HYPERION TELECOMMUNICATIONS INC
S-1/A, 1996-10-31
CABLE & OTHER PAY TELEVISION SERVICES
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<PAGE>
 
    
 AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON OCTOBER 31, 1996     
 
                                                     REGISTRATION NO. 333-13663
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                                 -----------
                                
                             AMENDMENT NO. 2     
                                      TO
                                   FORM S-1
                            REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                          THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                                 -----------
                       HYPERION TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
        DELAWARE                   4813                    25-1669404
     (State or other         (Primary Standard          (I.R.S. Employer
     jurisdiction of            Industrial             Identification No.)
    incorporation or        Classification Code
      organization)               Number)
 
                      5 WEST THIRD STREET -- P.O. BOX 472
                        COUDERSPORT, PENNSYLVANIA 16915
                                (814) 274-9830
  (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of
                   registrant's principal executive offices)
                                 -----------
 
                         DANIEL R. MILLIARD, PRESIDENT
                       HYPERION TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.
                      5 WEST THIRD STREET -- P.O. BOX 472
                        COUDERSPORT, PENNSYLVANIA 16915
                                (814) 274-9830
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
                             of agent for service)
                                 -----------
                PLEASE ADDRESS A COPY OF ALL COMMUNICATIONS TO:
  CARL E. ROTHENBERGER, JR., ESQUIRE         STEVEN DELLA ROCCA, ESQUIRE
          BUCHANAN INGERSOLL                      LATHAM & WATKINS
       PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION               53RD AT THIRD, SUITE 1000
     21ST FLOOR, 301 GRANT STREET                 885 THIRD AVENUE
    PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA 15219          NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10022-4802
            (412) 562-8826                         (212) 906-1330
 
  APPROXIMATE DATE OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: As soon as practicable
after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
  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, as amended (the "Securities Act"), other than securities offered only in
connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following
box. [_]
  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. [_]
                                 -----------
 
  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 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID
SECTION 8(A), MAY DETERMINE.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
  
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT. A         +
+REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE   +
+SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD NOR MAY  +
+OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT        +
+BECOMES EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR   +
+THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE      +
+SECURITIES IN ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE    +
+UNLAWFUL PRIOR TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF  +
+ANY SUCH STATE.                                                               +
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
                  
               SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED          , 1996     
 
[LOGO OF HYPERION TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.]
                               16,500,000 SHARES
 
                       HYPERION TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.
 
                              CLASS A COMMON STOCK
                          (PAR VALUE $0.01 PER SHARE)
 
                                  ----------
 
 
  Of the 16,500,000 shares of Class A Common Stock offered hereby, 13,200,000
shares are being offered in a United States offering and 3,300,000 shares are
being offered in a concurrent international offering outside of the United
States. The initial public offering price and the aggregate underwriting
discount per share will be identical for both offerings. See "Underwriting."
 
  Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for the Class A
Common Stock of the Company. It is currently estimated that the initial public
offering price per share will be between $11.00 and $13.00. For factors to be
considered in determining the initial public offering price, see
"Underwriting."
 
  The Company has two classes of common stock. Shares of Class A Common Stock
and Class B Common Stock are substantially identical, except that holders of
Class A Common Stock are entitled to one vote per share and holders of Class B
Common Stock are entitled to 10 votes per share on all matters submitted to a
vote of stockholders. Immediately following the consummation of the Offerings
(assuming no exercise of the over-allotment options granted to the
Underwriters), the holders of the Class B Common Stock will have approximately
92.38% of the combined voting power of the outstanding Class A Common Stock and
Class B Common Stock. See "Description of Capital Stock."
 
  SEE "RISK FACTORS" ON PAGE 12 FOR CERTAIN CONSIDERATIONS RELEVANT TO AN
INVESTMENT IN THE CLASS A COMMON STOCK.
   
  The Class A Common Stock has been approved for quotation on the Nasdaq
National Market under the symbol "HYPT."     
 
                                  ----------
 
 
THESE SECURITIES HAVE  NOT BEEN APPROVED  OR DISAPPROVED BY  THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION  OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS  THE SECURITIES
 AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION  OR ANY  STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION  PASSED UPON THE
 ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY  OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION  TO THE CONTRARY
  IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 
                                  ----------
 
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                         INITIAL PUBLIC UNDERWRITING PROCEEDS TO
                                         OFFERING PRICE DISCOUNT(1)  COMPANY(2)
                                         -------------- ------------ -----------
<S>                                      <C>            <C>          <C>
Per Share...............................      $             $           $
Total(3)................................     $             $           $
</TABLE>
- -----
(1) The Company has agreed to indemnify the Underwriters against certain
    liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as
    amended.
(2) Before deducting estimated expenses of $615,000 payable by the Company.
(3) The Underwriters have been granted an option for 30 days to purchase an
    additional 1,980,000 shares at the initial public offering price, less the
    underwriting discount, solely to cover over-allotments. Additionally, the
    International Underwriters have been granted a similar option with respect
    to an additional 495,000 shares as part of the concurrent international
    offering. In the event that the Underwriters exercise such over-allotment
    options, the Selling Stockholder (as defined herein) may elect to satisfy
    such over-allotment options by selling shares of Class A Common Stock;
    however, to the extent that such Selling Stockholder elects not to do so,
    then such shares will be issued and sold by the Company. If such over-
    allotment options are exercised in full, the total initial public offering
    price, underwriting discount and proceeds to (i) the Selling Stockholder,
    in the event that such Selling Stockholder sells all of the shares
    necessary to satisfy such options, will be $   , $   , and $   ,
    respectively and (ii) the Company, in the event that the Company sells all
    of the shares necessary to satisfy such options, will be $   , $   , and
    $   , respectively. In the event that the Selling Stockholder elects to
    satisfy the over-allotment options, the Selling Stockholder has agreed to
    indemnify the Underwriters against certain liabilities, including
    liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. See
    "Underwriting."
 
                                  ----------
 
 
  The shares offered hereby are offered severally by the U.S. Underwriters, as
specified herein, subject to receipt and acceptance by them and subject to
their right to reject any order in whole or in part. It is expected that the
certificates for the shares will be ready for delivery in New York, New York,
on or about       , 1996, against payment therefor in immediately available
funds.
 
GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
          BEAR, STEARNS & CO. INC.
                      LAZARD FRERES & CO. LLC
                                    MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
 
                                  ----------
 
 
                The date of this Prospectus is          , 1996.
<PAGE>
 
 
                               PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
 
  The following summary is qualified in its entirety by the more detailed
information, including the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto,
appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus. For a description of certain terms used
in this Prospectus, see the Glossary attached to this Prospectus as Appendix A.
Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this Prospectus (i) to the
"Company" or "Hyperion" mean Hyperion Telecommunications, Inc. together with
its subsidiaries, and (ii) to the "networks," the "Company's networks" or the
"Operating Companies' networks" mean the 18 telecommunications networks in
which the Company currently has ownership interests through 14 Operating
Companies (which, as defined herein, are (a) wholly owned or majority-owned
subsidiaries of the Company and (b) joint venture partnerships or corporations
managed by the Company and in which the Company holds an equity interest of 50%
or less). As of the date of this Prospectus, 14 of the 18 networks were 50% or
less owned by the Company. As described more fully herein, the Company designs,
constructs, manages and operates networks on behalf of the Operating Companies,
and it is through these networks that the Company and the Operating Companies
provide telecommunications services. See "--Ownership of the Company and the
Operating Companies." Unless otherwise specifically indicated herein, all of
the share data contained herein gives effect to or assumes (i) a 2-for-1 split
of the outstanding shares of the Company's common stock, and (ii) a
reclassification of currently outstanding common stock and common stock
reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding Warrants (as defined
herein) (the "Recapitalization Events"), which the Company intends to complete
prior to the closing of the offering of Class A Common Stock hereby.
 
                                  THE COMPANY
 
  The Company is a leading provider of local telecommunications services over
state-of-the-art fiber optic networks in selected markets within the United
States. Hyperion believes it is the third largest competitive local exchange
carrier ("CLEC") in the United States, based upon route miles and buildings
connected data made publicly available by other CLECs. Each of the Company's 18
networks (including three currently under construction) has been developed by
partnering with a cable operator or utility provider (the "Local Partner") with
operations in that region. This approach has allowed Hyperion to rapidly
construct high-capacity networks which generally have broader coverage of its
markets than those of other CLECs. The Company believes that the breadth of its
networks will allow it to originate and terminate a significant proportion of
its customers' local telephone calls over its own network, instead of relying
on the network of the incumbent local exchange carrier ("LEC"). The Company
also believes that working with a Local Partner significantly reduces the cost
of constructing its fiber optic networks through the utilization of existing
cable or utility facilities and by sharing construction costs with its Local
Partners, who usually upgrade the capacity of their cable or utility
infrastructure during construction of the telecommunications network.
 
  The Company offers a broad array of integrated, high quality voice, video and
enhanced data communications services to end users such as small, medium and
large businesses, as well as to resellers, including interexchange carriers
("IXCs"). The Company believes the design and breadth of its networks is a key
competitive advantage in attracting customers. As IXCs seek to offer their
customers an integrated switched local and long distance service offering, the
Company believes IXCs will increasingly rely on the local networks of CLECs
such as the Company. This is in part due to the IXCs' desire to minimize usage
of the incumbent LEC's network due to the expected entry of incumbent LECs into
the long distance marketplace. The Company believes its networks will be
attractive to IXCs, such as AT&T, MCI and Sprint, and other resellers because
the Company's networks are 100% fiber optic-based and generally offer the
broadest market coverage (other than that of the incumbent LEC). Hyperion
believes its services will also be attractive to end users because it can offer
(i) lower prices than the incumbent LEC, (ii) high-capacity fiber optic network
connection directly to substantially all of its customers' premises in a
particular city, (iii) high quality customer service and reliability, and (iv)
brand name recognition through its alliances with its Local Partners and IXCs.
 
                                       1
<PAGE>
 
 
  The Company plans to offer switched services, including customer dial tone,
in each of its 18 networks by mid-1997 and has already installed switches or
remote switching capability in six of its networks. According to industry data,
revenues from switched services, including local dial tone, represented 85% of
local telecommunications revenues in the United States in 1995. The Company
also offers traditional access services to IXCs, and large customers, which to
date have represented the principal source of revenue for the Company's
networks. The Company currently offers enhanced data services to its customers
in four of its networks in a partnership with !NTERPRISE, a wholly owned
subsidiary of U S WEST, and plans to offer such services in all of its
networks. Enhanced data services currently include frame relay, Asynchronous
Transfer Mode ("ATM") data transport, business video conferencing, private line
data interconnect service and LAN connection and monitoring services. These
services, along with the long distance services provided by IXCs, enable the
Company to provide an integrated telecommunications service offering to network
customers that is more reliable, has a superior level of service and is priced
lower relative to that of the incumbent LEC in markets served by the Company's
networks.
   
  From the Company's inception in October 1991 through June 30, 1996, the
Company and its partners have invested approximately $164.8 million to build
and develop the network infrastructure and operations (excluding the South
Florida Partnership (as defined herein), see "--Recent Developments"). As of
September 30, 1996, the Company's 15 operating networks served 33 cities, and
included approximately 2,887 route miles of fiber optic cable and were
connected to approximately 1,101 buildings. The Company also has three networks
which are currently under construction. The Company intends to increase the
density of its existing network clusters and expand into new geographic markets
or clusters through the Company's continued construction of new networks with
cable and utility partners.     
 
  Hyperion's ownership interest in its networks ranges from 19.7% to 100%. See
"--Ownership of the Company and the Operating Companies." Consistent with the
Company's goal of owning at least a 50% interest in its Operating Companies,
the Company has recently entered into a non-binding letter of intent to
consolidate its interests in its networks in the State of New York. This
transaction would increase its weighted average ownership interest in its
networks from 40% to 44% (based on total fixed assets of the networks). See "--
Recent Developments." The Company reports its interest in joint ventures in
which it owns an interest of 50% or less pursuant to the equity method of
accounting consistent with generally accepted accounting principles. The
Company manages the day-to-day operation of all of the Company's networks, for
which it receives management fees which are based on the Company's costs.
 
  The Company believes the passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (the
"Telecommunications Act") on February 8, 1996 will substantially expand the
market opportunities for the Company and its networks. Based upon data compiled
by the Federal Communications Commission (the "FCC"), the Company believes that
the passage of the Telecommunications Act increases the potential market for
CLECs to approximately $97.1 billion annually due to the opening of the market
for all switched services which will permit CLECs to offer a full range of
local telecommunications services including local dial tone, local calls,
customer calling features and intraLATA toll services for both businesses and
residential customers. The Telecommunications Act provides for the removal of
legal barriers to entering the local exchange telecommunications market and
directs the incumbent LECs to negotiate with CLECs to resolve network and
competitive issues such as interconnection of CLEC and incumbent LEC networks,
reciprocal compensation for termination of calls originating on a competing
network, telephone number portability, access to rights-of-way and the
unbundling of network services. The Telecommunications Act may provide an
incentive for incumbent LECs to cooperate with local facilities-based
competitors, such as the Company, on
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
 
interconnection issues because the existence of an interconnection agreement
with a facilities-based competitor is a prerequisite for incumbent LEC entry
into the long distance market unless no such facilities-based competitor has
requested access and interconnection in accordance with the terms of the
Telecommunications Act. In the markets where the Company's 18 networks are
currently operating or are under construction, the Company believes it has an
addressable market of approximately $5.1 billion annually, substantially all of
which is currently provided by the incumbent LECs. This addressable market
estimate does not include the market for enhanced data services (currently
targeted by the Company through its partnerships with !NTERPRISE) or the market
for interLATA toll, which the Company has the ability to enter at its option.
 
