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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 P83uIRe0XlmanKaTdbyBu2uzPOULYmHmBrrnq9Tr7jvJL8uVkMCU9JHPXT6dUkEq
 bH6lq34i1ttw+V+LOmia7Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000794323-05-000154.txt : 20050611
<SEC-HEADER>0000794323-05-000154.hdr.sgml : 20050611
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050606180016
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000794323-05-000154
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050603
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050606
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050606

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000794323
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS (NO RADIO TELEPHONE) [4813]
		IRS NUMBER:				470210602
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1025 ELDORADO BOULEVARD
		STREET 2:		BLDG 2000
		CITY:			BROOMFIELD
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80021
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7208881000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1025 ELDORADO BOULEVARD
		STREET 2:		BLDG 2000
		CITY:			BROOMFIELD
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80021

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	KIEWIT PETER SONS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SCOTT WALTER JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001013867

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15658
		FILM NUMBER:		05881425

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1000 KIEWITH PLZ
		STREET 2:		3555 FARNAM ST
		CITY:			OMAHA
		STATE:			NE
		ZIP:			68131
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4023422052X2237

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1000 KIEWIT PLZ
		STREET 2:		3555 FARMAN ST
		CITY:			OMAHA
		STATE:			NE
		ZIP:			68131
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>sco298.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-06-03</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000794323</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>LVLT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001013867</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SCOTT WALTER JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1025 ELDORADO BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BROOMFIELD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>80021</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman of the Board</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>6% Convertible Subordinated Notes Due 2009</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>65.1900</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-06-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>563833.3300</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1999-09-20</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-09-15</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>15340.1000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3500.0000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Charitable Remainder Trust</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>6% Convertible Subordinated Notes Due 2009</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>65.1900</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1999-09-20</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-09-15</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>383502.5000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>25000.0000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents securities owned by a Charitable Remainder Trust of which the Reporting Person is the sole trustee and the income beneficiary.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: /s/ Neil J. Eckstein as Attorney in Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-06-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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