AVTEL COMMUNICATIONS INC/DE
S-3, 1999-05-20
TELEPHONE INTERCONNECT SYSTEMS
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      As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 20, 1999
                              REGISTRATION NO. 333-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                                  -------------

                                    FORM S-3
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                                  -------------

                           AVTEL COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

       Delaware                                        87-0378021
(State of incorporation)                    (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

                                 501 Bath Street
                             Santa Barbara, CA 93101
                                 (805) 884-6300
               (Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
        including area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)

                                 Anthony E. Papa
                       Chairman of the Board of Directors
                             Chief Executive Officer
                           AvTel Communications, Inc.
                                 501 Bath Street
                             Santa Barbara, CA 93101
                                 (805) 884-6300
            (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)
                                  -------------

                                   COPIES TO:

     Philip J. Niehoff                                 Thomas N. Harding
    Mayer, Brown & Platt                            Seed, Mackall & Cole LLP
  190 South LaSalle Street                      1332 Anacapa Street, Suite 200
  Chicago, Illinois 60603                           Santa Barbara, CA 93101
       (312) 782-0600                                  (805) 963-0669
        -------------                                   -------------







<PAGE>





Approximate  date of commencement  of proposed sale to the public:  From time to
time after the effective  date of this  Registration  Statement as determined by
market conditions and the Selling Stockholders.

If the only securities  being registered on this Form are to be offered pursuant
to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box: / /

If any of the  securities  being  registered on this Form are to be offered on a
delayed or continuous  basis  pursuant to Rule 415 under the  Securities  Act of
1933 (the "Securities  Act"),  other than securities  offered only in connection
with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box: / X/

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant
to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list
the  Securities  Act  registration  statement  number of the  earlier  effective
registration statement for the same offering: / /

If this Form is a  post-effective  amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under
the  Securities  Act,  check  the  following  box and  list the  Securities  Act
registration  statement number of the earlier effective  registration  statement
for the same offering: / /

If delivery  of the  prospectus  is  expected  to be made  pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box: / /

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


   Title of Each                             Proposed             Proposed
     Class of                                Maximum              Maximum
 Securities to Be       Amount to be         Offering Price       Aggregate         Amount of
    Registered          Registered           Per Share            Offering Price    Registration Fee
- ---------------------   ------------         ---------------      ---------------   -----------------
<S>                     <C>                  <C>                  <C>               <C>              
Common Stock, .......   795,000(1)(2)        $         5.125(3)   $     3,950,157   $           1,099
par value $0.01
per share
                         20,000(4)           $          8.60(5)   $       172,000   $              48
                                                                                    -----------------
Total ...............                                                               $           1,147

</TABLE>

(1)        Issuable upon  conversion  of, or as dividends  on, the  Registrant's
           Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (the "Series B Preferred").  The
           Series B Preferred is  convertible  into Common Stock at a conversion
           price based upon the market price (as defined) of the Common Stock at
           the time of conversion. In order to provide for possible fluctuations
           in the  market  price of the  Common  Stock,  the  number  of  shares
           registered   hereby  has  been  determined   based  upon  an  assumed
           conversion  price of $2.00 per share.  Also assumes that dividends on
           the Series B Preferred  are paid in Common  Stock at the same assumed
           conversion price. The assumed conversion price is substantially below
           the conversion price


<PAGE>



           in effect on the date hereof.  The  conversion  price would have been
           $4.34 if the date of conversion were May 20, 1999.  Accordingly,  the
           number  of  shares  registered  exceeds  the  number  which  would be
           issuable  upon  conversion  of all Series B  Preferred  shares at the
           conversion price currently in effect.

(2)        Pursuant  to Rule 416 under the  Securities  Act,  this  Registration
           Statement also covers such  additional  shares of Common Stock as may
           become  issuable to prevent  dilution  resulting  from stock  splits,
           stock dividends and similar events.

(3)        Estimated  solely for the purpose of computing the  registration  fee
           required by Section 6(b) of the Securities Act and computed  pursuant
           to Rule 457(c) under the  Securities  Act,  based upon the average of
           the high and low sales prices of the Registrant's Common Stock on May
           19, 1999, as reported by The Nasdaq SmallCap Market.

(4)  Issuable  upon  the  exercise  of  currently   outstanding   warrants  (the
"Warrants").

(5)        Calculated  pursuant to Rule 457(g) under the  Securities  Act, based
           upon the highest price at which the Warrants are exercisable.


The Registrant hereby amends this  Registration  Statement on such date or dates
as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant  shall file
a further amendment which specifically  states that this Registration  Statement
shall  thereafter  become  effective  in  accordance  with  Section  8(a) of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  or until the  Registration  Statement shall
become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission,  acting
pursuant to such Section 8(a), may determine.


<PAGE>





THE  INFORMATION  IN THIS  PROSPECTUS  IS NOT COMPLETE  AND MAY BE CHANGED.  THE
SELLING  STOCKHOLDERS  MAY NOT SELL  THESE  SECURITIES  UNTIL  THE  REGISTRATION
STATEMENT FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE  COMMISSION IS EFFECTIVE.  THIS
PROSPECTUS IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL THESE  SECURITIES AND IT IS NOT SOLICITING AN
OFFER TO BUY  THESE  SECURITIES  IN ANY  STATE  WHERE  THE  OFFER OR SALE IS NOT
PERMITTED.



<PAGE>



                    SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED MAY 20, 1999


PROSPECTUS

                                 815,000 SHARES

                           AVTEL COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

                                  COMMON STOCK
                                  -------------

     The three selling  stockholders  named in this  prospectus are offering and
selling up to 815,000 shares of the common stock. They may acquire up to 795,000
of those  shares  upon  conversion  of, or as  dividends  on,  AvTel's  series B
convertible preferred stock and 20,000 shares upon exercise of warrants.

     The selling  stockholders  may offer the shares from time to time in public
or private  transactions  on or off The Nasdaq  SmallCap  Market,  at prevailing
market  prices or  privately  negotiated  prices.  They may make  sales  through
brokers,  dealers or other  agents who may receive  compensation  in the form of
commissions, discounts or concessions.

     AvTel will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the common stock,  but
AvTel will receive the exercise  price of the warrants.  AvTel will pay the cost
of  registering  the  shares  and  various  related  expenses,  but the  selling
stockholders  are  responsible for all selling  commissions,  transfer taxes and
other such costs.