COMPANY STRATEGY
 
  The Company, through its networks, is a leading provider of integrated local
telecommunications services to small, medium and large businesses, government
and educational end users, and resellers, including IXCs, in its markets. By
partnering with local cable television operators and utility companies, the
Company develops networks that will provide customers with greater market
coverage, lower costs and superior service. The Company's networks also
leverage the IXCs' name recognition, reputation for quality and reliability and
existing customer base by becoming preferred suppliers for IXCs of local
telecommunications services in the Company's markets. The IXCs market their
long distance services in conjunction with the Company's local service
offerings to provide end users with a fully integrated telecommunications
service offering in all of the Company's operating markets. Principal elements
of the Company's strategy include:
 
  Develop a Rapid Entry/Low Cost Approach with Local Partners. The Company
works with a Local Partner in order to significantly reduce the cost and time
to construct a fiber optic network, enable the Company to rapidly begin
offering services and lower the overhead associated with operating and
maintaining the Company's networks. Advantages of building the Company's
networks with Local Partners include (i) sharing the cost of building a fiber
optic network, which the Company believes reduces the cost of aerial fiber
construction by approximately 62% in the case of cable partners and 40% in the
case of utility partners, (ii) reducing the time and cost of obtaining access
to rights-of-way and building entrances and (iii) leveraging the Local
Partners' existing fiber optic network maintenance and installation
infrastructure. Through the partnerships, the Company has financed its
expansion at a lower cost relative to its competitors by utilizing pro rata
equity investments and Local Partner financings of a significant portion of
fiber construction. Local Partners generally provide funding for the fiber
build in a network and lease the fiber capacity back to the partnership under
long-term agreements, while the partnership funds other capital expenditures,
including switching infrastructure and electronics.
 
  Create Additional Partnerships with Utility Companies. The Company believes
that a significant proportion of the networks the Company constructs in the
future will be through partnerships with utility companies. Utility companies
have a number of attributes which make them particularly attractive as partners
for the Company, including (i) contiguous and broad geographic coverage with
extensive conduits and rights-of-way in both business and residential areas;
(ii) significant access to capital; (iii) existing relationships with business
and residential customers; and (iv) a reputation for reliability and quality
customer service. The Company believes that it is an attractive partner for
utility companies because it builds large metropolitan networks which are
similar to those of the utility company and because it can offer utility
companies a significant stake in its networks, both from a financial and
operational perspective.
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
 
 
  Build Broad Network Coverage. The Company intends to build substantially
larger networks than the networks of the CLECs it competes with in its markets.
As of September 30, 1996, in all of the markets in which the Company and its
networks operate, management believes that the Company has the broadest network
coverage in terms of route miles of any of its CLEC competitors. The Company
believes that expanded network coverage will enable the Company to (i) provide
broader and more reliable coverage for network customers, (ii) carry a greater
amount of traffic on its own networks rather than on the networks of other
carriers thereby increasing the Company's revenues and profit margins, (iii)
increase the potential market available to the Company due to the greater
number of buildings, LEC-COs and customers that the Company's networks can
service, (iv) increase the attractiveness of the Company's networks to IXCs,
cellular providers and new telecommunications providers such as Personal
Communications Service ("PCS") operators that need wide backbone coverage, (v)
offer services in areas where there are fewer potential CLECs with facilities
and (vi) leverage the fixed cost structure of the Company's networks,
particularly with regard to network electronics such as switches.
 
  Expand through Development of Network Clusters. The Company intends to build
on its extensive network size by expanding its existing networks into nearby
areas and establishing new networks in close proximity to existing ones.
Management believes that there are significant operating and marketing
advantages to locating its networks in clusters. Clustering enables the Company
to (i) take advantage of economies of scale in management, construction,
network operations and sales and marketing, (ii) reduce capital expenditures by
optimizing the networks' switching capacity through the use of remote switch
capacity in nearby cities, (iii) cost-effectively offer services to smaller
markets which are adjacent to its networks and in which the Company's networks
are less likely to face strong competition from incumbent LECs and other CLECs
and (iv) increase the networks' ability to offer highly reliable, end-to-end
connectivity on a regional basis. The Company also believes that creating
regional networks will enable the Company to gain a greater share of high
margin long distance transport traffic.

  Leverage Strategic Relationships with IXCs. The Company, through its
networks, provides customers with an integrated, one-stop shopping approach to
their telecommunications needs through its strategic relationships with IXCs
such as AT&T, MCI, Sprint, WorldCom and others. The goal of these relationships
is for the Company's networks to offer their local services in conjunction with
the long distance services of these IXCs. Management believes that working in
partnership with IXCs enables the Company to (i) utilize extensive market
information from the IXCs regarding traffic patterns and building requirements
to more optimally construct and extend its networks, (ii) work closely with IXC
account teams to provide an integrated service approach to end users, (iii)
increase market penetration by capitalizing on the IXCs' name recognition and
(iv) lower sales and marketing costs by utilizing the extensive marketing
resources and salesforce of the IXCs to market the networks' products and
services. In pursuing this strategy, the Company has entered into a national
service agreement with AT&T (the "National Service Agreement") pursuant to
which the Company, through its networks, will be an AT&T preferred supplier of
dedicated special access and switched access transport services. The Company
has also passed AT&T's Switch Network Validation Test.
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
 
 
  Expand Enhanced Service Offerings. Four of the Company's networks operate in
partnership with !NTERPRISE, a leading, nationwide network integrator that
designs, develops and deploys state-of-the-art data networks (including both
network services and equipment) to support and enhance the information systems
with which the customers of the !NTERPRISE Partnerships (as defined herein)
operate their businesses. !NTERPRISE co-markets enhanced services, including
frame relay, ATM data transport, business video conferencing, private line data
interconnect service and LAN connection and monitoring services to the
networks' customers in the networks' respective markets through its
partnerships with the Company's networks. The Company believes that the
partnerships with !NTERPRISE provide the opportunity to offer network customers
a full complement of enhanced services more rapidly and without the Company
incurring the cost and overhead of establishing its own nationwide enhanced
services marketing, sales and installation effort. The Operating Companies
intend to enter into additional partnerships with !NTERPRISE in all of the
Company's existing networks and may enter into agreements with other enhanced
service integrators in the future.
 
OWNERSHIP OF THE COMPANY AND THE OPERATING COMPANIES
 
  Prior to the Offerings (as defined herein), the Company was an 89% owned
subsidiary of Adelphia, the seventh largest cable television company in the
United States, with the balance of the Company owned by senior management.
After the consummation of the Offerings (without giving effect to the over-
allotment options), Adelphia will own 48.77% of the outstanding Class A Common
Stock and Class B Common Stock (collectively, the "Common Stock") of the
Company and will have 82.22% of the voting control through its ownership of
Class B Common Stock. See "Risk Factors--Control by Principal Stockholder." As
of June 30, 1996, Adelphia owned or managed cable television systems that
served approximately 1.8 million subscribers in 15 states.

