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Exhibit 4.1
  [Conformed copy]    
    

 

QWEST CORPORATION  

 7.875% Notes due 2011  

 Second Supplemental Indenture  

 Dated as of November 23, 2004  

 U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee  

 

  

  

 
 

TABLE OF CONTENTS    
    

	 
	 	 
	 	Page

	 	 	ARTICLE ONE

THE 7.875% NOTES DUE SEPTEMBER 1, 2011	 	 
	

Section 1.01.	
 	

Designation of Notes.	
 	

1
	Section 1.02.	 	Other Terms of the Notes.	 	2
	

ARTICLE TWO

MISCELLANEOUS
	Section 2.01.	 	Amendment and Supplement.	 	2
	Section 2.02.	 	Indenture.	 	2
	Section 2.03.	 	Governing Law.	 	2
	Section 2.04.	 	No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.	 	2
	Section 2.05.	 	Successors and Assigns.	 	2
	Section 2.06.	 	Duplicate Originals.	 	2
	Section 2.07.	 	Severability.	 	3
	
Exhibits	
 	

 	
 	

 
	

Exhibit A	
 	

— Form of 2011 Note	
 	

 
	Exhibit B	 	— Form of Certificate to be delivered in connection with transfers pursuant to Regulation S	 	 
	Exhibit C	 	— Form of Certificate to be delivered in connection with transfers pursuant to Regulation S	 	 

i

        SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE dated as of November 23, 2004 (this "Supplemental Indenture") by and between QWEST CORPORATION, a
Colorado corporation (formerly known as U S WEST Communications, Inc.) (the "Company"), and U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as trustee under the
Indenture (as defined below) with respect to the Notes (as defined below) (the "Trustee"), as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture (as
defined below). The Trustee, and each other trustee appointed as such with respect to the Securities of any series issued under the Indenture, shall be the "Trustee" (as defined in the Indenture, as
supplemented hereby) for all purposes under the Indenture with respect to the applicable series of Securities but, for the avoidance of doubt, not with respect to any series of Securities for which
such Trustee has not been appointed trustee under the terms of the Indenture and/or any supplement thereto). 

        Each
party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other party and for the equal and ratable benefit of the holders of Notes: 

        WHEREAS,
the Company and J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association (as successor in interest to Bank One Trust Company, National Association), are parties to that certain Indenture
dated as of October 15, 1999 (the "Base Indenture,"and as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, the
"Indenture") providing for the issuance from time to time of senior debt securities ("Securities") to be
issued in one or more series; 

        WHEREAS,
the Company and the Trustee are parties to the First Supplemental Indenture (the "First Supplemental Indenture") dated as of
August 19, 2004, providing for the issuance by the Company of a series of Securities, designated as its 7.875% Notes due 2011 (the "August
Notes"), in an aggregate principal amount of $575,000,000. 

        WHEREAS,
the Company desires and has requested the Trustee to join it in the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture in order to establish and provide for an issuance by
the Company of an additional $250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of such 7.875% Notes due 2011 (the "Offered Notes", together with the August Notes,
the "Notes"). The Notes shall be substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A. 

        WHEREAS,
Section 9.01 of the Base Indenture provides that a supplemental indenture may be entered into by the Company and the Trustee without the consent of any Holders to
establish the form or terms of Securities of any Series as permitted by Section 2.02 of the Base Indenture; 

        WHEREAS,
the conditions set forth in the Indenture for the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture have been complied with; and 

        WHEREAS,
all things necessary to make this Supplemental Indenture a valid agreement of the Company and the Trustee, in accordance with its terms, and a valid amendment of, and supplement
to, the Indenture have been done. 

        NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the purchase and acceptance of the Notes by the holders thereof, the Company covenants and agrees with the Trustee, for the equal and
ratable benefit of the Holders, that the Indenture is supplemented and amended, to the extent expressed herein, as follows: 

 
 

ARTICLE ONE
  
    THE 7.875% NOTES DUE SEPTEMBER 1, 2011    
    

Section 1.01.    Designation of Notes.  

        The changes, modifications and supplements to the Indenture effected by this Supplemental Indenture shall be applicable only with respect to, and govern the terms
of, the Offered Notes, which shall not be limited in aggregate principal amount, and shall not apply to any other Securities that have been or may be issued under the Indenture unless a supplemental
indenture with respect to such other Securities specifically incorporates such changes, modifications and supplements. Pursuant to this 

 

Supplemental
Indenture, there is hereby designated an additional $250 million aggregate principal amount of the series of Securities under the Indenture entitled "7.875% Notes due
September 1, 2011." The Offered Notes shall be in the form of Exhibit A hereto. The Offered Notes may bear an appropriate legend regarding
original issue discount for federal income tax purposes. Subject to the terms in the Indenture, as supplemented by this Supplemental Indenture, the Company may, at its option, without consent from the
Holders, issue additional Notes from time to time. For all purposes under the Indenture, the term "Notes" shall include the Notes initially issued on the date of original issuance of the Notes and any
other Notes issued after such date under the Indenture, as supplemented hereby. 

Section 1.02.    Other Terms of the Notes.  

        Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Article One, the terms of the Offered Notes shall be as set forth in the forms of Note set forth in  Exhibit A hereto and as provided in the Indenture, as supplemented hereby. 

        The
Offered Notes shall be payable and may be presented for payment, purchase, conversion, registration of transfer and exchange, without service charge, at the office of the Company
maintained for such purpose in New York, New York, which shall initially be the office or agency of the Trustee. 

 
 

ARTICLE TWO
  
    MISCELLANEOUS    
    

Section 2.01.    Amendment and Supplement.  

        This Supplemental Indenture or the Offered Notes may be amended or supplemented as provided for in the Indenture. 

Section 2.02.    Indenture.  

        In the event of any conflict between this Supplemental Indenture and the Indenture, the provisions of this Supplemental Indenture shall prevail. 

Section 2.03.    Governing Law.  

        The laws of the State of New York shall govern this Supplemental Indenture and the Securities of the Series created hereby. 

Section 2.04.    No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.  

        This Supplemental Indenture may not be used to interpret another indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or a Subsidiary. Any such indenture, loan or
debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Supplemental Indenture. 

Section 2.05.    Successors and Assigns.  

        All covenants and agreements of the Company in this Supplemental Indenture and the Notes shall bind its successors and assigns. All agreements of the Trustee in
this Supplemental Indenture shall bind its successors and assigns. 

Section 2.06.    Duplicate Originals.  

        This Supplemental Indenture may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one
instrument. 

2

 

Section 2.07.    Severability.  

        In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Supplemental Indenture or in the Notes shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity,
illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Supplemental Indenture or of the Notes. 

[Signature
Pages Follow] 

3

  

 
 

SIGNATURES    
    

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed, all as of the date first above written. 

	 	 	QWEST CORPORATION
	

 	
 	
By:	

/s/  RAHN K. PORTER      
 Name:

Title:
	

 	
 	
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
	

 	
 	
By:	

/s/  SETH DODSON      
 Name:

Title:

S-1

  

 
 

Exhibit A    
    

        [THIS
NOTE IS A GLOBAL NOTE WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITORY OR A NOMINEE OF A DEPOSITORY OR A
SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY. THIS NOTE IS NOT EXCHANGEABLE FOR NOTES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITORY OR ITS NOMINEE EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE
INDENTURE, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE (OTHER THAN A TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITORY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY TO THE DEPOSITORY OR ANOTHER
NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY) MAY BE REGISTERED EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE. 

        UNLESS
THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION ("DTC"), TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF
TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT
IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS
WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN. 

        EXCEPT
AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN SECTION 2.15 OF THE INDENTURE, TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO NOMINEES OF CEDE & CO. OR
TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR'S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN SECTION 2.08 OF THE
INDENTURE.]a 

	a
	This
legend to appear only on Global Notes. 

        THE
NOTES EVIDENCED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 (THE "SECURITIES ACT") AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED
EXCEPT (A)(1) TO A PERSON WHO THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PURCHASING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE
ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (2) IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION COMPLYING WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT, (3) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144 THEREUNDER (IF AVAILABLE), (4) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR IN A
TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OR (5) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND (B) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALL
APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF THE STATES OF THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER JURISDICTIONS. 

        [THIS
GLOBAL NOTE IS A TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE FOR PURPOSES OF REGULATION S UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED 

A-1

 

(THE
"SECURITIES ACT"). NEITHER THIS TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE NOR ANY INTEREST HEREIN MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD OR DELIVERED, EXCEPT AS PERMITTED UNDER THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO BELOW. 

        NO
BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF THIS TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL OR INTEREST HEREON UNLESS THE REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS HAVE BEEN DELIVERED PURSUANT TO
THE TERMS OF THE INDENTURE.]a 

	a
	This
legend to appear only on Temporary Regulation S Global Notes. 

A-2

 

	REGISTERED No. [    ]

CUSIP No. [            ]	 	PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

$[                  ]

 
 

QWEST CORPORATION
  7.875% Note due 2011    
    

        QWEST CORPORATION, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Colorado (such corporation, and its successors and assigns under the
Indenture hereinafter referred to, being herein called the "Company"), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co., or registered
assigns, the principal sum of [                        ] DOLLARS ($
[                        ]) (or such lesser amount as shall be listed on the Schedule of Increases or
Decreases in Global Note attached hereto) on September 1, 2011 (the "Maturity Date"), unless previously redeemed on any Redemption Date (as
defined below), by wire transfer of immediately available funds of such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment shall be legal tender for the payment of public and
private debts and to pay interest thereon semiannually on each March 1 and September 1, commencing March 1, 2005 (each, an "Interest Payment
Date"), and on the Maturity Date at the rate per annum specified in the title of this Note, from August 19, 2004 (or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which
interest has been paid or duly provided for) until payment of said principal sum has been made or duly provided for. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company shall default in the payment of
interest due on any Interest Payment Date, then this Note shall bear interest from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for or, if no interest has
been paid on this Note or duly provided for, from August 19, 2004. The interest so payable on any Interest Payment Date, subject to certain exceptions provided in the Indenture referred to
herein, will be paid to the person in whose name this Note shall be registered at the close of business on each February 15 and August 15 immediately prior to such Interest Payment Date
or Maturity Date. If any Interest Payment Date, Maturity Date or redemption date is a Legal Holiday (as defined in the Indenture) in New York, New York, the required payment shall be made on the next
succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday as if it was made on the date such payment was due and no interest will accrue on the amount so payable for the period from and after such Interest Payment
Date, Maturity Date or redemption date, as the case may be, to such
next succeeding day. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. 

        This
Note is one of the duly authorized series of Securities of the Company, designated as the Company's "7.875% Notes due 2011" (the
"Notes"), initially limited to the aggregate principal amount of $825,000,000 all issued or to be issued under and pursuant to an Indenture dated as of
October 15, 1999 between the Company and J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (as successor in interest to Bank One Trust Company, N.A.), as supplemented by the First
Supplemental Indenture dated as of August 19, 2004 by and between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the "Trustee") and
the Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of November 23, 2004 by and between the Company and the Trustee, as such may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time (as so amended,
modified or supplemented, the "Indenture"), to which Indenture and all Indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a description of the
rights, limitation of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company and the Holders (the words "Holders" or
"Holder" meaning the registered holders or registered holder of the Notes). Exchange Notes (as such term is defined in the Registration Rights Agreement
referred to below) shall be deemed to be of the same series as the Notes for purposes of the Indenture. 

