Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Description of Business

Level 3 Communications, Inc. and subsidiaries (the "Company" or "Level 3") is a facilities-based provider (that is, a provider that owns or leases a substantial portion of the plant, property and equipment necessary to provide its services) of a broad range of integrated communications services. The Company created its communications network by constructing its own assets and through a combination of purchasing other companies and purchasing or leasing facilities from others. Level 3's network is an international, facilities-based communications network. The Company designed its network to provide communications services that employ and take advantage of rapidly improving underlying optical, Internet Protocol, computing and storage technologies.

Until November 2011, the Company also was engaged in coal mining through two 50% owned joint-venture surface mines, one each in Montana and Wyoming. The Company completed the sale of its coal mining business on November 14, 2011.

On October 4, 2011, a subsidiary of Level 3 completed its amalgamation with Global Crossing Limited ("Global Crossing"), which thereby became a wholly owned, indirect subsidiary of the Company through a tax free, stock for stock transaction (the "Amalgamation").

Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Level 3 Communications, Inc. and subsidiaries in which it has a controlling interest. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP").

As part of its consolidation policy, the Company considers its controlled subsidiaries, investments in businesses in which the Company is not the primary beneficiary or does not have effective control but has the ability to significantly influence operating and financial policies, and variable interests resulting from economic arrangements that give the Company rights to economic risks or rewards of a legal entity. The Company does not have variable interests in a variable interest entity where it is required to consolidate the entity as the primary beneficiary or where it has concluded it is not the primary beneficiary.

Foreign Currency Translation

Local currencies of foreign subsidiaries are the functional currencies for financial reporting purposes except for certain foreign subsidiaries in Latin America. For operations outside the U.S. that have functional currencies other than the U.S. dollar, assets and liabilities are translated to U.S. dollars at period-end exchange rates, and revenue, expenses and cash flows are translated using average exchange rates prevailing during the year. A significant portion of the Company's foreign subsidiaries have either the British pound, the euro or the Brazilian real as the functional currency, each of which experienced significant fluctuations against the U.S. dollar during 2013, 2012 and 2011. Foreign currency translation gains and losses are recognized as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in stockholders' equity (deficit) and in the consolidated statement of comprehensive loss in accordance with accounting guidance for foreign currency translation. The Company considers the majority of its investments in its foreign subsidiaries to be long-term in nature. The Company's foreign exchange transaction gains (losses), including where its investments in its foreign subsidiaries are not considered to be long-term in nature, are included within other income (expense) in Other, net on the consolidated statement of operations.

Reclassifications

Certain amounts in the prior year consolidated financial statements and accompanying footnotes have been reclassified to conform to the current year's presentation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reported period. The accounting estimates that require management's judgments include revenue recognition, revenue reserves, cost of revenue for communications services, cost of revenue dispute reserves, determination of the useful lives of long-lived assets, measurement and recognition of stock-based compensation expense, valuation of long-lived assets, goodwill and acquired indefinite-lived intangible assets for purposes of impairment testing, valuation of asset retirement obligations, allowance for doubtful accounts, measurement of the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations, accruals for estimated tax and legal liabilities, valuation allowance for deferred tax assets, and valuation of other assets and liabilities measured at fair value. Actual results could differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions and such differences could be material.

Revenue and Cost of Revenue for Communications Services

Revenue for communications services is recognized monthly as the services are provided based on contractual amounts expected to be collected. Management establishes appropriate revenue reserves at the time services are rendered based on an analysis of historical credit activity to address, where significant, situations in which collection is not reasonably assured as a result of credit risk, potential billing disputes or other reasons. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions and such differences could be material.

Intercarrier compensation revenue is recognized when an interconnection agreement is in place with another carrier, or if an agreement has expired, when the parties have agreed to continue operating under the previous agreement until a new agreement is negotiated and executed, or at rates mandated by the Federal Communications Commission (the "FCC").

For certain sale and long-term indefeasible right of use, or IRU, contracts involving private line, wavelengths and dark fiber services, the Company may receive upfront payments for services to be delivered for a period of up to 25 years. In these situations, the Company defers the revenue and amortizes it on a straight-line basis to earnings over the term of the contract.

