as follows, subject to the terms of Section 8.08
hereof:

     (a) Incorporation, Good Standing, Etc.  The respective jurisdictions of
         ---------------------------------
incorporation and percentage ownership of the Restricted Subsidiaries of the
Borrower on the Closing Date that are listed on Schedule 4.01(a) hereto are true
                                                ----------------
and correct.  Each of the Borrower and the Qwest Material Subsidiaries is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of its state of organization.  Each of the Borrower and the Qwest Material
Subsidiaries has the corporate power and authority to own or lease its
properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted.  Each of the
Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries is duly qualified, in good standing and
authorized to do business in each jurisdiction in which the character of its
Properties or the nature of its business requires such qualification or
authorization, except where the failure to so qualify is not, and would not
reasonably be expected to cause, a Material Adverse Change.

     (b) Authority, Execution, Enforceability, Etc.  The Borrower has corporate
         -----------------------------------------
power and has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize it to borrow
hereunder.  Each of the Borrower and the Qwest Material Subsidiaries has the
corporate power and has taken all necessary corporate action to execute, deliver
and perform the Loan Papers to which it is party, if any, in accordance with the
terms thereof, and to consummate the transactions contemplated thereby.  Each
Loan Paper has been duly executed and delivered by the Borrower or such
Restricted Subsidiary executing it.  Each of the Material Loan Documents to
which the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries is a party is a legal,
valid and binding obligation of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, as
applicable, enforceable against the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary in
accordance with its terms, subject, to the following qualifications: (i)
equitable principles generally, and (ii) bankruptcy,

                                      43
<PAGE>

insolvency, liquidation, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance,
reconstruction or other similar laws affecting enforcement of creditors' rights
generally (insofar as any such law relates to the bankruptcy, insolvency or
similar event of the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower).

     (c) No Conflicts.  The execution, delivery and performance by each of the
         ------------
Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries of the Material Loan Documents to which
they are a party, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby,
including, without limitation, borrowings under the Loan Papers, do not (i)
require any material consent or material approval not already obtained,
including, without limitation, any material consent or material approval
required with respect to any Material License, or otherwise required by the FCC,
any PUC, or any other federal, state or local regulatory authority, (ii) violate
any other material Applicable Law, (iii) conflict with, result in a breach of,
or constitute a default under the articles of incorporation or by-laws of the
Borrower or any Qwest Material Subsidiary, or under any Material License,
Existing Financing Documentation, other material agreement or other material
instrument, to which the Borrower or any Qwest Material Subsidiary is a party or
beneficiary of, or by which they or their respective Properties may be bound, or
(iv) result in or require the creation or imposition of any Lien upon or with
respect to any property now owned or hereafter acquired by the Borrower or any
Qwest Material Subsidiary, except Liens permitted under Section 7.03 hereof.

     (d) Business.  The Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries are primarily
         --------
engaged in the Telecommunications Business, including, without limitation, the
internet, internet protocol, web hosting and electronic commerce.

     (e) Licenses.  On the Closing Date, all Material Licenses of the Borrower
         --------
and the Restricted Subsidiaries have been obtained, and are in full force and
effect.  On the Closing Date, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries are
in compliance in all material respects with the provisions of each Material
License.  On each date after the Closing Date on which this representation is
deemed to be made, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries are in
compliance with the provisions of each License, except to the extent that any
such non-compliance is not, or would not reasonably be expected to cause, a
Material Adverse Change.  On the Closing Date,  no Material License is the
subject of any pending or, to the actual knowledge of an Authorized Officer,
threatened proceeding that would reasonably be expected to result in a
revocation of such Material License.  On each date after the Closing Date on
which this representation is deemed to be made, no License is the subject of any
pending or, to the actual knowledge of an Authorized Officer, threatened,
proceeding that would reasonably be expected to result in a revocation of such
Material License, except any such event that is not, and would not reasonably be
expected to cause, a Material Adverse Change.  As of the Closing Date, the
Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries have obtained all Licenses from each
applicable PUC that are necessary for the operation of their respective
businesses as currently conducted, which Licenses have been maintained in full
force and effect, and the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries are operating
in compliance in all material respects with all provisions of such Licenses,
except to the extent that any failure to obtain or maintain any one or more
Licenses, or any  non-compliance, is not, and would not reasonably be expected
to cause, a Material Adverse Change.

     (f) Compliance with Laws.  The Borrower and the Qwest Material Subsidiaries
         --------------------
are in compliance in all material respects with all material Applicable Laws,
other than regulations and laws of the PUC or FCC.  The Borrower and the Qwest
Material Subsidiaries have duly and timely filed all material reports,
statements and filings that are required to be filed by any of them with respect
to Material Licenses under the Communications Act, and are in all material
respects in
                                      44
<PAGE>

compliance therewith, including without limitation the material rules and
regulations of the FCC. The Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries are in all
respects in compliance with all PUC Licenses and the rules and regulations of
each applicable PUC, except any such failure or compliance which is not, and
would not reasonably be expected to cause, a Material Adverse Change. Except as
set forth on Schedule 4.01(f) hereto, as of the Closing Date, the Borrower has
             ----------------
no actual knowledge of any event or circumstance constituting (i) material
noncompliance (or any Person alleging material noncompliance) with any material
rule or regulation of the FCC and (ii) noncompliance (or any Person alleging
noncompliance) with any rule or regulation of any applicable PUC, except any
noncompliance which is not, or would not reasonably be expected to cause, a
Material Adverse Change. On each date after the Closing Date on which this
representation is deemed to be made, the Borrower has no actual knowledge of any
event or circumstance constituting noncompliance (or any Person alleging
noncompliance) with any rule or regulation of the FCC or any applicable PUC,
except any such event or circumstance which is not, and would not reasonably be
expected to cause, a Material Adverse Change.

     (g) Title to Properties.  On the Closing Date, the Borrower and the Qwest
         -------------------
Material Subsidiaries have good title to, valid leasehold interest in or a valid
right to use their material assets and material Properties.  On each date after
the Closing Date on which this representation is deemed to be made, the Borrower
and the Restricted Subsidiaries have good title to, valid leasehold interest in
or valid right to use their assets and Properties, except any such failure which
is not, and which would not reasonably be expected to cause, a Material Adverse
Change.  None of the material assets of the Borrower and the Qwest Material
Subsidiaries is subject to any Liens, except Liens permitted under Section 7.03
hereof.

     (h) Litigation.  On the Closing Date, except as reflected on Schedule
         ----------                                               --------
4.01(h) hereto, there is no action, suit, proceeding or any other Litigation
-------
pending against, or, to the actual knowledge of an Authorized Officer,
threatened against the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or any of
their material Properties, in any court or before any arbitrator of any kind or
before or by any governmental body, with respect to which the amount at dispute
is above $25,000,000.  On each date after the Closing Date on which this
representation is deemed to be made, there is no action, suit, proceeding or any
other Litigation pending against, or, to the actual knowledge of an Authorized
Officer, threatened against the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries,
or any of their Properties, in any court or before any arbitrator of any kind or
before or by any governmental body, except any such action, suit, proceeding or
any other Litigation which is not, and which would not  reasonably be expected
to cause, a Material Adverse Change.

     (i) Taxes.  All federal, material state and other material Tax returns of
         -----
the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries required by law to be filed have
been duly filed and all federal, material state and other material Taxes,
material assessments and other material governmental charges or levies upon the
Borrower, its Restricted Subsidiaries or any of their Properties, income,
profits and assets, which are shown on such returns to be due and payable, have
been paid, except those that are diligently contested in good faith by the
Borrower and for which a reserve has been established in accordance with GAAP,
and with respect to which no foreclosure, distraint, sale or similar proceedings
have been commenced.

     (j) Financial Statements.  The Borrower has furnished or caused to be
         --------------------
furnished to the Lenders copies of its annual audited financial statements dated
December 31,1998.  Each such statement presents fairly in all material respects
and in accordance with GAAP, the financial position of the Borrower, its
consolidated Subsidiaries as at such dates, and the results of operations for
the

                                      45
<PAGE>

periods then ended.  As of the Closing Date, the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries have no material liabilities, contingent or otherwise (determined
in accordance with GAAP), nor material losses, except as disclosed in writing to
the Lenders prior to the Closing Date or as disclosed on any subsequent
financial statements.  On the Closing Date after giving effect to the Advances
made on such date, the Borrower and each of the Qwest Material Subsidiaries is
Solvent.

     (k) Material Adverse Change.  On the Closing Date, no event or circumstance
         -----------------------
has occurred or arisen since December 31, 1998 that is, or would reasonably be
expected to cause, a Material Adverse Change.

     (l) ERISA.  None of the Borrower, or its Controlled Group maintains or
         -----
contributes to any Plan other than those disclosed to the Administrative Agent
in writing from time to time.  On the Closing Date, each such Plan is in
compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the
Code, and any other applicable Federal or state law, rule or regulation.  On
each date after the Closing Date on which this representation is deemed to be
made, each such Plan is in compliance in all material respects with the
applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code, and any other applicable Federal or
state law, rule or regulation, except such non-compliance which is not, and
would not reasonably be expected to cause, a Material Adverse Change.  With
respect to each Plan of the Borrower and each member of its Controlled Group
(other than a Multiemployer Plan), all reports required under ERISA or any other
Applicable Law to be filed with any governmental authority, the failure of which
to file would reasonably result in liability of the Borrower, or any member of
its Controlled Group in excess of $10,000,000, have been duly filed.  All such
reports are true and correct in all material respects as of the date given. On
the Closing Date other than as disclosed to the Administrative Agent in writing,
no such Plan of the Borrower, or any member of its Controlled Group has any
accumulated funding deficiency (as defined in Section 412(a) of the Code)
(without regard to any waiver granted under Section 412 of the Code), nor has
any funding waiver from the Internal Revenue Service been received or requested.
On each date after the Closing Date on which this representation is deemed to be
made, no such Plan of the Borrower, or any member of its Controlled Group has
any accumulated funding deficiency (as defined in Section 412(a) of the Code)
(without regard to any waiver granted under Section 412 of the Code), nor has
any funding waiver from the Internal Revenue Service been received or requested
which is, or would reasonably be expected to cause, a Material Adverse Change.
None of the Borrower, or any member of its Controlled Group has failed to make
any contribution or pay any amount due or owing as required by Section 412 of
the Code or Section 302 of ERISA or the terms of any such Plan prior to the due
date under Section 412 of the Code and Section 302 of ERISA in excess of
$10,000,000.  There has been no ERISA Event or any event requiring disclosure
under Section 4041(c)(3)(C), 4068(f), 4063(a) or 4043(b) of ERISA with respect
to any Plan or trust of the Borrower, or any member of its Controlled Group
within 60 months prior to the Closing Date or thereafter, except as disclosed to
the Administrative Agent in writing.  The value of the assets of each Plan
(other than a Multiemployer Plan) of the Borrower and each member of its
Controlled Group equaled or exceeded the present value of the benefit
liabilities, determined on an on-going Plan basis, as defined in Title IV of
ERISA, of each such Plan as of the most recent valuation date using Plan
actuarial assumptions at such date.  There are no pending or, to the actual
knowledge of an Authorized Officer, threatened claims, lawsuits or actions
(other than routine claims for benefits in the ordinary course) asserted or
instituted against (i) the assets of any Plan or trust or against any fiduciary
of a Plan with respect to the operation of such Plan, or (ii) the assets of any
employee welfare benefit plan within the meaning of Section 3(1) or ERISA, or
against any fiduciary thereof with respect to the operation of any such plan,
except any such claims, lawsuits or actions that are

                                      46
<PAGE>

not, and would not reasonably be expected to cause, a Material Adverse Change.
None of the Borrower, or any member of its Controlled Group has engaged in any
non-exempt prohibited transactions, within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA
or Section 4975 of the Code, in connection with any Plan, except such
transactions which are not, or would not in the aggregate reasonably be expected
to cause, a Material Adverse Change. None of the Borrower or any member of its
Controlled Group has incurred or reasonably expects to incur any liability under
Title IV of ERISA (other than premiums due under Section 4007 of ERISA to the
PBGC) in excess of $10,000,000. None of the Borrower any member of its
Controlled Group, or, to the actual knowledge of any Authorized Officer, any
organization to which the Borrower or any member of its Controlled Group is a
successor or parent corporation within the meaning of ERISA Section 4069(b), has
engaged in a transaction within the meaning of ERISA Section 4069. None of the
Borrower or any member of its Controlled Group maintains or has established any
welfare benefit plan within the meaning of Section 3(1) of ERISA which provides
for continuing benefits or coverage for any participant or any beneficiary of
any participant after such participant's termination of employment except as may
be required by the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as
amended ("COBRA") and the regulations thereunder, and at the expense of the
participant or the beneficiary of the participant, or retiree medical
liabilities, except any such plan that would not reasonably be expected to
result in material liability to the Borrower or any Qwest Material Subsidiary.
Each of the Borrower and its Controlled Group which maintains a welfare benefit
plan within the meaning of Section 3(1) of ERISA has complied in all material
respects with any applicable notice and continuation requirements of COBRA and
the regulations thereunder, except where any such noncompliance has not caused,
or would not reasonably be expected to cause, liability to the Borrower or any
Qwest Material Subsidiary in excess of $10,000,000.

     (m) Margin Stock.  The Borrower is not, nor are any of the Restricted
         ------------
Subsidiaries, engaged principally or as one of its important activities in the
business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any
margin stock within the meaning of Regulations T, U and X of the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and no part of the proceeds of the
Advances will be used to purchase or carry any margin stock (as defined by
Regulation U) or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or
carrying any margin stock.  Not more than 25% of the assets of any of the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries are margin stock (as defined by Regulation
U).  None of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, nor any agent acting on their
behalf, has taken any action which might cause this Agreement or any Loan Papers
to violate any regulation of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System or to violate the Exchange Act, in each case as in effect now or as the
same may hereafter be in effect from time to time.

     (n) Event of Default.  The Borrower and the Qwest Material Subsidiaries are
         ----------------
in compliance with all of the provisions of their articles of incorporation.
The Borrower and the Qwest Material Subsidiaries are in material compliance with
all of the provisions of their by-laws.  No event has occurred or failed to
occur, which has not been remedied or waived, the occurrence or non-occurrence
of which constitutes, or which with the passage of time or giving of notice or
both would constitute, an Event of Default.

     (o) Investment Company Act of 1940.  The Borrower is not, nor are any of
         ------------------------------
its Subsidiaries, required to register under the provisions of the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "ICA").  Neither the entering into or
performance by the Borrower of this Agreement nor the issuance of the Notes, nor
the execution, delivery and performance of the obligations by the Borrower and
its Restricted Subsidiaries under the Loan Papers, violates any provision of the
ICA

                                      47
<PAGE>

or requires any consent, approval, or authorization of, or registration with,
the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other governmental or public body
of authority pursuant to any provisions of the ICA.

     (p) Environmental.  On the Closing Date, no Authorized Officer has any
         -------------
actual knowledge that any Hazardous Substance has been installed on any real
property now owned by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, except
(i) for Hazardous Substances the presence of which is not in violation of
Environmental Law in an amount which is not or would not reasonably be expected
to cause, liability to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in the
aggregate in excess of $5,000,000 or (ii) as set forth on Schedule 4.01(p)
                                                          ----------------
hereto.  On each date after the Closing Date on which this representation is
deemed to be made, no Authorized Officer of the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary has any actual knowledge that any Hazardous Substance has been
installed in violation of law on any real property now owned by the Borrower or
any of the Restricted Subsidiaries except those installations which are not, and
would not reasonably be expected to cause, a Material Adverse Change.  As of the
Closing Date, except as disclosed on Schedule 4.01(p) hereto, to the actual
                                     ----------------
knowledge of an Authorized Officer, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries
are not in material violation of or subject to any existing, pending or material
threatened formal investigation or formal inquiry by any governmental authority,
or subject to any material remedial obligations under any applicable
Environmental Laws.  On each date after the Closing Date on which this
representation is deemed to be made, to the actual knowledge of an Authorized
Officer, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries are not in violation of or
subject to any existing, pending  or threatened formal investigation or inquiry
by any governmental authority or to any remedial obligations under any
applicable Environmental Laws which in each case is, or would reasonably be
expected to cause, a Material Adverse Change.  To the actual knowledge of an
Authorized Officer, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries are not
required to obtain any material permits, Licenses or similar authorizations to
construct, occupy, operate or use any buildings, improvements, fixtures, and
equipment forming a part of any real property of the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary by reason of any applicable Environmental Laws, except those that
have been obtained, or which the failure to obtain has not, and would not
reasonably be expected to cause, a Material Adverse Change.  As of the  Closing
Date, except as set forth in Schedule 4.01(p) hereto, no Authorized Officer has
                             ----------------
actual knowledge that any Hazardous Substances or solid wastes have been
disposed of on the real property of the Borrower or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries in violation of any applicable Environmental Law, except such
violations which are not, and would not reasonably be expected to cause,
liability to the Borrower and/or the Restricted Subsidiaries in the aggregate in
excess of $5,000,000.  As of the Closing Date, except as set forth in Schedule
                                                                      --------
4.01(p) hereto, no Authorized Officer has actual knowledge that any Hazardous
-------
Substances or solid wastes have been released on or to the real property of the
Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in violation of any applicable
Environmental Law, except such violations which are not, and would not
reasonably be expected to cause, liability to the Borrower and/or the Restricted
Subsidiaries in the aggregate in excess of $10,000,000.  On each date after the
Closing Date on which this representation is deemed to be made, no Authorized
Officer of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries has actual knowledge
that any Hazardous Substances or solid wastes have been disposed of or otherwise
released on or to the real property of the Borrower or any of the Restricted
Subsidiaries, in violation of the applicable Environmental Laws, except any such
disposal or release which is not, and would not reasonably be expected to cause,
a Material Adverse Change.

     (q) Subsidiaries.  As of the Closing Date,, the Borrower has no
         ------------
Subsidiaries other than those Subsidiaries specifically disclosed in part (a) of
Schedule 4.01(q) hereto and has no equity
----------------

                                      48
<PAGE>

investments in any other Person other than those specifically disclosed in part
(b) of Schedule 4.01(q) hereto.
       ----------------

     (r) Broker's Fees.  No broker's, finder's or other similar fee or
         -------------
commission will be payable by the Borrower (other than to the Agents and the
Lenders hereunder) with respect to the making of the Commitment or the Advances
hereunder.