        Pursuant
to, but subject to the exceptions in, the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of November 23, 2004 among the Company and the Initial Purchasers named therein (as the
same may be amended from time to time, the "Registration Rights Agreement"), the Company shall be obligated to use its commercially reasonable efforts
to consummate an exchange offer pursuant to which the Holder 

A-3

 

of
this Note shall have the right to exchange this Note for a 7.875% Note due September 1, 2011 of the Company which shall have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, in
like principal amount and having terms identical in all material respects to this Note (except that such Note shall not be entitled to Additional Interest (as defined in the Registration Rights
Agreement) and shall not contain terms with respect to transfer restrictions). Holders shall be entitled to receive certain Additional Interest in the event of a Registration Default (as defined in
the Registration Rights Agreement) pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement. Any Additional Interest due will be payable in cash on the next succeeding
March 1 or September 1, as the case may be, to Holders on the relevant regular record dates for the payment of interest. The Company shall promptly provide the Trustee with notice of any
change in the interest rate borne by this Note.a 

	a
	This
paragraph not to appear on Exchange Notes. 

        The
Notes shall be redeemable at the option of the Company in whole at any time or in part from time to time, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the
principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed or (ii) the sum, as determined by the Quotation Agent (as defined below), of the present values of the principal amount of the Note to be redeemed
and the remaining scheduled payments of interest on the principal amount of this Note to be redeemed from the redemption date to September 1, 2011 (excluding interest accrued to the redemption
date) (the "Remaining Life"), discounted from their respective scheduled payment dates to the redemption date on a semiannual basis (assuming a
360-day year consisting of 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate (as defined below) plus 50 basis points, plus, in either case, accrued interest thereon to the date of
redemption. 

        If
money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest on all of the Notes (or portions thereof) to be redeemed on the redemption date is deposited with the Trustee or
paying agent on or before the redemption date and certain other conditions specified in the Indenture are satisfied, then on and after such redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on such Notes
(or such portion thereof) called for redemption. 

        "Comparable Treasury Issue" means the United States Treasury security selected by the Quotation Agent as having a maturity comparable to
the Remaining Life that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity with
the Remaining Life as of the applicable redemption date. "Comparable Treasury Price" means, with respect to any redemption date, the average of two Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such
redemption date. 

        "Quotation Agent" means the Reference Treasury Dealer appointed by the Company. 

        "Reference Treasury Dealer" means each of Goldman, Sachs & Co., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and Lehman
Brothers Inc., and their successors; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing ceases to be
a primary U.S. Government securities dealer in New York City, the Company will substitute therefor another primary U.S. Government securities dealer. 

        "Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations" means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as
determined by the Trustee, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Trustee by such
Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third business day preceding such redemption date. 

        "Treasury Rate" means, with respect to any redemption date, the rate per annum equal to the semiannual yield to maturity of the Comparable
Treasury Issue, calculated on the third business day preceding such redemption date using a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the
Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date. 

A-4

 

        Notice
of any redemption will be mailed not less than 15 nor more than 60 calendar days before the redemption date to the Holder hereof at its registered address. Unless the Company
defaults in payment of the redemption price, on and after the redemption date interest will cease on the principal amount of this Note. 

        Except
as provided above, this Note is not redeemable by the Company prior to maturity and is not subject to any sinking fund. 

        In
case an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, the principal hereof may be declared, and upon such declaration shall become, due and payable in the manner, with the effect
and subject to the conditions provided in the Indenture. 

        The
Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company and the Trustee, with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of each
series affected by a supplemental indenture (with each series voting as a class), to enter into a supplemental indenture to add any provisions to or to change or eliminate any provisions of the
Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or to modify, in each case in any manner not covered by provisions in the Indenture relating to amendments and waivers without the consent of Holders, the
rights of the Holders of each such series. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of each series affected by such waiver (with each series voting as a class), by
notice to the Trustee may waive compliance by the Company with any provision of the Indenture, any supplemental indenture or the Securities of any such series, except a Default in payment of the
principal of or interest on any Security. However, without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment or waiver may not: (1) reduce the amount of Notes whose Holders must consent to an
amendment or waiver; (2) change the rate or the time for payment of interest on any Security; (3) change the principal or the fixed maturity of any Security; (4) waive a Default
in the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on any Security; (5) make any Security payable in money other than that stated in the Security; or (6) make any change in the
provisions of the Indenture (i) with respect to the rights of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of any series of Securities, by notice to the Trustee, to waive an existing Default
with respect to that series and its consequences; (ii) with respect to the right of any Holder of a Security to receive payment of principal of and interest on the Security, on or after the
respective due dates expressed in the Security, the right of any Holder of a coupon to receive payment of interest due as provided in such coupon, or the right to bring suit for enforcement of any
such payments on or after their respective dates; and (iii) described in this sentence. 

        No
reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay
the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on this Note at the place, at the respective times, at the rate, and in the coin or currency herein prescribed. 

        No
director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the Company shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company under this Note or the Indenture or for any claim based
on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Holder, by accepting this Note, waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration
for the issue of this Note. 

        The
laws of the State of New York shall govern the Indenture and this Note. 

        Ownership
of this Note shall be proved by the register for the Notes kept by the Registrar. The Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company may treat the person in whose name a
Note is registered as the absolute owner thereof for all purposes. 

        Terms
used herein without definition that are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture. 

A-5

 

        Customary
abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entirety), JT TEN (= joint tenants with
right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act). 

        Pursuant
to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Issuer has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes and the Trustee
may use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of
redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon. 

        Unless
the Certificate of Authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee under the Indenture referred to herein by the manual or facsimile signature of one of its authorized
officers, or on behalf of the Trustee by the manual or facsimile signature of an authorized officer of the Trustee's authenticating
agent, this Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose. 

A-6

 

        IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed, manually or by facsimile, and its corporate seal or a facsimile of its corporate seal to be imprinted
herein. 

        Date:
[                        ] 

	(SEAL)	 	QWEST CORPORATION
	

 	
 	
By:	

 Name:

Title:
	

 	
 	

By:	

 Name:

Title:

A-7

 
 
 

CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION    
    

        This is one of the Notes of the series designated herein, issued under the Indenture described herein. 

	 	 	U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee
	

 	
 	

By:	

 
	 	 	 	
 Authorized Signatory

A-8

 
 
 

ASSIGNMENT FORM    
    

FOR
VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto 

Please
insert social security number or other identifying number of assignee: 

______________________________________

Please
print or type name and address (including zip code) of assignee:                        

______________________________________ 

______________________________________ 

______________________________________ 

______________________________________ 

the
within Note and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing                        attorney to transfer
said Note of Qwest Corporation on the books of Qwest Corporation, with
full power of substitution in the premises. 

______________________________________

Dated:
                         

        NOTICE:
The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of this Note in every particular without alteration or enlargement or any change
whatsoever. 

A-9

 
 
 

CERTIFICATE TO BE DELIVERED UPON EXCHANGE
  OR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER    
    

        This certificate relates to $            principal amount of Notes held in (check applicable space)
            book-entry or            
definitive form by the undersigned. 

        The
undersigned (Check one box below); 

        o
has requested the Trustee by written order to deliver in exchange for its beneficial interest in the Note held by the Depository a Note or
Notes in definitive, registered form of authorized denominations and an aggregate principal amount equal to its beneficial interest in such Note (or the portion thereof indicated above); or 

        o has requested the Trustee by written order to exchange or register the transfer of a Note or Notes. 

        In connection with any transfer of any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate occurring prior to the expiration of the period referred to in
Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act, the undersigned confirms that such Notes are being transferred in accordance with its terms: 

        CHECK
ONE BOX BELOW 

        o
(1) to the Company; or 

        o (2) inside the United States to a "qualified institutional buyer" (as defined in Rule 144A under the
Securities Act) that purchases for its own account or for the account of a qualified institutional buyer in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A; or 

        o (3) outside the United States to a foreign person in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 903 or
Rule 904 of Regulation S under the Securities Act; or 

        o (4) pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act provided by Rule 144 thereunder (if
available), or 

        o (5) to an institutional accredited investor in a transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the
Securities Act, or 

        o (6) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act. 

        Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Trustee will refuse to register any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate in the name of any person other than the
registered holder thereof; provided, however, that if box (4) or (5) is checked, the Trustee may require, prior to registering any such transfer of the Notes, such legal opinions,
certifications and other information as the Company and the Trustee has reasonably requested to confirm that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject
to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act. 

	Date:	 
	 	
 SIGNATURE OR SIGNATURE GUARANTEE: NOTICE: Signature must be guaranteed by a participant in a recognized signature guaranty medallion program or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee.

A-10

 
 
 

TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF BOX (2) ABOVE IS CHECKED.    
    

        The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing the Notes for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment
discretion and that it and any such account is a "qualified institutional buyer" within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act, and is aware that the sale to it is being made in
reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such
information regarding the Company as the undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying
upon the undersigned's foregoing representations in order to claim this exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A. 

	Dated:	 
	

 NOTICE: To be executed by an executive officer	

 

A-11

 
 
 

SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL NOTE    
    

        The following increases or decreases in this Global Note have been made: 

	Principal amount of

this Global Note as of [            ]
	 	Date Exchange Made
	 	Change in Principal

Amount of this Global

Note due to Exchange
	 	Principal Amount of

this Global Note

Following such

Exchange
	 	Notation made by or on

behalf of the Company

	

 	
 	

 	
 	

 	
 	

 	
 	

 
	

 	
 	

 	
 	

 	
 	

 	
 	

 

A-12

  

 
 

EXHIBIT B    
    

 
 

Form of Certificate To Be Delivered
  in Connection with Transfers
  of Temporary Regulation S Global Notes    
    

        [            ],
[        ] 

U.S.
Bank National Association

950 17th Street, Suite 300

Denver, Colorado 80202

Attention: Corporate Trust Department 

	 
	 	 
	 	 

	Re:	 	Qwest Corporation (the "Issuer")

7.875% Notes due 2011 (the "Notes")
	 	 

Dear
Sirs: 

        This
letter relates to U.S. $[                        ] aggregate principal amount of Notes represented by a certificate (the
"Legended
Certificate") which bears a legend outlining restrictions upon transfer of such Legended Certificate. Pursuant to Section 3.03(b) of the First Supplemental Indenture
(the "Supplemental Indenture") dated as of August 19, 2004 relating to the Notes, we hereby certify that we are (or we will hold such securities
on behalf of) a person outside the United States (or to an Initial Purchaser (as defined in the Supplemental Indenture)) to whom the Notes could be transferred in accordance with Rule 904 of
Regulation S promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended. 

        You,
as Trustee, the Company, counsel for the Company and others are entitled to rely upon this letter and are irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any
interested party in any administrative or legal proceedings or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby. Capitalized terms used but not independently defined in this letter have the
meanings set forth in Regulation S. 

