CENIC Leverages FiberCo To Extend Optical Network Footprint

Dark Fiber To Enable Greater Reach for Next-Generation California Regional Optical Network

ANN ARBOR, MI – December 18, 2005 - FiberCo(R), a fiber holding company supporting U.S. research and higher education, today announced that the Corporation for Education Network Initiatives in California (CENIC), has purchased the rights to over 709 route miles of dark fiber from FiberCo, under an agreement with Level 3 Communications (Nasdaq:LVLT). Utilizing FiberCo’s national-scale wholesale structure and fiber acquisition process, CENIC acquired the dark fiber and will use the network facilities to extend the reach of its network in support of research and higher education.

Through this fiber purchase, CENIC will enhance its ability to bring leading-edge capabilities to research and education institutions across California and the West by enabling it to directly connect its California Research and Education Network (CalREN) infrastructure to additional research and educational institutions, including neighboring Arizona State University (ASU) and University of Arizona.

According to Jim Dolgonas, President, CENIC, "The dark fiber services acquired through FiberCo further bolster our efforts and commitment to providing additional CENIC members with an extended platform for advanced collaboration and innovation."

Established in 2003 by Internet2(R), a consortium led by 207 universities working with government and industry to develop and deploy advanced networking technologies, FiberCo provides a means for acquiring, holding, and assigning dark fiber assets on both the national and the regional scales and on behalf of the higher education community.

"FiberCo continues to deliver on its mission to provide Internet2 members with critical optical networking assets which has facilitated the development of regional optical networks across the country," said Steve Cotter, director of network services for Internet2 and responsible for the FiberCo effort. "CENIC has long played a pioneering role in providing advanced Internet technology to its members and this latest dark fiber purchase demonstrates their ongoing commitment to this endeavor."

About CENIC

CENIC is a not-for-profit corporation serving the California Institute of Technology, California State University, Stanford University, University of California, University of Southern California, California Community Colleges and the statewide K-12 school system. CENIC's mission is to facilitate and coordinate the development, deployment and operation of a set of robust multi-tiered advanced network services for this research and education community. More information about CENIC can be found at http://www.cenic.org.

About FiberCo™

FiberCo™ provides a means for acquiring, holding, and assigning fiber optic network assets in support of the Internet2 community’s goals of developing and deploying advanced network applications and technologies. FiberCo facilitates the ongoing development of regional optical networking initiatives around the country to complement existing Internet2 network infrastructure while providing a strategic fiber acquisition capability on the national scale. For more information, visit: www.fiberco.org.

About Level 3 Communications

Level 3 (Nasdaq:LVLT) is an international communications and information services company. The company operates one of the largest Internet backbones in the world, is one of the largest providers of wholesale dial-up service to ISPs in North America and is the primary provider of Internet connectivity for millions of broadband subscribers, through its cable and DSL partners. The company offers a wide range of communications services over its 23,000-mile broadband fiber optic network including Internet Protocol (IP) services, broadband transport and infrastructure services, colocation services, and patented softswitch managed modem and voice services. Its Web address is www.Level3.com.

Level 3 services are offered by wholly owned subsidiaries of Level 3 Communications, Inc.