     AvTel's  common  stock is quoted on The Nasdaq  SmallCap  Market  under the
symbol  "AVCO." On May 19, 1999, the closing sales price of AvTel's common stock
on The Nasdaq SmallCap Market was $5.00. -------------

Purchase of the common stock  involves a high degree of risk. See "Risk Factors"
beginning on page 2.
                                  -------------

Neither  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  nor  any  state  securities
commission has approved or  disapproved  of these  securities or passed upon the
adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a
criminal offense.
                                  -------------

The date of this prospectus is                      , 1999
                               ---------------------

                                        1

<PAGE>



                                      AVTEL

     AvTel is a provider of broadband network services  integrating  voice, data
and   Internet   solutions.   AvTel   sells  and   markets  a  broad   range  of
telecommunications and advanced network services through independent value added
resellers,   affinity  and  agent  organizations,   and  internal  direct  sales
professionals.  AvTel targets mid-size  corporations,  small-office  home-office
professionals  and  select  residential  market  segments..   AvTel's  principal
executive  offices are located at 501 Bath  Street,  Santa  Barbara,  California
93101, and AvTel's telephone number is (805) 884-6300.

                           FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     Some of the  information  in this  prospectus  may contain  forward-looking
statements.  Such  statements  can be identified  by the use of  forward-looking
terminology such as "may," "will," "expect," "believe," "intend,"  "anticipate,"
"estimate,"  "continue"  or  similar  words.  These  statements  discuss  future
expectations,  estimate  the  happening  of future  events or AvTel's  financial
condition or state other  "forward-looking"  information.  When considering such
forward-looking  statements,  you should keep in mind the risk factors and other
cautionary   statements  in  this   prospectus  and  the  documents  that  AvTel
incorporates by reference. The risk factors noted in this prospectus,  and other
risks and uncertainties, could cause AvTel's actual results to differ materially
from those contained in any forward-looking statement.

                                  RISK FACTORS

     Prospective  investors  should  carefully  consider the following  factors,
together with other information  contained or referenced in this prospectus,  in
evaluating an investment in the common stock.

AvTel  has  experienced  significant  losses  in each of the  last  four  fiscal
quarters and expects to continue to experience losses for the foreseeable future

     AvTel has had significant  losses in each of its last four fiscal quarters.
AvTel  expects that it will continue to lose money for the  foreseeable  future.
AvTel has not generated enough revenue to offset the substantial amounts that it
has spent to grow its  business,  and it plans to continue to incur  significant
expenses.

AvTel will need to raise additional capital

     In the past,  AvTel's cash flow from operations,  together with its secured
borrowings,  has  been  sufficient  to meet  its  working  capital  and  capital
expenditure requirements. AvTel does not expect to generate sufficient cash flow
to fully implement its business strategy without raising additional  capital. As
of March 31,  1999,  AvTel was in  violation  of one  provision  of its loan and
security  agreement with Coast Business  Credit that  stipulates that AvTel must
maintain a net

                                        2

<PAGE>



worth equal to or greater than two million  dollars.  Coast Business  Credit has
waived its right of  acceleration  of the  obligation as it relates to AvTel not
meeting the net worth  covenant  through July 31, 1999, but retains its right of
acceleration  if AvTel is in  violation  of the net worth  covenant  at any time
after July 31, 1999. Accordingly, AvTel will need to raise additional capital to
meet the net  worth  covenant  beginning  August 1,  1999 as  required  by Coast
Business Credit.

     Although  AvTel  recently  entered into an equity line of credit  agreement
with Cambois Finance, Inc. through which it may sell or "put" AvTel common stock
to Cambois Finance, the right to put common stock is subject to the satisfaction
of several conditions. If AvTel is unable to put common stock to Cambois Finance
pursuant  to the equity line of credit  agreement  and if it is unable to obtain
other  financing in a timely  manner and on  acceptable  terms,  AvTel may be in
default  under  its  agreement  with  Coast  Business  Credit.  In  that  event,
management  has developed and intends to implement a plan that would allow AvTel
to continue to operate  through 1999. This plan would include  reducing  AvTel's
workforce, eliminating advertising expenditures,  reducing professional services
and  reducing  or  eliminating  other  discretionary   expenditures.   If  AvTel
implements  this plan,  its  business  could be  adversely  affected,  which may
adversely affect its operating results and financial condition.

AvTel's stock price is volatile

     AvTel common stock has been traded on The Nasdaq  SmallCap Market since May
28,  1998.  Trading in its stock was halted by Nasdaq after the close of trading
on November  12, 1998,  through the close of trading on November 13, 1998,  as a
result of an unusual upsurge in its stock price and trading volume.  The trading
volume of the common stock has been  variable,  but generally  low. As a result,
relatively small trades may significantly  affect the market price of the common
stock.  The market price of the shares of common stock has been highly  volatile
and may be  significantly  affected  by  factors  such as actual or  anticipated
fluctuations in AvTel's  operating  results,  AvTel's  announcement of potential
acquisitions,  changes  in  regulations,  activities  of  the  largest  domestic
providers,  industry  consolidation  and mergers,  conditions  and trends in the
telecommunications  market,  adoption of new accounting  standards affecting the
telecommunications   industry,  changes  in  recommendations  and  estimates  by
securities  analysts,  general market conditions and other factors. In addition,
the stock market has from time to time experienced  significant price and volume
fluctuations that have particularly affected the market prices for the shares of
emerging growth  companies like AvTel.  Many of these factors are beyond AvTel's
control.

AvTel  is a  defendant  in a  securities  class  action  lawsuit;  AvTel  may be
adversely  affected  by an adverse  outcome  of this  lawsuit or by the costs of
defending this lawsuit

     As noted above, on November 12, 1998, AvTel  experienced an unusual upsurge
in its stock price and trading  volume.  This unusual  event has  triggered  the
initiation of class action  litigation under the federal  securities laws. AvTel
believes that these claims are without merit

                                        3

<PAGE>



and intends to defend vigorously this litigation. However, it is not possible at
this time for AvTel to predict with  certainty  the outcome of this  litigation.
AvTel's operating results and financial condition could be adversely affected by
an adverse outcome of this litigation. Even if AvTel prevails in the litigation,
the  expenses of the  defense  could have a material  adverse  effect on AvTel's
operating results and financial condition.

AvTel may not be able to compete successfully

           The telecommunications  industry is intensely competitive and subject
to   rapid   change.   AvTel's   competitors   include    facilities-based   and
non-facilities-based  providers, many of which have substantially more resources
than  AvTel.  Providers  compete  on  the  basis  of  price,  customer  service,
transmission  quality,  breadth of service  offerings and value-added  services.
AvTel believes that  competition  will continue to increase,  resulting in lower
prices.  Lower prices could  adversely  affect AvTel's gross margins if AvTel is
not able to reduce its costs commensurate with price reductions.

