AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT

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Exhibit 10.1

AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT

        This AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this " Amendment ") is dated as of December 16, 2006, by and among by and among Level 3 Communications, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the " Company "), and each of the investors named in the signature pages hereto (each, an " Investor " and collectively, the " Investors ").

W I T N E S S E T H:

        WHEREAS, the Company and Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited (" Fairfax "), Southeastern Asset Management, Inc., Chou Associates Management Inc. (" Chou "), Steelhead Navigator Master, L.P., Davis Selected Advisers, L.P. (" Davis "), Markel Corporation (" Markel "), Mary E. West, Gary L. West, Walter Scott, Jr., Walter Scott, Jr. Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust, Suzanne and Walter Scott Charitable Remainder Unitrust, WS Charitable Remainder Unitrust (II), 2002 Robert Edward Julian Irrevocable Descendant's Trust, Carole Lee Julian Revocable Trust, Robert and Carole Julian Charitable Foundation, Julian Properties LP and Robert E. Julian (collectively, the " Original Investors ") entered into that certain Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of November 17, 2008 (the " Agreement ");

        WHEREAS, prior to the date hereof, pursuant to Section 8.9 of the Agreement, Fairfax, an Original Investor, assigned, in the aggregate, all of its right, title, benefit, privileges and interest in and to, and all of its burdens, obligations and liabilities in connection with, its agreement to purchase $100,062,000 aggregate principal amount of the Notes pursuant to the Agreement as an Original Investor thereunder, to Odyssey America Reinsurance Corporation, United States Fir Insurance Corporation, Fairfax (Barbados) International Corp and Falcon Insurance Company (Hong Kong) Ltd.;

        WHEREAS, prior to the date hereof, pursuant to Section 8.9 of the Agreement, Chou, an Original Investor, assigned, in the aggregate, all of its right, title, benefit, privileges and interest in and to, and all of its burdens, obligations and liabilities in connection with, its agreement to purchase $50,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Notes pursuant to the Agreement as an Original Investor thereunder, to Chou Bond Fund, Chou Asia Fund, Chou Associates Fund, Chou Europe Fund and Chou RRSP Fund;

        WHEREAS, prior to the date hereof, pursuant to Section 8.9 of the Agreement, Davis, an Original Investor, assigned, in the aggregate, all of its right, title, benefit, privileges and interest in and to, and all of its burdens, obligations and liabilities in connection with, its agreement to purchase $40,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Notes pursuant to the Agreement as an Original Investor thereunder, to Davis New York Venture Fund, Inc., Selected American Shares, Inc., Davis Value Portfolio and Fundamental Value Trust;

        WHEREAS, prior to the date hereof, pursuant to Section 8.9 of the Agreement, Markel, an Original Investor, assigned all of its right, title, benefit, privileges and interest in and to, and all of its burdens, obligations and liabilities in connection with, its agreement to purchase $25,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Notes pursuant to the Agreement as an Original Investor thereunder, to Evanston Insurance Company; and

        WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 8.11 of the Agreement, the parties hereto now desire to amend the Agreement as provided herein.

        NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as follows:

        1.     Defined Terms.     Capitalized terms that are not defined in this Amendment have the respective meanings set forth in the Agreement.

        2.     Amendments to Agreement.     The Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

        (a)   Paragraph (f) of Section 6.2 is deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

•         "(f)  The Company shall have accepted for payment at least $162,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company's 2.875% Convertible Senior Notes due 2010 and at least $173,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company's 6% Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2010 in the Tender Offers for such notes."

        (b)   Paragraph (f) of Section 6.3 is deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

•         "(f)  The Company shall have accepted for payment at least $162,000,000 aggregate p