     (s) Intellectual Property.  To the actual knowledge of the Authorized
         ---------------------
Officers as of the Closing Date, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries
have obtained all licenses of material patents, trademarks, service-marks, trade
names, copyrights, and other rights from third parties that are necessary for
the operation of their business as presently conducted.  On each date after the
Closing Date on which this representation is deemed to be made, the Borrower and
the Restricted Subsidiaries have obtained all Licenses of patents, trademarks,
service-marks, trade names, copyrights and other similar rights that are
necessary for the operation of their business as presently conducted, except
those, the failure of which to obtain has not caused, and would not reasonably
be expected to cause, a Material Adverse Change.  Nothing has come to the
attention of the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to the effect
that (i) any process, method, part or other material presently contemplated to
be employed by the Borrower or any Qwest Material Subsidiary may infringe any
patent, trademark, service-mark, trade name, copyright, or other right owned by
any other Person except to the extent Borrower or any of the Restricted
Subsidiaries has obtained a License therefor, or (ii) there is pending or
overtly threatened any claim or Litigation against or affecting the Borrower or
any Qwest Material Subsidiary contesting its right to sell or use any such
process, method, part or other material, except in the case of clause (i) and
(ii) above, any such event or circumstance which has not caused, and would not
reasonably be expected to cause, a Material Adverse Change.

     (t) Accuracy of Borrower Information.  On the Closing Date, neither this
         --------------------------------
Agreement nor any other document, certificate or statement (in each case, taken
as a whole but excluding the Offering Memorandum) which has been furnished to
any Lender by or on behalf of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in
connection herewith contained any materially untrue statement of a material fact
or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statement
contained herein and therein not materially misleading at the time it was
furnished in light of the circumstances under which they were made, provided
                                                                    --------
that notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or in the Loan
----
Papers, the Borrower makes no representation, warranty or guaranty as to any
projections furnished to the Lenders except that they were prepared in good
faith by the Borrower on the basis of assumptions which the Borrower believed
were reasonable as of the date of such projections.  On each date after the
Closing Date on which this representation is deemed to be made, the Borrower
represents that none of the regular or periodic reports, or any registration
statement or prospectus filed by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (or any successor agency) contains any
materially untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact
necessary in order to make the statement contained therein not materially
misleading at the time of such filing in light of the circumstances under which
they were made.  The historical financial statements of the Borrower and
Guarantor contained in the Offering Memorandum present fairly in all material
respects and in accordance with GAAP (subject to year end adjustments and the
absence of footnotes as to the Borrower's unaudited financial statements
contained therein) the financial position of the Borrower and the Guarantor,
respectively, and their respective consolidated Subsidiaries as of the date of
such financial statements.

                                      49
<PAGE>

     (u) Year 2000 Compliance.  The Year 2000 Problem has not resulted in, and
         --------------------
the Borrower reasonably believes that the Year 2000 Problem will not result in,
a Material Adverse Change.

     (v) Existing Financing.  The Loans and the Conditional Early Release
         ------------------
Unlimited Guaranty of the Loans and all Obligations are senior to or pari passu
with all Existing Financing.  Nothing in this Agreement and the other Loan
Papers violates any provision of the Existing Financing Documentation, and no
consent is required in connection with any of the Existing Financing
Documentation in order to execute, deliver and perform under this Agreement and
the other Loan Papers.  To the actual knowledge of the Authorized Officers,
there exists no "Default" or "Event of Default" as defined in, and under any of
the Existing Financing Documentation, or any other event or circumstance which
causes a Repayment Event with respect to any of the Existing Financing.  All
notices required by any Existing Financing Documentation regarding the
execution, delivery or performance by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary
of the Loan Papers have been given in accordance with the terms of the Existing
Financing Documentation.

     (w) Fibers and Fiber Capacity. As of the Closing Date, the Borrower and its
         -------------------------
Restricted Subsidiaries own or have the right to use through the Maturity Date
not less than 24 optical fibers on a weighted average route mile basis on the
Backbone (which such fibers are not subject to any transfer, disposition or IRU
Agreement granting an IRU to any Person other than the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary), and such fiber capacity is sufficient, on a weighted
average route mile basis, to meet the business plan of the Borrower.

     (x) Sinking Funds and Defeasance.  As of the Closing Date, no documentation
         ----------------------------
relating to any Debt for Borrowed Money of the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary has any provision granting any creditor a sinking fund or a right to
require a defeasance of the obligations owing to it.

     4.02.  Survival of Representations and Warranties.  All representations
and warranties made under this Agreement and the other Loan Papers shall be
deemed to be made at and as of the Closing Date and at and as of the date of
each Advance (excluding each Refinancing Advance), and each shall be true and
correct in all material respects when made (except those representations and
warranties that specifically speak as of a particular date).  All such
representations and warranties shall survive, and not be waived by, the
execution hereof by any Lender, any investigation or inquiry by any Lender, or
by the making of any Advance under this Agreement.


                         ARTICLE V  GENERAL COVENANTS

     So long as any of the Obligations are outstanding and unpaid or the
Commitment is outstanding (whether or not the conditions to borrowing have been
or can be fulfilled), and subject to the terms of Section 8.08 hereof:

                                      50
<PAGE>

     5.01.  Preservation of Existence and Similar Matters.

     (a) The Borrower shall, and shall cause each Qwest Material Subsidiary to,
preserve and maintain, or timely obtain and thereafter preserve and maintain (i)
material rights, franchises, authorizations, consents, privileges and all other
material Licenses from federal, state and local governmental bodies and any
Tribunal (regulatory or otherwise) which the Borrower or such Qwest Material
Subsidiary deems reasonably necessary or advisable to conduct its business in
the ordinary course, and (ii) its existence (except as permitted by Section 7.05
hereof); and

     (b) The Borrower shall, and shall cause each Restricted Subsidiary to,
qualify and remain qualified and authorized to do business in each jurisdiction
in which the character of its Properties or the nature of its business requires
such qualification or authorization, except where the failure to do so is not,
and would not reasonably be expected to cause, a Material Adverse Change.

     5.02.  Business; Compliance with Applicable Law.    The Borrower shall, and
shall cause the Restricted Subsidiaries to (a) engage primarily in the
Telecommunications Business, including, without limitation, the internet,
internet protocol, web hosting or electronic commerce, and (b) comply in all
material respects with the requirements of all material Applicable Law.

     5.03.  Maintenance of Properties.  The Borrower shall, and shall cause
each Qwest Material Subsidiary to, maintain or cause to be maintained all their
material Properties necessary to the conduct of their business (whether owned or
held under lease) in reasonably good repair, working order and condition, taken
as a whole, and from time to time make or cause to be made all appropriate
repairs, renewals, replacements, additions, betterments and improvements
thereto.

     5.04.  Accounting Methods and Financial Records.  The Borrower shall, and
shall cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, maintain a system of accounting
established and administered in accordance with GAAP and keep adequate records
and books of account in which complete entries will be made and all transactions
reflected in accordance with GAAP.  The Borrower shall, and shall cause each of
the Restricted Subsidiaries to, maintain a fiscal year ending on December 31.

     5.05.  Insurance.  The Borrower shall, and shall cause each Restricted
Subsidiary to, maintain insurance from responsible companies in such amounts and
against such risks as shall be customary and usual in the industry for companies
of similar size and capability.  The Borrower shall use commercially reasonable
efforts to cause each insurance policy to provide for at least 30 days' prior
notice to the Administrative Agent of any proposed termination or cancellation
of such policy, whether on account of default or otherwise.

     5.06.  Payment of Taxes and Claims.  The Borrower shall, and shall cause
each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, pay and discharge all federal and other
material Taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies imposed upon it
or its income or Properties prior to the date on which penalties attach thereto
which are shown on such Person's Tax returns to be due and payable, and all
lawful material claims for labor, materials and supplies which, if unpaid, might
become a Lien upon any of their Properties or assets, except those Taxes,
assessments and charges which are immaterial or contested by the Borrower
diligently in good faith, and for which adequate reserves have been established
in accordance with GAAP.  The Borrower shall, and shall cause each of its
Restricted Subsidiaries to, timely file all information returns required by
federal Tax Authorities, and all material information returns required by state
or local Tax authorities.

                                      51
<PAGE>

     5.07.  Visits and Inspections.  The Borrower shall, and shall cause each
Restricted Subsidiary to, promptly, permit representatives of the Administrative
Agent and the Arranging Agents, or any Lender accompanied by the Administrative
Agent from time to time, upon prior notice reasonable under the circumstances,
to (a) visit and inspect the Properties of the Borrower and each Restricted
Subsidiary during normal business hours (unless there exists an Event of Default
in which case during such hours as is reasonable under the circumstances), (b)
inspect and make extracts from and copies of the Borrower's and each Restricted
Subsidiary's books and records, in each case as reasonable under the
circumstances, (c) discuss with the Borrower's and each Restricted Subsidiary's
officers (and during an Event of Default, with the Auditors together with an
Authorized Officer of the Borrower), its business, assets, liabilities,
financial positions, results of operations and business prospects, and (d) make
reasonable informational requests of the Auditors from time to time, with
respect to which the Borrower shall be obligated to procure such information
from the Auditors.

     5.08.  Use of Proceeds.  The Borrower agrees that the proceeds of the
Loans shall be used in accordance with the terms of Section 2.15 hereof.

     5.09.  Indemnity.  The Borrower agrees to indemnify and hold harmless
the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arranger, the Arranging Agents, the Co-
Arrangers, the Co-Syndication Agents, each Lender and their respective
affiliates, officers, directors, employees, agents and advisors (each, an
"Indemnified Party") from and against any and all claims, damages, losses,
liabilities and expenses (including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and
expenses of counsel and the allocated cost of internal counsel) which may be
incurred by or asserted or awarded against any Indemnified Party, in each case
arising out of or in connection with or by reason of, or in connection with the
preparation for a defense of, any investigation, litigation or proceeding
arising out of, related to or in connection with the Loans, including without
limitation, any transaction in which the proceeds of any borrowing are or are to
be applied, whether or not an Indemnified Party is a party thereto, whether or
not the transactions contemplated herein are consummated, and whether or not
such claim, damage, loss, liability or expense results from the negligence of
such Indemnified Party unless and only to the extent that as to any Indemnified
Party, it shall be determined in a final, non-appealable judgment by a court of
competent jurisdiction that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities, or
expenses resulted from such Indemnified Party's gross negligence or willful
misconduct.  Borrower will not settle or consent to judgment with respect to any
investigation, litigation, or proceeding without the prior written consent of
the Administrative Agent and any affected Indemnified Party, unless such
settlement or consent includes an unconditional release of each such Indemnified
Party or unless each Indemnified Party is entitled to be indemnified under this
Section 5.09 (which entitlement the Borrower will confirm to such Indemnified
Party in writing, if requested).  The Borrower shall periodically, upon request,
reimburse each Indemnified Party for its reasonable legal and other actual
expenses (including the costs of any investigation and preparation) incurred in
connection with any indemnified matter.  The Borrower agrees that no Indemnified
Party shall have any liability for any indirect or consequential damages in
connection with its activities related to the Loans.  The reimbursement,
indemnity and contribution obligations under this Section shall be in addition
to any liability which the Borrower may otherwise have, shall extend upon the
same terms and conditions to each Indemnified Party, and shall be binding upon
and inure to the benefit of any successors, assigns, heirs and personal
representatives of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and all
other Indemnified Party.  This Section shall survive any termination of this
Agreement and repayment of the Obligations.

                                      52
<PAGE>

     5.10.  Environmental Law Compliance.  The use which the Borrower or any
of its Restricted Subsidiaries intends to make of any real Property owned by it
will not result in the disposal or other release of any Hazardous Substance or
solid waste on or to such real Property in violation of any Environmental Law,
except any such violation which is not, and would not reasonably be expected to
cause, a Material Adverse Change.  As used herein, the term "release" as used in
this Section shall have the meanings specified in CERCLA (as defined in the
definition of applicable Environmental Laws), and the terms "solid waste" and
"disposal" shall have the meaning specified in RCRA (as defined in the
definition of applicable Environmental Laws); provided, however, that if CERCLA
or RCRA is amended so as to broaden or narrow the meaning of any term defined
thereby, such broader or narrower meaning shall apply subsequent to the
effective date of such amendment; and provided further, to the extent that any
other law applicable to the Borrower, any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any
of their properties and assets establishes a meaning for "hazardous substance,"
"release," "solid waste," or "disposal" which is broader than that specified in
either CERCLA or RCRA, such broader meaning shall apply.  The Borrower and each
Restricted Subsidiary agrees to indemnify and hold the Administrative Agent and
each Lender harmless from and against, and to reimburse them with respect to,
any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities and expenses (including
reasonable attorneys' fees and courts costs) asserted or awarded against or
incurred by any of them by reason of or arising out of transactions contemplated
by this Agreement and (a) the failure of the Borrower or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to perform any obligation hereunder regarding asbestos or
applicable Environmental Laws, (b) any violation by the Borrower or Restricted
Subsidiary on or before the Release Date of any applicable Environmental Law in
effect on or before the Release Date, and (c) any act, omission, event or
circumstance existing or occurring on or prior to the Release Date, involving
the presence on such real Property or release from such real Property of
Hazardous Substances or solid wastes disposed of or otherwise released on or
prior to the Release Date, resulting from or in connection with the ownership by
the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of the real Property, regardless of
whether the act, omission, event or circumstance constituted a violation of any
applicable Environmental Law at the time of its existence or occurrence, or
whether the act, omission, event or circumstance is caused by or relates to the
negligence of any indemnified Person; provided, that the Borrower shall not be
under any obligation to indemnify the Administrative Agent or any Lender to the
extent that any such liability arises as the result of the gross negligence or
willful misconduct of such Person, as finally judicially determined by a court
of competent jurisdiction.  The provisions of this Section shall survive the
Release Date and shall continue thereafter in full force and effect.

     5.11.  Restricted Subsidiary Designation.    The Borrower agrees that each
Restricted Subsidiary on the Existing Bank Facility Closing Date will remain a
Restricted Subsidiary until the Obligations have been repaid in full and the
Commitment has been terminated, unless any such Restricted Subsidiary that is
not a Qwest Material Subsidiary has been Disposed of in accordance with the
terms of Section 7.05(a)(ii)(A) hereof.  The Borrower agrees that, without the
consent of the Majority Lenders, the  Designated U S WEST Restricted Subsidiary
will remain a Restricted Subsidiary until the Obligations have been repaid in
full and the Commitment has been terminated.

     5.12.  Fiber Capacity.   The Borrower shall, and shall cause its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, at all times maintain ownership of or the right to use through
the Maturity Date (or until all Obligations are paid in full) not less than 24
optical fibers on a weighted average route mile basis on the Backbone, which
such fibers may not be transferred, disposed of or made subject to an IRU
Agreement granting an IRU to any Person other than the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary if such transfer, disposal or IRU Agreement would result
in the Borrower and its Restricted

                                      53
<PAGE>

Subsidiaries owning or having the right to use less than 24 optical fibers on a
weighted average route mile basis on the Backbone through the Maturity Date (or
until all Obligations are paid in full).

     5.13.  UCC Filings.  The Borrower shall, and shall cause its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, agree to file UCC-3 releases for all UCC filings recorded
against the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, which such UCC filings
evidence Debt that has been repaid in full and extinguished and do not evidence
Liens permitted under Section 7.03 hereof.

     5.14.  Sinking Funds and Defeasance.  To the extent that the Borrower or
any Restricted Subsidiary agrees in connection with the incurrence of any Debt
for Borrowed Money to a sinking fund or defeasance, the Borrower shall, and
shall cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, grant to the Administrative
Agent and the Lenders proportionately similar rights to a sinking fund or
defeasance with respect to the Obligations.

     5.15.  Reimbursement of Costs and Expenses.  Within 30 days after the
Closing Date,  the Borrower shall reimburse the Administrative Agent for the
reasonable costs, fees and expenses (including the reasonable fees and expenses
of Special Counsel) incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection with the
negotiation, preparation and execution of this Agreement, the other Loan Papers
and the making of the initial Loans.


                       ARTICLE VI  INFORMATION COVENANTS

     So long as any of the Obligations are outstanding and unpaid or the
Commitment is outstanding (whether or not the conditions to borrowing have been
or can be fulfilled), the Borrower shall, subject to Section 8.08 hereof,
furnish or cause to be furnished to the Administrative Agent two copies of the
following:

     6.01.  Quarterly Financial Statements and Information.  Within 60 days
after the end of each fiscal quarter (except the fourth fiscal quarter), (a)
consolidated balance sheets of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, and
(b) either (i) a copy of the Form 10-Q (including all financial statements
contained herein) filed by the Borrower or (ii) consolidated balance sheets of
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, each as at the end of such quarter, and the
related consolidated and consolidating statements of income and consolidated
statements of changes in cash for such quarter and for the elapsed portion of
the year ended with the last day of such quarter, all of which shall be
certified by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower on behalf of the Borrower,
to, in his or her opinion, present fairly in all material respects, in
accordance with GAAP (except that such financial statements may be subject to
year-end audit adjustments and do not have to contain footnotes), the financial
position and results of operations of (A) the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries, and (B) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, respectively, as at the
end of and for such period, and for the elapsed portion of the year ended with
the last day of such period.

                                      54
<PAGE>

     6.02.  Annual Financial Statements and Information.

     (a) Within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, a copy of (i) the
consolidated balance sheets of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries,
(ii) either (A) a copy of the Form 10-K (including all financial statements
contained therein) filed by the Borrower, or (B) the consolidated balance sheets
of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, each as of the end of such fiscal year,
and (iii) consolidated and consolidating statements of earnings, statements of
changes in shareholders' equity, and statements of changes in cash as of and
through the end of such fiscal year for the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries and the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, respectively, all of which
are prepared in accordance with GAAP, and certified by Auditors, whose opinion
shall be in scope and substance in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards and shall be unqualified.

     (b) As soon as available, but in any event within 90 days following the end
of each fiscal year, a copy of the annual consolidated operating budget of the
Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries for the succeeding fiscal year.

     (c) As soon as available, but in any event within three Business Days
following any change in the Senior Unsecured Debt Rating, a Notice of Change of
Senior Unsecured Debt Rating.