	 	 	Very truly yours,
	

 	
 	

[Name of Holder]
	

 	
 	

By:	

 
	 	 	 	
 Authorized Signature

B-1

  

 
 

EXHIBIT C    
    

 
 

Form of Certificate To Be Delivered
  in Connection with Transfers
  Pursuant to Regulation S    
    

        [            ],
[        ] 

U.S.
Bank National Association

950 17th Street, Suite 300

Denver, Colorado 80202

Attention: Corporate Trust Department 

	 
	 	 
	 	 

	Re:	 	Qwest Corporation (the "Issuer")

7.875% Notes due 2011 (the "Notes")
	 	 

Ladies
and Gentlemen: 

        In
connection with our proposed sale of $[                        ] aggregate principal amount of the Notes, we confirm that such
sale has been effected pursuant to and in
accordance with Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and, accordingly, we represent that: 

        (1)   the
offer of the Notes was not made to a person in the United States; 

        (2)   either
(a) at the time the buy offer was originated, the transferee was outside the United States or we and any person acting on our behalf reasonably believed
that the transferee was outside the United States, or (b) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated offshore securities market and neither we nor any person
acting on our behalf knows that the transaction has been prearranged with a buyer in the United States; 

        (3)   no
directed selling efforts have been made in the United States in contravention of the requirements of Rule 903(b) or Rule 904(b) of Regulation S,
as applicable; 

        (4)   the
transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act; and 

        (5)   we
have advised the transferee of the transfer restrictions applicable to the Notes. 

        You,
as Trustee, the Issuer, counsel for the Issuer and others are entitled to rely upon this letter and are irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any
interested party in any administrative or legal proceedings or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby. Terms used in this certificate have the meanings set forth in
Regulation S. 

	 	 	Very truly yours,
	

 	
 	

[Name of Transferor]
	

 	
 	

By:	

 
	 	 	 	
 Authorized Signature

C-1

QuickLinks

Exhibit 4.1 [Conformed copy]

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ARTICLE ONE THE 7.875% NOTES DUE SEPTEMBER 1, 2011

ARTICLE TWO MISCELLANEOUS

SIGNATURES

Exhibit A

QWEST CORPORATION 7.875% Note due 2011

CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

ASSIGNMENT FORM

CERTIFICATE TO BE DELIVERED UPON EXCHANGE OR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER

TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF BOX (2) ABOVE IS CHECKED.

SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL NOTE

EXHIBIT B

Form of Certificate To Be Delivered in Connection with Transfers of Temporary Regulation S Global Notes

EXHIBIT C

Form of Certificate To Be Delivered in Connection with Transfers Pursuant to Regulation SQuickLinks
 -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document

 
 

Exhibit 10.1
  [Conformed copy]    
    

        Qwest Corporation  

$250,000,000 

7.875%
Notes due 2011 

PURCHASE AGREEMENT  

dated November 18, 2004 

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

Lehman Brothers Inc.

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

Banc of America Securities LLC

Credit Suisse First Boston LLC

Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC

BNY Capital Markets, Inc.

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

Greenwich Capital Markets, Inc.  

 
  
 

    PURCHASE AGREEMENT  
  

November 18,
2004

GOLDMAN,
SACHS & CO.

LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.

BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC

CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON LLC

WACHOVIA CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC

BNY CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.

CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.

GREENWICH CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.

    As Initial Purchasers

c/o Goldman, Sachs & Co.

85 Broad Street

New York, NY 10004 

Ladies
and Gentlemen: 

        Introductory.    Qwest Corporation, a Colorado corporation ("QC" or the
"Company"), proposes to issue and sell (the "Offering") to the several Initial Purchasers named in
Schedule A (the "Initial Purchasers"), acting severally and not jointly, the respective amounts set forth in such Schedule A of
$250 million aggregate principal amount of the Company's 7.875% Notes due 2011 (the "Notes" or the
"Securities"). Goldman, Sachs & Co., Lehman Brothers Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. (collectively, the
"Joint Book-Running Managers") and the initial purchasers listed on Schedule A have agreed to act as the several Initial Purchasers
in connection with the offering and sale of the Notes. 

        The
Notes will be issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of October 15, 1999 between QC (formerly known as U S WEST Communications, Inc.), as issuer, and J.P. Morgan
Trust Company, National Association (as successor in interest to Bank One Trust Company, N.A.), as supplemented by a first supplemental indenture, dated as of August 19, 2004, between the
Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the "Trustee"), and a second supplemental indenture to be entered into by and between the
Company and the Trustee on the Closing Date (as defined in Section 2) (the "Indenture"). Notes will be issued initially only in
book-entry form in the name of Cede & Co., as
nominee of The Depository Trust Company (the "Depositary") pursuant to a letter of representations, dated as of August 18, 2004 (the
"DTC Agreement"), among the Company, the Trustee and the Depositary. 

        The
holders of the Notes will be entitled to the benefits of a registration rights agreement, to be dated as of November 23, 2004 (the "Registration Rights
Agreement"), among the Company and the Initial Purchasers, pursuant to which the Company will agree to file with the Commission, under the circumstances set forth therein,
(i) a registration statement under the Securities Act (as defined below) relating to another series of debt securities of the Company with terms substantially identical to the Notes (the
"Exchange Notes" or the "Exchange Securities") to be offered in exchange for the Notes (the
"Exchange Offer") and (ii) to the extent required by the Registration Rights Agreement, a shelf registration statement pursuant to
Rule 415 of the Securities Act relating to the resale by certain holders of the Notes. 

        The
Company understands that the Initial Purchasers propose to make an offering of the Securities on the terms and in the manner set forth herein and in the Offering Circular (as defined
below) and agrees that the Initial Purchasers may resell, subject to the conditions set forth herein, all or a portion of the Securities to purchasers (the "Subsequent
Purchasers") at any time after the date of this Agreement. The Securities are to be offered and sold to or through the Initial Purchasers without 

1

 

being
registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") under the Securities Act of 1933 (as amended, the
"Securities Act," which term, as used herein, includes the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder), in reliance upon exemptions
therefrom. Pursuant to the terms of the Securities and the Indenture, investors that acquire Securities shall be deemed to have agreed that Securities may only be resold or otherwise transferred,
after the date hereof, if such Securities are registered for sale under the Securities Act or if an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act is available (including the
exemptions afforded by Rule 144A ("Rule 144A") or Regulation S
("Regulation S") thereunder). 

        The
Company has prepared and delivered to each Initial Purchaser copies of a Preliminary Offering Circular, dated November 18, 2004 (the "Preliminary
Offering Circular"), and has prepared and will deliver to each Initial Purchaser, copies of the Offering Circular, dated November 18, 2004, describing the terms of the
Securities, each for use by such Initial Purchaser in connection with its solicitation of offers to purchase the Securities. As used herein, the "Offering Circular" shall mean, with respect to any
date or time referred to in this Agreement, the Company's Offering Circular, dated November 18, 2004, including amendments or supplements thereto, any exhibits thereto and any documents
incorporated by reference therein, in the most recent form that has been prepared and delivered by the Company to the Initial Purchasers in connection with their solicitation of offers to purchase the
Securities. 

        All
references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information which is "contained," "included" or "stated" in the Offering Circular (or other references of
like import) shall
be deemed to mean and include all such financial statements and schedules and other information which are incorporated by reference in the Offering Circular; and all references in this Agreement to
amendments or supplements to the Offering Circular shall be deemed to mean and include the filing of any document under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (as amended, the
"Exchange Act," which term, as used herein, includes the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder) which is incorporated or deemed
to be incorporated by reference in the Offering Circular. 

        The
Company hereby confirms its agreements with the Initial Purchasers as follows: 

        Section 1.    Representations and Warranties.    The Company hereby represents, warrants and covenants to each
Initial Purchaser as follows: 

        (a)    No Registration Required.    Subject to compliance by the Initial Purchasers with the representations and
warranties set forth in Section 2 hereof and with the procedures set forth in Section 7 hereof, it is not necessary in connection with the offer, sale and delivery of the Securities to
the Initial Purchasers, or in connection with the initial resale of the Securities by the Initial Purchasers in the manner contemplated by this Agreement and the Offering Circular, to register the
Securities under the Securities Act or, until such time as the Exchange Securities are issued pursuant to an effective registration statement, to qualify the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of
1939 (the "Trust Indenture Act," which term, as used herein, includes the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder). 

        (b)    No Integration of Offerings or General Solicitation.    The Company has not, directly or indirectly, solicited
any offer to buy or offered to sell, and will not, directly or indirectly, solicit any offer to buy or offer to sell, in the United States or to any United States citizen or resident, any security
which is or would be integrated with the sale of the Securities in a manner that would require the Securities to be registered under the Securities Act. None of the Company, its affiliates (as such
term is defined in Rule 501 under the Securities Act (each, an "Affiliate")), or any person acting on its or any of their behalf (other than the
Initial Purchasers, as to whom the Company makes no representation or warranty) has engaged or will engage, in connection with the offering of the Securities, in any form of general solicitation or
general advertising within the meaning of 

2

 

Rule 502
under the Securities Act. With respect to those Securities sold in reliance upon Regulation S, (i) none of the Company, its Affiliates or any person acting on its or
their behalf (other than the Initial Purchasers, as to whom the Company makes no representation or warranty) has engaged or will engage in any directed selling efforts within the meaning of
Regulation S and (ii) each of the Company and its Affiliates and any person acting on its or their behalf (other than the Initial Purchasers, as to whom the Company makes no
representation or warranty) has complied and will comply with the offering restrictions set forth in Regulation S. 

        (c)    Eligibility for Resale under Rule 144A.    The Securities are eligible for resale pursuant to
Rule 144A and will not be, at the Closing Date, of the same class as securities listed on a national securities exchange registered under Section 6 of the Exchange Act or quoted in a
U.S. automated interdealer quotation system. 

        (d)    The Offering Circular.    The Offering Circular does not, and at the Closing Date will not, include an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;  provided, however, that this representation, warranty and agreement shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Offering Circular made in
reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company in writing by any Initial Purchaser through Goldman, Sachs & Co. expressly for use in the Offering Circular. The
Company has not distributed and will not distribute, prior to the later of the Closing Date and the completion of the Initial Purchasers' distribution of the Securities, any offering material in
connection with the offering and sale of the Securities other than a preliminary Offering Circular or the Offering Circular. The Offering Circular has been furnished to you or will be furnished to you
no later than 5:00 p.m. on the date hereof. 

        (e)    The Notes and the Exchange Notes.    The Notes and the Exchange Notes, when issued, will be in the form
contemplated by the Indenture and will conform in all material respects to the description thereof in the Offering Circular; the Notes and the Exchange Notes have each been duly authorized by QC, and,
when executed by QC and authenticated by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and, in the case of the Exchange Notes, when delivered to the exchanging holders of Notes in
connection with the consummation of the Offering in accordance with the terms of the Offering Circular, will be duly executed, issued and delivered and will constitute valid and binding obligations of
QC, enforceable against QC in accordance with their terms, and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture, except as may be limited by (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors' rights generally, (ii) general principles of equity, including, without limitation,
concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing and the availability of specific performance or injunctive relief and the discretion of the court before which any proceeding
therefor may be brought (regardless of whether such enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (iii) public policy considerations. 