Termination revenue is recognized when a customer discontinues service prior to the end of the contract period for which Level 3 had previously received consideration and for which revenue recognition was deferred. Termination revenue also is recognized when customers are required to make termination penalty payments to Level 3 to settle contractually committed purchase amounts that the customer no longer expects to meet or when a customer and Level 3 renegotiate a contract under which Level 3 is no longer obligated to provide services for consideration previously received and for which revenue recognition has been deferred.

The Company is obligated under dark fiber IRUs and other capacity agreements to maintain its network in efficient working order and in accordance with industry standards. Customers are obligated for the term of the agreement to pay for their allocable share of the costs for operating and maintaining the network. The Company recognizes this revenue monthly as services are provided.

Level 3's customer contracts require the Company to meet certain service level commitments. If Level 3 does not meet the required service levels, it may be obligated to provide credits, usually in the form of free service, for a short period of time. The credits are a reduction to revenue and, to date, have not been material.

Cost of revenue for the communications business includes leased capacity, right-of-way costs, access charges, satellite transponder lease costs and other third-party costs directly attributable to the network, but excludes depreciation and amortization and related impairment expenses.

The Company recognizes the cost of network services as they are incurred in accordance with contractual requirements. The Company disputes incorrect billings from its suppliers of network services. The most prevalent types of disputes include disputes for circuits that are not disconnected by the supplier on a timely basis and usage bills with incorrect or inadequate information. Depending on the type and complexity of the issues involved, it may and often does take several quarters to resolve the disputes. The Company establishes appropriate cost of revenue reserves for disputed supplier billings based on an analysis of historical experience in resolving disputes with its suppliers.

In determining the amount of the cost of network service expenses and related accrued liabilities to reflect in its consolidated financial statements, the Company considers the adequacy of documentation of disconnect notices, compliance with prevailing contractual requirements for submitting these disconnect notices and disputes to the provider of the network services, and compliance with its interconnection agreements with these carriers. Judgment is required in estimating the ultimate outcome of the dispute resolution process, as well as any other amounts that may be incurred to conclude the negotiations or settle any litigation. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions and such differences could be material.

Coal Mining

Prior to the sale of its coal mining business in November 2011, the Company sold coal primarily through long-term contracts with public utilities. The long-term contracts for the delivery of coal established the price, volume, and quality requirements of the coal to be delivered. Revenue under these and other contracts was generally recognized when coal was shipped to the customer.

USF and Gross Receipts Taxes

The revenue recognition standards include guidance relating to any tax assessed by a governmental authority that is directly imposed on a revenue-producing transaction between a seller and a customer and may include, but is not limited to, gross receipts taxes and certain state regulatory fees. The Company records Universal Service Fund ("USF") contributions where the Company is the primary obligor for the taxes assessed in each jurisdiction where it does business on a gross basis in its consolidated statements of operations, but generally records gross receipts taxes and certain state regulatory fees billed to its customers on a net basis in its consolidated statements of operations. Communications revenue and cost of revenue on the consolidated statements of operations includes USF contributions totaling $194 million, $191 million and $107 million for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Advertising Costs

The Company expenses the cost of advertising as incurred. Advertising expense is included as a component of selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. Advertising expense was $16 million, $20 million and $15 million for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company recognizes the estimated fair value of stock-based compensation costs, net of an estimated forfeiture rate, over the requisite service period of the award, which is generally the vesting term or term for restrictions on transfer that lapse, as the case may be. The Company funded a portion of its 2013, 2012 and 2011 discretionary bonus in restricted stock awards that vested upon issuance. The Company estimates forfeiture rates based on its historical experience for the type of award, adjusted for expected activities as necessary.

