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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 NGOgbCdMi+UfF3/Ax1K8qteZsHAfx916Q/1UzpynJFF/aR5lUFFajQOtEjnrPRtf
 3trebviTXrt2ggnN+pyizg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001247741-10-000071.txt : 20101222
<SEC-HEADER>0001247741-10-000071.hdr.sgml : 20101222
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20101222172812
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001247741-10-000071
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20101220
FILED AS OF DATE:		20101222
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20101222

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HUTCHESON STEWART D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001223761

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-34865
		FILM NUMBER:		101269819

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5887 COPLEY DRIVE
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92111

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LEAP WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001065049
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RADIO TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS [4812]
		IRS NUMBER:				330811062
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5887 COPLEY DRIVE
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92111
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8588826000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5887 COPLEY DRIVE
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92111

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	QUALCOMM SPINCO INC/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19980820
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-12-20</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001065049</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>LEAP WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>LEAP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001223761</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HUTCHESON STEWART D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O LEAP WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>5887 COPLEY DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN DIEGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92111</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>CEO &amp; President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-12-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2010-12-21</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4750</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>12.2066</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>322322</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents the sale of shares to cover taxes due on vesting of restricted stock award pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 Sales Plan dated as of December 10, 2010, which plan is intended to comply with Rule 10b5-1.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Kristopher L. Hanson, Attorney-in-Fact  For: Stewart Douglas Hutcheson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-12-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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