AvTel must keep pace with technological change to remain competitive

           The telecommunications industry is in a period of rapid technological
evolution,  marked  by the  introduction  of  competitive  product  and  service
offerings,  such as the use of the  Internet  for  international  voice and data
communications.  AvTel's future success depends,  in part, on its ability to use
leading technologies  effectively,  to develop its technological  expertise,  to
enhance its existing  services and to develop new  services  that meet  changing
customer needs on a timely and cost-effective  basis. AvTel is unable to predict
which technological  development will challenge its competitive  position or the
amount of  expenditures  that will be required to respond to a rapidly  changing
technological environment.  AvTel's failure to respond in a timely and effective
manner to new and  evolving  technologies  could have a  negative  impact on its
operating results and financial condition.

AvTel is dependent on telecommunications carriers and other suppliers

           AvTel relies on traditional  telecommunications  carriers to transmit
its traffic over local and long distance networks. These networks may experience
disruptions that are not easily remedied. In addition,  AvTel depends on certain
suppliers of hardware and software. If AvTel's suppliers fail to provide it with
network services, equipment or software in the quantities, at the quality levels
or at the times AvTel  requires,  it will be difficult  for AvTel to provide its
services.

Regulatory and legal uncertainties could harm AvTel's business

           AvTel's  business  is  subject  to various  federal  and state  laws,
regulations,  agency  actions and court  decisions,  some of which  impose prior
certification,  notification,  registration and/or tariff requirements on AvTel.
Certificates of authority can generally be  conditioned,  modified or revoked by
state  regulatory  authorities  for  failure  to  comply  with  state  laws  and
regulations.

                                        4

<PAGE>



Fines and other penalties may be imposed. The loss of a certificate of authority
or the imposition of fines or other  penalties  could have a material  effect on
AvTel's business, operating results and financial condition. In addition, future
changes in any of these  sources  of  regulation  could have a material  adverse
effect on AvTel's business, operating results and financial condition.

AvTel's executive  officers,  directors and existing  stockholders will have the
ability to exercise significant control over it

           AvTel's executive  officers,  directors and members of their families
beneficially own, in the aggregate,  approximately 70% of its common stock prior
to this offering.  Although this  percentage will decrease each time AvTel sells
common  stock to  Cambois  Finance  under the equity  line of credit  agreement,
assuming  that these  stockholders  do not  acquire  additional  shares of AvTel
common  stock,  these  stockholders  will be able to exercise  control  over all
matters requiring  approval by AvTel's  shareholders,  including the election of
directors and the approval of significant corporate  transactions.  In addition,
effective  May 18,  1999,  the family  members of  Jeffrey J.  Jensen,  an AvTel
director,  entered into a voting trust  agreement.  Although Mr. Jensen is not a
party to the voting trust  agreement,  and votes his shares  independent  of the
voting trust, the voting trust relates to approximately  43% of the AvTel common
stock  outstanding prior to this offering.  This  concentration of ownership may
also have the effect of  delaying  or  preventing  a change of control of AvTel,
which could negatively affect AvTel's stock price.

Future sales of AvTel common stock may negatively affect its stock price

           Following the  offering,  AvTel will have a large number of shares of
common stock outstanding and available for resale. In addition, 6,457,123 shares
of common  stock that are held by  executive  officers  and  directors of AvTel,
members of their families and certain charitable  foundations are, pursuant to a
registration  rights and lockup agreement,  currently unable to be sold by these
holders. As of December 1, 1999, these restrictions will no longer apply, making
these shares immediately available for resale, subject, in some cases, to volume
limitations  imposed  by Rule 144 of the  Securities  Act of 1933.  AvTel may be
required to register these shares for resale pursuant to the registration rights
and lockup agreement.  The market price of AvTel common stock could decline as a
result of sales of a large number of shares of AvTel common stock in the market,
or the  perception  that such sales could occur.  These sales might also make it
more difficult for AvTel to sell equity  securities in the future at a time that
AvTel deems appropriate.

AvTel is dependent on its key management personnel for its future success

           AvTel's success  depends to a significant  degree upon the efforts of
senior management  personnel,  in particular,  Anthony E. Papa, AvTel's Chairman
and Chief Executive  Officer,  and James P. Pisani,  AvTel's President and Chief
Operating  Officer.  The  departure of any of AvTel's  officers or key employees
could materially adversely affect its ability to implement its business plan.

                                        5

<PAGE>



AvTel may not be able to hire and retain qualified employees

           AvTel believes that its future success will depend in large part upon
its  continuing   ability  to  attract  and  retain  highly  skilled  personnel.
Competition for qualified,  high-level  telecommunications  personnel is intense
and there can be no assurance  that AvTel will be successful  in attracting  and
retaining  qualified  personnel.  AvTel's loss of the services of one or more of
its key  individuals,  or its failure to attract and retain other key personnel,
could  materially  adversely  affect  AvTel's  business,  operating  results and
financial condition.

AvTel may not be able to successfully make acquisitions of other companies

           An important component of AvTel's past growth has been to develop its
business  through  acquisitions.  This  growth  strategy  is  dependent  on  the
continued  availability of suitable acquisition candidates and subjects AvTel to
a number of  risks.  Acquisitions  may  place  significant  demands  on  AvTel's
financial and  management  resources,  as the process for  integrating  acquired
operations  presents a significant  challenge to AvTel's management and may lead
to  unanticipated  costs or a diversion of  management's  attention from AvTel's
day-to-day  operations.  There can be no  assurance  that  AvTel will be able to
successfully  integrate  into its operations  any  acquisitions  it makes in the
future.

AvTel could lose revenues and incur significant costs if its systems or material
third party systems are not Year 2000 compliant

           A  significant  percentage  of the  software  that  runs  most of the
computers  in the  United  States  relies on  two-digit  date  codes to  perform
computations and decision-making functions.  Beginning on January 1, 2000, these
computer  programs may fail from an inability to interpret date codes  properly,
misinterpreting  "00" as the year 1900 rather  than 2000.  In  association  with
Electronic Data Systems Corporation,  AvTel's principal software vendor for such
Year 2000  deficient  systems,  AvTel is upgrading its billing,  credit and call
tracking systems to become Year 2000 compliant, at a cost of up to approximately
$750,000.  At the same time, a number of the  computers of AvTel's  vendors that
interface with AvTel's systems may run on programs that have Year 2000 problems,
which may disrupt AvTel's billing,  credit and tracking systems.  Failure of any
of the computer  programs  integral to AvTel's  vendors could  adversely  affect
AvTel's business, operating results and financial condition.

                              THE PRIVATE OFFERING

           On April 13, 1999,  AvTel sold 1,500  shares of its  newly-designated
series B  convertible  preferred  stock to AMRO  International,  S.A., an entity
organized  under  the laws of  Panama,  Austinvest  Anstalt  Balzers,  an entity
organized under the laws of Liechtenstein,  and Esquire Trade & Finance Inc., an
entity  organized  under the laws of the British  Virgin  Islands (the  "selling
stockholders"), for an aggregate purchase price of $1,500,000.


