IXC Communications Inc. (Austin, TX) is providing high-speed capacity on its nationwide fiber-optic network to Level 3 Communications Inc. (Omaha, NE). Valued at a minimum of $70 million, the agreement calls for IXC to lease OC-12 (622-Mbit/sec) capacity on an initial 7355 route-mi over a dedicated OC-48 (2.5-Gbit/sec) high-speed communications backbone to Level 3. The agreement will enable Level 3 to offer services while building out its national and local fiber network.