        (f)    The Indenture.    The Indenture has been duly authorized by QC and, when executed and delivered by QC (assuming
the due authorization, execution and delivery by the Trustee), will have been duly executed and delivered, and on the Closing Date will constitute a valid and binding obligation of QC, enforceable
against QC in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited by (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in
effect relating to creditors' rights generally, (ii) general principles of equity, including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing and the
availability of specific performance or injunctive relief and the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought (regardless of whether such enforcement is considered in a
proceeding in equity or at law) and (iii) public policy considerations. 

3

 

        (g)    The Registration Rights Agreement and DTC Agreement.    The Registration Rights Agreement and the DTC Agreement
have been duly authorized by QC and, when executed and delivered by QC (assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by the Trustee, on behalf of the holders of the Notes and, in the case of
the DTC Agreement, the Depositary), will have been duly executed and delivered and will constitute valid and binding obligations of QC, enforceable against QC in accordance with their terms, except as
may be limited by (1) bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors' rights generally,
(2) general principles of equity, including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing and the availability of specific performance or injunctive
relief and the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought (regardless of whether such enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and
(3) public policy considerations and (ii) any rights to indemnity or contribution thereunder may be limited by federal and state securities laws and public policy considerations. 

        (h)    The Purchase Agreement.    This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by QC. 

        (i)    No Material Adverse Change.    Except as otherwise disclosed in the Offering Circular, subsequent to the
respective dates as of which information is given in the Offering Circular: (i) there has been no event that has resulted or is reasonably likely to result in a material adverse change in the
financial position or results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries (as defined below), taken as a whole (any such change is called a "Material Adverse
Change"); and (ii) there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company or, except for dividends paid to the Company or other
subsidiaries, any of its subsidiaries on any class of capital stock or repurchase or redemption by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any class of capital stock. 

        (j)    Independent Accountants.    KPMG LLP, who have performed a review of or expressed their opinion with respect to
the financial statements (which term as used in this Agreement includes the related notes thereto) furnished or filed with the Commission included in the Offering Circular are independent public or
certified public accountants within the meaning of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act. Any non-audit services provided by such accountants have
been approved by the Audit Committee of the Company. 

        (k)    Preparation of the Financial Statements.    The financial statements, together with the related schedules and
notes, included or incorporated by reference in the Offering Circular, present fairly the consolidated financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries as of and at the dates indicated and the
results of their operations and cash flows for the periods specified. Such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent
basis throughout the periods involved, except as may be expressly stated in the related notes thereto. The financial data set forth in the Offering Circular under the captions "Offering Circular
Summary—Summary Selected Financial Data" and "Selected Financial Data" (other than non-GAAP financial data) fairly present the information set forth therein on a basis
consistent with that of the audited financial statements contained in the Offering Circular. 

        (l)    Incorporation and Good Standing of the Company.    QC has been duly incorporated, is validly existing and is in
good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, with all requisite corporate or other power and authority to own or lease its properties and conduct its businesses as now conducted
as described in the Offering Circular, and is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in all other jurisdictions where the ownership or leasing of its properties
or the conduct of its businesses requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified would not have or be reasonably likely to have a 

4

 

material
adverse effect on the financial position or results of operations of QC (a "Material Adverse Effect"). 

        (m)    The Capital Stock.    The outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests of QC have been duly
authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable, and were not issued in violation of any preemptive or similar rights; except as disclosed in the Offering Circular. 

        (n)    Registration of Securities.    No holder of securities of QC (other than holders of the Securities and holders
of the $575 million in aggregate principal amount of 7.875% Notes due 2011 of QC issued on August 19, 2004) will be entitled to have such securities registered under the registration
statements required to be filed by QC pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement. 

        (o)    Necessary Corporate Action.    QC has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize the Offering. 

        (p)    No Violations.    QC is not (i) in violation of its certificate of incorporation or bylaws,
(ii) except as set forth in the Offering Circular, in violation of any statute, judgment, decree, order, rule or regulation applicable to QC or any of its respective properties or assets,
except for such violations which would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, or (iii) in default in the performance or observance of any material obligation,
agreement, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, note, lease, license, franchise agreement, permit, certificate, contract or other agreement or
instrument to which QC is a party or to which QC is subject (each, a "Contract" and collectively, the
"Contracts"), except for such defaults which would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. 

        (q)    All Necessary Consents and Approvals.    Assuming compliance with the limitations and restrictions contained
under the heading "Notice to Investors" in the Offering Circular, no consent, approval, authorization or order of any court or governmental, legislative, judicial, administrative or regulatory agency,
authority or body is required for the making of the Offering, the exchange of the Notes for the Exchange Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer, the execution, delivery and performance of any of this
Agreement, the Preliminary Offering Circular, the Offering Circular, the Notes, the Exchange Notes, the Indenture or the Registration Rights Agreement, collectively, the
"Transaction Documents" or the
consummation of the other transactions contemplated in this Agreement, except (i) such as have been obtained on or prior the Closing Date, (ii) such as may be required under the
Securities Act, the Exchange Act, state securities or "Blue Sky" laws in connection with the exchange of the New Securities for the Registered Exchange Notes, as applicable and (iii) such as
may be required under the Registration Rights Agreement. 

        (r)    No Liens or Encumbrances.    The Offering, the exchange of the Notes for the Exchange Notes pursuant to the
Registration Rights Agreement, the execution, delivery and performance of any of the Transaction Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement will not conflict
with or constitute or result in a breach or violation of, or result in the creation or imposition of a lien, charge or encumbrance on any material property or assets of QC or any Subsidiary (other
than as permitted under the Indenture) under, any of (i) the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default by QC or any Subsidiary under, any Contract, (ii) the certificate of
incorporation or bylaws (or similar organizational documents) of QC or any Subsidiary or (iii) any statute, judgment, decree, order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental,
legislative, judicial, administrative or regulatory agency, authority or body applicable to QC or any Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties, except for such conflicts, breaches,
violations or defaults, in the case of clauses (i) and (iii), which would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. 

5

 

        (s)    Compliance with the Offering Circular.    The statements in the Offering Circular under the headings
"Description of the Notes," "Description of Other Indebtedness" and "Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations" fairly summarize the matters described therein in all material respects. 

        (t)    The Transaction Documents.    The Transaction Documents, other than the Preliminary Offering Circular and
Offering Circular, conform or will conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof in the Offering Circular. 

        (u)    No Litigation.    Except as set forth in the Offering Circular, there is no action, suit or proceeding by or
before any court or governmental, legislative, judicial, administrative or regulatory agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving QC or any Subsidiary or property of QC or any Subsidiary
pending or, to the best knowledge of QC, threatened, except for such actions, suits or proceedings which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have (i) a
material adverse effect on the performance by QC of any of the Transaction Documents (other than the Preliminary Offering Circular and Offering Circular), to the extent each will be a party thereto,
the issuance of the Notes or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated hereby or by the other Transaction Documents or (ii) a Material Adverse Effect. 

        (v)    Permits.    Except as set forth in the Offering Circular and except for Permits (as defined below) reasonably
expected to be obtained in the ordinary course of business, QC and each of the Subsidiaries
possesses all material licenses, permits, franchises and other governmental authorizations, consents and approvals necessary (collectively, the
"Permits") to conduct the businesses and own or lease its properties now or proposed to be operated by it as described in the Offering Circular and QC
and each of the Subsidiaries is in compliance with the terms of such Permits, except where failure to possess such Permits or to so comply would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material
Adverse Effect; all of the Permits are valid and in full force and effect, except where failure to be in full force and effect would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
Effect; none of QC or any Subsidiary has received any notice of any proceeding relating to the revocation or modification of any such Permit, except where such revocation or modification would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. 

        (w)    Conduct of Business.    Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Offering
Circular and except as described therein or contemplated thereby, neither QC nor any Subsidiary has incurred any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent, or entered into any material
transactions, not in the ordinary course of business. 

        (x)    Title to Property.    QC and each of the Subsidiaries has satisfactory title to all real property described in
the Offering Circular as being owned by it, and satisfactory title to each leasehold estate in the real property described in the Offering Circular as being leased by it (except for those leases of
real property in which QC or any Subsidiary has such title but for the requirement that the landlord consent to an assignment or sublease of the lease) as is necessary to conduct the businesses and
operate and utilize such real properties as now or proposed to be conducted, operated or utilized by it, as described in the Offering Circular, except in each case, to the extent the failure to have
such title would not have a Material Adverse Effect, in each case free and clear of all Liens (as defined in the Indenture) other than those described under the Indenture as Permitted Liens or those
that, individually or in the aggregate, do not have a Material Adverse Effect. 

        (y)    No Labor Disputes.    There is no strike, labor dispute, slowdown or work stoppage with the employees of QC or
any of the Significant Subsidiaries which is pending or, to the best 

6

 

knowledge
of QC, threatened in writing, except for such events that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. 

        (z)    Company not an "Investment Company."    QC is not now nor, after giving effect to the offering and issuance of
the Exchange Notes, and the cancellation of the Notes accepted in the Exchange Offer and the consummation of the other transactions contemplated by the Offering Circular, will be an "investment
company" or a company "controlled by" an "investment company" within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. 

        (aa)    No Price Stabilization or Manipulation.    Neither QC nor any Subsidiary or, to the best knowledge of QC, any
of their directors, senior executive officers or controlling persons has taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed, or that might reasonably be expected, to cause or result, under the
Securities Act or otherwise, in, or that has constituted, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of QC to facilitate the sale or resale of the Notes. 

        (bb)    Officer's Certificate.    Any certificate signed by any officer of QC and delivered to the Initial Purchasers
or counsel for the Initial Purchasers in connection with the Offering shall be deemed a representation and warranty by QC to the Initial Purchasers as to matters covered thereby. 

        (cc)    Compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.    The Company and, to its best knowledge, its officers and
directors are in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith (the
"Sarbanes-Oxley Act") that are effective. 

        (dd)    No Significant Subsidiaries.    QC has no subsidiaries that individually or in the aggregate would be a
"significant subsidiary" (as such term is defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X). 

        Section 2.    Purchase, Sale and Delivery of the Securities.    

        (a)    The Securities.    The Company agrees to issue and sell to the several Initial Purchasers, severally and not
jointly, all of the Securities upon the terms herein set forth. On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, and upon the terms but subject to the conditions herein
set forth, the Initial Purchasers agree, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company the aggregate principal amount of Notes to the extent set forth opposite their names on
Schedule A at the purchase price set forth on Schedule A as a percentage of the principal amount thereof payable on the Closing Date. 

        (b)    The Closing Date.    Delivery of certificates for the Notes in definitive form to be purchased by the Initial
Purchasers and payment therefor shall be made at the offices of Cahill Gordon & Reindel llp, 80 Pine Street, New York, New York 10005 (or such other place as may be agreed to by the Company and
the Initial Purchasers) at 9:00 a.m. New York City time, on the date specified on Schedule A for the Notes, or such other time and date as the Initial Purchasers shall designate by
notice to the Company (the time and date of such closing for the Notes is called the "Closing Date"). 