     6.03.  Compliance Certificates.  At the time financial statements are
furnished pursuant to Section 6.01 and Section 6.02 hereof, a duly completed
Compliance Certificate certified by an Authorized Officer of the Borrower on
behalf of the Borrower.

     6.04.  Copies of Other Reports and Notices.

     (a) Promptly upon their becoming available, a copy of (i) all material
reports or material letters submitted to the Borrower or any Qwest Material
Subsidiary by accountants in connection with any annual, interim or special
audit, including without limitation any report prepared in connection with the
annual audit referred to in Section 6.02 hereof, and any other comment letter
submitted to management in connection with any such audit, (ii) each financial
statement, report, notice or proxy statement sent by the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary to stockholders generally and (iii) each regular or
periodic report and any registration statement or prospectus (or material
written communication in respect of any thereof) filed by the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary with any securities exchange, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission or any successor agency.

     (b) Promptly upon becoming aware (i) that the holder(s) of any note(s) or
other evidence of indebtedness or other security of the Borrower or any Qwest
Material Subsidiary in excess of $25,000,000 in the aggregate has given notice
or taken any action with respect to a breach, failure to perform, claimed
default or event of default thereunder, (ii) of any occurrence or non-occurrence
of any event which constitutes or which with the passage of time or giving of
notice or both would constitute either (A) a "Default" or "Event of Default" (as
such terms are defined in the Existing Financing Documentation) by the Borrower
or any Qwest Material Subsidiary under any Existing Financing or (B) a Repayment
Event under any Existing Financing, or (iii) of the occurrence of any event,
circumstance or condition which is, or would  reasonably be expected to cause, a
Material Adverse Change, a written notice specifying the details thereof (or the
nature of any claimed default or event of default) and what action is being
taken or is proposed to be taken with respect thereto;

                                      55
<PAGE>

     (c) (i) Promptly upon receipt thereof, copies of any notices received from
the FCC, any applicable PUC or any other federal, state or local regulatory
agencies or any tribunal relating to any order, ruling, law, information or
policy and information relating to material developments with respect thereto
that both (A) relates to a breach of or noncompliance with the Communications
Act or any law, rule or regulation of any applicable PUC, and (B) would
reasonably be expected to result in the payment of money by the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary in an amount of $25,000,000 or more in the aggregate, or
otherwise is, or would reasonably be expected to cause, a Material Adverse
Change, or result in the loss or suspension of any Material License; and

          (ii) Within 10 Business Days after an Authorized Officer of the
Borrower has actual knowledge or notice thereof, notice of (A) the commencement
of any proceeding or investigation before any applicable PUC with respect to the
operations of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary which would reasonably
be expected to cause a Material Adverse Change, and (B) the commencement of all
proceedings or material formal investigations before the FCC with respect to the
Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries.

     (d) From time to time and promptly upon each request, such data, reports,
documents or further information regarding the assets, business, liabilities,
financial position, results of operations or business prospects of the Borrower
and the Restricted Subsidiaries, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender
through the Administrative Agent may reasonably request, and from time to time
within a reasonable time period after each request during the continuance of an
Event of Default, such projections as may be reasonably requested by the
Administrative Agent or any Lender through the Administrative Agent.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, prior to the Acquisition Date, no Lender may
receive confidential information regarding any of the U S WEST Companies unless
and until it has executed  a Confidentiality Agreement and delivered it to the
Administrative Agent.

     6.05.  Notice of Litigation, Default and Other Matters.  Notice of the
following events within 10 Business Days after an Authorized Officer of the
Borrower has actual knowledge or notice thereof:

     (a) Any action or proceedings in any court or before any arbitrator
involving claims for damages (including punitive damages) in excess of either
$25,000,000 for any one proceeding or investigation, or $50,000,000 in the
aggregate for all such proceedings (after deducting the amount with respect to
which the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is insured), against
the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or any of their properties,
assets or businesses or with respect to which the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary has liability; and

     (b) The happening of any condition or event which constitutes a Default or
Event of Default.  Such notice shall specify the nature and period of existence
thereof and what action is being taken or is proposed to be taken with respect
thereto.

                                      56
<PAGE>

     6.06.  ERISA Reporting Requirements.

     (a) Promptly and in any event (i) within 30 days after the Borrower or any
member of their Controlled Group has actual knowledge that any ERISA Event
described in clause (a) of the definition of ERISA Event or any event described
in Section 4063(a) of ERISA with respect to any Plan of the Borrower or any
member of its Controlled Group has occurred, and (ii) within 10 Business Days
after the Borrower or any member of its Controlled Group has actual knowledge
that any other ERISA Event with respect to any Plan of the Borrower or any
member of its Controlled Group has occurred or a request for a minimum funding
waiver under Section 412 of the Code with respect to any Plan of the Borrower or
any member of its Controlled Group, a written notice describing such event and
describing what action is being taken or is proposed to be taken with respect
thereto, together with a copy of any notice of event that is given to the PBGC;

     (b) Promptly and in any event within two Business Days after receipt
thereof by the Borrower or any member of its Controlled Group from the PBGC,
copies of each notice received by the Borrower or any member of its Controlled
Group of the PBGC's intention to terminate any Plan or to have a trustee
appointed to administer any Plan;

     (c) Promptly and in any event within 30 days after the filing thereof by
the Borrower or any member of its Controlled Group with the United States
Department of Labor, the Internal Revenue Service or the PBGC, copies of each
annual and other report (including Schedule B thereto) with respect to each
Plan;

     (d) Promptly and in any event within 30 days after receipt thereof, a copy
of any notice, determination letter, ruling or opinion the Borrower or any
member of its Controlled Group receives from the PBGC, the United States
Department of Labor or the Internal Revenue Service with respect to any Plan;

     (e) Promptly, and in any event within 10 Business Days after receipt
thereof, a copy of any correspondence the Borrower or any member of their
Controlled Group receives from the Plan Sponsor (as defined by Section
4001(a)(10) of ERISA) of any Plan concerning potential withdrawal liability
pursuant to Section 4219 or 4202 of ERISA, and a statement from the chief
financial officer of the Borrower or such member of its Controlled Group setting
forth details as to the events giving rise to such potential withdrawal
liability and the action which the Borrower or such member of its Controlled
Group is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto;

     (f) Notification within 30 days of any material increases in the benefits
of any existing Plan which is not a Multiemployer Plan, or the establishment of
any new Plans, or the commencement of contributions to any Plan to which the
Borrower or any member of its Controlled Group was not previously contributing;

     (g) Notification within three Business Days after the Borrower or any
member of its Controlled Group has actual knowledge that the Borrower or any
such member of its Controlled Group has or intends to file a notice of intent to
terminate any Plan under a distress termination within the meaning of Section
4041(c) of ERISA and a copy of such notice; and

     (h) Within 10 Business Days after receipt of written notice of commencement
thereof, notice of all actions, suits and proceedings before any court or
governmental department,

                                      57
<PAGE>

commission, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality, domestic or foreign,
affecting the Borrower or any member of its Controlled Group with respect to any
Plan.

     6.07.  Copies of Other Reports and Notices Regarding U S WEST Restricted
Subsidiaries.

     (a) Notice of the following events promptly after an Authorized Officer of
the Borrower has actual knowledge or notice thereof:

          (i)   notice of any FCC or PUC matter relating to a U S WEST
     Restricted Subsidiary that has caused a Material Adverse Effect,

          (ii)  if a Material Adverse Effect has occurred as a consequence
     thereof, notice of any action or proceedings in any court or before any
     arbitrator involving claims for damages (including punitive damages)
     against any of the U S WEST Restricted Subsidiaries, or any of their
     properties, assets or businesses or with respect to which any US WEST
     Restricted Subsidiary has liability, and

          (iii) notice of a U S WEST Default; and

     (b) At the same time as any of the U S WEST Restricted Subsidiaries
delivers notice to any holder of any U S WEST Debt:

          (i)   notice of any ERISA matter, a copy of such notice, and

          (ii)  a copy of each regular or periodic report and any registration
     statement or prospectus (or material written communication in respect of
     any thereof) filed by any U S WEST Restricted Subsidiary with any
     securities exchange, with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any
     successor agency.


                        ARTICLE VII  NEGATIVE COVENANTS

     So long as any of the Obligations are outstanding and unpaid or the
Commitment is outstanding (whether or not the conditions to borrowing have been
or can be fulfilled) and subject to Section 8.08 hereof:

     7.01.  Financial Covenants.

     (a)  Total Leverage Ratio.  From the Closing Date and continuing at all
times until the Obligations have been repaid in full, the Borrower shall not
permit the Total Leverage Ratio to be more than the following ratios during the
following time periods:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                 Period                                Ratio
                 ------                                -----
<S>                                                 <C>

     From the Closing Date
     through December 31, 2000                      4.90 to 1.00
     From January 1, 2001 through June 30, 2001     4.75 to 1.00
     From July 1, 2001 through December 31, 2001    4.25 to 1.00
     From January 1, 2002 and thereafter            3.75 to 1.00
</TABLE>

                                      58
<PAGE>

     (b)  Interest Coverage Ratio.  From the Closing Date and continuing at all
times until the Obligations have been repaid in full, the Borrower shall not
permit the Interest Coverage Ratio to be less than 2.75 to 1.00.

     (c) Minimum Consolidated Net Worth.  From the Closing Date and continuing
at all times until the Obligations have been repaid in full, the Borrower shall
not permit the Consolidated Net Worth of the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries on any date of determination to be less than the sum of (i) 75% of
the Borrower's Consolidated Net Worth at December 31, 1998, (ii) 50% of
Consolidated Net Income (with no deduction for losses) for the period commencing
January 1, 1999 through any such date of determination, plus (iii) 75% of the
net proceeds received by the Borrower from common Capital Stock issuances of the
Borrower during the period from the Existing Bank Facility Closing Date through
any such date of determination.  For purposes of compliance with the foregoing
Consolidated Net Worth test, one-time non-cash merger and restructuring charges
relating to future acquisitions permitted to be consummated in accordance with
the terms hereof may be added back to Net Income provided that (A) such charges
                                                 -------------
may only be added back to the extent they were deducted from Net Income and (B)
the aggregate amount of all such add backs over the term of this Agreement shall
not exceed $250,000,000.

     7.02.  Debt for Borrowed Money.  The Borrower shall not, and shall not
permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, create, assume, incur or otherwise become
or remain obligated in respect of, or permit to be outstanding, or suffer to
exist any Debt for Borrowed Money of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary
or issue any Preferred Stock, except the following Debt for Borrowed Money and
Preferred Stock, provided that, any Debt for Borrowed Money or Preferred Stock
                 -------------
which is permitted when incurred or issued (whether it is incurred by operation
of law or otherwise) shall always be permitted hereunder:

     (a) with respect to the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries, Debt for
Borrowed Money of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries under the Loan
Papers and under the Existing Bank Facility;

     (b) with respect to the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries Debt for
Borrowed Money in existence on the Closing Date described on Schedule 7.02
                                                             -------------
hereto and not otherwise permitted pursuant to the terms of this Section 7.02,
including without limitation, the Existing Financing and the TROL Transaction,
in each case only in the principal amounts and on the terms as such Debt for
Borrowed Money exists as of the Closing Date (subject to the provisions of
subparagraph (e) below); provided that, in the case of existing accreting Debt,
                         -------------
principal amounts existing on the Closing Date shall include all amounts by
which any such debt accretes after the Closing Date;

     (c) provided that no Default or Event of Default exists or would result
from the incurrence thereof, with respect to the Borrower and the Wholly Owned
Restricted Subsidiaries, Debt owed to each other incurred in the ordinary course
of business in accordance with past practices;

     (d)  so long as there exists no Default or Event of Default both before and
after giving effect thereto, in addition to all other Debt permitted to be
incurred pursuant to this Section 7.02, (i)

                                      59
<PAGE>

unsecured Debt of the Borrower in respect to Interest Rate Protection
Agreements, (ii) Subordinated Indebtedness of the Borrower, so long as such
Subordinated Indebtedness in the aggregate for all outstanding principal amounts
does not exceed $500,000,000, provided that, if the Total Leverage Ratio is less
                              -------------
than 4.00 to 1.00 both before and after giving effect to any such incurrence,
the Borrower may incur Subordinated Indebtedness in principal amounts in excess
of $500,000,000 and (iii) in addition to Debt for Borrowed Money permitted to be
incurred in accordance with the terms of subsection (ii) immediately preceding,
unsecured Debt (on a pari passu basis with the Obligations), Preferred Stock or
Subordinated Indebtedness of the Borrower in an aggregate principal amount
outstanding not to exceed the difference between $1,000,000,000 and the Loan
Increase, if any, provided that (A) such unsecured Debt on a pari passu basis
                  -------------
shall be otherwise on terms and conditions reasonably acceptable to the
Arranging Agents and (B) the material terms of all such Debt for Borrowed Money
(including, without limitation, Subordinated Indebtedness) and Preferred Stock
shall be no more restrictive than any comparable terms of either this Agreement
or any Existing Financing Documentation (whichever is more restrictive),
provided that, if the Total Leverage ratio is less than 4.00 to 1.00 both before
-------------
and after giving effect to any such incurrence, the Borrower may incur unlimited
Debt for Borrowed Money (including, without limitation, Subordinated
Indebtedness) or Preferred Stock meeting the requirements set forth in (A) and
(B) above;

     (e) so long as there exists no Default or Event of Default both before and
after giving effect thereto, Debt of the Borrower or any Original Restricted
Subsidiary in respect of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness;

     (f) in addition to all other Debt permitted to be incurred pursuant to this
Section 7.02, after the Acquisition Date, so long as there exists no Default or
Event of Default both before and after giving effect thereto,

                (i) the Borrower may incur unsecured Debt for Borrowed Money
          (including, without limitation, Subordinated Indebtedness) and/or
          issue Preferred Stock so long as the material terms are reasonably
          acceptable to the Arranging Agents and no more restrictive than the
          comparable terms of this Agreement or any of the Existing Financing
          Documentation (whichever is more restrictive), and

               (ii) the Restricted Subsidiaries may incur Debt for Borrowed
          Money (including, without limitation, Subordinated Indebtedness) not
          otherwise permitted by this Section 7.02 that is unsecured and in an
          aggregate amount not to exceed 10% of the Tangible Assets of the
          Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries at any one time outstanding,

     (g) so long as there exists no Default or Event of Default both before and
after giving effect to the incurrence thereof, Debt for Borrowed Money and/or
Preferred Stock of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries meeting the
qualifications set forth below:

          (i) in an aggregate principal amount for the Borrower and the
     Restricted Subsidiaries together not in excess of $50,000,000 outstanding
     at any one time for both Debt for Borrowed Money and Preferred Stock, and

                                      60
<PAGE>

          (ii) in addition to amounts permitted under (b) and (g)(i) above, in
     respect of Capital Leases and purchase money as defined in the UCC in an
     aggregate amount for the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries together
     not in excess of $125,000,000 outstanding at any one time, and

          (iii)  in addition to (g)(i) and (ii) above, any amount of Preferred
     Stock, provided that the terms of such Preferred Stock shall (i) provide
            -------------
     for payment in kind dividends only, except to the extent declared by the
     Board of Directors and approved by the Administrative Agent and the
     Majority Lenders, (ii) contain no covenants of the Borrower or any
     Restricted Subsidiary, (iii) contain no mandatory redemption, defeasance,
     sinking fund or prepayment provisions, (iv) provide that the sole remedies
     for breach or default of any provision of such Preferred Stock shall be
     limited to additional board seats, so long as it does not cause a Change of
     Control or Specified Change of Control, (v) not contain any voting rights
     that could cause a Change of Control or a Specified Change of Control and
     (vi) not contain any  liquidation rights or conversion rights (other than
     conversion rights into the common Capital Stock of the Borrower);

     (h) so long as there exists no Default or Event of Default both before and
after giving effect to the incurrence thereof, the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries may incur other unsecured Debt for Borrowed Money and/or Preferred
Stock not described in (a) through (g) above, provided that the aggregate
                                              -------------
principal amount of all such Debt and Preferred Stock for the Borrower and the
Restricted Subsidiaries together is never in excess of $50,000,000 outstanding
at any one time;

     (i) so long as there exists no Default or Event of Default both before and
after giving effect to incurrence thereof, the Borrower may acquire unsecured
Debt for Borrowed Money in connection with an acquisition permitted under
Section 7.18 hereof (the "Acquired Debt") so long as in each case (i) such
Acquired Debt was not incurred in anticipation of the acquisition by the
Borrower, (ii) the Borrower deposits in cash at the Administrative Agent an
amount equal to the principal amount of the Acquired Debt as collateral to
secure the Obligations hereunder (the "Cash Collateral"), (iii) the Borrower
executes a security agreement in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the
Administrative Agent and the Arranging Agents granting a lien and security
interest in the Cash Collateral to secure the Obligations of the Lenders
hereunder together with such other documentation, including, without limitation,
UCC-1 filings, as deemed reasonable by the Administrative Agent, (iv) the
Acquired Debt must remain the sole obligation of the acquired person and the
Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, execute
any Guaranty of the Acquired Debt or otherwise become obligated in any manner
with respect to the Acquired Debt (pursuant to assumption, merger,
consolidation, operation of law or otherwise).  Each Lender hereby authorizes
the Administrative Agent to release and return to the Borrower such portion of
any Cash Collateral upon the extinguishment of the related Acquired Debt;

     (j) on and after the Acquisition Date, so long as there exists no Default
under Section 8.01(a) hereof or Event of Default both before and after giving
effect to such transaction, in connection with the U S WEST Acquisition and only
upon consummation of the U S WEST Acquisition, the U S WEST Debt and U S WEST
Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness shall be permitted to exist, provided that,
                                                                -------------
notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) except with respect to the U S WEST
Guarantees, the Persons obligated on (or with respect to) any such Debt shall
not include the Borrower or any of the Original Restricted Subsidiaries (unless
the Borrower and/or the Original

                                      61
<PAGE>

Restricted Subsidiaries, as applicable, are entitled to incur such Debt under
another provision of this Section 7.02) and (ii) any collateral, credit support
or other surety for any such Debt shall not be expanded to include any new
Properties or assets of the Borrower or any Original Restricted Subsidiary; and

     (k) on and after  the Acquisition Date (i) the U S WEST Guarantees shall be
permitted to exist and (ii) so long as (A) there exists no Default under Section
8.01(a) hereof or Event of Default both before and after giving effect to such
transaction and (B) the aggregate amount of the U S WEST Guarantees does not
exceed the sum of (I) the aggregate amount of such U S WEST Guarantees described
on Schedule 1.03 hereto, plus (II) an aggregate amount of additional U S WEST
   -------------
Guarantees not to exceed $2,500,000,000, the Borrower shall be permitted to
assume the obligations under the U S WEST Guarantees, provided that,
                                                      -------------
notwithstanding the foregoing, in all respects other than the Borrower becoming
an obligor thereunder, any collateral, credit support or other surety for any
such Debt shall remain in the U S WEST Companies, and none of the Original
Restricted Subsidiaries, or any of the Properties or assets of the Borrower or
the Original Restricted Subsidiaries shall secure, guaranty or otherwise be
obligated thereon (unless the Borrower and/or the Original Restricted
Subsidiaries, as applicable, are entitled to incur such Debt under another
provision of this Section 7.02).