  The Company currently has 18 networks (including three under construction).
The Company owns these networks through (i) partnerships with 10 Local Partners
(the "Operating Partnerships") and (ii) three wholly owned subsidiaries of the
Company and one corporation in which it is a minority shareholder ("Operating
Corporations") (collectively, the Operating Partnerships and the Operating
Corporations are referred to herein as the "Operating Companies"). The Company
is responsible for the network design, construction, management and operation
of the Operating Companies, for which it receives management fees which are
based on the Company's costs.

  The Company's executive offices are located at 5 West Third Street,
Coudersport, Pennsylvania 16915, and its telephone number is (814) 274-9830.
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
 
 
  The following is an overview of the Company's current network structure.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                 ACTUAL OR
                               EXPECTED DATE  HYPERION
COMPANY NETWORKS              OF OPERATION(B) INTEREST     LOCAL PARTNER(S)
- ----------------              --------------- -------- -------------------------
<S>                           <C>             <C>      <C>
      Northeast Cluster
Albany, NY(a)................       2/95        50.0%  Time Warner/Advance(c)
Binghamton, NY(a)............       3/95        20.0   Time Warner/Advance(c)
Buffalo, NY(a)...............       1/95        40.0   Tele-Communications, Inc.
                                                       Time Warner/Advance(d)
Syracuse, NY(a)..............       8/92        50.0   Time Warner/Advance(c)(d)
Vermont......................      11/94       100.0   (d)
    Mid-Atlantic Cluster
Charlottesville, VA..........      11/95       100.0   (d)
Harrisburg, PA...............       4/95        50.0   Lenfest Communications
Morristown, NJ...............       7/96        19.7   TKR Cable(e)
New Brunswick, NJ............      11/95        19.7   TKR Cable(e)
Philadelphia, PA.............       8/96        50.0   PECO Energy
Richmond, VA.................       9/93        37.0   Continental Cablevision
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, PA....    mid-1997      100.0   (d)
York, PA.....................    mid-1997       50.0   Susquehanna Cable
      Mid-South Cluster
Lexington, KY(f).............      12/96        50.0   TKR Cable(g)
Louisville, KY(f)............       3/95        50.0   TKR Cable(g)
Nashville, TN(f).............      11/94        95.0   InterMedia Partners
       Other Networks
Jacksonville, FL.............       9/92        20.0   Continental Cablevision
Wichita, KS..................       9/94        49.9   Gannett
</TABLE>
- --------
(a) The Company has entered into a non-binding letter of intent with Time
    Warner to increase its ownership interest in the Buffalo network to 50% and
    in the Syracuse network to 100%, and to eliminate its ownership interests
    in and management responsibility for the Albany and Binghamton networks.
    See "--Recent Developments."
 
(b) Refers to the date on which (i) the network is connected to at least one
    IXC POP; (ii) the network is capable of accepting traffic from IXCs and end
    users; (iii) the Company's central office is fully functional and (iv) the
    initial network SONET fiber rings has been completed.
 
(c) The interests in the Albany, Binghamton and Syracuse networks are all owned
    by one Operating Company.
 
(d) Adelphia or its affiliates lease fiber capacity to the Operating Companies
    in these networks.
 
(e) The interests in the Morristown and New Brunswick networks are owned by one
    Operating Company. Sutton Capital Associates also owns a minority interest
    in the Operating Company.
 
(f) The Company's interest in these networks has recently changed. See "--
    Recent Developments."
 
(g) The interests in the Lexington and Louisville networks are owned by one
    Operating Company.
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
 
 
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
 
  Time Warner Letter of Intent. Under a non-binding letter of intent with Time
Warner, dated as of June 17, 1996, the Company would consolidate its Operating
Partnership interests in the State of New York by (i) increasing its ownership
interest in the Buffalo Operating Partnership to 50% and in the Syracuse
network to 100% and (ii) eliminating its ownership interests in and management
responsibility for the Albany and Binghamton networks. In addition, the letter
of intent provides that, upon the consummation of the transaction, neither
party will be subject to the non-competition provisions contained in the
existing partnership agreements with respect to the markets from which they are
withdrawing. The consummation of this transaction is subject to numerous terms
and conditions including the negotiation and execution of definitive, binding
agreements. No assurances can be given as to whether or when, or the terms upon
which, such transaction will be consummated.
 
  Sale of Partnership Interest in the South Florida Partnership. On May 16,
1996, the Company completed the sale of its 15.7% partnership interest in TCG
South Florida (the "South Florida Partnership") to Teleport Communications
Group Inc. for an aggregate sales price of approximately $11.6 million
resulting in a pre-tax gain of approximately $8.4 million, and the Company was
released from its covenant not to compete with respect to the South Florida
market. Amounts related to the South Florida Partnership included in the
Company's investments and equity in net loss of joint ventures as of and for
the year ended March 31, 1996 and as of the date of sale and the three months
ended June 30, 1996 were approximately $3.4 million and ($0.8) million,
respectively, and $3.2 million and ($0.2) million, respectively.
 
  Other Changes in Partnership Interests. The Company recently entered into
agreements pursuant to which the Company's ownership interests in certain of
the Operating Partnerships have increased in three networks. These transactions
are consistent with the Company's goal to own at least a 50% interest in its
Operating Partnerships in the future, and where appropriate the Company may
consider similar transactions from time to time in its other markets.
 
  On August 1, 1996, the Company purchased general and limited partnership
interests in the Nashville, Tennessee Operating Partnership from InterMedia and
Robin Media. The aggregate purchase price was approximately $5.0 million. As a
result of this acquisition, the Company's ownership interest in this
partnership was increased to 95%.
 
  Pursuant to an amendment dated May 8, 1996 to the partnership agreement
relating to the Lexington and Louisville networks, the Company increased its
partnership ownership interest in Louisville and Lexington, Kentucky to 50% for
estimated required additional capital contributions of approximately $3.0
million, of which $1.0 million remained unpaid as of September 30, 1996.
 
  Issuance of 13% Senior Discount Notes and Warrants. On April 15, 1996, the
Company received net proceeds of $168.6 million from the issuance of $329
million in aggregate principal amount at maturity of 13% Senior Discount Notes
due April 15, 2003 (the "Senior Notes") and warrants to purchase an aggregate
of 5.76% of the then outstanding common stock (which will be reclassified as
Class B Common Stock upon the consummation of the Recapitalization Events) (the
"Warrants"). See "Description of Capital Stock--Warrants."
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
 
 
  Acquisition of Fiber Backbone. Effective September 30, 1996, the Vermont
Operating Company (as defined herein) purchased approximately 280 miles of
SONET ring fiber backbone presently used by the Company in Vermont from
Adelphia for $5.4 million, Adelphia's historical cost for such assets, subject
to post-closing adjustments. Prior to such purchase, the Company had been
leasing such fiber backbone in the Vermont network from Adelphia at an annual
rate of approximately $1.0 million.
   