                                        6

<PAGE>



           The series B preferred  has a  liquidation  preference  of $1,000 per
share.  The series B  preferred  is  entitled  to an annual  dividend of $30 per
share,  payable quarterly in cash or common stock, at AvTel's option. The annual
dividend will increase to $60 per share if AvTel ever ceases to be listed on The
Nasdaq Stock Market or any national securities exchange.

           The series B preferred is convertible into common stock at the option
of the selling stockholders at any time. The number of shares of common stock to
be received by a selling  stockholder upon conversion will equal the liquidation
preference  of the  amount  converted,  divided  by the  conversion  price.  The
conversion  price  will be the  lesser of (1)  $6.875,  or (2) 89% of the lowest
closing bid price for the common stock on The Nasdaq  SmallCap Market during the
five consecutive trading days ending on the day prior to the date of conversion.
The  conversion  price will not be less than $3.00  prior to October  10,  1999.
Thereafter  the  conversion  price  will not be less than $2.00 as long as AvTel
meets certain  requirements  for revenue and earnings  before  interest,  taxes,
depreciation  and  amortization.  As a result,  AvTel  could issue up to 750,000
shares of common  stock upon  conversion  if all of the series B preferred  were
converted at the lowest  possible  conversion  price,  assuming such revenue and
earnings  requirements  continue to be met. Unless AvTel obtains the approval of
its voting stockholders in accordance with the rules of The Nasdaq Stock Market,
AvTel will not issue  shares of common  stock upon  conversion  of any shares of
series B preferred if such issuance of common stock, when added to the number of
shares of common  stock  previously  issued by AvTel  upon  conversion  of or as
dividends  on shares of the series B preferred  and the number of shares  issued
upon exercise of the warrants  described below, would exceed 19.9% of the number
of shares of common  stock  outstanding  on April 13,  1999.  This  results in a
limitation of  approximately  2.1 million shares of common stock.  AvTel will be
required to pay converting selling stockholders in cash for any excess over such
amount.  AvTel does not currently plan to approach its stockholders for approval
to issue shares in excess of the 19.9% restriction.

           Although the  conversion  feature of the series B preferred  will not
effect AvTel's net loss, it will increase AvTel's basic and  fully-diluted  loss
per share  attributable  to its common stock in the second  quarter of 1999. The
loss used in the per  share  calculation  will be  increased  by the  difference
between the  conversion  price and the trading  price of the common stock on the
date the series B preferred first becomes  convertible  multiplied by the number
of shares issuable upon conversion at that date.

           AvTel also issued the selling stockholders warrants to purchase up to
20,000 shares of common stock at an exercise  price of $8.60 per share,  subject
to adjustment in the event of stock  dividends,  stock splits and the like.  The
warrants may be exercised  beginning  September 30, 1999, and terminate on March
31, 2002.

           AvTel and the selling stockholders entered into a registration rights
agreement that requires AvTel to file, and obtain and maintain the effectiveness
of, the  registration  statement  containing this prospectus with the Securities
and Exchange  Commission in order to register the public resale of all shares of
the common stock acquired by the selling stockholders (a) upon

                                        7

<PAGE>



conversion of the series B preferred,  (b) in payment of dividends on the series
B preferred,  and (c) upon  exercise of the  warrants.  AvTel will be subject to
significant   monetary   penalties  if  it  fails  to  obtain  or  maintain  the
effectiveness of such registration statement.

           AvTel paid a financial  advisor $60,000 as compensation for financial
advisory services in connection with the placement of the series B preferred.

                                 USE OF PROCEEDS

           All of the shares are being  offered  for the  account of the selling
stockholders.  AvTel will not  directly  receive any  proceeds  from the sale of
these shares;  however, AvTel could receive aggregate proceeds of up to $172,000
from the  exercise of the  warrants,  if exercised  in full.  The actual  amount
received,  if any, will equal the number of shares purchased,  multiplied by the
exercise price of the warrant ($8.60 per share). The warrants are exercisable by
the selling stockholders in their sole discretion.  AvTel cannot predict whether
or when the selling stockholders will exercise the warrants.  AvTel will use any
proceeds  received  from the exercise of the  warrants  for working  capital and
general corporate purposes.

                              SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

           The following  table sets forth,  as of the date of this  prospectus,
the name of each of the  selling  stockholders,  the  number of shares of common
stock  beneficially owned by each selling  stockholder,  the number of shares of
common stock that each may offer from time to time by this  prospectus,  and the
number  of  shares  of common  stock to be  beneficially  owned by each  selling
stockholder upon completion of the offering.  The selling stockholders may elect
to  sell  some,  all or  none  of the  shares  offered  hereby,  in  their  sole
discretion. AvTel is unable to predict the actual number of shares which will be
sold by the selling stockholders.  None of the selling stockholders has held any
position  or  office or had a  material  relationship  with  AvTel or any of its
affiliates  within the past three years other than as a result of the  ownership
of AvTel's common stock.

           Beneficial  ownership is determined  in accordance  with the rules of
the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission.  In  computing  the number of shares
beneficially  owned by a person and the  percentage  ownership  of that  person,
shares of common  stock  issuable to that person upon  exercise of any option or
similar right (including conversion of the series B preferred) within sixty days
following the date of this  prospectus  are deemed  outstanding.  However,  such
shares are not deemed  outstanding  for the purpose of computing the  percentage
ownership of any other person.  Unless  otherwise  indicated in the footnotes to
this table, the entities named in the table have sole voting and sole investment
power with respect to the shares set forth  opposite  such  entity's  name.  The
percentages  of  beneficial  ownership  shares  in this  table  are  based  upon
10,542,997 shares of the common stock outstanding.