        (c)    Delivery of the Securities.    The Company shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to Goldman, Sachs &
Co. for the accounts of the several Initial Purchasers certificates for the Securities at the Closing Date against the irrevocable release of a wire transfer of immediately available funds for the
amount of the purchase price therefor. The certificates for the Securities shall be in such denominations and
registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee of the Depositary, pursuant to the DTC Agreement, and shall be made available for inspection on the business day preceding the Closing Date at a
location in New York City, as the Initial Purchasers may designate. Time shall be of the essence, and delivery at the time and place specified in this Agreement is a further condition to the
obligations of the Initial Purchasers. 

7

  

        (d)    Initial Purchasers as Qualified Institutional Buyers.    Each Initial Purchaser severally and not jointly
represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Company that it is a "qualified institutional buyer" within the meaning of Rule 144A (a "Qualified Institutional
Buyer") and an "accredited investor" within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Securities Act (an "Accredited Investor"). 

        Section 3.    Additional Covenants.    QC further covenants and agrees with each Initial Purchaser as follows: 

        (a)    Initial Purchasers' Review of Proposed Amendments and Supplements.    Until the later of the Closing Date and
the resale of all of the Notes by the Initial Purchasers to the Subsequent Purchasers, prior to amending or supplementing the Offering Circular (including any amendment or supplement through
incorporation by reference of any report filed under the Exchange Act), QC shall furnish to the Initial Purchasers for review a copy of each such proposed amendment or supplement, and QC shall not use
any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Initial Purchasers reasonably object. 

        (b)    Amendments and Supplements to the Offering Circular and Other Securities Act Matters.    If, prior to the
completion of the placement of the Securities by the Initial Purchasers with the Subsequent Purchasers, any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend or
supplement the Offering Circular in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances when the Offering Circular is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or if in the
reasonable opinion of the Joint Book-Running Managers or counsel for the Initial Purchasers it is otherwise necessary to amend or supplement the Offering Circular to comply with law, the
Company agrees to promptly prepare (subject to Section 3(a) hereof), and furnish at its own expense to the Initial Purchasers, amendments or supplements to the Offering Circular so that the
statements in the Offering Circular as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances when the Offering Circular is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the
Offering Circular, as amended or supplemented, will comply with law. 

        The
Company hereby expressly acknowledges that the indemnification and contribution provisions of Sections 8 and 9 hereof are specifically applicable and relate to each Offering
Circular, amendment or supplement referred to in this Section 3. 

        (c)    Copies of the Offering Circular.    The Company agrees to furnish the Initial Purchasers, without charge, as
many copies of the Offering Circular and any amendments and supplements thereto as they shall have reasonably requested. 

        (d)    Blue Sky Compliance.    The Company shall cooperate with the Initial Purchasers and counsel for the Initial
Purchasers to qualify or register the Securities for sale under (or obtain exemptions from the application of) the Blue Sky or state securities laws of those jurisdictions designated by the Initial
Purchasers, shall comply with such laws and shall continue such qualifications, registrations and exemptions in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Securities. The Company shall not
be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to take any action that would subject it to general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not presently qualified or where it would
be subject to taxation as a foreign corporation. The Company will advise the Initial Purchasers promptly of the suspension of the qualification or registration of (or any such exemption relating to)
the Securities for offering, sale or trading in any jurisdiction or any initiation or threat of any proceeding for any such purpose, and in the event of the issuance of any order suspending such
qualification, registration or exemption, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the withdrawal thereof at the earliest possible moment. 

8

 

        (e)    Use of Proceeds.    The Company shall apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities sold by it in the
manner described under the caption "Use of Proceeds" in the Offering Circular. 

        (f)    The Depositary.    The Company will cooperate with the Initial Purchasers and use its best efforts to permit
the Securities to be eligible for clearance and settlement through the facilities of the Depositary. 

        (g)    Future Reports.    For so long as any Securities or Exchange Securities remain outstanding, the Company will
furnish to the Joint Book-Running Managers: (i) as soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year, copies of the Annual Report of the Company (or of Qwest Communications
International Inc. if QC is no longer required to report under the requirements of the Exchange Act) containing the balance sheet of the Company as of the close of such fiscal year and
statements of income, stockholders' equity and cash flows for the year then ended and the opinion thereon of the Company's independent public or certified public accountants; (ii) as soon as
practicable after the filing thereof, copies of each proxy statement, Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, Current Report on
Form 8-K or other report filed by the Company with the Commission, the NASD or any securities exchange; and (iii) as soon as available, copies of any report or communication
of the Company mailed generally to holders of its capital stock or debt securities (including the holders of the Securities). The availability of any such report, proxy statement or communication on
the Commission's EDGAR system shall be sufficient to satisfy the Company's obligation to furnish such report, proxy statement or communication under this Section 3(g). 

        (h)    No Integration.    The Company agrees that it will not and will cause its Affiliates not to make any offer or
sale of securities of the Company of any class if, as a result of the doctrine of "integration" referred to in Rule 502 under the Securities Act, such offer or sale would render invalid (for
the purpose of (i) the sale of the Securities by the Company to the Initial Purchasers, (ii) the resale of the Securities by
the Initial Purchasers to Subsequent Purchasers or (iii) the resale of the Securities by such Subsequent Purchasers to others) the exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities
Act provided by Section 4(2) thereof or by Rule 144A or by Regulation S thereunder or otherwise. 

        (i)    Legended Securities.    Each certificate for a Note will bear the legend contained in "Notice to Investors" in
the Offering Circular for the time period and upon the other terms stated in the Offering Circular. 

        (j)    PORTAL.    The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Notes to be eligible for the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. The PORTAL® Market ("The PORTAL Market"). 

        The
Joint Book-Running Mangers, on behalf of the several Initial Purchasers, may, in their sole discretion, waive in writing the performance by the Company of any one or more
of the foregoing covenants or extend the time for their performance. 

        Section 4.    Payment of Expenses.    The Company agrees to pay all costs, fees and expenses incurred in
connection with the performance of its obligations hereunder and in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including without limitation, (i) all expenses incident to the issuance
and delivery of the Securities (including all printing and engraving costs), (ii) all necessary issue, transfer and other stamp taxes in connection with the issuance and sale of the Securities
to the Initial Purchasers, (iii) all fees and expenses of the Company's counsel, independent public or certified public accountants and other advisors, (iv) all costs and expenses
incurred in connection with the preparation, printing, filing, shipping and distribution of each Preliminary Offering Circular and the Offering Circular (including financial statements and exhibits),
and all amendments and supplements thereto, 

9

 

this
Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Indenture, the DTC Agreement and the Notes, (v) all filing fees, attorneys' fees and expenses incurred by the Company or the Initial
Purchasers in connection with qualifying or registering (or obtaining exemptions from the qualification or registration of) all or any part of the Securities for offer and sale under the Blue Sky laws
and, if requested by the Initial Purchasers, preparing and printing a "Blue Sky Survey" or Circular, and any supplements thereto, advising the Initial Purchasers of such qualifications, registrations
and exemptions, (vi) the fees and expenses of the Trustee, including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Trustee in connection with the Indenture, the Securities and the Exchange
Securities, (vii) any fees payable in connection with the rating of the Securities or the Exchange Securities with the ratings agencies and the listing of the Securities with The PORTAL Market,
(viii) any filing fees incident to, and any reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Initial Purchasers in connection with the review by the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc., if any, of the terms of the sale of the Securities or the Exchange Securities, and (ix) all fees and expenses (including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) of the
Company in connection with approval of the Securities by DTC for "book-entry" transfer, and the performance by the Company of its other obligations under this Agreement. Except as provided
in this Section 4, Section 6, Section 8 and Section 9 hereof, the Initial Purchasers shall pay their own expenses, including the fees and disbursements of their counsel. 

        Section 5.    Conditions of the Obligations of the Initial Purchasers.    The obligations of the several
Initial Purchasers to purchase and pay for the Securities as provided herein on the Closing Date shall be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company set
forth in Section 1 hereof as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date as though then made and to the timely performance by the Company of its covenants and other obligations hereunder, and
to each of the following additional conditions: 

        (a)    Accountants' Comfort Letter.    On the date hereof, the Initial Purchasers shall have received from KPMG LLP,
independent public or certified public accountants for the Company, a letter dated the date hereof addressed to the Initial Purchasers, in form and substance satisfactory to the Initial Purchasers,
containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountant's "comfort letters" to Initial Purchasers, with respect to the audited and unaudited financial statements and
certain financial information contained or incorporated by reference in the Offering Circular. 

        (b)    No Material Adverse Change or Ratings Agency Change.    For the period from and after the date of this
Agreement and prior to the Closing Date: 

          (i)  in
the judgment of the Joint Book-Running Managers there shall not have occurred any Material Adverse Change; and 

         (ii)  there
shall not have occurred any downgrading, nor shall any notice have been given of any intended or potential downgrading or of any review for a possible change that
does not indicate the direction of the possible change, in the rating accorded any securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries by any "nationally recognized statistical rating organization"
as such term is defined for purposes of Rule 436 under the Securities Act. 

        (c)    Opinion of Counsel for the Company.    On the Closing Date the Initial Purchasers shall have received the
favorable opinions of in-house counsel of the Company and outside counsel for the Company, dated as of such Closing Date, the forms of which are attached hereto as Exhibits
A-1, A-2, A-3 and A-4. 

        (d)    Opinion of Counsel for the Initial Purchasers.    On the Closing Date the Initial Purchasers shall have
received the favorable opinion of Cahill Gordon & Reindel llp, counsel for the Initial Purchasers, dated as of such Closing Date, with respect to such matters as may be reasonably requested by
the Initial Purchasers. 

10

 

        (e)    Officers' Certificate.    On the Closing Date the Initial Purchasers shall have received a written certificate
executed by an officer of the Company and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, dated as of the Closing Date, to the effect set forth in subsection (b)(ii) of this Section 5, and
further to the effect that to the best knowledge of such officer: 

          (i)  for
the period from and after the date of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date there has not occurred any Material Adverse Change; 

         (ii)  the
representations, warranties and covenants of the Company set forth in Section 1 of this Agreement are true and correct with the same force and effect as
though expressly made on and as of the Closing Date; and 

        (iii)  the
Company has complied with all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date. 

        (f)    Bring-down Comfort Letter.    On the Closing Date the Initial Purchasers shall have received from
KPMG LLP, independent public or certified public accountants for the Company, a letter dated such date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Initial Purchasers, to the effect that they
reaffirm the statements made in the letter furnished by them pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section 5, except that the specified date referred to therein for the carrying out
of procedures shall be no more than three business days prior to the Closing Date. 

        (g)    PORTAL Listing.    At the Closing Date the Notes shall have been designated for trading on The PORTAL Market. 

        (h)    Registration Rights Agreement.    The Company shall have entered into the Registration Rights Agreement and the
Initial Purchasers shall have received executed counterparts thereof. 

        (i)    Additional Documents.    On or before the Closing Date, the Initial Purchasers and counsel for the Initial
Purchasers shall have received such information, documents and opinions as they may reasonably require for the purposes of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as
contemplated herein, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations and warranties, or the satisfaction of any of the conditions or agreements, herein contained. 