  Interconnection Activities. The Company has completed the required
interconnection agreements with NYNEX, subject to state regulatory approval,
for all of its networks in the Northeast Cluster. The Company is also a
participant in a stipulation executed with Bell South in December 1995, that
provides for interconnection in the Jacksonville market, and is involved in
negotiations with Bell South and Bell Atlantic for interconnection agreements
that will cover its operating networks throughout the Mid-South and Mid-
Atlantic Clusters (other than Charlottesville), respectively. The Company
expects that these negotiations will be completed by the end of 1996.     
   
  Recent Regulatory Actions. The FCC has adopted many, but not all, of the
rules required to implement the Telecommunications Act. Rulemakings regarding
support for universal telephone service and reform of the current regime of
access charges paid by long distance carriers are expected to be completed in
the first half of 1997. The FCC's orders implementing the provisions of the
Telecommunications Act relating to telephone number portability and local
telephone competition are subject to Petitions for Reconsideration at the FCC
and the FCC's order implementing the Telecommunications Act relating to local
telephone competition is subject to Petitions for Review filed before federal
appeals courts. The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals has granted a stay of the
pricing and certain other provisions of the FCC's local telephone competition
rules. The stay is limited to certain FCC rules. None of the provisions of the
Telecommunications Act has been stayed. See "Regulation--Telecommunications Act
of 1996."     
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
 
 
                                 THE OFFERINGS
 
  13,200,000 shares of Class A Common Stock are initially being offered in the
United States (the "U.S. Offering") and 3,300,000 shares of Class A Common
Stock are concurrently being offered outside the United States (the
"International Offering"). The U.S. Offering and the International Offering are
referred to collectively in this Prospectus as the "Offerings."
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                              <C>
Class A Common Stock Offered: (1)
   U.S. Offering...............................  13,200,000
   International Offering......................   3,300,000
                                                 ----------
    Total......................................  16,500,000
                                                 ==========
Common Stock outstanding
 after the Offerings: (1)(2)
   Class A Common Stock........................  16,500,000
   Class B Common Stock........................  20,000,000
                                                 ----------
    Total .....................................  36,500,000
                                                 ==========
Use of Proceeds ...............................  The Company currently intends
                                                 to use the net proceeds from
                                                 the Offerings, together with
                                                 the remaining net proceeds from
                                                 the offering of the Senior
                                                 Notes and Warrants, to fund the
                                                 Company's capital expenditures,
                                                 working capital requirements,
                                                 operating losses and pro rata
                                                 investments in Operating
                                                 Companies and for general
                                                 corporate purposes.
Proposed Nasdaq National Market Symbol ........  HYPT
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) The Underwriters have been granted an option to purchase an additional
    1,980,000 shares at the initial public offering price, less the
    underwriting discount, solely to cover over-allotments. Additionally, the
    International Underwriters have been granted a similar option with respect
    to an additional 495,000 shares as part of the concurrent international
    offering. In the event that the Underwriters exercise such over-allotment
    options, Adelphia (the "Selling Stockholder"), the Company's controlling
    stockholder, may elect to satisfy such over-allotment options by selling
    shares of its Class A Common Stock; however, to the extent that the Selling
    Stockholder elects not to do so, such shares will be issued and sold by the
    Company. See "Use of Proceeds," "Principal Stockholders" and
    "Underwriting."
(2) Excludes, as of October 3, 1996, (i) 21,226,854 shares of Class A Common
    Stock reserved for issuance upon the conversion of outstanding Class B
    Common Stock and Class B Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of
    outstanding Warrants, (ii) 5,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock
    reserved for issuance under the Company's 1996 Plan (as defined herein) and
    (iii) 1,226,854 shares of Class B Common Stock issuable upon the exercise
    of outstanding Warrants. See "Management--Long-Term Compensation Plan" and
    "Description of Capital Stock--Common Stock" and "--Warrants."
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
 
                      SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
 
  The following summary financial data (except the unaudited information for
the fiscal years ended March 31, 1992 and 1993, and the three months ended June
30, 1995 and 1996) are derived from, and should be read in conjunction with,
the audited Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company and the related
Notes thereto contained herein. The unaudited information for the fiscal years
ended March 31, 1992 and 1993 and the three months ended June 30, 1995 and 1996
are derived from other Company information. All of the following information
should be read in conjunction with the Company's Consolidated Financial
Statements and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations" contained elsewhere in this Prospectus.
 
<TABLE>
COMPANY DATA (A):
<CAPTION>
                                                                         THREE MONTHS
                                FISCAL YEAR ENDED MARCH 31,             ENDED JUNE 30,
                          --------------------------------------------  ----------------
                           1992    1993     1994      1995      1996     1995     1996
                          ------  -------  -------  --------  --------  -------  -------
                               (AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<S>                       <C>     <C>      <C>      <C>       <C>       <C>      <C>
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
DATA:
 Telecommunications
  service and management
  fee revenue...........  $   --  $    89  $   417  $  1,729  $  3,322  $   686  $ 1,102
 Operating expenses:
 Network operations.....       2       19      330     1,382     2,690      628      859
 Selling, general and
  administrative........     209      921    2,045     2,524     3,084      831    1,027
 Depreciation and
  amortization..........      --       30      189       463     1,184      250      695
                          ------  -------  -------  --------  --------  -------  -------
 Operating loss.........    (211)    (881)  (2,147)   (2,640)   (3,636)  (1,023)  (1,479)
 Gain on sale of
  investment............      --       --       --        --        --       --    8,405
 Interest income........      --       --       17        39       199       16    1,433
 Interest expense and
  fees..................      --       --   (2,164)   (3,321)   (6,088)  (1,328)  (6,169)
 Equity in net loss of
  joint ventures........      --     (194)    (528)   (1,799)   (4,292)    (797)  (1,636)
 Net (loss) income .....  $ (211) $(1,075) $(4,725) $ (7,692) $(13,620) $(3,113) $   551
 Net (loss) income per
  weighted average share
  of common stock.......  $(0.01) $ (0.05) $ (0.24) $  (0.38) $  (0.68) $ (0.16) $  0.03
 Weighted average shares
  of common stock
  outstanding...........  20,000   20,000   20,000    20,000    20,000   20,000   21,050
OTHER COMPANY DATA:
 EBITDA (b).............  $ (211) $  (851) $(1,958) $ (2,177) $ (2,452) $  (773) $  (784)
 Capital expenditures
  and Company
  investments (c).......      60    3,891    8,607    10,376    18,899    5,390    6,568
 Cash used in operating
  activities............    (184)    (725)  (2,121)   (2,130)     (833)  (1,621)  (2,657)
 Cash (used in) provided
  by investing
  activities............     (60)  (3,806)  (8,607)  (10,376)  (18,899)  (5,390)   5,050
 Cash provided by
  financing activities..     248    4,645   10,609    12,506    19,732    7,011  129,749
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                     AS OF MARCH 31,                   AS OF
                         -------------------------------------------  JUNE 30,
                         1992    1993     1994      1995      1996      1996
                         -----  -------  -------  --------  --------  --------
                                      (AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                      <C>    <C>      <C>      <C>       <C>       <C>
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
 Cash and cash
  equivalents........... $   5  $   118  $    --  $     --  $     --  $132,142
 Total assets...........    82    4,316   14,765    23,212    35,269   176,793
 Long term debt.........    --    4,814   19,968    35,541    50,855   194,475
 Stockholders' equity
  (deficiency)..........  (211)  (1,286)  (6,011)  (13,703)  (27,323)  (18,685)
</TABLE>
- --------
(a) Financial information for the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries. As
    of June 30, 1996, 13 of the Company's networks were owned by joint ventures
    in which it owns an interest of 50% or less, and for which the Company
    reports its interest pursuant to the equity method of accounting consistent
    with generally accepted accounting principles.
(b) EBITDA consists of net (loss) income before interest, equity in net loss of
    joint ventures, gain on sale of investment, income taxes, depreciation and
    amortization for the periods presented. It is a measure commonly used in
    the telecommunications industry and is presented to assist in understanding
    the Company's operating results. However, it is not intended to represent
    cash flow or results of operations in accordance with generally accepted
    accounting principles. See the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements
    and Notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus.
(c) For the fiscal years ended March 31, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 and the
    three months ended June 30, 1995 and 1996, the Company's capital
    expenditures (including capital expenditures relating to its wholly owned
    Operating Companies) were $0.1, $2.0, $3.1, $2.9, $6.1, $1.4 and $1.8
    million, respectively, and the Company's investments in its less than
    wholly owned Operating Companies and the South Florida Partnership were
    $0.0, $1.9, $5.5, $7.5, $12.8, $4.0 and $4.8 million, respectively, for the
    same periods. See the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes
    thereto appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus.
 