                                        8

<PAGE>



           This table assumes that the selling  stockholders  (a) convert all of
the shares of series B preferred, (b) exercise all of the warrants, and (c) sell
all of the common stock issuance upon such conversion and exercise.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                 Shares                Shares Beneficially
                                            Shares Beneficially             Offered by this                Owned After
                                                    Owned                     Prospectus (2)                  Offering
    Selling Stockholder                  Number (1)           Percent                                   Number          Percent
    -------------------                  ------               -------                                   ------          -------
<S>                                      <C>                 <C>                <C>                      <C>             <C>
AMRO International, S.A. (3)             375,000             3.4%               385,000                  0               0
Austinvest Anstalt Balzers (4)           175,000             1.6%               179,667                  0               0
Esquire Trade & Finance Inc. (5)         200,000             1.9%               205,333                  0               0
- -------------------
</TABLE>

(1)        Represents  the  number  of shares of  common  stock  into  which the
           selling   stockholder's   shares  of  series  B  preferred  could  be
           converted,  based on an assumed  conversion price of $2.00 per share.
           This assumed  conversion price is substantially  below the conversion
           price in effect at the date of this prospectus. The actual conversion
           price  will be the  lesser of (1)  $6.875,  or (2) 89% of the  lowest
           closing bid price for the common stock on The Nasdaq  SmallCap Market
           during the five  consecutive  trading days ending on the day prior to
           the date of conversion.  The  conversion  price will not be less than
           $3.00 prior to October 10, 1999. Thereafter the conversion price will
           not be less than $2.00 as long as AvTel  meets  certain  requirements
           for revenue and earnings before  interest,  taxes,  depreciation  and
           amortization.  The warrants held by the selling  stockholders are not
           exercisable  until  September 30, 1999,  and are not reflected in the
           amounts in this column.
(2)        Represents  the  number  of shares of  common  stock  into  which the
           selling   stockholder's   shares  of  series  B  preferred  could  be
           converted,  based on an assumed  conversion price of $2.00 per share,
           together  with the  number of shares of common  stock  issuable  upon
           exercise of the selling stockholder's  warrants. Does not reflect any
           shares of common stock that may be issued to the selling  stockholder
           as dividends on the series B preferred.
(3)        AMRO  International,  S.A. holds 750 shares of the series B preferred
           and 10,000 of the warrants.  AMRO is an investment account managed by
           Ultra  Finanz,  a  Swiss  investment  management  company.  The  sole
           authorized  signatories  at  Ultra  Finanz  responsible  for the AMRO
           account are H.U.  Bachofen and Michael Klee. Ultra Finanz and Messrs.
           Bachofen  and Klee may be deemed to be the  beneficial  owners of the
           shares held by AMRO. The address of the principal  business office of
           AMRO is c/o  Ultra  Finanz,  Grossmunster  Platz  6,  Zurich  CH 8022
           Switzerland.
(4)        Austinvest Anstalt Balzers holds 350 shares of the series B preferred
           and  4,667  of the  warrants.  Austinvest  is an  investment  company
           organized under the laws of  Liechtenstein.  Its directors are Walter
           Grill and Peter Nackowitz.  Messrs. Grill and Nackowitz may be deemed
           to be the  beneficial  owners of the shares held by  Austinvest.  The
           address of the principal business office of Austinvest is Landstrasse
           938, 9494 Furstentums, Balzers, Liechtenstein.
(5)        Esquire  Trade &  Finance  Inc.  holds  400  shares  of the  series B
           preferred and 5,333 of the warrants. Esquire is an investment company
           organized  under the laws of the  British  Virgin  Islands.  Its sole
           director  is  Roland  Winiger.  Mr.  Winiger  may be deemed to be the
           beneficial  owner of the shares held by  Esquire.  The address of the
           principal  business office of Esquire is Trident  Chambers,  P.O. Box
           146, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands.




                                        9

<PAGE>



                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

           The common stock covered by this  prospectus  may be offered and sold
from time to time by the selling stockholders. The selling stockholders will act
independently  of AvTel in making  decisions with respect to the timing,  manner
and size of each sale. The selling  stockholders may sell the common stock being
offered hereby on The Nasdaq SmallCap Market, or otherwise, at prices and under
terms then  prevailing or at prices  related to the then current market price or
at negotiated  prices.  There can be no assurance that the selling  stockholders
will sell all or any of the shares offered by this prospectus.

           AvTel is  registering  the  common  stock for  resale by the  selling
stockholders  in  accordance  with  registration  rights  granted to the selling
stockholders.  See "The Private  Offering." AvTel will pay all expenses incident
to the  offering  and sale of the  common  stock to the  public  other  than any
commissions  and  discounts  of  underwriters,  dealers or agents,  the fees and
disbursements  of  counsel   representing   the  selling   stockholders  or  any
underwriter or agent acting on behalf of a selling stockholder, and any transfer
taxes. In addition, AvTel has agreed to indemnify the selling stockholders,  and
each person who controls the selling stockholders,  against certain liabilities,
including  liabilities  under the Securities Act of 1933, in connection with the
offering.  The  selling  stockholders  have  agreed to  indemnify  AvTel and its
directors and officers, as well as any person controlling AvTel, against certain
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933.

           The common stock may be sold by one or more of the following means of
distribution:

     o    a block trade in which the  broker-dealer  so engaged  will attempt to
          sell  shares as agent,  but may  position  and resell a portion of the
          block as principal to facilitate the transaction;

     o    purchases  by  a  broker-dealer   as  principal  and  resale  by  such
          broker-dealer for its own account pursuant to this prospectus;

     o    an  over-the-counter  distribution in accordance with the rules of The
          Nasdaq SmallCap Market;

     o    ordinary  brokerage  transactions and transactions in which the broker
          solicits purchasers; and

     o    in privately negotiated transactions.

To the extent  required,  this prospectus may be amended and  supplemented  from
time to time to describe a specific plan of distribution.

           In connection  with  distributions  of the common stock or otherwise,
the selling stockholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers
or  other  financial   institutions.   In  connection  with  such  transactions,
broker-dealers  or other  financial  institutions  may engage in short  sales of
AvTel's  common  stock in the course of hedging the  positions  they assume with
selling  stockholders.  The selling  stockholders  may also sell AvTel's  common
stock

                                       10

<PAGE>



short and  redeliver the shares to close out such short  positions.  The selling
stockholders   may  also  enter   into   option  or  other   transactions   with
broker-dealers  or other  financial  institutions  which require the delivery to
such  broker-dealer  or other  financial  institution of shares offered  hereby,
which  shares  such  broker-dealer  or other  financial  institution  may resell
pursuant  to this  prospectus  (as  supplemented  or  amended  to  reflect  such
transaction). The selling stockholders may also pledge shares to a broker-dealer
or other financial institution, and, upon a default, such broker-dealer or other
financial  institution,  may effect sales of the pledged shares pursuant to this
prospectus  (as  supplemented  or  amended  to  reflect  such  transaction).  In
addition,  any shares  that  qualify  for sale  pursuant to Rule 144 may be sold
under Rule 144 rather than pursuant to this prospectus.

           In effecting sales, brokers, dealers or agents engaged by the selling
stockholders  may arrange for other brokers or dealers to participate.  Brokers,
dealers or agents may receive  commissions,  discounts or  concessions  from the
selling stockholders in amounts to be negotiated prior to the sale. Such brokers
or dealers  and any other  participating  brokers or dealers may be deemed to be
"underwriters"  within the meaning of the  Securities  Act of 1933 in connection
with such sales,  and any such  commissions,  discounts  or  concessions  may be
deemed to be underwriting  discounts or commissions  under the Securities Act of
1933. The selling stockholders may indemnify any broker-dealer that participates
in transactions  involving the sale of the shares against  certain  liabilities,
including liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933.