     Notwithstanding any other provision contained in Section 7.02 hereof and
provided such Debt for Borrowed Money is otherwise permitted to be incurred
under this Section 7.02, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries may incur
up to $1,000,000,000 (but not in excess of) in the aggregate outstanding at any
one time of Debt for Borrowed Money (including, without limitation, Subordinated
Indebtedness) and Preferred Stock with a maturity prior to the Maturity Date,
provided, that (x) Debt for Borrowed Money of Borrower or any Restricted
--------------
Subsidiary with a maturity prior to the Maturity Date in existence on the
Closing Date, (y)  U S WEST Debt with a maturity prior to the Maturity Date in
existence prior to the Acquisition Date and (z) any Debt for Borrowed Money
incurred at any time pursuant to Section 7.02(c) hereof, Section 7.02(e) hereof
and Section 7.02(g) hereof with a maturity date prior to the Maturity Date shall
be excluded from such $1,000,000,000 aggregate limitation contained in this
paragraph.

     7.03.  Liens.   The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any
Restricted Subsidiary to, create, assume, incur, permit or suffer to exist,
directly or indirectly, any Lien on any of its assets or Properties, whether now
owned or hereafter acquired, except (a) Permitted Liens, (b) so long as no
Default or Event of Default exists or would result from the incurrence of such
Lien, Liens securing Debt permitted to be incurred by Section 7.02(g) hereof
(and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness of such Debt), but only so long as
such Debt secured thereby shall not be increased and the Liens shall cover
Properties of the Borrower purchased with the proceeds of such Debt and shall
not cover additional assets of the Borrower or any such Restricted Subsidiary
and (c) pre-existing Liens acquired by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary
in connection with an acquisition permitted by Section 7.18 hereof and securing
Debt permitted to be incurred by Section 7.02(g) hereof.  Except to the extent
that any such provision is contained in any of the Existing Financing
Documentation as of the Closing Date, the Borrower shall not, and shall not
permit any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower to, agree with any other Person
that it shall not create, assume, incur, permit or suffer to exist or to be
created, assumed, incurred or permitted to exist, directly or indirectly, any
Lien on any of its assets or Properties, provided that, with respect to Sections
                                         -------------
7.02 (f) and (g) hereof, the Borrower (or in the case of (g), any Restricted
Subsidiary) may agree with any

                                      62
<PAGE>

such creditor to the prohibition of Liens on all Debt other than Liens securing
the Obligations (and any increase in the Obligations).

     7.04.  Investments.  The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any
Restricted Subsidiary to, make any Investment, except that the Borrower and its
Restricted Subsidiaries may purchase or otherwise acquire and own:

     (a) Marketable, direct obligations of, or guaranteed by, the United States
of America and maturing within 365 days of the date of purchase;

     (b) Commercial paper maturing not more than 90 days after the date of
acquisition, issued by U.S. corporations (other than Affiliates of the Borrower)
that have a rating of A-2/P-1 or A-1/P-2 or better by Standard & Poor's Ratings
Group, a Division of McGraw-Hill, Inc. or Moody's Investors Service, Inc.;

     (c) time deposit accounts, certificates of deposit and money market
deposits maturing within 180 days of the date of acquisition thereof issued by a
bank or trust company which is organized under the laws of the United States of
America, any state thereof or any foreign country recognized by the United
States of America, and which bank or trust company has a capital surplus and
undivided profits aggregating in excess of $50,000,000 (or the foreign currency
equivalent thereof) and has outstanding debt which is rated "A" (or such similar
equivalent rating) or higher by at least one nationally recognized statistical
rating organization (as defined in Rule 436 under the Exchange Act);

     (d) securities with maturities of six months or less from the date of
acquisition, issued or fully guaranteed by any state, commonwealth or territory
of the United States of America, or by an political subdivision or taxing
authority thereof, and rated at least "A" by Standard & Poor's Ratings Group, a
Division of McGraw-Hill, Inc. or "A" by Moody's Investors Service, Inc.;

     (e) Investments constituting acquisitions permitted by Section 7.18 hereof;

     (f) (i) Investments and contractual commitments for future Investments that
are in existence on November 29, 1999, (ii) after the Acquisition Date,
Investments and contractual commitments for future Investments of any U S WEST
Restricted Subsidiary in each case to the extent that such Investments and
contractual commitments for future Investments are in existence on the
Acquisition Date and (iii) Investments by the Borrower and its Wholly Owned
Restricted Subsidiaries in the Borrower or any Wholly Owned Restricted
Subsidiary;

     (g) in addition to all the other permitted Investments under this Section
7.04 and so long as (i) there exists no Default or Event of Default both before
and after giving effect to such Investment, Permitted Investments except the U S
WEST Acquisition, and (ii) (A) there exists no Default under Section 8.01(a)
hereof or an Event of Default both before and after giving effect to such
Investment and (B) U S WEST has a Senior Unsecured Debt Rating of BBB- /Baa3 or
higher immediately prior to the consummation of such Investment, the U S WEST
Acquisition;

     (h) receivables owing to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary if
created or acquired in the ordinary course of business and payable or
dischargeable in accordance with customary trade terms;

                                      63
<PAGE>

     (i) payroll, travel, commission and similar advances to cover matters that
are expected at the time of such advances ultimately to be treated as expenses
for accounting purposes and that are made in the ordinary course of business,
and prepaid expenses, negotiable instruments held for collection and lease,
utility and workers' compensation, performance and other similar deposits made
in the ordinary course of business;

     (j) loans or advances, or extensions of credit, to employees, directors,
distributors and sales agents made in the ordinary course of business consistent
with past practices of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary;

     (k) Investments held in trust by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary
for the purpose of paying deferred compensation to its officers and employees;

     (l) so long as there exists no Default or Event of Default both before and
immediately after giving effect to any such Investment, Investments in bonds,
notes, debentures and other securities received as a result of the Disposition
by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of any assets or Properties
permitted in accordance with the terms of Section 7.05 hereof, provided that the
                                                               -------------
aggregate amount of such Investments for the Borrower and its Restricted
Subsidiaries shall not exceed $25,000,000 at any one time outstanding;

     (m) Investments made in the ordinary course of business as partial payment
for constructing a network relating to a Telecommunications Business, including,
without limitation, the internet, internet protocol, web hosting and electronic
commerce, not to exceed in the aggregate an amount in excess of (i) $50,000,000
outstanding at any one time prior to the Acquisition Date and (ii) $100,000,000
outstanding at any one time on and after the Acquisition Date; and

     (n) Notwithstanding the foregoing limitations set forth in this Section
7.04, in the event that (i) there exists no Default or Event of Default on the
date any such Investment is made, (ii) the Borrower has a Senior Unsecured Debt
Rating of BBB- or Baa3 or higher on the date any such Investment is made, and
(iii) Investments made by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in
Affiliates (other than Subsidiaries of the Borrower), Unrestricted Subsidiaries
and Subsidiaries that are not Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiaries do not exceed
an amount equal to 10% of the Tangible Assets of the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries in the aggregate over the term of this Agreement (after giving
effect to the proposed Investment), the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries
may make any Investments.

     7.05.  Liquidation, Disposition and Merger.  The Borrower shall not, and
shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower to, at any time:

     (a) liquidate or dissolve itself (or suffer any liquidation or dissolution)
or otherwise wind up; or effect any Disposition of all or any part of its
assets, Properties or business other than:

          (i)  Permitted Asset Sales and the contribution of EUnet International
     Limited and any other assets of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary
     contractually committed prior to the Existing Bank Facility Date to be
     contributed by the Borrower to the KPNQwest Joint Venture;

                                      64
<PAGE>

          (ii) so long as (1) there exists no Event of Default both before and
     after giving effect to any such Disposition, (2) there exists no Default
     under Section 8.01(a) hereof  both before and after giving effect to any
     such Disposition, (3) the Administrative Agent has not received notice from
     the Borrower in accordance with the terms of Section 6.04(b) hereof that an
     event has occurred or a circumstance exists that is, or would reasonably be
     expected to cause, a Material Adverse Change both before and after giving
     effect to any such Disposition, and (4) the Borrower is in compliance with
     the terms of Section 2.05 and Section 2.11 hereof:

               (A)  Dispositions of assets not constituting Capital Stock of
          Qwest Material Subsidiaries with a Disposition price of less than
          $15,000,000 for any one Disposition and less than an amount equal to
          10% of the Tangible Assets of the Original Borrower and its Original
          Restricted Subsidiaries (determined on the date of each such
          Disposition) in the aggregate for all such Dispositions from the
          Existing Bank Facility Closing Date through the date of such
          Disposition,

               (B)  sales of accounts receivable in accordance with the terms of
          Section 7.12 hereof,

               (C)  any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower owned all or in
          part by the Borrower or any Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary, can be
          dissolved, so long as the Borrower and each such Wholly Owned
          Restricted Subsidiary owning any Capital Stock of such Restricted
          Subsidiary acquires its proportionate part of the total of such
          Restricted Subsidiary's assets, provided that, so long as such
                                          -------------
          dissolution is in the ordinary course of business in accordance with
          the past practices of the Borrower and is otherwise in compliance with
          this subsection (C), such dissolution may occur during the existence
          of a Default or Event of Default or after notice of the occurrence of
          a Material Adverse Change,

               (D)  any Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary hereunder, may
          Dispose of assets, Property or business to the Borrower or any other
          Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary or the Borrower, provided that, so
                                                              -------------
          long as such Disposition is in the ordinary course of business in
          accordance with the past practices of the Borrower and the Restricted
          Subsidiaries and is otherwise in compliance with this subsection (D),
          such Disposition may occur during the existence of a Default or Event
          of Default or after notice of the occurrence of a Material Adverse
          Change,

               (E)  any Disposition by the Borrower and its Restricted
          Subsidiaries of any of their non-U.S. assets and Properties, including
          without limitation (I) the 1,400-route-mile extension of the U.S.
          network into Mexico, (II) the capacity on three undersea systems
          linking its network to Europe, (III) the proposed 13, 125-mile-four-
          fiber-pair submarine cable systems connecting the U.S. to Japan,
          scheduled for completion by the second quarter of 2000 and (IV) all
          transatlantic and transpacific cable capacity or systems,

               (F)  any (I) Dispositions of fiber or IRU's in fiber or capacity
          and the related transport and network equipment in accordance with the
          terms of Section 7.17 hereof, and (II) fiber swaps and fiber exchanges
          of capacity, so long as the Borrower is in compliance with the terms
          of Section 5.12 hereof, and


                                      65
<PAGE>

               (G)  Dispositions by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of
          the Capital Stock of any Unrestricted Subsidiary;

          (iii)  any Investment of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary
     that is permitted by Section 7.04 hereof; and

          (iv)  all Dispositions (A) required by the FCC or any PUC or any other
     governmental or regulatory body in order to consummate the U S WEST
     Acquisition and (B) contemplated by or in connection with the U S WEST
     Acquisition, provided that, in no event shall the aggregate sales prices of
                  -------------
     all such Dispositions described in (a)(iv)(A) and (a)(iv)(B) above exceed
     an amount equal to 10% of the Original Borrower's and the Original
     Restricted Subsidiaries' total assets (including goodwill and other
     intangible assets),

     (b) enter into any merger or consolidation, except that, so long as there
exists no Default under Section 8.01(a) hereof or any Event of Default both
before and after giving effect to any such transaction, any Wholly Owned
Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower can merge or consolidate into the Borrower
or any other Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower, provided that,
                                                                 -------------
so long as such merger or consolidation is in the ordinary course of business of
the Borrower and in accordance with the past practices of the Borrower and is
otherwise in compliance with this subsection (b), such merger or consolidation
may occur during the existence of a Default or Event of Default or after notice
of the occurrence of a Material Adverse Change, or

     (c) enter into any merger or consolidation, except that, another Person may
be merged into the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with an
acquisition permitted under Section 7.18 hereof, so long as the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary is the surviving entity.

     7.06.  Guaranties; Contingent Liabilities.  The Borrower shall not, and
shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, at any time make or issue any
Guaranty, or assume, be obligated with respect to, or permit to be outstanding
any Contingent Liabilities, except (a) pursuant to the Loan Papers and the
Existing Bank Facility Documentation, (b) Contingent Liabilities in existence on
the Closing Date and described on Schedule 7.06 hereto, (c) Contingent
                                  -------------
Liabilities of the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to
surety bonds and similar instruments incurred in the ordinary course of the
Borrower's business and (d) Contingent Liabilities permitted to be incurred
under Section 7.02 hereof.

     7.07.  Restricted Payments.  The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit
any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly declare, make or pay any
Restricted Payment; provided, however

          (a) any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower may declare, make and
     pay Distributions to the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary so
     long as such Distribution is made proportionately  to the ownership of the
     Capital Stock of such Restricted Subsidiary;

          (b) so long as (i) there exists no Default or Event of Default both
     before and after giving effect to any such Restricted Payment and (ii) the
     Total Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 4.00 to 1.00 both before and
     after giving effect to any such Restricted Payment, the Borrower or any
     Restricted Subsidiary may make any Restricted Payment not otherwise
     prohibited by this Agreement (without reference to this Section 7.07) and
     the Loan Papers;

                                      66
<PAGE>

          (c) in addition to the permitted Restricted Payments described in
     subparagraph (b) above, so long as (i) there exists no Default or Event of
     Default both before and after giving effect to any such Restricted Payment
     and (ii) the Borrower receives the prior written consent of the Arranging
     Agents, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary may repurchase its Debt
     for Borrowed Money in a maximum aggregate amount over the term of this
     Agreement of $200,000,000 (in addition to Permitted Refinancing
     Indebtedness and U S WEST Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness);

          (d) so long as there exists no Default or Event of Default both before
     and after giving effect to any such Restricted Payment, management and
     consulting fees payable to Unrestricted Subsidiaries and other Affiliates
     of the Borrower in an aggregate amount in any fiscal year not to exceed
     $5,000,000;

          (e) so long as there exists no Default or Event of Default both before
     and after giving effect to any such Restricted Payment, the Borrower may
     repurchase any shares of its common Capital Stock or options to acquire its
     common Capital Stock from Persons who were formerly directors, officers or
     employees of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, provided
                                                                      --------
     that the aggregate amount of all such repurchases made pursuant to this
     ----
     subparagraph (e) for the Borrower and all of its Restricted Subsidiaries
     shall  not exceed $1,000,000 in any fiscal year;

          (f) payments permitted to be made to Affiliates of the Borrower and
     Unrestricted Subsidiaries in accordance with the terms of Section 7.04,
     Section 7.08 and Section 7.16 hereof;

          (g) so long as there exists no Default or Event of Default both before
     and after giving effect to any such Restricted Payment, the Borrower and
     its Restricted Subsidiaries may make required scheduled payments in
     accordance with the terms of the Existing Financing Documentation, and
     other Debt permitted to be incurred or exist in accordance with the terms
     of Section 7.02 hereof;

          (h) so long as there exists no Default or Event of Default both before
     and after giving effect to any such Restricted Payment, the Borrower may
     retire or repurchase any of its common Capital Stock in exchange for, or
     with the proceeds of any issuance of, any common Capital Stock of the
     Borrower issued in accordance with the terms of Section 7.10 hereof; and

          (i) so long as there exists no Default or Event of Default both before
     and after giving effect to any such Restricted Payment, the Borrower and
     its Restricted Subsidiaries may make required scheduled payments in
     accordance with the terms of the U S WEST Financing Documentation.

     7.08.  Affiliate Transactions.  The Borrower shall not, and shall not
permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, at any time engage in any
transaction with any of its Affiliates, nor make an assignment or other transfer
of any of its assets or Properties to any of its Affiliates (other than
transactions among the Borrower and its Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiaries),
on terms materially less advantageous to the Borrower or any such Restricted
Subsidiary than would be the case if such transaction had been effected with a
non-Affiliate, except (a) as permitted by Section

                                      67
<PAGE>

7.07 and Section 7.16 hereof and (b) those transactions described on Schedule
                                                                     --------
7.08 hereof and transactions pursuant to employee compensation arrangements
----
approved by the Board of Directors, provided that if the Board of Directors or
                                    -------------
the board of directors of any Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, determines
in good faith that no comparable transaction exists for purposes of making the
determination set forth above, then such board shall determine that the terms of
such transaction are fair and commercially reasonable and in the best interests
of the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiary entering into such transaction.

     7.09.  Compliance with ERISA.  The Borrower shall not, and shall not
permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, or permit
any member of its Controlled Group to directly or indirectly, (a) terminate any
Plan so as to result in any liability to the Borrower or any member of its
Controlled Group which would reasonably be expected to result in a liability to
the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in excess of $10,000,000, (b) permit
to exist any ERISA Event, or any other event or condition which presents the
risk of liability of the Borrower or any member of its Controlled Group that
would reasonably be expected to result in a liability to the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary in excess of $10,000,000, (c) make a complete or partial
withdrawal (within the meaning of Section 4201 of ERISA) from any Multiemployer
Plan so as to result in any liability to the Borrower or any member of its
Controlled Group that is would reasonably be expected to be in excess of
$10,000,000, (d) enter into any new Plan or modify any existing Plan so as to
increase its obligations thereunder except in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice which would result in any liability to the
Borrower, or any member of its Controlled Group that is or would reasonably be
expected to be in excess of $10,000,000, or (e) permit the present value of all
benefit liabilities, as defined in Title IV of ERISA, under each Plan of the
Borrower or any member of its Controlled Group (using the actuarial assumptions
set forth in the Plan) to exceed the fair market value of Plan assets allocable
to such benefits all determined as of the most recent valuation date for each
such Plan on an ongoing plan basis, by an amount that is or would reasonably be
expected to be in excess of $10,000,000.