Income Taxes

The Company recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for its domestic and foreign operations, for the expected tax consequences of temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts using enacted tax rates in effect for the year the differences are expected to reverse. The Company records a valuation allowance to reduce the deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. The Company recognizes interest and penalty expense associated with uncertain tax positions as a component of income tax expense in the consolidated statements of operations.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company classifies investments as cash equivalents if they are readily convertible to cash and have original maturities of three months or less at the time of acquisition. Cash and cash equivalents consist primarily of highly liquid investments in government and government agency securities and money market funds issued or managed by financial institutions in the U.S., Europe and Latin America and commercial paper depending on liquidity requirements. As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, the carrying value of cash and cash equivalents approximates fair value due to the short period of time to maturity.

Restricted Cash and Securities

Restricted cash and securities consists primarily of cash and investments that serve to collateralize outstanding letters of credit and certain performance and operating obligations of the Company. Restricted cash and securities are recorded as current or non-current assets in the consolidated balance sheets depending on the duration of the restriction and the purpose for which the restriction exists. Restricted cash and securities are stated at cost which approximates fair value as of December 31, 2013 and 2012.

Derivative Financial Instruments

All derivative instruments are measured at fair value and recognized as either assets or liabilities on the Company's consolidated balance sheets. The Company's derivative instruments are valued primarily using models based on readily observable market parameters for all substantial terms of the Company's derivative contracts and thus are classified as Level 2 in the GAAP fair value hierarchy (see Note 10 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments). The accounting for changes in the fair value of a derivative depends on the intended use of the derivative and the resulting designation.

For derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges, the effective portion of the derivative's gain (loss) is initially reported as a component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) ("AOCI") and is subsequently recognized in earnings in the period the hedged transaction affects earnings or when they are no longer effective. Gains (losses) resulting from hedge ineffectiveness and those resulting from changes in fair values on derivatives not designated as hedging instruments are recognized in other income (expense) in Other, net in the consolidated statements of operations (see Note 11 - Derivative Financial Instruments).

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Trade accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and can bear interest. The Company establishes an allowance for doubtful accounts for accounts receivable amounts that may not be collectible. The Company determines the allowance for doubtful accounts based on the aging of its accounts receivable balances, the credit quality of its customers and an analysis of its historical experience of bad debt write-offs. Accounts receivable balances are written off against the allowance for doubtful accounts after all means of collection have been exhausted and the potential for recovery is considered remote. The Company recognized bad debt expense, net of recoveries, of approximately $17 million in 2013, $15 million in 2012 and $6 million in 2011.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost. Depreciation and amortization for the Company's property, plant and equipment are computed using the straight-line method based on the following estimated useful lives:



Facility and Leasehold Improvements	10	-	40	years
Network Infrastructure (including fiber and conduit)	25	-	50	years
Operating Equipment	4	-	15	years
Furniture, Fixtures, Office Equipment and Other	2	-	7	years

The Company performs internal reviews to evaluate the depreciable lives of its property, plant and equipment annually, or more frequently if new facts and circumstances arise, that may affect management's original estimates. Due to the rapid changes in technology and the competitive environment, selecting the estimated economic life of telecommunications property, plant, and equipment requires a significant amount of judgment. The Company's internal reviews take into account input from the Company's global engineering and network services personnel, actual usage, the physical condition of the Company's property, plant, and equipment, industry data, and other relevant factors. In connection with its annual review of useful lives in the fourth quarter of 2011, the Company determined that the period it expected to use conduit, fiber, and certain transmission equipment was longer than the remaining useful lives originally estimated. In determining the change in estimated useful lives, the Company, with input from its engineering and network services personnel, considered its historical usage and retirements, estimates of technological obsolescence, and expected usage and maintenance. The change in the estimated useful lives of conduit, fiber, and certain transmission equipment resulted in the following decrease in the net loss for the year ended December 31, 2011 (in millions, except per share amounts):



Net Loss	$	74
Basic and Diluted Net Loss per Share	$	0.54

Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of their estimated useful lives or lease terms that are reasonably assured.

The Company capitalizes costs directly associated with expansions and improvements of the Company's communications network and customer installations, including employee-related costs, and generally capitalizes costs associated with network construction and provisioning of services. The Company amortizes such costs over an estimated useful life of 3 to 7 years.

In addition, the Company continues to develop business support systems required for its business. The external direct costs of software, materials and services, and payroll and payroll-related expenses for employees directly associated with business support systems projects are capitalized. The total cost of the business support system is amortized over an estimated useful life of 3 years.