           In order to comply with the  securities  laws of certain  states,  if
applicable,  the  shares  must  be  sold  in  such  jurisdictions  only  through
registered or licensed  brokers or dealers.  In addition,  in certain states the
shares may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in
the applicable  state or an exemption  from the  registration  or  qualification
requirement is available and is complied with.

           AvTel has advised the selling stockholders that the anti-manipulation
rules of  Regulation  M under  the  Exchange  Act of 1934 may  apply to sales of
common stock in the market and to the activities of the selling stockholders and
their  affiliates.  In  addition,  AvTel  will make  copies  of this  prospectus
available  to the selling  stockholders  and has  informed  them of the need for
delivery of copies of this  prospectus  to purchasers at or prior to the time of
any sale of the shares offered hereby.

           At the time a  particular  offer of shares is made,  if  required,  a
prospectus  supplement  will be  distributed  that will set forth the  number of
shares being  offered and the terms of the  offering,  including the name of any
underwriter,  dealer or agent, the purchase price paid by any  underwriter,  any
discount,  commission and other item  constituting  compensation,  any discount,
commission  or  concession  allowed or reallowed or paid to any dealer,  and the
proposed selling price to the public.


                                       11

<PAGE>



           AvTel has agreed with certain of the selling stockholders to keep the
registration  statement of which this  prospectus  constitutes a part  effective
until all of the shares  covered  hereby have been sold or are eligible for sale
without restriction under Rule 144.

                       WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

           AvTel is  subject to the  reporting  requirements  of the  Securities
Exchange  Act  of  1934.  Accordingly,   AvTel  files  periodic  reports,  proxy
statements and other  information  with the Securities and Exchange  Commission.
You may inspect or copy these materials at the Public  Reference Room maintained
by the Securities and Exchange Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,  Washington
D.C. 20549.  You may obtain  information  concerning the operation of the Public
Reference   Room  by  calling  the   Securities   and  Exchange   Commission  at
1-800-SEC-0330.  AvTel's  filings  are also  available  to the  public  from the
Commission's website on the Internet at http.//www.sec.gov. AvTel distributes to
its stockholders annual reports containing audited financial statements. You may
also access  information  about AvTel  electronically by means of its website at
http.//www.avtel.com.

           AvTel  has  filed  with the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  a
registration  statement on Form S-3 with  respect to the shares  offered by this
prospectus.  This prospectus does not contain all of the information included in
the registration  statement.  Please refer to the registration statement and its
exhibits,  and to the documents  incorporated by reference into the registration
statement,  for further  information  about AvTel and the shares offered by this
prospectus.  You may obtain a copy of the  registration  statement  through  the
public reference  facilities of the Securities and Exchange Commission described
above. You may also access a copy of the registration  statement  electronically
by   means   of  the   Securities   and   Exchange   Commission's   website   at
http.//www.sec.gov.

           The Securities and Exchange  Commission  allows AvTel to "incorporate
by  reference"  the  documents  AvTel  files with it.  This means that AvTel can
disclose  important  information  to you by  referring to those  documents.  The
information  incorporated  by  reference  is  considered  to  be  part  of  this
prospectus.  Documents  that AvTel files later with the  Securities and Exchange
Commission  will  automatically  update and supersede  this  information.  AvTel
incorporates by reference the documents listed below:

     (1)  AvTel's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the year ended  December  31,
          1998;

     (2)  AvTel's  Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31,
          1999;

     (3)  AvTel's  Current  Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on May
          5, 1999;

     (4)  The description of the common stock contained in AvTel's  registration
          statement  on Form  10-SB,  filed  with the  Securities  and  Exchange
          Commission  on  January  16,  1996,  as  amended  by the  registration
          statements on Form 10-SB/A filed on

                                       12

<PAGE>



          March 29 and May 28, 1996,  and as further  amended by the  definitive
          proxy  statement  on  Schedule  14A,  filed  with the  Securities  and
          Exchange  Commission on October 30, 1997,  in connection  with AvTel's
          reincorporation in Delaware.

     (5)  All reports and other  documents  AvTel files with the  Securities and
          Exchange  Commission  under Section 13(a),  13(c),  14 or 15(d) of the
          Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,  as amended,  after the date of this
          prospectus and prior to the termination of this offering.

           You may request a copy any document  incorporated  by reference  into
this prospectus, at no cost, by writing or calling AvTel at:

                           AvTel Communications, Inc.
                501 Bath Street, Santa Barbara, California 93101
                          Attention: Investor Relations
                           Telephone: (805) 884-6300.

           This prospectus is part of a registration  statement AvTel filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission.

                                  LEGAL MATTERS

           The validity of the common stock offered  hereby has been passed upon
by Seed, Mackall & Cole LLP, Santa Barbara, California, counsel to AvTel.

                                     EXPERTS

           The  consolidated   financial   statements  and  financial  statement
schedule of AvTel Communications, Inc. and subsidiaries at December 31, 1998 and
1997 and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1998,
have been incorporated by reference herein and in the registration  statement in
reliance upon the report of KPMG LLP, independent  certified public accountants,
incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts
in accounting and auditing.



                                       13

<PAGE>



           You should rely only on the information or  representations  provided
in this  prospectus or to which AvTel has referred you. AvTel has not authorized
anyone to provide you with different  information.  The common stock will not be
offered in any state where an offer is not permitted. You should not assume that
the  information  in this  prospectus  is accurate as of any date other than the
date on the cover of this prospectus.

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                                        Page No.

AvTel  ....................................................................2
Forward-Looking Statements ............................................... 2
Risk Factors ............................................................. 2
The Private Offering...................................................... 6
Use of Proceeds .......................................................... 8
Selling Stockholders ...................................................   8
Plan of Distribution .................................................... 10
Where You Can Find More Information.......................................12
Legal Matters ........................................................... 13
Experts  .................................................................13


                           AVTEL COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

                                 815,000 SHARES

                                       OF

                                  Common Stock


                               ------------------

                                   PROSPECTUS

                               ------------------

                                     , 1999

                                        1

<PAGE>



                                     PART II
                   INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS

ITEM 14.  OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION

           The  Registrant  will pay all  expenses  incident to the offering and
sale to the public of the shares being registered other than any commissions and
discounts of  underwriters,  dealers or agents,  the fees and  disbursements  of
counsel representing the selling stockholders or any underwriter or agent acting
on behalf of a selling  stockholder,  and any transfer taxes.  Such expenses are
set forth in the following  table. All of the amounts shown are estimates except
the Securities and Exchange Commission  registration fee and The Nasdaq SmallCap
Market additional listing fee.