        If
any condition specified in this Section 5 is not satisfied when and as required to be satisfied, this Agreement may be terminated by the Initial Purchasers by notice to the
Company at any time on or prior to the Closing Date, which termination shall be without liability on the part of any party to any other party, except that Section 4, Section 6,
Section 8 and Section 9 shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination. 

        Section 6.    Reimbursement of Initial Purchasers' Expenses.    If this Agreement is terminated by the Initial
Purchasers pursuant to Section 5, or if the sale to the Initial Purchasers of the Securities on the Closing Date is not consummated because of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of
the Company to perform any agreement herein or to comply with any provision hereof, the Company agrees to reimburse the Initial Purchasers (or such Initial Purchasers as have terminated this Agreement
with respect to themselves), severally, upon demand for all out-of-pocket expenses that shall have been reasonably incurred by the Initial Purchasers in connection with the
proposed purchase and the offering and sale of the Securities, including but not limited to fees and disbursements of counsel, printing expenses, travel expenses, postage, facsimile and telephone
charges. 

11

 

        Section 7.    Offer, Sale and Resale Procedures.    Each of the Initial Purchasers, on the one hand, and the
Company, on the other hand, hereby establish and agree to observe the following procedures in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities: 

	(A)
	Offers
and sales of the Securities will be made only by the Initial Purchasers or Affiliates thereof qualified to do so in the jurisdictions in which such offers or sales are made.
Each such offer or sale shall only be made to persons whom the offeror or seller reasonably believes to be qualified institutional buyers (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) or
non-U.S. persons outside the United States to whom the offeror or seller reasonably believes offers and sales of the Securities may be made in reliance upon Regulation S under the
Securities Act, upon the terms and conditions set forth in Annex I hereto, which Annex I is hereby expressly made a part hereof.

	(B)
	The
Securities will be offered by approaching prospective Subsequent Purchasers on an individual basis. No general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of
Rule 502 under the Securities Act) will be used in the United States in connection with the offering of the Securities.

	(C)
	With
respect to offers and sales of Notes outside the United States, each Initial Purchaser understands that no action has been or will be taken in any jurisdiction by QC that would
permit a public offering of the Notes, or possession or distribution of either the Preliminary Offering Circular or the Final Offering Circular or any other offering or publicity material relating to
the Notes, in any country or jurisdiction where legal or regulatory action for that purpose is required.

	(D)
	Upon
original issuance by the Company, and until such time as the same is no longer required under the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Securities (and all
securities issued in exchange therefor or in substitution thereof, other than the Exchange Securities) shall bear the following legend: 

"THE
NOTES EVIDENCED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 (THE "SECURITIES ACT") AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT (A)(1)
TO A PERSON WHO THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PURCHASING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A
QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (2) IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION COMPLYING WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES
ACT, (3) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144 THEREUNDER (IF AVAILABLE), (4) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR IN A TRANSACTION
EXEMPT FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OR (5) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND (B) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE
SECURITIES LAWS OF THE STATES OF THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER JURISDICTIONS." 

        Following
the sale of the Securities by the Initial Purchasers to Subsequent Purchasers pursuant to the terms hereof, the Initial Purchasers shall not be liable or responsible to the
Company for any losses, damages or liabilities suffered or incurred by the Company, including any losses, damages or liabilities under the Securities Act, arising from or relating to any resale or
transfer of any Security by any Persons other than the respective Initial Purchasers. 

12

 

        Section 8.    Indemnification.    QC hereby agrees to hold each Initial Purchaser harmless and to indemnify
each Initial Purchaser (including any of its affiliated companies and any director, officer, agent or employee of such Initial Purchaser or any such affiliated company) in its capacity as Initial
Purchaser and any director, officer or other person controlling (within the meaning of Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act) such Initial Purchaser (including any of such Initial Purchaser's
affiliated companies) (collectively, "Indemnified Persons") from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (whether
direct or indirect, in contract, tort or otherwise) whatsoever, as incurred (including the cost of any investigation and preparation), arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Offering Circular, or any omission or alleged omission to state in any the Offering Circular a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading except for any such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense which arises out of or is based upon
(x) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Offering Circular or (y) any omission or alleged omission to state in the Offering Circular a
material fact necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading, if in any such case such statement or omission relates to such Initial Purchaser and was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing by such Initial
Purchaser to QC expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf of each Initial Purchaser consists of the last sentence of the second
paragraph of text under the caption "Underwriting," concerning the terms of the offering by the Initial Purchasers, and the sixth and seventh paragraphs of text under the caption "Underwriting" in the
Offering Circular, concerning short sales, stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover positions created by short sales by the Initial Purchasers (the "Initial Purchaser
Information"). The foregoing indemnity shall be in addition to any liability which QC might otherwise have to such Initial Purchaser and such other Indemnified Persons. 

        Each
Initial Purchaser severally hereby agrees to hold QC harmless and to indemnify QC (including any of its respective affiliated companies and any director, officer, agent or employee
of QC or any such affiliated company) and any director, officer or other person controlling (within the meaning of Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act) QC (including any of QC's affiliated
companies) from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (whether direct or indirect, in contract, tort or otherwise) whatsoever, as incurred (including the cost of any
investigation and preparation) arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Initial Purchaser Information furnished by such Initial
Purchaser for inclusion in the Offering Circular, or any omission or alleged omission to state in such Initial Purchaser Information a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. 

        If
a claim is made against any Indemnified Person as to which such Indemnified Person may seek indemnity under this Section 8, such Indemnified Person shall notify QC promptly
after any written assertion of such claim threatening to institute an action or proceeding with respect thereto and shall notify QC promptly of any action commenced against such Indemnified Person
within a reasonable time after such Indemnified Person shall have been served with a summons or other first legal process giving information as to the nature and basis of the claim. Failure to so
notify QC shall not, however, relieve QC from any liability which it may have on account of the indemnity under this Section 8, except to the extent such failure results in the forfeiture by QC
of substantial rights and defenses. QC shall have the right to assume the defense of any such litigation or proceeding, including the engagement of counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Initial
Purchaser. In any such litigation or proceeding the defense of which QC shall have so assumed, any Indemnified Person shall have the right to participate in such litigation or proceeding and to retain
its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person unless (i) QC shall have failed promptly to assume the defense thereof and employ
counsel as provided above or (ii) counsel to 

13

 

the
Indemnified Person reasonably determines that representation of such Indemnified Person by QC's counsel would present QC's counsel with a conflict of interest. It is understood that QC shall not,
in connection with any litigation or proceeding or related litigation or proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable under this Agreement for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm
(in addition to any local counsel) for all such Indemnified Persons and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. Such separate firm shall be designated by the Initial
Purchasers. 

        QC
agrees to notify each Initial Purchaser promptly of the written assertion of any claim in connection with the Offering against it, any of its officers or directors or any person who
controls it within the meaning of Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act. QC will not settle, compromise or consent to entry of judgment with respect to any litigation or proceeding in respect of
which indemnity may be sought hereunder, whether or not an Initial Purchaser or its related Indemnified Persons is an actual or potential party to such litigation or proceeding, without each Initial
Purchaser's prior written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each such
Initial Purchaser and its related Indemnified Persons from all liability in any way related to or arising out of such litigation or proceeding and (ii) does not impose any actual or potential
liability or any other obligation upon any such Initial Purchaser and its related Indemnified Persons and does not contain any factual or legal admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by
or with respect to any such Initial Purchaser and its related Indemnified Persons. 

        Section 9.    Contribution.    If the indemnification provided for in Section 8 is for any reason held
to be unavailable to or otherwise insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying
party shall contribute to the aggregate amount paid or payable by such indemnified party, as incurred, as a result of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to therein
(i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company in respect of the Securities in which the related Initial Purchasers participated as such, on
the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not
permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company, on the
one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions or inaccuracies in the representations and warranties herein which resulted in such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the
other hand, in connection with the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement in respect of the Securities in which the related Initial Purchaser participated as such shall be deemed to be
in the same respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company, and the total discount
received by the Initial Purchasers bear to the aggregate initial offering price of the Securities. The relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand,
shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact or any such
inaccurate or alleged inaccurate representation or warranty relates to information supplied by the Company, on the one hand, or the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, and the parties' relative
intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. 

        The
amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set
forth in Section 8, any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim. The provisions set forth in
Section 8 with respect to notice of 

14

 

commencement
of any action shall apply if a claim for contribution is to be made under this Section 9; provided, however, that no additional
notice shall be required with respect to any action for which notice has been given under Section 8 for purposes of indemnification. 

        The
Company and the Initial Purchasers agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 9 were determined by pro
rata allocation (even if the Initial Purchasers were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable
considerations referred to in this Section 9. 

        Notwithstanding
the provisions of this Section 9, no Initial Purchaser shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the discount received by such Initial Purchaser in
connection with the Securities distributed by it. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11 of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution
from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Initial Purchasers' obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 9 are several, and not joint, in proportion
to their respective commitments as set forth opposite their names in Schedule A. For purposes of this Section 9, each director, officer and employee of an Initial Purchaser and each
person, if any, who controls an Initial Purchaser within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such Initial Purchaser, and each director
of the Company, and each person, if any, who controls the Company with the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company. 

        Section 10.    Termination of this Agreement.    Prior to the Closing Date, this Agreement may be terminated by
Joint Book-Running Managers, on behalf of the Initial Purchasers, by notice given to the Company if at any time: (i) trading or quotation in any of the Company's securities shall
have been suspended or limited by the Commission or by the New York Stock Exchange, or trading in securities generally on either the Nasdaq Stock Market or the New York Stock Exchange shall have been
suspended or limited, or minimum or maximum prices shall have been generally established on any of such stock exchanges by the Commission or the NASD; (ii) a general banking moratorium shall
have been declared by any of federal or New York authorities; (iii) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of national or international hostilities or any national or
international crisis or calamity, or any change in the United States or international financial markets, or any substantial change or development involving a prospective substantial change in the
United States' or international political, financial or economic conditions, as in the judgment of the Joint Book-Running Managers is material and adverse and makes it impracticable to
market the Securities in the manner and on the terms described in the Offering Circular or to enforce contracts for the sale of securities; or (iv) since the date of the Offering Circular,
there shall have occurred any Material Adverse Change which in the judgment of the Joint Book-Running Managers makes it impracticable to market the Securities in the manner and on the
terms described in the Offering Circular. Any
termination pursuant to this Section 10 shall be without liability on the part of (i) the Company to any Initial Purchaser, except that the Company shall be obligated to reimburse the
expenses of the Initial Purchasers pursuant to Sections 4 and 6 hereof, (ii) any Initial Purchaser to the Company or (iii) any party hereto to any other party except that the provisions
of Section 8 and Section 9 shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination. 

        Section 11.    Representations and Indemnities to Survive Delivery.    The respective indemnities, agreements,
representations, warranties and other statements of the Company, of its officers and of the several Initial Purchasers set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and
effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Initial Purchaser or the Company or any of its or their partners, officers or directors or any controlling person, as the case may
be, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Securities sold hereunder and any termination of this Agreement. 