Capitalized labor and related costs associated with employees and contract labor working on capital projects were approximately $164 million, $146 million and $87 million for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Asset Retirement Obligations

The Company recognizes a liability for the estimated fair value of legal obligations associated with the retirement of long-lived assets that result from the acquisition, construction, development and/or the normal operation of a long-lived asset in the period incurred. The fair value of the obligation is also capitalized as property, plant and equipment and then amortized over the estimated remaining useful life of the associated asset. Increases to the asset retirement obligation liability due to the passage of time are recognized as accretion expense and included within selling, general and administrative expenses and within income (loss) from discontinued operations for reclamation associated with the coal mining business on the Company's consolidated statements of operations prior to the sale of the coal mining business in November 2011. Changes in the liability due to revisions to the amount or timing of future cash flows are recognized by increasing or decreasing the liability with the offset adjusting the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset. To the extent that the downward revisions exceed the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset initially recorded when the asset retirement obligation liability was established, the Company records the remaining adjustment as a reduction to depreciation expense, to the extent of historical depreciation of the related long-lived asset, and then to selling, general and administrative expense.

Goodwill and Acquired Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets

Accounting guidance prohibits the amortization of goodwill and purchased intangible assets with indefinite useful lives. The Company reviews goodwill and purchased intangible assets with indefinite lives for impairment annually in the fourth quarter and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable.

The Company's goodwill impairment review process considers the fair value of each reporting unit relative to its carrying value. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying value, goodwill is not impaired and no further testing is performed. If the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, then a second step must be performed, and the implied fair value of the reporting unit's goodwill must be determined and compared to the carrying value of the reporting unit's goodwill. If the carrying value of a reporting unit's goodwill exceeds its implied fair value, then an impairment loss equal to the difference will be recorded. Beginning with the 2011 assessment, in accordance with updated accounting guidance, prior to performing the two step evaluation, an assessment of qualitative factors may be performed to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds the carrying value. If it is determined that it is unlikely that the carrying value exceeds the fair value, the Company is not required to complete the two step goodwill impairment evaluation.

In the second quarter of 2013, the Company changed the date of its annual assessment of goodwill impairment from December 31 to October 1. This was a change in method of applying an accounting principle which management believes is a preferable alternative as the new date of the assessment provides additional time prior to the Company’s year-end to complete the goodwill impairment testing and report the results in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, and is more closely aligned with the Company’s strategic planning process. The change in the assessment date does not delay, accelerate or avoid a potential impairment charge.

In 2013 and 2012, the Company's reporting units consist of its three regional operating units in: North America; Europe, the Middle East and Africa ("EMEA"); and Latin America. In 2011, the Company's reporting units were consistent with its reportable segments of Level 3 and Global Crossing, representing the stand-alone operations of each legacy business.

The Company's indefinite-lived intangible assets impairment review process compares the estimated fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible assets to their respective carrying values. If the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible assets exceeds their carrying values, then the indefinite-lived intangible assets are not impaired. If the carrying value of the indefinite-lived intangible assets exceeds their fair value, then an impairment loss equal to the difference will be recorded. In accordance with recently issued accounting guidance, an entity may assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value exceeds the carrying value prior to performing the two step evaluation. If it is determined that it is unlikely the carrying value exceeds the fair value, then the entity is no longer required to complete the two step indefinite-lived intangible assets impairment evaluation.

The Company conducted its goodwill and acquired indefinite-lived intangible assets impairment analysis during 2013, 2012 and 2011 and in each case concluded that its goodwill was not impaired in any of those periods. The Company conducted its indefinite-lived intangible asset impairment analysis at the end of 2013 and 2012 and concluded that there was no impairment. During 2011, the Company determined that the carrying value of certain wireless spectrum licenses that it acquired in a prior acquisition was impaired and the Company recognized a $20 million charge in the fourth quarter that was recognized in Other Expense. The Company concluded that its remaining indefinite-lived intangible assets were not impaired as of December 31, 2011.