SEC registration fee ..............................................   $   1,147
Nasdaq SmallCap Market additional listing fee .........................   7,500
Legal fees and expenses..............................................    10,000
Accounting fees and expenses .........................................    3,000
Printing expenses .....................................................   3,000
Transfer Agent expenses ...............................................   1,000
Miscellaneous expenses ...............................................    2,353
                                                                         ------
                                         Total ....................... $ 28,000


ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

           As permitted by Section 145 of the Delaware General  Corporation Law,
the  Registrant's   Certificate  of  Incorporation  includes  a  provision  that
eliminates  the personal  liability of its  directors  for monetary  damages for
breach or alleged  breach of their duty of care.  In  addition,  as permitted by
Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, Article VI of the Bylaws of
the  Registrant  provides  that: (i) the Registrant is required to indemnify its
directors and officers and persons  serving in such capacities in other business
enterprises  (including,  for example,  subsidiaries  of the  Registrant) at the
Registrant's request, to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, including
in  those   circumstances   in  which   indemnification   would   otherwise   be
discretionary;  (ii) the Registrant may, in its discretion,  indemnify employees
and agents in those circumstances where  indemnification is not required by law;
(iii) the  Registrant  is  required to advance  expenses,  as  incurred,  to its
directors and officers in connection with defending a proceeding (except that it
is not  required to advance  expenses to a person  against  whom the  Registrant
brings a claim, approved by a majority of its Board of Directors,  which alleges
willful  misappropriation  of  corporate  assets,   disclosure  of  confidential
information,  or any other  willful and  deliberate  breach in bad faith of such
agent's duty to the Registrant or its  Stockholders);  (iv) the rights conferred
in the Amended and Restated  Bylaws are not  exclusive,  and the  Registrant  is
authorized to enter into indemnification agreements with its directors, officers
and employees;

                                      II-1

<PAGE>



and (v) the Registrant may not retroactively amend the Bylaw provisions in a way
that is adverse to such directors, officers and employees.

           The  indemnification  provisions  in the Bylaws  may be  sufficiently
broad to permit  indemnification of the Registrant's  directors and officers for
liabilities arising under the Securities Act.

ITEM 16. EXHIBITS

4.1  Form of stock certificate for common stock of the Registrant. (Incorporated
     by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Registrant's  Registration Statement on Form
     S-8 dated May 22, 1998).

4.2  Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights of Series B Convertible
     Preferred  Stock.   (Incorporated  by  Reference  to  Exhibit  3.2  to  the
     Registrant's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the year ended  December  31,
     1998.)

4.3  Convertible  Preferred  Stock and Warrants  Purchase  Agreement dated as of
     April 5, 1999,  among  Registrant,  AMRO  International,  S.A.,  Austinvest
     Anstalt  Balzers,  and  Esquire  Trade  &  Finance  Inc.  (Incorporated  by
     Reference to Exhibit 10.13 to the  Registrant's  Annual Report on Form 10-K
     for the year ended December 31, 1998.)

4.4  Registration  Rights Agreement dated as of April 5, 1999, among Registrant,
     AMRO International,  S.A.,  Austinvest Anstalt Balzers, and Esquire Trade &
     Finance  Inc.   (Incorporated   by  Reference  to  Exhibit   10.14  to  the
     Registrant's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the year ended  December  31,
     1998.)

4.5  Stock Purchase Warrants granted by Registrant to AMRO International,  S.A.,
     Austinvest Anstalt Balzers, and Esquire Trade & Finance Inc.  (Incorporated
     by Reference to Exhibit  10.15 to the  Registrant's  Annual  Report on Form
     10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998.)

5    Opinion of Seed, Mackall & Cole LLP.

23.1 Consent of KPMG LLP.

23.2 Consent of Seed, Mackall & Cole LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).

24   Power of Attorney (included on page II-5).

ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS


                                      II-2

<PAGE>



A.         RULE 415 OFFERING

           The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

           (1)       To file,  during  any  period in which  offers or sales are
                     being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration
                     statement:

                               (i) to include any prospectus required by Section
                     10(a)(3) Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act");

                               (ii) to  reflect in the  prospectus  any facts or
                     events arising after the effective date of the registration
                     statement  (or the  most  recent  post-effective  amendment
                     thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent
                     a fundamental  change in the  information  set forth in the
                     registration statement.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, any
                     increase or decrease  in volume of  securities  offered (if
                     the total  dollar  value of  securities  offered  would not
                     exceed that which was  registered)  and any deviation  from
                     the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range
                     may be reflected in the form of  prospectus  filed with the
                     Securities and Exchange  Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b)
                     if, in the  aggregate,  the  changes  in  volume  and price
                     represent  no  more  than  a  20%  change  in  the  maximum
                     aggregate  offering price set forth in the  "Calculation of
                     Registration  Fee"  table  in  the  effective  registration
                     statement;

                               (iii) to include any  material  information  with
                     respect  to  the  plan  of   distribution   not  previously
                     disclosed  in the  registration  statement  or any material
                     change to such information in the registration statement;

                     provided, however, that paragraphs (A)(1)(i) and (A)(1)(ii)
                     of  this  undertaking  do  not  apply  if  the  information
                     required to be included in a  post-effective  amendment  by
                     those  paragraphs  is contained in periodic  reports  filed
                     with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission
                     by the  Registrant  pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d)
                     of  the   Securities   Exchange   Act  of  1934   that  are
                     incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.

           (2)       That,  for the purpose of determining  any liability  under
                     the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  each  such  post-effective
                     amendment  shall  be  deemed  to  be  a  new   registration
                     statement relating to the securities  offered therein,  and
                     the  offering  of such  securities  at that  time  shall be
                     deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof;
           (3)       To remove from  registration  by means of a  post-effective
                     amendment  any of the  securities  being  registered  which
                     remain unsold at the termination of the offering.



                                      II-3

<PAGE>



B.         FILINGS INCORPORATING SUBSEQUENT EXCHANGE ACT DOCUMENTS
           BY REFERENCE

           The undersigned  Registrant  hereby  undertakes that, for purposes of
determining  any liability  under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
Registrant's  annual  report  pursuant to Section  13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable,  each filing of an employee benefit
plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act of 1934) that
is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be
a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such  securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

C.         REQUEST FOR ACCELERATION OF EFFECTIVE DATE

           Insofar  as  indemnification   for  liabilities   arising  under  the
Securities  Act of 1933 be permitted  to  directors,  officers  and  controlling
persons of the Registrant  pursuant to the foregoing  provisions,  or otherwise,
the  Registrant  has been  advised  that in the  opinion of the  Securities  and
Exchange  Commission such  indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the Securities  Act of 1933 and is,  therefore,  unenforceable.  In the event
that a claim  for  indemnification  against  such  liabilities  (other  than the
payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
controlling  person of the Registrant in the  successful  defense of any action,
suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director,  officer or controlling person
in connection with the securities being registered,  the Registrant will, unless
in the  opinion  of its  counsel  the matter  has been  settled  by  controlling
precedent,  submit to a court of appropriate  jurisdiction  the question whether
such  indemnification  by it is  against  public  policy  as  expressed  in  the
Securities  Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final  adjudication  of such
issue.