15

 

        Section 12.    Notices.    All communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be mailed, hand delivered
or telecopied and confirmed to the parties hereto as follows: 

If
to the Initial Purchasers: 

Goldman,
Sachs & Co.

85 Broad Street

New York, NY 10004

Attention: Legal Department

Fax: (212) 902-3000 

Deutsche
Bank Securities Inc.

60 Wall Street

New York, NY 10005

Attention: Corporate Finance Department

Fax: (212) 797-5765 

Lehman
Brothers Inc.

745 Seventh Avenue

New York, NY 10019

Attention: Debt Capital Markets, Telecommunications Group

(with a copy to General Counsel at the same address)

Fax: (212) 526-0943 

        with
a copy to: 

Cahill
Gordon & Reindel LLP
 80 Pine Street

New York, New York 10005

Attention: James J. Clark, Esq.

                  Jonathan A. Schaffzin, Esq.

Fax: (212) 269-5420 

        If
to QC: 

Qwest
Corporation

1801 California Street

Denver, Colorado 80202

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

Fax: (303) 296-6920

General Counsel

Fax: (303) 296-5974 

        with
a copy to: 

Gibson,
Dunn & Crutcher LLP

1801 California Street, Suite 4200

Denver, Colorado 80202

Attention: Richard M. Russo, Esq.

Fax: (303) 313-2838 

        and
a copy to: 

O'Melveny &
Myers

400 South Hope Street

Los Angeles, California 90071

Attention: David J. Johnson, Jr., Esq.

Fax: (213) 430-6407 

16

 

        Any
party hereto may change the address for receipt of communications by giving written notice to the others. 

        Section 13.    Successors.    This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties
hereto, including any substitute Initial Purchasers pursuant to Section 16 hereof, and to the benefit of the employees, officers and directors and controlling persons referred to in
Section 8 and Section 9, and in each case their respective successors, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder. The term "successors" shall not include any
purchaser of the Securities as such from any of the Initial Purchasers merely by reason of such purchase. 

        Section 14.    Partial Unenforceability.    The invalidity or unenforceability of any Section, paragraph or
provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other Section, paragraph or provision hereof. If any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement is for any
reason determined to be invalid or unenforceable, there shall be deemed to be made such minor changes (and only such minor changes) as are necessary to make it valid and enforceable. 

        Section 15.    Governing Law Provisions.    THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED IN SUCH STATE. 

        Section 16.    Default of One or More of the Several Initial Purchasers.    If any one or more of the several
Initial Purchasers with respect to the Notes shall fail or refuse to purchase such Notes that it or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on the Closing Date, and the aggregate principal amount of
such Notes which such defaulting Initial Purchaser or Initial Purchasers agreed but failed or refused to purchase does not exceed 10% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes to be purchased on
such date, the other Initial Purchasers with respect to such Notes shall be obligated, severally, in the proportions that the principal amount of Notes set forth opposite their respective names on
Schedule A bears to the aggregate principal amount of Notes set forth opposite the names of all such
non-defaulting Initial Purchasers, or in such other proportions as may be specified by the Initial Purchasers with respect to such Notes with the consent of the non-defaulting
Initial Purchasers with respect to such Notes, to purchase the Notes which such defaulting Initial Purchaser or Initial Purchasers agreed but failed or refused to purchase on such date. If any one or
more of the Initial Purchasers with respect to the Notes shall fail or refuse to purchase such Notes and the aggregate principal amount of such Notes with respect to which such default occurs exceeds
10% of the aggregate principal amount of such Notes to be purchased on the Closing Date, and arrangements satisfactory to the Initial Purchasers with respect to the Notes and the Company for the
purchase of such Notes are not made within 48 hours after such default, this Agreement shall terminate with respect to the Notes without liability of any party to any other party except that
the provisions of Section 4, Section 6, Section 8 and Section 9 shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination. In any such case either the Initial
Purchasers or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date, as the case may be, but in no event for longer than seven days in order that the required changes, if any, to the Offering
Circular or any other documents or arrangements may be effected. 

        As
used in this Agreement, the term "Initial Purchaser" shall be deemed to include any person substituted for a defaulting Initial Purchaser under this Section 16. Any action
taken under this Section 16 shall not relieve any defaulting Initial Purchaser from liability in respect of any default of such Initial Purchaser under this Agreement. 

        Section 17.    General Provisions.    This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties to this
Agreement and supersedes all prior written or oral and all contemporaneous oral agreements, understandings and negotiations with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may be executed in
two or more counterparts, each one of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument. This Agreement may not be 

17

amended
or modified unless in writing by all of the parties hereto, and no condition herein (express or implied) may be waived unless waived in writing by each party whom the condition is meant to
benefit. The section headings herein are for the convenience of the parties only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of this Agreement. 

        If
the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, kindly sign and return to the Company the enclosed copies hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all
counterparts hereof, shall become a binding agreement in accordance with its terms. 

	 	 	Very truly yours,
	

 	
 	
QWEST CORPORATION
	

 	
 	

By:	

/s/  RAHN K. PORTER      
 Name:

Title:

        The
foregoing Purchase Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted by the Initial Purchasers as of the date first above written. 

GOLDMAN,
SACHS & CO.

LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.

BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC

CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON LLC

WACHOVIA CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC

BNY CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.

CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.

GREENWICH CAPITAL MARKETS, INC. 

By:    GOLDMAN,
SACHS & CO. 

	 
	 	 

	/s/  GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.      
 (GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.)	 	 

-S-

 
 

SCHEDULE A    
    

	Initial Purchasers for Notes
	 	Principal

Aggregate Amount

of Notes to be

Purchased

	Goldman, Sachs & Co	 	$	65,624,000
	Lehman Brothers Inc.	 	 	65,624,000
	Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.	 	 	56,250,000
	Banc of America Securities LLC	 	 	16,667,000
	Credit Suisse First Boston LLC	 	 	16,667,000
	Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC	 	 	16,667,000
	BNY Capital Markets, Inc.	 	 	4,167,000
	Citigroup Global Markets Inc.	 	 	4,167,000
	Greenwich Capital Markets	 	 	4,167,000
	 	 	

	Total	 	$	250,000,000
	 	 	

	 
	 	 

	Purchase Price to the Company for Notes	 	106% of Principal Amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest from August 19, 2004 through November 23, 2004.
	Closing Date for Notes	 	November 23, 2004

 
 

EXHIBIT A-1    
    

 
 

[FORM OF OPINION OF IN-HOUSE COUNSEL TO COMPANY]    

        1.     Qwest
Corporation ("QC") is a corporation validly existing under the laws of Colorado, with the power under Colorado law
and its articles of incorporation and by-laws (the "Organizational Documents") to own its properties and assets, to carry on its business as
described in the Offering Circular and to enter into the Purchase Agreement. 

        2.     The
outstanding shares of the capital stock of QC have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of QC and are validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable. Except as otherwise set forth in the Offering Circular, the outstanding shares of the capital stock of QC are owned of record by Qwest Services Corporation, a Colorado corporation. 

        3.     To
my knowledge, QC is not in violation of its Organizational Documents. 

        4.     To
my knowledge, and except as set forth in the Offering Circular, QC is not (A) in violation of any statute, judgment, decree, order, rule or regulation of any
New York or federal court or governmental authority binding on QC or any of its properties or assets, or (B) in default in the performance or observance of any material agreement, which
violation or default has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. 

        5.     To
my knowledge, and except as set forth in the Offering Circular, there is not pending or threatened any action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation to which QC
or any of its Significant Subsidiaries is a party, or to which the assets, properties or operations of QC or any of its Significant Subsidiaries is subject, before or by any court or governmental
agency or body, domestic or foreign, which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. 

        6.     The
Offering, the execution and delivery by QC of the Transaction Documents, and the performance of its obligations under the Transaction Documents will not
(i) violate the articles of incorporation or bylaws or similar organizational documents of QC, or (ii) breach or otherwise violate any existing obligation of or restriction on QC under
any order, judgment or decree of any New York or federal court or governmental authority known to me binding on QC, which violation or breach would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect. 

        I
have reviewed the Offering Circular, but have not independently verified the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements in that document. The limitations inherent in such
review, and the knowledge available to me, are such that I am unable to assume, and I do not assume, any responsibility for such accuracy, completeness or fairness. However, on the basis of such
review, I do not believe that the Offering Circular, considered as a whole as of the date of the Offering Circular or the date hereof, contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to
state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. However, I express no opinion or belief as to the
financial statements, including the notes thereto, and any other financial or statistical data that is found in or derived from the accounting or financial records of the Company and its subsidiaries,
that are contained or incorporated by reference in the Offering Circular. 

 
 

EXHIBIT A-2    
    

 
 

[FORM OF OPINION OF OUTSIDE COUNSEL
  (GIBSON, DUNN & CRUTCHER LLP)]    
    

        1.     QC
is a validly existing corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Colorado, with the requisite corporate power and authority to own or lease its
properties and conduct its business as now conducted as described in the Offering Circular. 

        2.     The
Notes and the Exchange Notes have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of QC. 

        3.     The
execution, delivery and performance of the Indenture by QC has been duly authorized by all necessary action. The Indenture has been duly executed and delivered by QC. 

        4.     The
execution, delivery and performance of the Registration Rights Agreement by QC has been duly authorized by all necessary action. The Registration Rights Agreement has
been duly executed and delivered by QC. The Registration Rights Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligations of QC, enforceable against QC in accordance with its terms, except as may
be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, arrangement or similar laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors generally (including the effect of statutory and other laws
regarding fraudulent transfers or preferential transfers), and by general principles of equity, including concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing and the possible
unavailability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law. 

        5.     The
execution and delivery by QC of the Purchase Agreement, the Indenture, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Notes and the Exchange Notes, and the performance of its
obligations thereunder, will not require any filing with or approval of any governmental authority of the State of New York, the State of Colorado or the United States of America applicable to QC
that, in our experience, is generally applicable to transactions of the type contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, except that we express no opinion regarding any federal or state communication
laws, federal securities laws, or Blue Sky or state securities laws. 

        6.     Assuming
the accuracy of, and compliance with, the representations, warranties and agreements of the Company and the Initial Purchasers relating to the offering of the
Notes set forth in the Purchase Agreement and assuming that the offering is made as contemplated in the Offering Circular, it is not necessary in connection with the offer, sale and delivery of the
Notes to the Initial Purchasers under the Purchase Agreement or in connection with the initial resale of the Notes by the Initial Purchasers in accordance with Section 7 of the Purchase
Agreement to register the Notes under the Securities Act, it being understood that no opinion is expressed as to any subsequent resale of any Note. 

        7.     The
execution and delivery by QC of the Purchase Agreement, the Indenture, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Notes and the Exchange Notes and the performance of its
obligations thereunder, will not violate any law or regulation of the State of New York, the State of Colorado or the United States of America applicable to QC that, in our experience, is generally
applicable to transactions of the type contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, except that we express no opinion regarding any federal or state communications laws, federal securities laws, or Blue
Sky or state securities laws or as to Sections and 8 and 9 of the Purchase Agreement. 