                                       10
<PAGE>
 
                             SUMMARY OPERATING DATA
 
  The following summary operating data is unaudited information that represents
data for 100% of the Operating Companies' networks and is derived from Company
information. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations--Supplementary Operating Company Financial Analysis."
As of June 30, 1996, 13 of the Company's 17 networks were 50% or less owned by
the Company, and as of September 30, 1996, 14 of the Company's 18 networks were
50% or less owned by the Company. The Company reports its interest in such 50%
or less owned networks pursuant to the equity method of accounting consistent
with generally accepted accounting principles. As a result, the financial
information set forth below is not indicative of the Company's overall
financial position and investors should not place undue reliance on such
information when considering an investment in the Class A Common Stock offered
hereby. The Company was organized in October 1991 and did not offer service
through its Operating Companies until after Fiscal 1992.
 
<TABLE>

NETWORK DATA
(UNAUDITED)(A):
<CAPTION>
                                                                   THREE MONTHS
                                                                       ENDED
                              FISCAL YEAR ENDED MARCH 31,            JUNE 30,
                          ---------------------------------------  --------------
                          1992  1993    1994     1995      1996     1995    1996
                          ---- ------  -------  -------  --------  ------  ------
                                    (AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                       <C>  <C>     <C>      <C>      <C>       <C>     <C>
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
DATA:
 Network revenues.......  $--  $  195  $   962  $ 3,056  $  7,763  $1,505  $2,926
 Operating expenses:
 Network operations.....   --     504      789    1,946     4,871     819   1,501
 Selling, general and
 administrative.........   --     353    1,145    2,439     5,316     973   1,941
 Depreciation and
 amortization...........   --     207      839    2,467     6,137   1,298   2,709
                          ---  ------  -------  -------  --------  ------  ------
 Operating loss.........   --    (869)  (1,811)  (3,796)   (8,561) (1,585) (3,225)
 Net loss...............   --    (948)  (2,077)  (4,569)  (11,285) (1,945) (4,112)
OTHER OPERATING DATA:
 EBITDA (b).............  $--  $ (662) $  (972) $(1,329) $ (2,424) $ (287) $ (516)
 Capital expenditures...   --   4,947   13,790   24,658    45,177   7,980  13,887
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                             AS OF MARCH 31,            AS OF
                                   ----------------------------------- JUNE 30,
                                   1992  1993   1994    1995    1996     1996
                                   ---- ------ ------- ------- ------- --------
                                              (AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                <C>  <C>    <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
 Gross Property, Plant & Equipment
 (c).............................. $60  $6,952 $21,907 $49,107 $97,318 $112,497
 Capital lease obligations (d)....  --   1,244   3,291  11,166  18,163   24,833
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  AS OF    AS OF       AS OF
                                                MARCH 31, JUNE 30, SEPTEMBER 30,
                                                  1996      1996       1996
                                                --------- -------- -------------
<S>                                             <C>       <C>      <C>
OTHER NETWORK DATA:
 Networks in operation.........................       13       13          15
 Cities served (e).............................       19       19          33
 Networks under construction...................        4        4           3
 Route miles (e)...............................    2,210    2,647       2,887
 Fiber miles (e)...............................  106,080  127,063     138,571
 Buildings connected...........................      822      908       1,101
 LEC-COs collocated (f)........................       44       69          89
 Voice grade equivalent circuits...............  186,292  279,864     316,080
 Switches installed (g)........................        5        5           6
 Employees (h).................................      155      155         179
</TABLE>
- --------
(a) Unless otherwise stated, represents the summation of all of the networks'
    financial and operating information for each of the categories presented.
    Network Data is derived from the Operating Companies' records and presents
    information for the Company's networks, but does not include information
    for the South Florida Partnership.
(b) EBITDA consists of net (loss) income before interest, equity in net loss of
    joint ventures, gain on sale of investment, income taxes, depreciation and
    amortization for the periods presented. It is a measure commonly used in
    the telecommunications industry and is presented to assist in understanding
    the Company's operating results. However, it is not intended to represent
    cash flow or results of operations in accordance with generally accepted
    accounting principles.
(c) Represents total property, plant and equipment (before accumulated
    depreciation) of the networks, the Company's Network Operations and Control
    Center (the "NOCC") and the Company. Excludes the $5.4 million (subject to
    post-closing adjustments) SONET ring fiber backbone purchased by the
    Vermont Operating Company from Adelphia effective September 30, 1996. See
    "--Recent Developments."
(d) Represents fiber lease financings with the respective Local Partners for
    each network.
(e) Excludes networks under construction.
(f) LEC-CO collocated means that the Company has interconnected its network at
    the LEC-CO.
(g) Represents Lucent Technologies ("Lucent") 5ESS switches or remote switch
    modules which deliver full switch functionality.
(h) Employees includes combined employees of the Operating Companies and the
    Company.
 
                                       11
<PAGE>
 
                                 RISK FACTORS
 
  In addition to the other information in this Prospectus, prospective
investors should consider carefully the following risk factors in evaluating
the Company and its business before purchasing Class A Common Stock in the
Offerings. This Prospectus contains certain statements of a forward-looking
nature relating to future events or the future financial performance of the
Company. Prospective investors are cautioned that such statements are only
predictions and that actual events or results may differ materially. In
evaluating such statements, prospective investors should specifically consider
the various factors identified in this Prospectus, including the matters set
forth below, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those
indicated by such forward-looking statements.
 
