Level 3 Adds to Board 671200Level 3 Adds to Board 671200

BROOMFIELD, Colo. -- Level 3 Communications, Inc. today announced Rahul N. Merchant has been appointed to its board of directors effective Oct. 1, 2009.

Merchant currently is a partner with private equity firm Exigen Capital. Merchant previously served as executive vice president, chief information officer and member of the executive committee of Fannie Mae in Washington from 2006 until 2008. At Fannie Mae, Merchant led the technology and operations groups. Prior to Fannie Mae, Merchant was a senior vice president and chief technology officer for Merrill Lynch & Co., in New York from 2000 until 2006. Merchant has almost 30 years of experience in the information technology industry and is also a member of the board of Sun Microsystems, Inc.

"Our chairman Walter Scott and I are pleased to welcome Rahul to the Level 3 board," said Jim Crowe, CEO for Level 3. "His extensive knowledge and experience in the development and management of complex processes, financial services and information technology systems will be a tremendous asset to Level 3 as we focus on further improving our customer experience."

Level 3 Communications Inc. (NYSE: LVLT)