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                                  SCHEDULE 14A
                                 (RULE 14a-101)

                    INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT

                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

          PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF THE SECURITIES
                    EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (AMENDMENT NO.   )

Filed by the Registrant [X]

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]

Check the appropriate box:

                                       
[ ]  Preliminary Proxy Statement          [ ]  Confidential, for Use of the
                                               Commission Only (as permitted by
                                               Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[ ]  Definitive Proxy Statement
[X]  Definitive Additional Materials
[ ]  Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-12



                    Qwest Communications International Inc.
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                (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

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   (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

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        pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the
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   (4)  Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

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                          [Letter to Qwest Employees]


March 16, 2001

To all Qwest Employees:

Today we mailed our proxy statement to shareowners in advance of our May 2
annual shareowners' meeting. The proxy statement contains information about
Qwest that you might find interesting, including two proposals we received from
a retiree group and compensation paid to me and several other senior executives.
I wanted to take this opportunity to discuss these with you.

As to the shareowner proposals, the first proposal asks the Qwest board to seek
advance shareowner approval for severance agreements with executive officers.
This would restrict the board's flexibility and speed in offering a competitive
compensation package for top talent. The second proposal asks that Qwest not
count pension credits in determining performance-based compensation. We are
acting consistently with accounting rules and standards for public companies by
including the pension credits. The shareowner proposals should be rejected as
they would hinder company growth and reduce shareowner value.

As to executive compensation, you may focus on the fact some of our executives
made a lot of money last year. Qwest has been very good for many of us. But let
me put it in perspective--our executives, including me, receive a salary and
bonus, based on performance like all Qwest employees, that is comparable to that
of executives at other companies. The number of options I received is also in
line with grants made to CEOs of other companies. As to my income last year,
most of what I earned came from exercising stock options. There is no certainty
in the value of stock options, of course. Current conditions in the stock market
make that clear. I received my options when I joined Qwest before the IPO in
1997. With the vision, strategy and execution of our business plan by many good
people, Qwest has been one of the best-performing communications stocks in the
world. My family and I, along with all other Qwest shareowners, have benefited
because of it.

Qwest is an entrepreneurial growth company that creates value for customers,
employees, retirees, shareowners, suppliers and others. We have invested
billions to raise service to its highest level in more than five years, and we
pay millions in taxes and spend millions more with suppliers. We also offer one
of the best retirement programs in American business, based on an independent
analysis. We are fully committed to the welfare of employees, and everyone is
rewarded fairly when the company performs well. We are proud of our workforce,
and we appreciate those who laid the foundation for our company.

Qwest is about risk and reward, serving customers well and paying for
performance. I am extremely proud of the company we have built and look forward
to our prosperous future.

Sincerely,
Joe Nacchio