  Negative Cash Flow and Operating Losses; Limited History of Operations. The
Company has experienced significant losses since its inception, with operating
losses of approximately ($2.1) million, ($2.6) million and ($3.6) million for
the fiscal years ended March 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996, respectively, and ($1.0)
million and ($1.5) million for the quarters ended June 30, 1995 and 1996,
respectively. The Company expects to continue to incur substantial operating
losses in the foreseeable future as it pursues its plans to expand its
networks, service offerings and customer base. There can be no assurance that
such losses will not continue indefinitely. The Company currently accounts for
its ownership interests in the Operating Companies in which it does not have
majority ownership interest using the equity method and, therefore, the
Company's consolidated financial statements include only the Company's pro
rata share of the Operating Companies' and the South Florida Partnership's net
losses as equity in net losses of joint ventures.
 
  The Company was formed in October 1991 and, as of September 30, 1996, only
four of its 18 networks had been in operation for more than 24 months, and
three networks were not yet in operation. Prospective investors therefore have
limited historical financial information about the Company upon which to base
an evaluation of the Company's performance. The development of the Company's
businesses and the installation and expansion of its networks require
significant expenditures, a substantial portion of which are made before any
revenues may be realized. Certain of the expenditures, including marketing,
sales and general and administrative costs, are expensed as incurred, while
certain other expenditures, including network design and construction,
negotiation of rights-of-way and costs to obtain legal and regulatory
approval, are deferred until the applicable network is operational. The
Company will continue to incur significant expenditures in connection with the
construction, acquisition, development and expansion of the Company's and
Operating Companies' networks, services and customer base.
 
  In light of the Company's limited operating history, its history of
significant operating losses and its expectation that it will continue to
incur significant expenses and operating losses for the foreseeable future,
there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to implement its
growth strategy, or achieve or sustain profitability.
 
  Substantial Leverage. As of June 30, 1996, the Company's total amount of
debt outstanding was $194.5 million and the Company had a stockholders'
deficiency of $18.7 million. In addition, in each year since its inception,
the Company's earnings have been inadequate to cover its fixed charges by a
substantial margin. Commencing on October 15, 2001, semi-annual cash interest
payments of $21.4 million will be due on the Senior Notes, which substantially
exceeds the Company's gross revenues of approximately $3.3 million for the
year ended March 31, 1996.
 
  Because the Company currently has a consolidated cash flow deficit, its
ability to make cash interest payments on the Senior Notes commencing on
October 15, 2001 and to repay its obligations on the Senior Notes at maturity
will be dependent on developing one or more sources of cash flow prior to the
date on which cash interest payment obligations begin on the Senior Notes. To
accomplish this the Company may seek to (i) refinance all or a portion of the
Senior Notes, (ii) sell all or a portion
 
                                      12
<PAGE>
 
of its interests in one or more of the Operating Companies, (iii) negotiate
with its current Local Partners to permit any excess cash generated by its
Operating Companies to be distributed to partners rather than invested in the
businesses of such Operating Companies and/or (iv) invest in companies that
will make substantial cash distributions on or before the maturity of the
Senior Notes. There can be no assurance that (i) there will be a market for
the debt or equity securities of the Company in the future, (ii) the Company
will be able to sell assets in a timely manner or on commercially reasonable
terms or in an amount that will be sufficient to make cash interest payments
and repay the Senior Notes when due, (iii) the Company will be able to
persuade its Local Partners that cash generated by the operations of the
Operating Companies should be distributed to partners or shareholders or (iv)
the Company will be able to locate and invest in companies that will be mature
enough to make substantial cash contributions to the Company prior to the
maturity date of the Senior Notes.
 
  Risks Associated with Joint Ventures. Most of the Operating Companies' Local
Partner Agreements (as defined) contain mandatory buy/sell provisions that,
after a certain number of years, can be initiated by either partner and result
in one partner purchasing all of the other partner's interests. Accordingly,
there can be no assurance that the Company and its subsidiaries will continue
to be in partnership with their current Local Partner, or any other partner,
in each of their respective markets, or that the Company or its subsidiaries
will have sufficient funds to purchase the partnership interest of such other
partner. In addition, if a partner triggers such buy/sell provisions and the
Company is unable to purchase the initiating partner's interests, the Company
will be forced to sell its interests to the partner, thereby terminating the
partnership, which could result in a material adverse effect on the future
cash flow of the Company.
 
  The bankruptcy or insolvency of a Local Partner or an Operating Company
could result in the termination of the respective Local Partner Agreement and
the related Fiber Lease Agreement (as defined). The effect of such
terminations could be materially adverse to the Company and the respective
Operating Company. Similarly, all of the Management Agreements (as defined),
two of the Local Partner Agreements and five of the Fiber Lease Agreements can
be terminated by the respective Local Partner at various times during the next
seven years. While the Company believes such agreements will be renewed, there
can be no assurance that the Local Partner will not seek to terminate the
agreements. See "Business--Operating Agreements." Accordingly, the failure to
renew such agreements could materially adversely affect the Company and the
respective Operating Companies. In addition, the failure of a Local Partner to
make required capital contributions could have a material adverse effect on
the Company and the respective Operating Company.
 
  The Indenture with respect to the Senior Notes does not restrict the amount
of indebtedness that can be incurred by Operating Companies in which the
Company owns a less than 45% interest. Accordingly, the Company's ability to
access the cash flow and assets of such Operating Companies may be severely
limited. While none of the Operating Companies currently has a substantial
amount of indebtedness, there can be no assurance that such Operating
Companies will not incur substantial indebtedness in the future.
 
  Competition. In each of the markets served by the Company's networks, the
services offered by the Company compete principally with the services offered
by the incumbent LEC serving that area. Incumbent LECs have long-standing
relationships with their customers, have the potential to subsidize
competitive services from monopoly service revenues, and benefit from
favorable state and federal regulations. In light of the passage of the
Telecommunications Act, federal and state regulatory initiatives will provide
increased business opportunities to CLECs such as the Company, but regulators
are likely to provide incumbent LECs with increased pricing flexibility for
their services as competition increases. If incumbent LECs are allowed by
regulators to lower their rates substantially, engage in excessive volume and
term discount pricing practices for their customers, or charge CLECs excessive
fees for interconnection to the incumbent LECs' networks, the net income and
cash flow of CLECs, including the Operating Companies, could be materially
adversely affected.
 
                                      13
<PAGE>
 
  The Telecommunications Act also establishes procedures under which the
Regional Bell Operating Companies ("RBOCs") can obtain authority to provide
long distance services if they comply with certain interconnection
requirements. There has been significant merger activity among the RBOCs in
anticipation of entry into the long distance market. If RBOCs are permitted to
provide such services, they will ultimately be in a position to offer single
source service. This could result in decreased market share for the major
IXCs, which are the Company networks' major customers. Such a result could
have an adverse effect on the Company.
 