     7.10.  Capital Stock.  The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any
Restricted Subsidiary to (a) make or permit any transfer, assignment,
distribution, mortgage, pledge or gift of any shares of Capital Stock of any
Restricted Subsidiary, except (i) to the Borrower or another Wholly Owned
Restricted Subsidiary or (ii) in accordance with the terms of Section 7.03
hereof and Section 7.05(a) hereof, and (b) issue any Capital Stock other than
(i) so long as there exists no Event of Default both before and after giving
effect to such issuance, common Capital Stock issued by the Borrower, (ii) so
long as there exists no Default or Event of Default both before and after giving
effect to such issuance, common Capital Stock issued by any Restricted
Subsidiary, so long as such Capital Stock is issued to the Borrower or another
Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary or to any Restricted Subsidiary so long as
the Borrower's indirect ownership in such Restricted Subsidiary issuing such
Capital Stock is not diluted, and (iii)  so long as there exists no Default or
Event of Default both before and after giving effect to such issuance, Preferred
Stock of the Borrower in accordance with the terms of Section 7.02 hereof.

     7.11.  Sale and Leaseback.  The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit
any Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into any arrangement whereby it consummates
any Disposition of any of its assets, and thereafter rents or leases back assets
(each a "Sale and Leaseback Transaction"), provided that, if there exists no
                                           -------------
Default or Event of Default both before and after giving effect to both the
Disposition and the leaseback, the Borrower and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries
may enter into Sale and Leaseback Transactions (a) among the Borrower and its
Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiaries

                                      68
<PAGE>

and (b) so long as the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries comply fully
with Sections 2.05(a), 2.11(b) and 8.05(a) hereof, with other Persons.

     7.12.  Sale or Discount of Receivables.  The Borrower shall not, and
shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly sell, with
or without recourse, for discount or otherwise, any notes or accounts receivable
other than in the ordinary course of business in accordance with past practices
of collection, provided that, so long as there exists no Default or Event of
               -------------
Default both before and after giving effect to each such sale, if the Total
Leverage Ratio is less than 4.00 to 1.00 both before and after giving effect to
any such sale, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries may sell accounts
receivable on a non recourse basis, in an aggregate amount not to exceed
$200,000,000 in accounts sold and outstanding at any one time.

     7.13.  Limitation on Restrictive Agreements.  The Borrower shall not, and
shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into any indenture,
agreement, instrument, financing document or other arrangement which, directly
or indirectly, prohibits or restrains, or has the effect of prohibiting or
restraining, or imposes materially adverse conditions upon: (a) the acceptance
of a waiver or consent with respect to any term or provision of this Agreement
or any other Loan Paper, or (b) amending, extending, increasing or substituting
any provision of this Agreement or any Loan Paper, provided that, nothing in
                                                   -------------
this Section 7.13 shall limit the ability of the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary to enter into agreements which have the effect of prohibiting,
restraining or conditioning their ability to amend, extend, increase or
substitute any provision of this Agreement or any Loan Paper solely as a result
of general covenants regarding debt limitations, financial ratios or other
general restrictive covenants.

     7.14.  Amendment of Material Agreements.  The Borrower shall not, and
shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, amend, waive or consent to any
deviation from any provision of any documentation or agreements of the (a)
articles of incorporation of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries and
(b) by laws and other organizational documents in any manner with respect to
both (a) and (b) foregoing that is both material and adverse to the interests of
the Lenders, except, any such amendment, waiver or consent that is necessary to
permit the consummation of the U S WEST Acquisition.  Except in connection with
Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred in accordance with the terms of
Section 7.02 hereof, the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries to, amend or change (or take any action or fail to take
any action the result of which is an effective amendment or change) or accept
any waiver or consent with respect to, any of the Existing Financing
Documentation, or any other document or instrument that would result in (a) an
increase in the outstanding principal amount of any of the Existing Financing,
(ii) any increase in any principal, interest, fees, or other amounts payable
under any of the Existing Financing, (iii) a change in any date fixed for any
payment of principal, interest, fees, or other amounts payable under any of the
Existing Financing Documentation (including, without limitation, as a result of
any redemption, and including without limitation a waiver or action that results
in the waiver of any payment default under any of the Existing Financing), (iv)
a decrease in any percentage of holders of any of the Existing Financing
required under the terms of the Existing Financing Documentation, respectively,
to take (or refrain from taking) any action, (v) a more restrictive change in
any financial covenant in the Existing Financing Documentation, (vi) a change in
any remedy or right of the holders of the any of the Existing Financing, (vii) a
change in the definition of "Change of Control" in any of the Existing Financing
Documentation, (viii) a change in any covenant, term or provision in the
Existing Financing Documentation which would result in such term or provision
being more restrictive than the terms of this Agreement and the Loan Papers, or
(ix) a change in any term or

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provision of the Existing Financing Documentation or other document or
instrument in connection therewith that would have, in any material respect, an
adverse effect on the interests of the Lenders, provided that, notwithstanding
                                                -------------
the foregoing, any amendment, waiver or consent of any agreement of the Borrower
and its Restricted Subsidiaries of any provision that would otherwise prohibit
the consummation of the U S WEST Acquisition, this Agreement or the Existing
Bank Facility shall not be precluded by the foregoing limitation.

     7.15.  Name Changes.   The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any
Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower to, change its name without prior written
notice to the Administrative Agent, provided that this Section 7.15 shall not
                                    -------------
prohibit the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from operating under
any trade names or assumed names.

     7.16.  Unrestricted Subsidiaries.   Except for those transactions listed on
Schedule 7.16 hereto, the Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any
-------------
Restricted Subsidiary to, contribute any equity, make any loan, advance or other
investment in, or otherwise conduct any business with, any Unrestricted
Subsidiary, except (a) in accordance with the terms and conditions of Sections
7.04 and 7.07 hereof, and (b) with respect to market service agreements and
other market arrangements that are negotiated in good faith on terms and
conditions substantially similar to those of comparable arrangements with
unaffiliated Persons negotiated at arm's length.

     7.17.  Limitation on IRU Agreements.  The Borrower shall not, and shall
not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into an IRU Agreement granting an
IRU to any Person other than to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary,
provided that (a) the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary may enter into an
-------------
IRU Agreement granting an IRU to any Person (other than the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary), so long as in each case (i) there exists no Default or
Event of Default at the time such IRU Agreement is entered into and (ii) the
Borrower is in compliance with Section 5.12 hereof, and (b) so long as there
exists no Default or Event of Default both before and after entering into such
IRU Agreement, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary may enter into an IRU
Agreement granting IRU's with respect to the existing fiber and related
transport and network equipment of LCI and its Subsidiaries.

     7.18.  Acquisitions, Creation of Subsidiaries.  The Borrower shall not,
and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, acquire any assets, Property
or business of any other Person, or participate in any joint venture, or create
or acquire any Subsidiary, except

          (a)  assets and Property acquired in the ordinary course of business,

          (b)  so long as there exists no Default under Section 8.01(a) hereof
     or any Event of Default both before and after giving effect to any such
     acquisition, the Borrower or any Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary may
     acquire assets, Property or business from any other Wholly Owned Restricted
     Subsidiary,

          (c)  acquisitions constituting Investments that are permitted by
     Section 7.04 hereof,

          (d)  the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary may consummate
     Permitted Acquisitions, so long as in each case (1) there exists no Event
     of Default both before and after giving effect to any such acquisition, (2)
     there exists no Default under Section 8.01(a) hereof  both before and after
     giving effect to any such acquisition, and (3) the Administrative

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     Agent has not received notice from the Borrower in accordance with the
     terms of Section 6.04(b) hereof that an event has occurred or a
     circumstance exists that is, or would reasonably be expected to cause, a
     Material Adverse Change both before and after giving effect to any such
     acquisition (provided that, if such an event or circumstance that is, or
                  -------------
     would reasonably be expected to cause, a Material Adverse Change has
     occurred, then such proposed acquisition may still be consummated if (x)
     the purchase price of the proposed acquisition is paid exclusively with the
     common Capital Stock of the Borrower and such proposed Person to be
     acquired has zero negative annualized operating cash flow) and

               (i)  in the event that either (1) the Total Leverage Ratio is
          more than 4.00 to 1.00 before or after giving effect to any proposed
          acquisition, or (2) the proposed acquisition has a cash purchase price
          of over $100,000,000, or (3) the proposed Person to be acquired  has
          more than $50,000,000 of negative annualized operating cash flow, then
          the Borrower shall have satisfied the following conditions precedent
          to such acquisition:

                    (A) the Administrative Agent shall have received prior
               written notice on timing reasonable under the circumstances
               describing the proposed acquisition in form reasonably acceptable
               to the Administrative Agent,

                    (B) the Borrower shall have confirmed in writing to the
               Administrative Agent that (I) the proposed acquisition conforms
               to the definition of Permitted Acquisitions and (II) the
               Borrower's projections made in good faith after giving effect to
               the proposed acquisition evidence pro forma compliance with the
               terms of Section 7.01 hereof from the date of such acquisition
               through the Maturity Date and the attached pro forma Compliance
               Certificate was prepared in good faith, or

               (ii)  in the event that the preceding subparagraph (i) is not
          applicable to any such Permitted Acquisition, or notwithstanding the
          preceding paragraph (i), in the event that the Total Leverage Ratio is
          greater than 4.00 to 1.00 but the proposed acquisition is a Minor
          Acquisition,  then the Borrower need only confirm in writing to the
          Administrative Agent on its next delivered Compliance Certificate in
          accordance with the terms of Section 6.03 hereof with respect to each
          such Permitted Acquisition consummated in such fiscal quarter that is
          not disclosed in accordance with the terms of (i) preceding, that (A)
          such acquisition conformed to the definition of Permitted Acquisitions
          and (B) all of the conditions set forth in subparagraph (d)(1), (2)
          and (3) above were satisfied in accordance with the terms thereof, and

          (e)  The Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary may consummate
     acquisitions of wholly owned Unrestricted Subsidiaries, so long as in each
     case there exists no Default or Event of Default both immediately before
     and after giving effect to any such acquisition, and

               (i)  in the event that either (1) the Total Leverage Ratio is
          more than 4.00 to 1.00 before or after giving effect to any proposed
          acquisition, or (2) the proposed acquisition has a cash purchase price
          of over $100,000,000, or (3) the proposed Person to be acquired  has
          more than $50,000,000 of negative annualized operating

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          cash flow, then the Borrower shall have satisfied the following
          conditions precedent to such acquisition:

                    (A) the Administrative Agent shall have received prior
               written notice on timing reasonable under the circumstances
               describing the proposed acquisition in form reasonably acceptable
               to the Administrative Agent,

                    (B) the Borrower shall have confirmed in writing to the
               Administrative Agent that (I) the Borrower has not delivered
               notice to the Administrative Agent in accordance with the terms
               of Section 6.04(b) hereof that an event has occurred or a
               circumstance exists that is, or would reasonably be expected to
               cause, a Material Adverse Change both before and after giving
               effect to any such acquisition and (II) the Borrower's
               projections made in good faith after giving effect to the
               proposed acquisition evidence pro forma compliance with the terms
               of Section 7.01 hereof from the date of such acquisition through
               the Maturity Date and the attached pro forma Compliance
               Certificate was prepared in good faith, or

               (ii)  in the event that the preceding subparagraph (i) is not
          applicable to any such acquisition of a wholly owned Unrestricted
          Subsidiary or notwithstanding the preceding paragraph (i), in the
          event that the Total Leverage Ratio is greater than 4.00 to 1.00 but
          the proposed acquisition is a Minor Acquisition,  then the Borrower
          need only confirm in writing to the Administrative Agent on its next
          delivered Compliance Certificate in accordance with the terms of
          Section 6.03 hereof with respect to each such acquisition of a wholly
          owned Unrestricted Subsidiary consummated in such fiscal quarter that
          is not disclosed in accordance with the terms of (i) preceding, that
          no Default or Event of Default existed both immediately prior to and
          after giving effect to any such acquisition.

     For the purposes of this Section 7.18, a "Minor Acquisition" shall mean one
     or more acquisitions by the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries
     consummated in any fiscal quarter (a) that have purchase prices not
     exceeding $25,000,000 in the aggregate for all such acquisitions and (b) of
     any Person or Persons which in the aggregate do not have in excess of
     $10,000,000 of negative annualized operating cash flow.


                        ARTICLE VIII  EVENTS OF DEFAULT

     8.01.  Events of Default.  Any one or more of the following shall be an
"Event of Default" hereunder, if the same shall occur for any reason whatsoever,
whether voluntary or involuntary, by operation of Law, or otherwise, subject to
Section 8.08 hereof:

     (a) The Borrower shall fail to pay any (i) principal payable under any Loan
Paper on the date due; or (ii) interest, commitment fees or letter of credit
fees payable within three Business Days of the due date thereof; or (iii) other
fees or other amounts that are due and payable within 30 days of the due date
thereof;

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     (b) any representation or warranty made or deemed made by any Obligor or
any Original Restricted Subsidiary under or in connection with any Loan Paper
shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed
made,

     (c) the Borrower shall fail to perform or observe in any material respect
any term or covenant contained in Section 6.05 hereof or in any Section of
Article VII hereof: provided that notwithstanding the foregoing (i) any such
                    -------------
failure to perform or observe any term or covenant contained in Sections 7.04,
7.08, 7.14 and 7.15 hereof shall not constitute an Event of Default until the
fifth day after such failure, and (ii) any such failure to perform or observe
any term or covenant contained in Section 7.03 hereof as a result of any filing
of any UCC-1 that does not secure Debt for Borrowed Money shall not constitute
an Event of Default until the fifth day after such failure;

     (d) any Obligor or Original Restricted Subsidiary shall fail to perform or
observe in any material respect any other term or covenant applicable to it and
contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Paper, other than those described
in Sections 8.01(a), (b) and (c) above, and such failure shall not be remedied
within thirty days following the earlier of an Authorized Officer's knowledge of
such failure or notice from the Administrative Agent or any other Arranging
Agent of the occurrence of such failure;

     (e) Any of the following shall occur:  (i) Any Material Loan Document or
material provision thereof shall, for any reason, not be valid and binding on
the Obligor signatory thereto, or not be in full force and effect, or shall be
declared to be null and void, other than as a result of the action or inaction
on the part of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, or (ii) the validity or
enforceability of any Material Loan Document shall be contested by any Obligor,
Restricted Subsidiary, any Unrestricted Subsidiary or any Affiliate of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries; or (iii) any Obligor shall deny in writing that
it has any or further liability or obligation under its respective Material Loan
Document; or (iv) any default or breach under any provision of any Material Loan
Document shall continue after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in
such Material Loan Document;

     (f) Any of the following shall occur:  (i) the Borrower or any of its
Original Restricted Subsidiaries shall make an assignment for the benefit of
creditors or be unable to pay its debts generally as they become due; (ii) the
Borrower or any of its Original Restricted Subsidiaries shall petition or apply
to any Tribunal for the appointment of a trustee, receiver, or liquidator of it,
or of any substantial part of its assets, or shall commence any proceedings
relating to the Borrower or any of its Original Restricted Subsidiaries under
any Debtor Relief Laws; (iii) any such petition or application shall be filed,
or any such proceedings shall be commenced, against the Borrower or any of its
Original Restricted Subsidiaries, or an order, judgment or decree shall be
entered appointing any such trustee, receiver, or liquidator, or approving the
petition in any such proceedings, and such petition or application shall be
consented to or uncontested by the Borrower or such Original Restricted
Subsidiary, or if contested by the Borrower or such Original Restricted
Subsidiary, shall not be dismissed within 60 days following the filing of such
petition or application; (iv) any final order, judgment, or decree shall be
entered in any proceedings against the Borrower or any of its Original
Restricted Subsidiaries decreeing its dissolution, other than for a Original
Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Qwest Material Subsidiary as part of a
voluntary dissolution; or (v) any final order, judgment, or decree shall be
entered in any proceedings against the Borrower or any of its Original
Restricted Subsidiaries decreeing its split-up which requires the divestiture of
a substantial part of its assets;

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<PAGE>

     (g) Any of the following shall occur:  (i)  The Borrower or any Original
Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower shall fail to pay any Debt for Borrowed
Money of the Borrower or any Original Restricted Subsidiary (other than Debt
under the Loan Papers and Debt under the U S  WEST Guarantees) in an aggregate
amount of $25,000,000 or more when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required
prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise), and such failure shall continue
after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in the agreement or
instrument relating to such Debt; or (ii) the Borrower or any Original
Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower shall fail to perform or observe any term
or covenant contained in any agreement or instrument relating to any such Debt
for Borrowed Money, when required to be performed or observed, and such failure
shall continue after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in such
agreement or instrument, and can result in acceleration of the maturity of such
Debt; or (iii) any such Debt shall be declared to be due and payable, or
required to be prepaid, mandatorily redeemed or repurchased (other than by a
regularly scheduled required prepayment), prior to the stated maturity thereof;
or (iv) the Borrower shall fail to pay any Debt under any of the U S  WEST
Guarantees in an aggregate amount of more than $100,000,000 when due (whether by
scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise),
and such failure shall continue after the applicable grace period, if any,
specified in the agreement or instrument relating to such U S  WEST Guarantees;

     (h) Any of the following shall occur:  (i)  Any Obligor or Original
Restricted Subsidiary shall have any material final judgment(s) outstanding
against it, and such judgment(s) shall remain unstayed, in effect, and unpaid
for the period of time after which the judgment holder may cause the creation of
Liens against or seizure of any of its Property; or (ii) Any Litigation
commenced against the Borrower or any of its Original Restricted Subsidiaries is
adversely determined by a court of applicable jurisdiction, which such
Litigation is either non-appealable or which such Obligor or Original Restricted
Subsidiary has elected not to appeal, except in either case, any such Litigation
which has not had, and would not reasonably be expected to have, a Material
Adverse Effect; or (iii) Any civil action or state criminal action shall be
commenced against the Borrower or any of its Original Restricted Subsidiaries
under any federal or state racketeering statute (including, without limitation,
the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act of 1970)("RICO") and such
action shall be adversely determined by a court of applicable jurisdiction, and
which such determination is either non-appealable or which the Borrower or such
Original Restricted Subsidiary has elected not to appeal; or any criminal action
or proceeding shall be commenced against the Borrower or any of its Original
Restricted Subsidiaries under any federal racketeering statute (including,
without limitation, RICO);