        8.     Insofar
as the statements in the Offering Circular under the caption "Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations" purport to describe specific provisions of
the Internal Revenue Code, such statements present in all material respects an accurate summary of such provisions. 

        9.     QC
is not an investment company required to register under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. 

 

        10.   The
execution, delivery and performance of the Purchase Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of QC. The Purchase Agreement has been duly
executed and delivered by QC. 

        11.   Insofar
as the statements in the Offering Circular under the caption "Exchange Offer; Registration Rights" purport to describe specific provisions of the Registration
Rights Agreement, such statements present in all material respects an accurate summary of such provisions. 

        We
have participated in conferences with officers and other representatives of the Company, representatives of the independent auditors of the Company and representatives of the Initial
Purchasers and their counsel at which the contents of the Preliminary Offering Circular and the Offering Circular (in each case excluding the "Description of Notes" and "Form, Denomination, Transfer,
Exchange and Book Entry Procedures") and related matters were discussed. Because the purpose of our professional engagement was not to establish or confirm factual matters and because the scope of our
examination of the affairs of the Company and its Subsidiaries did not permit us to verify the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements set forth in the Preliminary Offering Circular and
the Offering Circular, we are not passing upon and do not assume any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the Preliminary Offering Circular or the
Final Offering Circular, except to the extent set forth in paragraph 8. On the basis of the foregoing, and except for the financial statements, including the notes thereto, and any other
financial or statistical data that is found in or derived from the internal accounting or financial records of the Company and its subsidiaries, that are contained or incorporated by reference in the
Offering Circular, as to which we express no opinion or belief, no facts have come to our attention that led us to believe that the Offering Circular, as of its date or the date hereof, contains any
untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. 

2

 
 

EXHIBIT A-3    
    

 
 

[FORM OF OUTSIDE COUNSEL OPINION (O'MELVENY & MYERS LLP)]    
    

        1.     The
Notes, assuming the due authorization and execution by QC, and upon payment for and delivery of the Notes in accordance with the Purchase Agreement and the
authentication of the certificate or certificates representing the Notes by a duly authorized signatory of the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture, will be legally valid and
binding obligations of QC, enforceable against QC in accordance with their terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws relating to or
affecting creditors' rights generally (including, without limitation, fraudulent conveyance laws), and by general principles of equity, including, without limitation, concepts of materiality,
reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing and the possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law. 

        2.     The
Exchange Notes, assuming the due authorization and execution by QC, and when delivered in the form of and in exchange for the Notes in accordance with the provisions
of the Registration Rights Agreement and the Indenture and the authentication of the certificate or certificates representing the Exchange Notes by a duly authorized signatory of the Trustee in
accordance with the provisions of the Indenture, will be legally valid and binding obligations of QC, enforceable against QC in accordance with their terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally (including, without limitation, fraudulent conveyance laws), and by general principles of
equity including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing and the possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief, regardless of
whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law. 

        3.     Assuming
the due authorization and execution and delivery by QC and the Trustee, the Indenture will constitute the legally valid and binding obligation of QC enforceable,
against QC in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally (including,
without limitation fraudulent conveyance laws), and by general principles of equity, including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing and the
possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law. 

        4.     The
Offering, in the manner contemplated by the Offering Circular, the execution and delivery by QC of the Transaction Documents, and the performance of its obligations
under the Transaction Documents will not violate, breach or result in a default under any existing obligation of or restriction on QC under any agreement (the "Relevant
Agreements") identified in Exhibit A hereto. If a Relevant Agreement is governed by the laws of a jurisdiction other than New York, we have assumed such Relevant
Agreement is governed by the laws of the State of New York. We express no opinion as to the effect of QC's performance of its obligations under the Transaction Documents on its compliance with
financial covenants in the Relevant Agreements. 

        5.     The
statements in the Offering Circular under the caption "Description of the Notes" and "Description of Other Indebtedness", insofar as they summarize provisions of the
Notes, or the Indenture or the documents evidencing such other applicable debt instruments, fairly present the information therein in all material respects. 

 
 
 

EXHIBIT 1 TO EXHIBIT A-3
  RELEVANT AGREEMENTS    
    

Qwest Corporation: 

	1.
	Indenture
dated as of April 15, 1990 between Qwest Corporation and The First National Bank of Chicago;

	a.
	First
Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 16, 1991 between Qwest Corporation and the First National Bank of Chicago;

	2.
	Indenture
dated as of October 15, 1999 between Qwest Corporation and Bank One Trust Company, National Association;

	a.
	First
Supplemental Indenture dated as of August 19, 2004 between Qwest Corporation and U.S. Bank National Association;

	3.
	Term
Loan Agreement dated as of June 9, 2003 among Qwest Corporation, Merrill Lynch & Co., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Credit Suisse First
Boston, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and the Lenders listed therein; and

	4.
	Other
Indentures:

	a.
	Indenture
dated January 1, 1968 between Qwest Corporation and Iowa-Des Moines National Bank; and

	b.
	Indenture
dated August 1, 1967 between Qwest Corporation and Idaho First National Bank. 

Qwest Communications International Inc. and Qwest Services Corporation:  

	1.
	Indenture
dated October 15, 1997 between Qwest Communications International Inc. and Bankers Trust Company;

	a.
	First
Supplemental Indenture dated February 16, 2001;

	2.
	Indenture
dated January 29, 1998 between Qwest Communications International Inc. and Bankers Trust Company;

	a.
	First
Supplemental Indenture dated February 16, 2001;

	3.
	Indenture
dated November 4, 1998 between Qwest Communications International Inc. and Bankers Trust Company;

	a.
	First
Supplemental Indenture dated December 26, 2002;

	b.
	Second
Supplemental Indenture dated December 2, 2003;

	4.
	Indenture
dated November 27, 1998 between Qwest Communications International Inc. and Bankers Trust Company;

	a.
	First
Supplemental Indenture dated as of December 26, 2002;

	b.
	Second
Supplemental Indenture dated as of December 4, 2003;

	5.
	Indenture
dated June 29, 1998 between Qwest Capital Funding, Inc. and The First National Bank of Chicago;

	a.
	First
Supplemental Indenture dated June 30, 2000;

	b.
	Second
Supplemental Indenture dated Feb 4, 2002; 

2

 

	6.
	Indenture
dated August 28, 1997 between Qwest Communications International Inc. and Bankers Trust Company;

	a.
	First
Supplemental Indenture dated February 16, 2001;

	7.
	Indenture
dated as of December 26, 2002 among Qwest Communications International Inc., Qwest Services Corporation, Qwest Capital Funding, Inc. and Bank One Trust
Company, N.A.;

	8.
	Indenture
dated as of February 5, 2004 among Qwest Communications International Inc., Qwest Services Corporation, Qwest Capital Funding, Inc. and J.P. Morgan Trust
Company; and

	9.
	Credit
Agreement dated as of February 5, 2004 among Qwest Communications International Inc., Qwest Services corporation, Bank of America, N.A. and the Lenders listed
therein. 

3

 
 

EXHIBIT A-4    
    

 
 

[FORM OF OPINION OF HOGAN & HARTSON, L.L.P.]    
    

        1.     No
consent, approval or authorization by the FCC is required in connection with the Offering, the execution, delivery and performance by QC of any of the Transaction
Documents and the consummation by QC of the transactions contemplated in this Purchase Agreement, except that the approval of the FCC must be obtained prior to the exercise of any rights with respect
to the collateral that would constitute a transfer of control of QC or any FCC-regulated subsidiary (direct or indirect) of QC. We express no opinion as to whether the FCC would grant any
application requesting approval for such transfer of control. 

        (b)   The
Offering, the execution, delivery and performance by QC of any of the Transaction Documents and the consummation by QC of the transactions contemplated by this
Purchase Agreement does not violate any applicable provision of the Communications Act or the FCC Rules. 

        (c)   The
Offering, the execution, delivery and performance of any of the Transaction Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement
by QC is not inconsistent with any applicable published order of the FCC as of the date of such opinion. 

        (d)   The
statements in the Offering Circular under the headings "Risk Factors—We operate in a highly regulated industry, and are therefore exposed to restrictions
on our manner of doing business and a variety of claims relating to such regulation," "Business—Regulation" and "Business—Legal Proceedings—Legal Proceedings
Involving QC—Regulatory Matters," insofar as such statements purport to summarize applicable provisions of the Communications Act and the FCC Rules, are accurate summaries in all material
respects of the provisions purported to be summarized. 

 
 
 

ANNEX I    
    

        Resale Pursuant to Regulation S or Rule 144A.    Each Initial Purchaser understands that: 

        Such
Initial Purchaser agrees that it has not offered or sold and will not offer or sell the Notes in the United States or to, or for the benefit or account of, a U.S. Person (other than
a distributor), in each case, as defined in Rule 902 under the Securities Act (i) as part of its distribution at any time and (ii) otherwise until 40 days after the later
of the commencement of the offering of the Notes pursuant hereto and the Closing Date, except in either case than in accordance with Regulation S of the Securities Act or another exemption from
the registration requirements of the Securities Act. Such Initial Purchaser agrees that, during such 40-day restricted period, it will not cause any advertisement with respect to the Notes
(including any "tombstone" advertisement) to be published in any newspaper or periodical or posted in any public place and will not issue any circular relating to the Notes, except such advertisements
as are permitted by and include the statements required by Regulation S. 

        Such
Initial Purchaser agrees that, at or prior to confirmation of a sale of Notes by it to any distributor, dealer or person receiving a selling concession, fee or other remuneration
during the 40-day restricted period referred to in Rule 903 under the Securities Act, it will send to such distributor, dealer or person receiving a selling concession, fee or other
remuneration a confirmation or notice to substantially the following effect: 

"The
Notes covered hereby have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and may not be offered and
sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons (i) as part of your distribution at any time or (ii) otherwise until 40 days after the later of
the date the Notes were first offered to persons other than "distributors" (as defined in Regulation S) in reliance upon Regulation S and the Closing Date, except in either case in
accordance with Regulation S under the Securities Act (or Rule 144A or to Accredited Institutions in transactions that are exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities
Act), and in connection with any subsequent sale by you of the Notes covered hereby in reliance on Regulation S
during the period referred to above to any distributor, dealer or person receiving a selling concession, fee or other remuneration, you must deliver a notice to substantially the foregoing effect.
Terms used above have the meanings assigned to them in Regulation S." 

Annex-I-1

QuickLinks

Exhibit 10.1 [Conformed copy]

PURCHASE AGREEMENT

SCHEDULE A

EXHIBIT A-1

[FORM OF OPINION OF IN-HOUSE COUNSEL TO COMPANY ]

EXHIBIT A-2

[FORM OF OPINION OF OUTSIDE COUNSEL (GIBSON, DUNN & CRUTCHER LLP)]

EXHIBIT A-3

[FORM OF OUTSIDE COUNSEL OPINION (O'MELVENY & MYERS LLP)]

EXHIBIT 1 TO EXHIBIT A-3 RELEVANT AGREEMENTS

EXHIBIT A-4

[FORM OF OPINION OF HOGAN & HARTSON, L.L.P.]

ANNEX I

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