Long-Lived Assets Including Finite-Lived Purchased Intangible Assets

The Company amortizes acquired intangible assets with finite lives using the straight-line method over the estimated economic lives of the assets, ranging from 4 to 12 years.

The Company evaluates long-lived assets, such as property, plant and equipment and acquired intangible assets with finite lives, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable. The Company assesses the recoverability of the assets based on the undiscounted future cash flows the asset groups are expected to generate and recognizes an impairment loss when estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use of the assets plus net proceeds expected from disposition of the assets, if any, are less than the carrying value of the assets. If an asset is deemed to be impaired, the amount of the impairment loss is the excess of the asset's carrying value over its estimated fair value.

The Company conducted a long-lived asset impairment analysis in 2013, 2012 and 2011 and in each case concluded that its long-lived assets, including finite-lived acquired intangible assets, were not impaired.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash equivalents, accounts receivable, restricted cash and securities and derivatives. The Company maintains its cash equivalents, restricted cash and securities and derivatives with various financial institutions. These financial institutions are primarily located in the United States, Europe and Latin America and the Company's policy is to limit exposure with any one institution. As part of its cash and risk management processes, the Company performs periodic evaluations of the relative credit standing of the financial institutions. The Company also has established guidelines relative to financial instrument credit ratings, diversification and maturities that seek to maintain safety and liquidity. The Company's investment strategy generally results in lower yields on investments but reduces the risk to principal in the short term prior to these funds being used in the Company's business. Notwithstanding the devaluation of the Venezuelan bolivar, the Company has not experienced any material losses on financial instruments held at financial institutions. The Company has used interest rate swap contracts to protect against the effects of interest rate fluctuations. Such contracts involve the risk of non-performance by the counterparty, which could result in a material loss.

The Company provides communications services to a wide range of wholesale and enterprise customers, ranging from well capitalized national carriers to small early stage companies primarily in the United States, Europe, and Latin America. Credit risk with respect to accounts receivable is generally diversified due to the large number of entities comprising Level 3's customer base and their dispersion across many different industries and geographical regions. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers' financial condition and generally requires no collateral from its customers, although letters of credit and deposits are required in certain limited circumstances. The Company has from time to time entered into agreements with value-added resellers and other channel partners to reach consumer and enterprise markets for voice services. The Company has policies and procedures in place to evaluate the financial condition of these resellers prior to initiating service to the final customer. The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts based upon the expected collectability of accounts receivable. Due to the Company's credit evaluation and collection process, bad debt expenses have not been significant; however, the Company is not able to predict changes in the financial stability of its customers. Any material change in the financial status of any one or a particular group of customers may cause the Company to adjust its estimate of the recoverability of receivables and could have a material adverse effect on the Company's results of operations. Fair values of accounts receivable approximate carrying amount due to the short period of time to collection.

A relatively small number of customers account for a significant percentage of the Company's revenue. The Company's top ten customers accounted for approximately 17%, 17% and 24% of Level 3's communications revenue for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2013-02, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. The guidance in this ASU requires an entity to report the effect of significant reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income on the respective line items in net income if the amount being reclassified is required under GAAP to be reclassified in its entirety to net income. For other amounts that are not required under GAAP to be reclassified in their entirety to net income in the same reporting period, an entity is required to cross-reference other disclosures required under GAAP that provide additional detail about those amounts. The amendments in this ASU do not change the current requirements for reporting net income or other comprehensive income in financial statements. Public companies are required to comply with the requirements of this ASU prospectively for all reporting periods (interim and annual) beginning after December 15, 2012. The Company adopted this amendment in the first quarter of 2013. The impact of its adoption was limited to disclosure requirements.

In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-11, Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists. Under current GAAP, there is no explicit guidance on the presentation of unrecognized tax benefits when such carryforwards exist, which has led to diversity in practice. ASU 2013-11 requires entities to present an unrecognized tax benefit as a reduction of a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss ("NOL") carryforward whenever the NOL or tax credit carryforward would be available to reduce the additional taxable income or tax due if the tax position is disallowed. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2013, and interim periods within those years. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated results of operations or financial condition.