     (i) Any of the following shall occur:  (i) Any ERISA Event shall have
occurred with respect to a Plan of the Borrower or any Original Restricted
Subsidiary of the Borrower, and the sum of the Insufficiency of such Plan and
liabilities relating thereto is equal to or greater than $10,000,000 or (ii) the
Borrower, the Original Restricted Subsidiaries of the Borrower or any ERISA
Affiliate of any of them shall have committed a failure described in Section
302(f)(l) of ERISA, and the amount determined under Section 302(f)(3) of ERISA
is equal to or greater than $10,000,000;

     (j) The Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of the Borrower shall have been
notified by the sponsor of a Multiemployer Plan that (A) it has incurred
Withdrawal Liability to such Plan in an amount that exceeds $10,000,000 or
requires payments exceeding $10,000,000 per annum, or (B) such Multiemployer
Plan is in reorganization or is being terminated, within the meaning of Title IV
of ERISA, if as a result thereof the aggregate annual contributions to all
Multiemployer Plans in

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<PAGE>

reorganization or being terminated is increased over the amounts contributed to
such Multiemployer Plans for the preceding Multiemployer Plan year by an amount
exceeding $10,000,000;

     (k) Any of the Borrower or any of its Original Restricted Subsidiaries
shall be required under any Environmental Law: (i) to implement any remedial,
neutralization, or stabilization process or program, other than any such process
or program the cost of which has not had, and would not reasonably be expected
to have, a Material Adverse Effect, or (ii) to pay any penalty, fine, or
damages, except for any such penalty, fine or damages which in an aggregate
amount has not had, and which would not reasonably be expected to have, a
Material Adverse Effect;

     (l) Any of the following shall occur:  (i) Any property or assets (whether
leased or owned), or the operations conducted thereon by any of the Borrower or
any of its Original Restricted Subsidiaries, or any current or prior owner or
operator thereof (in the case of real Property), shall violate or have violated
any applicable Environmental Law, except any such violation which has not had,
and would not reasonably be expected to have,  a Material Adverse Effect; or
(ii) the Borrower or such Original Restricted Subsidiary shall not obtain or
maintain any License required to be obtained or filed under any Environmental
Law in connection with the use of such Property and assets, including without
limitation past or present treatment, storage, disposal, or release of Hazardous
Materials into the environment, except those failures to obtain or maintain the
same which have not had, and would not reasonably be expected to have, a
Material Adverse Effect;

     (m) Any of the following shall have occurred if the effect thereof has had,
or would  reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect: (i) A final
non-appealable order is issued by any Tribunal, including, but not limited to,
the FCC, any applicable PUC, or the United States Justice Department, requiring
any Obligor or Original Restricted Subsidiary to divest a portion of its assets
pursuant to any antitrust, restraint of trade, unfair competition, industry
regulation, or similar Laws (except in connection with the U S WEST
Acquisition), or (ii) any Tribunal shall condemn, seize, or otherwise
appropriate, or take custody or control of all or any portion of the assets of
the Borrower or any of its Original Restricted Subsidiaries, or (iii) any
License or Licenses whether presently existing or hereafter granted to or
obtained by the Borrower or any of its Original Restricted Subsidiaries shall
expire without renewal or be suspended or revoked, or (iv) the Borrower or any
of its Original Restricted Subsidiaries shall become subject to any injunction
or other order affecting or which may affect the Borrower's or any of its
Original Restricted Subsidiary's present or proposed operations under any such
License or Licenses (except in connection with the U S WEST Acquisition);

     (n) The Borrower or any Original Restricted Subsidiary shall fail to comply
in any respect with the Communications Act, or any rule or regulation
promulgated by the FCC or any applicable PUC, except any such failure that has
not had, and would not reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse
Effect;

     (o) There shall occur a Change of Control or a Specified Change of Control;

     (p) Any Substantial Portion shall not, for any reason (including, without
limitation, loss of FCC License or otherwise) be operating for a period in
excess of 30 days.  For purposes of this Section 8.01(p), "Substantial Portion"
means any portion of the Backbone, the failure of which to operate will have the
effect of reducing Operating Cash Flow for the Borrower and its Original

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Restricted Subsidiaries by more than ten percent (determined by the most
recently completed 12 month period);

     (q) The occurrence of any of the following events:  With respect to Debt
obligations of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries (i) an "Event of
Default" or "Default" as defined in any of the Existing Financing Documentation;
(ii) a Repayment Event with respect to any of the Existing Financing or any
other Debt for Borrowed Money of the Borrower or any Original Restricted
Subsidiary (except with respect to any of the U S  WEST Guarantees) in excess of
$25,000,000; (iii) an "Event of Default" as defined in any of the Existing Bank
Facility Documentation, or (iv) a Repayment Event with respect to the Borrower's
obligations under any of the U S  WEST Guarantees in excess of $100,000,000.
With respect to Debt for Borrowed Money of the U S  WEST Restricted
Subsidiaries, a U S  WEST Default; or

     (r) (i) Any U S WEST Restricted Subsidiary shall fail to comply with any of
the provisions of Sections 5.07, 5.11, 6.01, 6.02, 6.04(d), or 6.07 hereof, and
such failure shall continue after the grace period set forth in Section 8.01(d)
hereof applicable to such Section; or (ii)  any U S WEST Restricted Subsidiary
shall fail to comply with any of the provisions of Sections 7.01, 7.02, 7.04,
7.07 or 7.16 hereof, and such failure shall continue after the grace period set
forth in Section 8.01(c) hereof applicable to such Section; or (iii) a Material
Adverse Effect has occurred as a result of any of the events set forth in
Sections 8.08(a)(i)-(iv) hereof, as modified by the last clause thereof.

     8.02.  Remedies upon Default.  If an Event of Default described in
Section 8.01(f) shall occur, the aggregate unpaid principal balance of and
accrued interest on all Advances and all other Obligations shall, to the extent
permitted by applicable Law, thereupon become due and payable concurrently
therewith, and the Commitment shall be concurrently automatically reduced to
zero and terminated, all without any action by Administrative Agent or any
Lender, and without diligence, presentment, demand, protest, notice of protest
or intent to accelerate, or notice of any other kind, all of which are hereby
expressly waived.  Subject to the foregoing sentence, if any Event of Default
shall occur and be continuing, Administrative Agent may at its election, and
shall at the direction of Majority Lenders, do any one or more of the following:

     (a) Declare the entire unpaid balance of all Obligations immediately due
and payable, whereupon it shall be due and payable without diligence,
presentment, demand, protest, notice of protest or intent to accelerate, or
notice of any other kind (except notices specifically provided for under Section
8.01 hereof), all of which are hereby expressly waived (except to the extent
waiver of the foregoing is not permitted by applicable Law);

     (b)  Terminate the Commitment;

     (c) Reduce any claim of Administrative Agent and Lenders to judgment; or

     (d) Exercise any Rights afforded under any Loan Papers, by Law, including
but not limited to the UCC, at equity, or otherwise.

     8.03.  Cumulative Rights.  All Rights available to Administrative Agent
and Lenders under the Loan Papers shall be cumulative of and in addition to all
other Rights granted thereto at Law or in equity, whether or not amounts owing
thereunder shall be due and payable, and whether or not

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the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall have instituted any suit for
collection or other action in connection with the Loan Papers.

     8.04.  Waivers.  The acceptance by Administrative Agent or any Lender at
any time and from time to time of partial payment of any amount owing under any
Loan Papers shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any Default or Event of
Default then existing.  No waiver by Administrative Agent or any Lender of any
Default or Event of Default shall be deemed to be a waiver of any Default or
Event of Default other than such Default or Event of Default.  No delay or
omission by Administrative Agent or any Lender in exercising any Right under the
Loan Papers shall impair such Right or be construed as a waiver thereof or an
acquiescence therein, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such Right
preclude other or further exercise thereof, or the exercise of any other Right
under the Loan Papers or otherwise.

     8.05.  Performance by Administrative Agent or any Lender.  Should any
covenant of any Obligor or Restricted Subsidiary fail to be performed in
accordance with the terms of the Loan Papers, Administrative Agent may, at its
option, perform or attempt to perform such covenant on behalf of such Obligor or
Restricted Subsidiary.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is expressly
understood that the Administrative Agent does not assume, and shall not ever
have, except by express written consent of the Administrative Agent, any
liability or responsibility for the performance of any duties or covenants of
any Obligor or Restricted Subsidiary.

     8.06.  Expenditures.  The Borrower shall reimburse Administrative Agent
for any reasonable sums spent by it in connection with the exercise of any Right
under Section 8.05 hereof.  Such sums shall bear interest at the lesser of (a)
the Base Rate (whether or not in effect), plus 2.00% per annum and (b) the
Highest Lawful Rate, from 15 days after the date the Administrative Agent makes
demand to the Borrower for reimbursement of such amount until the date of
repayment by the Borrower.

     8.07.  Control.  None of the covenants or other provisions contained in
this Agreement shall, or shall be deemed to, give Administrative Agent or any
Lender any Rights to exercise control over the affairs and/or management of any
of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries being limited to the Rights to
exercise the remedies provided in this Article; provided, however, that if
                                                --------  -------
Administrative Agent or any Lender becomes the owner of any partnership, stock
or other equity interest in any Person, whether through foreclosure or
otherwise, it shall be entitled to exercise such legal Rights as it may have by
being an owner of such stock or other equity interest in such Person.

     8.08.  Compliance Concerning U S WEST Companies and Their Assets.

          (a)  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or in any of the Loan
     Papers to the contrary (but subject to subsections (b) and (c) below),
     after the Acquisition Date, no breach of this Agreement, Default or Event
     of Default shall be deemed to have occurred and no condition precedent set
     forth in Article III hereof shall fail to be satisfied, as a result of:

               (i) the inaccuracy of any representation or warranty contained in
          Article IV hereof,

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               (ii) any failure to comply with the provisions of any affirmative
          covenant contained in Article V hereof (other than any provisions
          contained in Sections 5.07 and 5.11 hereof),

               (iii)  any failure to comply with any information covenant
          contained in Article VI hereof (other than any provisions contained in
          Sections 6.01, 6.02 , 6.04(d) and 6.07 hereof),

               (iv) any failure to comply with any negative covenant contained
          in Article VII hereof (other than Sections 7.01, 7.02, 7.04, 7.07 and
          7.16 hereof) and

               (v) the occurrence of any event that would otherwise constitute
          any Default or Event of Default contained in Article VIII hereof
          (other than under Sections 8.01(e), (o), (q) and (r) hereof),

     in each case set forth in (i) through (v) above, only to the extent that
     any such inaccuracy of any such representation or warranty, or failure to
     comply, failure to satisfy a condition precedent, Default or Event of
     Default is wholly or in part caused by, or attributable to, any U S WEST
     Company or the assets or liabilities of any U S WEST Company (a "U S WEST
     Event");

          (b)  Section 8.08(a) above shall only be effective when:

               (i) at least one of the U S WEST Restricted Subsidiaries has in
          effect, and is bound by, a bank credit facility in excess of
          $100,000,000,

               (ii) the U S WEST Event has not caused the occurrence of a
          Material Adverse Effect, and

               (iii)  the Original Borrower and the Original Subsidiaries are
          otherwise in compliance with all such provisions exempting U S WEST
          Companies; and

          (c)  Notwithstanding any provision of Section 8.08(a) above:

               (i) each U S WEST Restricted Subsidiary shall be subject to, and
          bound by, the terms and provisions contained in Sections 5.07, 5.11,
          6.01, 6.02., 6.04(d), 6.07, 7.01, 7.02, 7.04, 7.07 and 7.16 hereof,

               (ii) any Default or Event of Default under Sections 8.01(a), (e),
          (o), (q) and (r) that is wholly or in part caused by, or attributable
          to, any of the U S WEST Restricted Subsidiaries or the assets or
          liabilities of any of the U S WEST Restricted Subsidiaries, shall be a
          Default or Event of Default hereunder, as applicable, and

               (iii)  although, in accordance with the terms of this Section
          8.08, the U S WEST Restricted Subsidiaries are not subject to the
          limitations of certain of the negative covenants of this Agreement,
          each U S WEST Restricted Subsidiary shall be included in any
          exceptions to such limitations to the extent that the U S WEST
          Restricted Subsidiaries would, but for this Section 8.08, fall within
          such exceptions.

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<PAGE>

          For the avoidance of doubt, (1) the U S WEST Restricted Subsidiaries
          that meet the definition of "Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiaries",
          shall be considered and included in the definition of "Wholly Owned
          Restricted Subsidiaries" for purposes of (A) the parenthetical in
          Section 7.08 hereof, (B) Sections 7.10 (a)(i), (b)(ii) and 7.11 (a)
          hereof, and (C) the second reference thereto in Section 7.18 (b)
          hereof, and (2) the U S WEST Restricted Subsidiaries shall be
          considered "Restricted Subsidiaries" for purposes of the second and
          fourth references thereto in Section 7.17 hereof.


                     ARTICLE IX  THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

     9.01.  Authorization and Action.  Each Lender hereby appoints and
authorizes Administrative Agent to take such action as Administrative Agent
deems necessary on its behalf and to exercise such powers under this Agreement
and the other Loan Papers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the
terms of the Loan Papers, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental
thereto.  As to any matters not expressly provided for by this Agreement and the
other Loan Papers (including without limitation enforcement or collection of the
Notes), Administrative Agent shall not be required to exercise any discretion or
take any action, but shall be required to act or to refrain from acting (and
shall be fully protected in so acting or refraining from acting) upon the
instructions of Majority Lenders (or all Lenders, if required under Section
10.01 hereof), and such instructions shall be binding upon all Lenders;
provided, however, that Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any
--------  -------
action which exposes Administrative Agent to personal liability or which is
contrary to any Loan Papers or applicable Law.  Administrative Agent agrees to
give to each Lender (a) notice of each notice given to it by the Borrower
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, (b) copies of all information delivered
to the Administrative Agent in accordance with the terms of Sections 6.01, 6.02
and 6.03 hereof and (c) to promptly distribute to each applicable Lender in like
funds all amounts delivered to Administrative Agent by the Borrower for the
individual account of any Lender pro rata in accordance with the Specified
Percentage, as set forth in this Agreement.  Functions of the Administrative
Agent are administerial in nature and in no event shall the Administrative Agent
have a fiduciary or trustee relationship in respect of any Lender by reason of
this Agreement or any other Loan Paper.

     9.02.  Administrative Agent's Reliance, Etc.  Neither Administrative
Agent, nor any of its directors, officers, agents, employees, or representatives
shall be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it or them under
or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Paper, except for its or
their own gross negligence or willful misconduct.  Without limitation of the
generality of the foregoing, Administrative Agent (a) may treat the payee of any
Note as the holder thereof until Administrative Agent receives written notice of
the assignment or transfer thereof signed by such payee and in form satisfactory
to Administrative Agent; (b) may consult with legal counsel (including counsel
for the Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries), independent public
accountants, and other experts reasonably selected by it, and shall not be
liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken in good faith by it in
accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants, or experts; (c) makes
no warranty or representation to any Lender and shall not be responsible to any
Lender for any statements, warranties, or representations made in or in
connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Papers; (d) shall not have any
duty to ascertain or to inquire as to the performance or observance of any of
the terms, covenants, or conditions of this Agreement or any other Loan Papers
on the part of the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries or to inspect the
Property (including the books and records) of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries;
(e) shall not be responsible to any Lender for

                                      79
<PAGE>

the due execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency,
or value of this Agreement, any other Loan Papers, or any other instrument or
document furnished pursuant hereto; and (f) shall incur no liability under or in
respect of this Agreement or any other Loan Papers by acting upon any notice,
consent, certificate, or other instrument or writing believed by it to be
genuine and signed or sent by the proper party or parties.

     9.03.  Bank of America, N.A. and Affiliates.  With respect to its
Commitment, its Advances, and any Loan Papers, Bank of America, N.A. has the
same Rights under this Agreement as any other Lender and may exercise the same
as though it were not Administrative Agent.  Bank of America, N.A. and its
Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, act as trustee under
indentures of, and generally engage in any kind of business with, any Obligor,
any Restricted Subsidiary, any Affiliate thereof, and any Person who may do
business therewith, all as if Bank of America, N.A. were not Administrative
Agent and without any duty to account therefor to any Lender, including, without
limitation, the TROL Transaction.

     9.04.  Lender Credit Decision.  Each Lender acknowledges that it has,
independently and without reliance upon Administrative Agent or any other
Lender, and based on the financial statements referred to in Section 4.01(j),
Section 6.01 and Section 6.02 hereof and such other documents and information as
it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter
into this Agreement.  Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently
and without reliance upon Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on
such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time,
continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under
this Agreement and the other Loan Papers.

     9.05.  Indemnification by Lenders.  Lenders shall indemnify
Administrative Agent, pro rata in accordance with each Lender's Specified
Percentage, from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses,
damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, reasonable costs and expenses, or
disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever which may be imposed on, incurred
by, or asserted against Administrative Agent in any way relating to or arising
out of any Loan Papers or any action taken or omitted by Administrative Agent
thereunder, including any negligence of Administrative Agent; provided, however,
                                                              --------  -------
that no Lender shall be liable for any portion of such liabilities, obligations,
losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses, or
disbursements resulting from Administrative Agent's gross negligence or willful
misconduct.  Without limitation of the foregoing, Lenders shall reimburse
Administrative Agent, pro rata in accordance with each Lender's Specified
Percentage, promptly upon demand for any out-of-pocket expenses (including
reasonable attorneys' fees) incurred by Administrative Agent in connection with
the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification, amendment,
or enforcement (whether through negotiation, legal proceedings or otherwise) of,
or legal and other advice in respect of rights or responsibilities under, the
Loan Papers.  The indemnity provided in this Section 9.05 shall survive the
termination of this Agreement.