                                      II-4

<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES

           Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of 1933,  the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration
statement  to be  signed  on its  behalf  by  the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized,  in the City of Santa Barbara, State of California, on this 19th day
of May, 1999.

                                          AVTEL COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

                                          By:     /s/  ANTHONY E. PAPA
                                                       Anthony E. Papa
                                                       Chairman of the Board and
                                                       Chief Executive Officer



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

           Each person whose  signature  appears below  constitutes and appoints
Anthony E. Papa and James P.  Pisani,  and each of them,  as  attorneys-in-fact,
each with the power of  substitution,  for him or her in any and all capacities,
to sign any amendment to this Registration  Statement and to file the same, with
exhibits  thereto  and  other  documents  in  connection  therewith,   with  the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting to said attorneys-in-fact, and each
of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite  and  necessary to be done in  connection  therewith,  as fully to all
intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person,  hereby ratifying
and confirming all that said  attorneys-in-fact  or any of them, or their or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

           Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of 1933,  this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons on May 19, 1999,
in the capacities indicated.


           Signature                        Title

  /s/ ANTHONY E. PAPA              Chairman of the Board, Chief
      Anthony E. Papa              Executive Officer and Director
                                  (Principal Executive Officer)

 /s/ JAMES P. PISANI               President, Chief Operating Officer,Secretary
     James P. Pisani               and Director

                    (Signatures continued on following page)

                                      II-5

<PAGE>




 /s/ MICHAEL J. USSERY              Chief Financial Officer
     Michael J. Ussery             (Principal Financial Officer and
                                    Principal Accounting Officer)

 /s/ JOHN E. ALLEN                  Director
     John E. Allen

 /s/ JEFFREY J. JENSEN              Director
     Jeffrey J. Jensen

 /s/ ANTHONY D. MARTIN              Director
     Anthony D. Martin



                                      II-6

<PAGE>




                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

4.1  Form of stock certificate for common stock of the Registrant. (Incorporated
     by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Registrant's  Registration Statement on Form
     S-8 dated May 22, 1998).

4.2  Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights of Series B Convertible
     Preferred  Stock.   (Incorporated  by  Reference  to  Exhibit  3.2  to  the
     Registrant's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the year ended  December  31,
     1998.)

4.3  Convertible  Preferred  Stock and Warrants  Purchase  Agreement dated as of
     April 5, 1999,  among  Registrant,  AMRO  International,  S.A.,  Austinvest
     Anstalt  Balzers,  and  Esquire  Trade  &  Finance  Inc.  (Incorporated  by
     Reference to Exhibit 10.13 to the  Registrant's  Annual Report on Form 10-K
     for the year ended December 31, 1998.)

4.4  Registration  Rights Agreement dated as of April 5, 1999, among Registrant,
     AMRO International,  S.A.,  Austinvest Anstalt Balzers, and Esquire Trade &
     Finance  Inc.   (Incorporated   by  Reference  to  Exhibit   10.14  to  the
     Registrant's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the year ended  December  31,
     1998.)

4.5  Stock Purchase Warrants granted by Registrant to AMRO International,  S.A.,
     Austinvest Anstalt Balzers, and Esquire Trade & Finance Inc.  (Incorporated
     by Reference to Exhibit  10.15 to the  Registrant's  Annual  Report on Form
     10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998.)

5    Opinion of Seed, Mackall & Cole LLP.

23.1 Consent of KPMG LLP.

23.2 Consent of Seed, Mackall & Cole LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).

24   Power of Attorney (included on page II-5).



                                      II-7






                                                                       EXHIBIT 5

                                  May 19, 1999

AvTel Communications, Inc.
501 Bath Street
Santa Barbara, ca 93101

           Re:       Registration Statement on Form S-3

Gentlemen:

           We have examined the  Registration  Statement on Form S-3 to be filed
by AvTel  Communications,  Inc.  ("AvTel")  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission  on or about the date  hereof  (the  "Registration  Statement").  The
Registration  Statement relates to the resale by the selling  stockholders named
therein (the "Selling Stockholders"), of an aggregate of up to 815,000 shares of
common stock,  par value $.01 per share, of AvTel's common stock  (collectively,
the "Shares").  The Shares include (i) 795,000 Shares (the "Conversion  Shares")
issuable upon conversion of, or as dividends upon,  AvTel's Series B Convertible
Preferred Stock (the "Series B Preferred"), and (ii) 20,000 Shares (the "Warrant
Shares") issuable upon exercise of warrants (the "Warrants") held by the Selling
Stockholders.

           In connection with the opinions  expressed  herein, we have examined,
among other things, certified copies of AvTel's Certificate of Incorporation and
By-Laws,  as amended to date, and the Certificate of  Designations,  Preferences
and  Rights  with  respect  to the  Series  B  Preferred  (the  "Certificate  of
Designations")  as well as records of corporate  proceedings  and other  actions
taken by AvTel in  connection  with the  issuance and sale of the Shares and the
Warrants.  We have also examined the Warrants and the  agreements  between AvTel
and the Selling  Stockholders  pursuant to which the Series B Preferred  and the
Warrants were issued.

           Based upon our  examination of the foregoing,  and such other matters
of  fact or law as we have  deemed  necessary  for  purposes  hereof,  it is our
opinion that:

1.         When  issued upon  conversion  of, or as  dividends  on, the Series B
           Preferred,  in accordance with AvTel's  Certificate of  Incorporation
           and  Certificate  of  Designations,  the  Conversion  Shares  will be
           validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
2.         When issued and paid for upon exercise of the Warrant,  in accordance
           with the terms and  conditions  of the Warrants,  the Warrant  Shares
           will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.




<PAGE>



           We  consent  to  the  use  of  this  opinion  as an  exhibit  to  the
Registration  Statement and further  consent to the reference to our firm in the
Prospectus  contained in the  Registration  Statement  under the heading  "Legal
Matters."

                                                   Very truly yours,


                                                    /s/ SEED, MACKALL & COLE LLP







                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1



                          INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT

The Board of Directors
AvTel Communications, Inc.


           We consent to the use of our report  incorporated by reference herein
and to the reference to our firm under the heading "Experts" in the prospectus.


                                                    /s/ KPMG LLP


Dallas, Texas
May 20, 1999








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