FORM 4

Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
CLONTZ STEVEN T
2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
CENTURYLINK, INC [CTL]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
__X__ Director _____ 10% Owner
_____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)

C/O CENTURYLINK, INC., 100 CENTURYLINK DRIVE
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
11/01/2017
(Street)

MONROE, LA 71203
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing
(Check applicable line)

__X__ Form Filed by One Reporting Person
_____ Form Filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3)

2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)

4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)

5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)

6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Code

V

Amount

(A) or (D)

Price

Common Stock

11/01/2017 A 94,795A (1) 96,795D 

Common Stock

11/01/2017 A (2)  4,224A $ 0 101,019D 

Common Stock

       10,000I

By Spouse



Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)

6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)

7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)

8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)

9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares


Explanation of Responses:

On November 1, 2017, the Issuer acquired Level 3 Communications, Inc. ("Level 3") pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement") by and among the Issuer, Level 3, Wildcat Merger Sub I LLC and WWG Merger Sub LLC. Upon the Effective Time (as defined in the Merger Agreement), each outstanding Level 3 common share held by the Reporting Person was converted into the right to receive (a) $26.50 in cash, without interest, and (b) 1.4286 shares of the Issuer's common stock, with cash paid in lieu of fractional shares (together, the "Merger Consideration"). In addition, due to his service as a non-employee member of the board of directors of Level 3 immediately prior to the Effective Time, each outstanding Level 3 restricted stock unit award held by the Reporting Person was cancelled at the Effective Time in exchange for the Merger Consideration per Level 3 common share covered by such award, in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement.

Represents a grant of restricted stock that will vest on May 25, 2018.



Signatures

/s/ Hope M. Spencer as Attorney-in-Fact for Steven T. Clontz

11/03/2017
** Signature of Reporting PersonDate
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