     9.06.  Successor Administrative Agent.  Administrative Agent may resign
at any time by giving 30 days written notice thereof to Lenders and the
Borrower, and may be removed at any time with or without cause by the action of
all of the Lenders (other than Administrative Agent, if it is a Lender).   Upon
any such resignation or removal, Majority Lenders shall have the right to
appoint a successor Administrative Agent with the prior written consent of the
Borrower (which shall not be unreasonably withheld), provided that, if there
                                                     -------------
exists an Event of Default that is continuing, no consent of the Borrower shall
be required.  If no successor Administrative Agent shall have been so

                                      80
<PAGE>

appointed and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty days after the
retiring Administrative Agent's giving of notice of resignation, then the
retiring Administrative Agent may, on behalf of Lenders, appoint a successor
Administrative Agent, which shall be a commercial bank organized under the Laws
of the United States of America or of any State thereof and having a combined
capital and surplus of at least $500,000,000. Upon the acceptance of any
appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder by a successor Administrative
Agent, such successor Administrative Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become
vested with all the Rights and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent, and
the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and
obligations under the Loan Papers, provided that if the retiring or removed
                                   -------------
Administrative Agent is unable to appoint a successor Administrative Agent,
Administrative Agent shall, after the expiration of a sixty day period from the
date of notice, be relieved of all obligations as Administrative Agent
hereunder. Notwithstanding any Administrative Agent's resignation or removal
hereunder, the provisions of this Article shall continue to inure to its benefit
as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was Administrative
Agent under this Agreement.

                           ARTICLE X  MISCELLANEOUS

    10.01.  Amendments and Waivers.  No amendment or waiver of any provision
of this Agreement or any other Loan Papers, nor consent to any departure by the
Borrower or any Obligor or Restricted Subsidiary therefrom, shall be effective
unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Borrower and the
Administrative Agent with the consent of the Majority Lenders, and then any such
waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the
specific purpose for which given; provided, however, that no amendment, waiver,
                                  --------  -------
or consent shall (and the result of action or failure to take action shall not)
unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent with the consent of all
of the Lenders, (a) increase the Commitment, except in accordance with the terms
of Section 2.16 hereof, (b) reduce any principal, interest, fees, or other
scheduled amounts payable hereunder (including mandatory prepayments under
Section 2.05 hereof), or waive or result in the waiver of any Event of Default
under Section 8.01(a) hereof, (c) postpone any date fixed for any scheduled
payment of principal, interest, fees, or other amounts payable hereunder, (d)
release or materially impair the value of any collateral or guaranties securing
any Obligor's or Restricted Subsidiary's obligations hereunder, other than
releases contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Papers, (e) change any
provision of Section 2.16(c) hereof except to correct any technical errors or
make conforming changes,  (f) except (i) in accordance with the terms of Section
2.16 hereof and (ii) to correct any technical errors or make conforming changes
to any such definition, change the meaning of "Specified Percentage", or the
number of Lenders required to take any action hereunder, or change the
definitions of "Commitment", "Maturity Date" or "Majority Lenders", or (g) amend
this Section 10.01.  No amendment, waiver, or consent shall affect the Rights or
duties of Administrative Agent under any Loan Papers, unless it is in writing
and signed by Administrative Agent in addition to the requisite number of
Lenders.  Notwithstanding the foregoing provision or any provision of this
Agreement or any Loan Paper to the contrary, any provision of (i) Section
2.16(b) hereof will require the consent of the Administrative Agent and the
Majority Lenders to amend, waive or consent to departure from any provision
thereof and (ii) Section 2.16(a) hereof may be amended, waived, or any departure
therefrom consented to in writing from time to time by (A) the Borrower, the
Administrative Agent and the Participating Lenders on the date of amendment,
consent or waiver collectively constituting 51% or more of the amount of such
increase in the Loans, and (B) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and any
Participating Lender, to the extent any such Participating

                                      81
<PAGE>

Lender is taking such action with respect to any provision individually
affecting such Participating Lender.

    10.02.  Notices.

    (a) Manner of Delivery.  All notices to be given or delivered under the Loan
Papers shall, except in those cases where giving notice by telephone is
expressly permitted, be given or delivered in writing.  All written notices
shall be sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt
requested, by telecopier, or delivered by hand or overnight courier.  In the
event of a discrepancy between any telephonic notice and any written
confirmation thereof, such written confirmation shall be deemed the effective
notice except to the extent Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Borrower has
acted in reliance on such telephonic notice.

    (b)  Addresses.  All notices, communications and materials to be given or
delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall be given or delivered at the
following respective addresses and telecopier and telephone numbers and to the
attention of the following individuals or departments:

    (i) If to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary:

         Qwest Communications International Inc.
         700 Qwest Tower
         555 Seventeenth Street
         Denver, CO  80202

         Telephone No.:   (303) 992-1400
         Telecopier No.:  (303) 992-1198
         Attention:       Mr. Robert S. Woodruff
                          Executive Vice President-Finance,
                          Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

                          and

         Telephone No.:   (303) 992-1400
         Telecopier No.:  (303) 992-1198
         Attention:       Mr. William Bryant
                          Director of Finance and Assistant Treasurer

                          and

         Telephone No.:   (303) 992-1400
         Telecopier No.:  (303) 992-1044
         Attention:       Drake S. Tempest, Esq.
                          Executive Vice President and General Counsel

         With copies to (which is not required for effective delivery as set
         forth above):

         Holme Roberts & Owen LLP
         1700 Lincoln, Suite 4100

                                      82
<PAGE>

         Denver, CO  80203

         Telephone No.:   (303) 861-7000
         Facsimile No.:   (303) 866-0200
         Attention:       Martha Collins Rolle, Esq.

    (ii) If to Administrative Agent:

         Bank of America, N.A.
         Bank of America Plaza
         901 Main Street, 64th Floor
         Dallas, Texas  75202

         Telephone No.:   (214) 209-0157
         Telecopier No.:  (214) 209-9390
         Attention:       Anthony M. Cacheria
                          Managing Director and Manager

         Telephone No.:   (214) 209-2576
         Telecopier No.:  (214) 209-9390
         Attention:       Richard M. Peck
                          Associate

         With a copy to (which is not required for effective delivery as set
         forth above):

         Donohoe, Jameson & Carroll, P.C.
         3400 Renaissance Tower
         1201 Elm Street
         Dallas, Texas  75270

         Telephone No.:   (214) 698-3814
         Telecopier No.:  (214) 744-0231
         Attention:       Melissa Ruman Stewart
                            and
         Telephone No.:   (214) 698-3867
         Telecopier No.:  (214) 744-0231
         Attention:       Michael D. Cuda

    (iii)  If to any Lender, to its address shown opposite its signature block
on the signature pages hereto, or on any Assignment and Acceptance, or in any
other notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent,

or at such other address or, telecopier or telephone number or to the attention
of such other individual or department as the party to which such information
pertains may hereafter specify for the purpose in a notice to the other
specifically captioned "Notice of Change of Address".

    (c)  Effectiveness.  Each notice to be given or delivered to any party
pursuant to this Agreement shall be effective or deemed delivered or furnished
(i) if sent by mail upon receipt, (ii) if

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<PAGE>

sent by telecopier, when such notice is transmitted to the appropriate number,
answerback received, (iii) if sent by hand delivery or overnight courier, when
received by the addressee addressed as above provided, and (iv) if given by
telephone, when communicated to the individual or any member of the department
specified as the individual or department to whose attention notices,
communications and materials are to be given or delivered except that notices of
a change of address, telecopier or telephone number or individual or department
to whose attention notices, communications and materials are to be given or
delivered shall not be effective until received; provided, however, that notices
                                                 --------  -------
to Administrative Agent pursuant to Article II shall be effective when received.
The Borrower agrees that Administrative Agent shall have no duty or obligation
to verify or otherwise confirm telephonic notices given pursuant to Article II,
and agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Administrative Agent and Lenders for
any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions,
judgments, suits, claims, costs, and expenses resulting, directly or indirectly,
from acting upon any such notice.

    10.03.  Parties in Interest.  All covenants and agreements contained in
this Agreement and all other Loan Papers shall bind and inure to the benefit of
the respective successors and permitted  assigns of the parties hereto.  Each
Lender may from time to time assign or transfer its interests hereunder pursuant
to Section 10.04 hereof.  The Borrower may not assign or transfer its Rights or
obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender.

    10.04.  Assignments and Participations.

    (a) Each Lender (an "Assignor") may assign its Rights and obligations as a
Lender under the Loan Papers to another Lender or its Bank Affiliate, or to one
or more transferees pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance, so long as, if
such Assignee is not another Lender or a Bank Affiliate of the Assignor (i) each
assignment shall be of a constant, and not a varying percentage of all Rights
and obligations thereunder, (ii) each Assignor shall obtain in each case the
prior written consent of Administrative Agent and the Borrower, such consent of
the Borrower not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed, provided that, in the
                                                         -------------
event there exists an Event of Default that is continuing, no consent of the
Borrower shall be required to make an assignment, (iii) each Assignor shall in
each case pay a $3,500 processing fee to Administrative Agent and (iv) no such
assignment is for an amount less than $10,000,000 (unless such Lender is
assigning all of its remaining interest) and in increments of $1,000,000 (and,
if such assignment is a partial assignment, no Lender shall hold less than
$10,000,000 immediately after giving effect to any assignment unless it assigned
all of its interest).  Within five Business Days after the Borrower receives
notice of any such assignment, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to
Administrative Agent, but only in exchange for the Notes issued to Assignor, new
Notes to the order of such Assignor and its assignee in amounts equal to their
Specified Percentages of the Commitment.  Such new Notes shall be dated the
effective date of the assignment.  It is specifically acknowledged and agreed
that on and after the effective date of each assignment, the assignee shall be a
party hereto and shall have the Rights and obligations of a Lender under the
Loan Papers.

    (b) Each Lender may sell participations to one or more Persons in all or any
of its Rights and obligations under the Loan Papers; provided, however, that (i)
                                                     --------  -------
such Lender's obligations under the Loan Papers shall remain unchanged, (ii)
such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the
performance of such obligations, (iii) such Lender shall remain the holder of
its Notes for all purposes of the Loan Papers, (iv) the participant shall be
granted the Right to vote on or consent to only those matters described in
Sections 10.01(a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) hereof,

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<PAGE>

(v) Obligors, the Restricted Subsidiaries, the Administrative Agent, and other
Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in
connection with their respective Rights and obligations under the Loan Papers
and (vi) no such participation is for an amount less than $5,000,000.

    (c) Any Lender may, in connection with any assignment or participation, or
proposed assignment or participation, disclose to the assignee or participant,
or proposed assignee or participant, any information relating to the Borrower
and its Subsidiaries furnished to such Lender by or on behalf of the Borrower
and its Subsidiaries, subject to the provisions of Section 10.15 hereof.

    (d) Notwithstanding any other provision set forth in this Agreement, (i) any
Lender may at any time create a security interest in all or any portion of its
Rights under this Agreement (including, without limitation, the Advances owing
to it and the Notes held by it) in favor of any Federal Reserve Bank in
accordance with Regulation A of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System and (ii) no participant of any Lender may further assign or participate
any of its interest in the Loan Papers to any Person (except as may be required
by Law or a Tribunal having authority over such participant).

    10.05.  Sharing of Payments.  If, after and during the continuance of any
Event of Default,  any Lender shall obtain any payment (whether voluntary,
involuntary, through the exercise of any Right of set-off, or otherwise) on
account of its Advances in excess of its pro rata share of payments made by the
Borrower in accordance with such Lender's Specified Percentage, such Lender
shall forthwith purchase participations in Advances made by the other Lenders as
shall be necessary to share the excess payment pro rata in accordance with each
Lender's Specified Percentage with each of them; provided, however, that if any
                                                 --------  -------
of such excess payment is thereafter recovered from the purchasing Lender, its
purchase from each Lender shall be rescinded and each Lender shall repay the
purchase price to the extent of such recovery together with a pro rata share of
any interest or other amount paid or payable by the purchasing Lender in respect
of the total amount so recovered.  The Borrower agrees that any Lender so
purchasing a participation from another Lender pursuant to this Section 10.05
may, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, exercise all its Rights of payment
(including the Right of set-off) with respect to such participation as fully as
if such Lender were the direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such
participation.

    10.06.  Right of Set-off.  Upon the occurrence and during the continuance
of any Event of Default, each Lender is hereby authorized (after prior written
notice to the Administrative Agent) at any time and from time to time, to the
fullest extent permitted by Law, to set-off and apply any and all deposits
(general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and
other indebtedness at any time owing by such Lender to or for the credit or the
account of the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries against any and
all of the obligations of the Borrower now or hereafter existing under this
Agreement and the other Loan Papers, whether or not Administrative Agent or any
Lender shall have made any demand under this Agreement or the other Loan Papers,
and even if such obligations are unmatured.  Each Lender shall promptly notify
the Borrower after any such set-off and application, provided that the failure
                                                     -------------
to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off and
application.  The Rights of each Lender under this Section 10.06 are in addition
to other Rights (including, without limitation, other Rights of set-off) which
such Lender may have.

    10.07.  Costs, Expenses, and Taxes.

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<PAGE>

    (a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Loan Papers, the
Borrower agrees to pay on demand (i) all reasonable out of pocket costs and
expenses of Administrative Agent in connection with the preparation and
negotiation of all Loan Papers, including without limitation the reasonable fees
and out-of-pocket expenses of Special Counsel, FCC counsel, PUC counsel and
local counsel, as appropriate, (ii) all costs and expenses (including reasonable
attorneys' fees and expenses) of Administrative Agent in connection with any
interpretation, grant and perfection of any Lien, modification, amendment,
waiver, release of any Loan Papers, restructuring or work-out and (iii) all
costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses) of
Administrative Agent in connection with any collection of any portion of the
Obligations or the enforcement of any Loan Papers during the continuance of an
Event of Default.

    (b) In addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Loan
Papers, the Borrower shall pay any and all stamp, debt, and other Taxes payable
or determined to be payable in connection with any payment hereunder to
Administrative Agent, Arranging Agents or any Lender (but specifically excluding
any participant) (other than Taxes on the overall net income of Administrative
Agent or any Lender or franchise Taxes or Taxes on capital or capital receipts
of Administrative Agent or any Lender), or the execution, delivery, or
recordation of any Loan Papers, and agrees to save Administrative Agent and each
Lender harmless from and against any and all liabilities with respect to, or
resulting from any delay in paying or omission to pay any Taxes in accordance
with this Section 10.07, including any penalty, interest, and expenses relating
thereto.  All payments by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of the
Borrower under any Loan Papers shall be made free and clear of and without
deduction for any present or future Taxes (other than Taxes on the overall net
income of Administrative Agent or any Lender of any nature now or hereafter
existing, levied, or withheld, or franchise Taxes or Taxes on capital or capital
receipts of Administrative Agent or any Lender), including all interest,
penalties, or similar liabilities relating thereto.  If the Borrower shall be
required by Law to deduct or to withhold any Taxes from or in respect of any
amount payable hereunder (i) the amount so payable shall be increased to the
extent necessary so that, after making all required deductions and withholdings
(including Taxes on amounts payable to Administrative Agent or any Lender
pursuant to this sentence), Administrative Agent or any Lender receives an
amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions or
withholdings been made, (ii) the Borrower shall make such deductions or
withholdings, and (iii) the Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted or
withheld to the relevant taxing authority in accordance with applicable Law.
Without prejudice to the survival of any other agreement of the Borrower
hereunder, the agreements and obligations of the Borrower contained in this
Section 10.07 shall survive the execution of this Agreement, termination of the
Commitment, repayment of the Obligations, satisfaction of each agreement
securing or assuring the Obligations and termination of this Agreement and each
other Loan Paper.

    10.08.  Rate Provision.  It is not the intention of any party to any Loan
Papers to make an agreement violative of the Laws of any applicable jurisdiction
relating to usury.  In no event shall any Obligor, Restricted Subsidiary or any
other Person be obligated to pay any amount in excess of the Maximum Amount.  If
Administrative Agent or any Lender ever receives, collects or applies, as
interest, any such excess, such amount which would be excessive interest shall
be deemed a partial repayment of principal and treated hereunder as such; and if
principal is paid in full, any remaining excess shall be paid to the Borrower or
the other Person entitled thereto.  In determining whether or not the interest
paid or payable, under any specific contingency, exceeds the Maximum Amount,
each Obligor, Restricted Subsidiary, Administrative Agent and each Lender shall,
to the maximum extent permitted under Applicable Laws, (a) characterize any
nonprincipal payment as an expense, fee or

                                      86
<PAGE>

premium rather than as interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the
effect thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate and spread in equal parts,
the total amount of interest throughout the entire contemplated term of the
Obligations so that the interest rate is uniform throughout the entire term of
the Obligations; provided that if the Obligations are paid and performed in full
                 -------------
prior to the end of the full contemplated term thereof, and if the interest
received for the actual period of existence thereof exceeds the Maximum Amount,
Administrative Agent or Lenders, as appropriate, shall refund to the Borrower
the amount of such excess or credit the amount of such excess against the total
principal amount owing, and, in such event, to the extent permitted by
Applicable Law, neither Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall be subject to
any penalties provided by any Laws for contracting for, charging or receiving
interest in excess of the Maximum Amount. This Section 10.08 shall control every
other provision of all agreements among the parties to the Loan Papers
pertaining to the transactions contemplated by or contained in the Loan Papers.

    10.09.  Severability.  If any provision of any Loan Paper is held to be
illegal, invalid, or unenforceable under present or future Laws during the term
thereof, such provision shall be fully severable, the appropriate Loan Paper
shall be construed and enforced as if such illegal, invalid, or unenforceable
provision had never comprised a part thereof, and the remaining provisions
thereof shall remain in full force and effect and shall not be affected by the
illegal, invalid, or unenforceable provision or by its severance therefrom.
Furthermore, in lieu of such illegal, invalid, or unenforceable provision there
shall be added automatically as a part of such Loan Paper a legal, valid, and
enforceable provision substantially similar in terms to the illegal, invalid, or
unenforceable provision as may be possible.

    10.10.  Exceptions to Covenants.  No Obligor or Restricted Subsidiary
shall be deemed to be permitted to take any action or to fail to take any action
that is permitted as an exception to any covenant in any Loan Papers, or that is
within the permissible limits of any covenant, if such action or omission would
result in a violation of any other covenant in any Loan Papers.

    10.11.  Counterparts.  This Agreement and the other Loan Papers may be
executed in any number of counterparts with different parties signing on
different counterparts, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the
same instrument.  In making proof of any such agreement, it shall not be
necessary to produce or account for any counterpart other than one signed by the
party against which enforcement is sought.

    10.12.  GOVERNING LAW; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.

    (a) THIS AGREEMENT AND ALL OTHER LOAN PAPERS SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE CONTRACTS
MADE IN NEW YORK, NEW YORK, AND SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
WITHOUT EXCLUDING ANY OTHER JURISDICTION, THE BORROWER AGREES TO SUBMIT ITSELF
TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE FEDERAL COURTS OF NEW YORK LOCATED IN NEW YORK, NEW
YORK FOR PROCEEDINGS IN CONNECTION HEREWITH.  TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY
LAW, THE BORROWER, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND EACH LENDER  HEREBY WAIVES ANY
RIGHT THAT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY DISPUTE (WHETHER A CLAIM IN
TORT, CONTRACT, EQUITY, OR OTHERWISE) ARISING UNDER OR RELATING TO THIS
AGREEMENT, THE OTHER LOAN PAPERS, OR ANY RELATED MATTERS, AND

                                      87
<PAGE>

AGREES THAT ANY SUCH DISPUTE SHALL BE TRIED BEFORE A JUDGE SITTING WITHOUT A
JURY.

    (b) THE BORROWER, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND EACH LENDER HEREBY WAIVES
PERSONAL SERVICE OF ANY LEGAL PROCESS UPON IT.  THE BORROWER, THE ADMINISTRATIVE
AGENT AND EACH LENDER AGREES THAT SERVICE OF PROCESS MAY BE MADE UPON IT BY
REGISTERED MAIL (RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED) DIRECTED TO THE BORROWER, THE
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR EACH SUCH LENDER, RESPECTIVELY, AT ITS ADDRESS
DESIGNATED FOR NOTICE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT.   NOTHING IN THIS SECTION 10.12
SHALL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY TO SERVE LEGAL PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER
PERMITTED BY LAW.

    10.13.  ENTIRE AGREEMENT.  THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN PAPERS
REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY
EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENT OF THE PARTIES.
THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES.  THIS AGREEMENT
SUPERSEDES AND REPLACES IN ITS ENTIRETY THE COMMITMENT LETTER AGREEMENT DATED
FEBRUARY 8, 2000 INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE SUMMARY OF TERMS AND
CONDITIONS DATED FEBRUARY 8, 2000.

    10.14.  Release of Conditional Early Release Unlimited Guaranty. At such
time as (i) there exists no Default under Section 8.01(a) hereof, (ii) there
exists no Event of Default and (iii) the Senior Unsecured Debt Rating is BBB- or
Baa3 or better, the Guarantor shall be immediately and automatically released
from its obligations under the Conditional Early Release Unlimited Guaranty, and
the Administrative Agent shall, and the Arranging Agents and the Lenders hereby
authorize the Administrative Agent to, promptly take all action and execute such
documents to release the Guarantor from its obligations under the Conditional
Early Release Unlimited Guaranty in full, and return the Conditional Early
Release Unlimited Guaranty to the Guarantor.

    10.15.  Confidentiality. Each Lender agrees to keep information obtained
by it pursuant to the terms hereof or the terms of any other Loan Paper that is
not otherwise publicly available ("Confidential Information") confidential in
accordance with such Lender's customary procedures for handling confidential
information of this nature and in accordance with safe and sound banking
practices and agrees that it will only use such Confidential Information in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and not disclose
any of such Confidential Information other than (a) to such Lenders and its
Affiliates' (other than an Affiliate which is a competitor of the Borrower or
its Subsidiaries) employees, counsel (in-house and outside), accountants,
consultants, representatives, professional advisors and agents so long as such
Person is advised of the confidentiality of such Confidential Information and
the limitation on its use under this Section 10.15, needs to have knowledge of
such Confidential Information for such limited use, and, if such Person is not
such Lenders' or its Affiliates' employee, counsel (in-house and outside),
accountant consultant,  professional advisor or agent, such Person has executed
a confidentiality undertaking in favor of the Borrower substantially upon the
terms of this Section 10.15 before such Confidential Information is disclosed to
such Person, (b) to regulatory officials, and in order to comply with any
Applicable Law, or other law, regulation or judicial order, or as requested or
required by bank regulators or auditors or other governmental authorities or
Tribunals, (c) as reasonably deemed

                                      88
<PAGE>

necessary in connection with any investigation, legal process or litigation, or
(d) to assignees or participants or proposed assignees or proposed participants
of all or any part of this credit facility so long as such Person has executed a
confidentiality undertaking in favor of the Borrower substantially upon the
terms of this Section 10.15 before such Confidential Information is disclosed to
such Person. The failure of any Lender to comply with the provisions of this
Section 10.15 shall not affect the Obligations, or the obligation of the
Borrower to comply with the terms of this Agreement and the other Loan Papers,
or the validity of any assignment or participation granted pursuant to the terms
of this Agreement. Each Lender shall be responsible for any breach of the
provisions of this Section 10.15 or unauthorized disclosure of such Confidential
Information by any of its or its Affiliates' employees, counsel (in-house and
outside), accountants, consultants, representatives, professional advisors and
agents. Each Lender shall take customary precautions to prevent Confidential
Information from being disclosed to its employees or employees of any Affiliate
who are equity analysts or Persons involved in publication of research in
connection with the Borrower or any of the Borrower's Subsidiaries or any of
their respective securities.


===============================================================================
            THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
===============================================================================

                                      89
<PAGE>

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Credit Agreement is executed as of the date first
set forth above.

THE BORROWER:
                        QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC.


                             /s/  Drake S. Tempest
                             -----------------------------------------------
                        By:  Drake S. Tempest
                        Its: Executive Vice President and General Counsel

                                      90
<PAGE>

ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT:

                        BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent and Co-
                        Arranging Agent



                        /s/  Anthony M. Cacheria
                             -----------------------------------------------
                        By:  Anthony M. Cacheria
                        Its: Managing Director and Manager

                                      91
<PAGE>

                        THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as a Co-Arranging Agent


                        /s/  Gerry Granovsky
                             -----------------------------------------------
                        By:  Gerry Granovsky
                             -----------------------------------------------
                        Its:  Vice President
                             -----------------------------------------------

                                      92
<PAGE>

                        CITIBANK, N.A., as a Co-Arranging Agent



                        /s/  Suneet Gupta
                             -----------------------------------------------
                        By:  Suneet Gupta
                             -----------------------------------------------
                        Its: Vice President
                             -----------------------------------------------

                                      93
<PAGE>

LENDERS:

                                  BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., individually as a
                                  Lender
Address:
901 Main Street
64th Floor
Dallas, Texas  75202                    /s/ Anthony M. Cacheria
                                       -----------------------
                                  By:  Anthony M. Cacheria
Attn.:   Richard M. Peck          Its: Managing Director and Manager
         Anthony M. Cacheria
Telephone:  (214) 209-2576   Mr. Peck
Telephone:  (214) 209-0157   Mr. Cacheria
Telecopy:   (214) 209-9390


Specified Percentage:        7.00000000%



                             THE BANK OF NEW YORK, individually as a Lender
Address:
One Wall Street
16th Floor
New York, New York 10286

                             /s/ Gerry Granovsky
                             ----------------------------------------
                             By: Gerry Granovsky
                                 ------------------------------------
                             Its: Vice President
                                  -----------------------------------
Attn:  Gerry Granovsky
Telephone:  (212) 635-8615
Telecopy:   (212) 635-8593


Specified Percentage:        6.50000000%

                                      94
<PAGE>

                             FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK, individually as a Lender
Address:
201 S. College Street
Mail Code: 0760
Charlotte, North Carolina 28288

                             /s/ C. Brand Hosford
                             --------------------------------------
                             By: C. Brand Hosford
                                 ----------------------------------
                             Its: Vice President
                                  ---------------------------------

Attn:  Brand Hosford
Telephone:  (704) 374-6355
Telecopy:  (704) 374-4793


Specified Percentage:        6.50000000%

                                      95
<PAGE>

                             CITIBANK, N.A., individually as a Lender
Address:
399 Park Avenue
8th Floor, Zone 5
New York, New York 10022
                              /s/  Suneet Gupta
                              -------------------------------------
                             By: Suneet Gupta
                                 ----------------------------------
                             Its: Vice President
                                  ---------------------------------

Attn:  Suneet Gupta
Telephone:  (212) 559-2374
Telecopy:  (212) 793-6873


Specified Percentage:        6.50000000%

                                      96
<PAGE>

                             ABN AMRO BANK N.V.
Address:

135 South LaSalle, Suite 625
Chicago, Illinois 60604-1003
Attn: Roxanne Sopala
Telephone:  (312) 904-2504      /s/  Roxana Sopala
Telecopy:  (312) 904-5445    --------------------------------------
                             By:  Roxana Sopala
                                  ---------------------------------
                             Its:  Vice President
                                   --------------------------------


                             /s/  Brian M. Sharpe
                             --------------------------------------
                             By:  Brian M. Sharpe
                                  ---------------------------------
                             Its:  Vice President
                                   --------------------------------

Specified Percentage:        6.00000000%

                                      97
<PAGE>

                             BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI TRUST COMPANY
Address:

1251 Avenue of the Americas, 12th Floor
New York, New York 10020-1104
Attn: Michael Deadder
Telephone:  (212) 782-4423   /s/  Victor F. Bulzacchelli
Telecopy:  (212) 782-4935    ------------------------------------------
                             By:  Victor F. Bulzacchelli
                                ---------------------------------------
                             Its:  Senior Vice President
                                 --------------------------------------



Specified Percentage:        3.50000000%
<PAGE>

                             BANQUE NATIONALE DE PARIS
Address:

725 S. Figueroa, Suite 2090
Los Angeles, California  90017
Attn: Mitchell Ozawa
Telephone:  (213) 688-6416   /s/  Clive Bettles
Telecopy:  (213) 488-9602    ----------------------------------------
                             By:  Clive Bettles
                                -------------------------------------
                             Its:  Senior Vice President and Manager
                                 ------------------------------------


                             /s/  Mitchell M. Ozawa
                             ----------------------------------------
                             By:  Mitchell M. Ozawa
                                -------------------------------------
                             Its:  Vice President
                                 ------------------------------------


Specified Percentage:        3.50000000%

                                      99
<PAGE>

                             BAYERISCHE LANDESBANK GIROZENTRALE,
                             CAYMEN ISLANDS BRANCH

Address:

560 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Attn: James H. Boyle
Telephone:  (212) 310-9817   /s/  Hereward Drummond
Telecopy:  (212) 310-9868    ----------------------------------------
                             By:  Hereward Drummond
                                  -----------------------------------
                             Its:  Senior Vice President
                                   ----------------------------------

                             /s/  James H. Boyle
                             ----------------------------------------
                             By:  James H. Boyle
                                  -----------------------------------
                             Its:  Vice President
                                   ----------------------------------


Specified Percentage:        3.50000000%

                                      100
<PAGE>

                             DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH AND/OR CAYMAN
                             ISLAND BRANCH
Address:

31 W. 52nd Street
New York, New York 10019
Attn: Joel Makowsky
Telephone:  (212) 469-7896   /s/  Robert B. Landis
Telecopy:  (212) 469-4604    --------------------------------------
                             By:  Robert B. Landis
                                  ---------------------------------
                             Its:  Managing Director
                                   --------------------------------


                             /s/  Joel Makowsky
                             --------------------------------------
                             By:  Joel Makowsky
                                  ---------------------------------
                             Its:  Vice President
                                   --------------------------------


Specified Percentage:        6.00000000%

                                      101
<PAGE>

                             DEUTSCHE GENOSSENSCHAFTSBANK AG
Address:

609 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10017
Attn: Sabine Wendt
Telephone:  (212) 745-1559   /s/  Sabine Wendt
Telecopy:  (212) 745-1556    -------------------------------------
                             By:  Sabine Wendt
                                  --------------------------------
                             Its:  Vice President
                                   -------------------------------


                             /s/  Rob T. Jokhai
                             -------------------------------------
                             By:  Rob T. Jokhai
                                  --------------------------------
                             Its:  Vice President
                                   -------------------------------


Specified Percentage:        3.50000000%

                                      102
<PAGE>

                             DRESDNER BANK AG, NEW YORK AND GRAND CAYMEN
                             BRANCHES
Address:

75 Wall Street
New York, New York 10005
Attn: Helen Ng
Telephone:  (212) 429-2430   /s/  Jane A. Majeski
Telecopy:  (212) 429-4181    -------------------------------------
                             By:  Jane A. Majeski
                                  --------------------------------
                             Its:  First Vice President
                                   -------------------------------


                             /s/  Helen Ng, P.E.
                             -------------------------------------
                             By:  Helen Ng, P.E.
                                  --------------------------------
                             Its:  Assistant Vice President
                                   -------------------------------

Specified Percentage:        6.00000000%

                                      103
<PAGE>

                             FLEET NATIONAL BANK
Address:

1 Landmark Street
Stamford, Connecticut  06904
Attn: Barbara Keegan
Telephone:  (203) 358-6195   /s/  Barbara Keegan
Telecopy:  (203) 358-6111    -------------------------------------
                             By: Barbara Keegan
                                 ---------------------------------
                             Its:  Vice President
                                   -------------------------------



Specified Percentage:        3.50000000%

                                      104
<PAGE>

                             KBC BANK N.V.
Address:

515 South Figueroa Street, Suite 1920
Los Angeles, California 90071
Attn: Jean Frammolino
Telephone:  (213) 624-0401   /s/  Jean-Pierre Diels
Telecopy:  (213) 629-5801    -------------------------------------
                             By: Jean-Pierre Diels
                                 ---------------------------------
                             Its: First Vice President
                                  --------------------------------

                             /s/  Patrick A. Janssens
                             -------------------------------------
                             By:  Patrick A. Janssens
                                 ---------------------------------
                             Its: Vice President
                                  --------------------------------


Specified Percentage:        3.50000000%

                                      105
<PAGE>

                             ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
Address:

One Liberty Plaza
New York, New York 10006
Attn: Andrew Cozewith
Telephone:  (212) 428-6552   /s/ Andrew C. Williamson
Telecopy:  (212) 428-6460    ---------------------------------------
                             By: Andrew C. Williamson
                                 -----------------------------------
                             Its:  Senior Manager
                                   ---------------------------------



Specified Percentage:        6.00000000%

                                      106
<PAGE>

                             THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA
Address:

580 California Street, Suite 2100
San Francisco, California 94104
Attn: Jon Burckin
Telephone:  (415) 986-1100   /s/  Jon A. Burckin
Telecopy:  (415) 397-6791    --------------------------------------
                             By: Jon A. Burckin
                                 ----------------------------------
                             Its:  Director, Corporate
                                   --------------------------------


Specified Percentage:        6.00000000%

                                      107
<PAGE>

                             BANK ONE, NA (Formerly known as THE FIRST NATIONAL
                             BANK OF CHICAGO)
Address:

1 Bank One Plaza
IL1-0363
Chicago, Illinois 60670
Attn: Lori J. Thomas
Telephone:  (312) 732-2003   /s/ Lori J. Thomas
Telecopy:  (312) 732-8587    ---------------------------------
                             By: Lori J. Thomas
                                 -----------------------------
                             Its:  Vice President
                                   ---------------------------


Specified Percentage:        6.00000000%

                                      108
<PAGE>

                             THE INDUSTRIAL BANK OF JAPAN, LIMITED,  NEW YORK
                             BRANCH

Address:

Three Allen Center
333 Clay Street, Suite 4850
Houston, Texas  77002
Attn: Scott Chappell
Telephone:  (713) 651-9444   /s/  Michael N. Oakes
Telecopy:  (713) 651-9209    ------------------------------------------
                             By: Michael N. Oakes
                                 --------------------------------------
                             Its: Senior Vice President, Houston Office
                                  -------------------------------------


Specified Percentage:        6.000000000%

                                      109
<PAGE>

                             U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Address:

918 17th Street, 2nd Floor
Denver, Colorado 80202
Attn: Heather A. Miller
Telephone:  (303) 585-6522   /s/ Brian T. McKinney
Telecopy:  (303) 585-4135    -------------------------------------
                             By: Brian T. McKinney
                                 ---------------------------------
                             Its:  Vice President
                                   -------------------------------


Specified Percentage:        3.500000000%

                                      110
<PAGE>

                             WESTDEUTSCHE LANDESBANK GIROZENTRALE, NEW YORK
                             BRANCH
Address:

1211 Avenue of the Americas, 23rd Floor
New York, New York 10036
Attn: Barry Wadler
Telephone:  (212) 852-6137   /s/  Walter T. Duffy III
Telecopy:  (212) 852-6148    --------------------------------------
                             By: Walter T. Duffy III
                                 ----------------------------------
                             Its:  Vice President
                                   --------------------------------


                             /s/  Barry S. Wadler
                             --------------------------------------
                             By: Barry S. Wadler
                                -----------------------------------
                             Its: Associate
                                  ---------------------------------


Specified Percentage:        3.500000000%

                                      111
<PAGE>

                        FIRST UNION SECURITIES, INC., as a Co-Arranging Agent


                        /s/  C. Brand Hosford
                        ------------------------------------------
                        By: C. Brand Hosford
                            --------------------------------------
                        Its:  Vice President
                             -------------------------------------

                                      112
<PAGE>

                        COMMERZBANK AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
                        NEW YORK BRANCH



Address:

633 West Fifth Street, Suite 6600
Los Angeles, California  90071
Attn: Steven F. Larsen
Telephone:  (213) 683-5412   /s/  Christian Jagenberg
Telecopy:  (213) 623-0039    -----------------------------------------
                             By: Christian Jagenberg
                                 -------------------------------------
                             Its:  Senior Vice President and Manager
                                   -----------------------------------


                             /s/  Steven F. Larsen
                             -----------------------------------------
                             By: Steven F. Larsen
                                 -------------------------------------
                             Its:  Vice President
                                   -----------------------------------


Specified Percentage:        3.500000000%