  The Company also faces, and will continue to face, competition from other
current and potential market entrants, including other CLECs, AT&T, MCI,
Sprint and other IXCs, cable television companies, electric utilities,
microwave carriers, wireless telecommunications providers and private networks
built by large end users. A number of markets served by the Company already
are served by one or more CLECs. In addition, all three major IXCs are
expected to enter the market for local telecommunications services. MCI has
announced that it will invest more than $2.0 billion in fiber optic rings and
local switching equipment in major metropolitan markets throughout the United
States, and AT&T has filed applications with state regulatory authorities for
authority to provide local telecommunications services in all 50 states.
Although the Company has good relationships with the IXCs, there are no
assurances that any of these IXCs will not build their own facilities or
resell the services of other carriers rather than use the Company's services
when entering the market for local exchange services.
 
  The Company also competes with equipment vendors and installers, and
telecommunications management companies with respect to certain portions of
its business.
 
  Many of the Company's current and potential competitors, particularly
incumbent LECs, have financial, personnel and other resources substantially
greater than those of the Company, as well as other competitive advantages
over the Company. See "Competition" for more detailed information on the
competitive environment faced by the Company.
 
  Regulation and Risks of the Telecommunications Act. The Company is subject
to varying degrees of federal, state and local regulation. The Company is not
currently subject to price cap or rate of return regulation by the FCC, nor is
it currently required to obtain FCC authorization for the installation,
acquisition or operation of its network facilities. However, the FCC has
determined that nondominant carriers, such as the Company and the Operating
Companies, are required to file interstate tariffs on an ongoing basis. The
Telecommunications Act also requires the FCC to establish a subsidy mechanism
for universal telephone service to which the Company will be required to
contribute. The Operating Companies that provide intrastate services are also
generally subject to certification and tariff filing requirements by state
regulators and may also be subject to state reporting, customer service and
universal service requirements. Challenges to these tariffs and certificates
by third parties could cause the Company to incur substantial legal and
administrative expenses. In addition, under the Telecommunications Act,
provision of switched services by the Company could be subject to new
universal service and other federal regulatory requirements.
 
  Although the Telecommunications Act eliminates legal barriers to entry, no
assurance can be given that changes in current or future regulations adopted
by the FCC or state regulators or other legislative or judicial initiatives
relating to the telecommunications industry would not have a material adverse
effect on the Company. In particular, the Company's belief that the entire $97
billion local exchange market may ultimately be open to CLEC competition
depends upon favorable interpretation of the Telecommunications Act, and the
ability of the Company and the Operating Companies to compete in these new
market segments may be adversely affected if incumbent LECs are granted
greater pricing flexibility and other regulatory relief that enables them to
impose costs on potential competitors or otherwise restrict the Company's
ability to serve its customers and attract new customers. In addition, the
Telecommunications Act removes entry barriers for all companies and could
increase substantially the number of competitors offering comparable services
in the Company's
 
                                      14
<PAGE>
 
markets. See "Regulation--Overview" for more detailed information on the
regulatory environment in which the Company and the Operating Companies
operate.
 
  Control by Principal Stockholder. Upon completion of the Offerings (and
assuming no exercise of the over-allotment options), Adelphia will possess
approximately 82.22% of the combined voting power of both classes of Common
Stock. Accordingly, Adelphia will be able to control the vote on corporate
matters requiring stockholder approval, including, but not limited to,
electing directors, amending the Company's Certificate of Incorporation and
approving mergers or sales of substantially all of the Company's assets. In
addition, pursuant to agreements between the Company, Adelphia and certain of
the Company's senior management, Adelphia has the power to control certain
corporate transactions of the Company, including its ability to enter into
joint ventures and other business relationships. As a result, the Company may
be subject to the effect of possible conflicts of interest arising from the
relationship with Adelphia in connection with the pursuit of business
opportunities in the telecommunications industry. Although directors of the
Company who are also directors of Adelphia have certain fiduciary obligations
to the Company under Delaware law, such directors are in positions that may
create conflicts of interest. There can be no assurance that any such conflict
will be resolved in favor of the Company. Three directors of Adelphia serve on
the Special Nominating Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company,
which is empowered to expand the number of seats on the Company's Board of
Directors by up to four and to fill the vacancies created thereby. See
"Management--Board Committees." In addition, Adelphia has agreed to vote its
shares of the Common Stock of the Company to elect the Management Stockholders
(as defined herein) to the Company's Board of Directors. See "Certain
Relationships and Transactions" and "Principal Stockholders."
 
  Dependence on Key Personnel. The success of the Company and its growth
strategy depends in large part on the Company's ability to attract and retain
key management, marketing and operations personnel. Currently, the Company's
businesses are managed by a small number of management and operating personnel
with certain other services, including financial and certain accounting
services, provided by Adelphia. There can be no assurance that the Company
will attract and retain the qualified personnel needed to manage, operate and
further develop its business. In addition, the loss of the services of any one
or more members of the Company's senior management team could have a material
adverse effect on the Company.
 
  Significant Future Capital Requirements. Expansion of the Company's existing
networks and services and the development of new networks and services require
significant capital expenditures. The Company's operations have required and
will continue to require substantial capital investment for (i) the
installation of electronics for switched services in the Company's networks,
(ii) the expansion and improvement of the Company's NOCC and existing networks
and (iii) the design, construction and development of additional networks. The
Company plans to make substantial capital investments and investments in
Operating Companies in connection with the installation of 5ESS switches or
remote switching modules in all of its existing operating markets by mid-1997
and additional 5ESSs or remote switching modules in each of the Company's
future operational markets. Expansion of the Company's networks will include
the geographic expansion of the Company's existing clusters and the
development of new markets. The Company expects to continue to build networks
in additional markets which the Company anticipates will include additional
networks with cable and utility partners that have broader geographic coverage
and require higher capital outlays than those with cable partners in the past.
The Company estimates that it will require approximately $200 million to fund
anticipated capital expenditures, working capital requirements and operating
losses of the Company and to make investments in existing and new Operating
Companies and to enter certain additional markets during calendar 1997 and
1998. In order to achieve its goal of entering new markets by the end of 1998,
the Company is seeking additional capital through the Offerings. The Company
also expects to fund additional capital requirements through existing
resources, secured credit facilities at
 
                                      15
<PAGE>
 
the Company and Operating Company levels, internally generated funds, equity
invested by Local Partners in Operating Companies, additional Operating
Companies and additional debt or equity financings, as appropriate.
 
  The Company also has been required to fund the purchase of certain
partnership interests in the Louisville Operating Partnership and the
Nashville Operating Partnership and may be required to raise capital to
purchase the partnership interests of a Local Partner seeking to exercise its
right to sell its partnership interest. See "--Risks Associated with Joint
Ventures," "Prospectus Summary--Recent Developments" and "Business--Operating
Agreements--Local Partner Agreements." There can be no assurance, however,
that the Company will be successful in generating sufficient cash flow or in
raising sufficient debt or equity capital on terms that it will consider
acceptable, or at all. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations--Liquidity and Capital Resources."
 
  The expectations of required future capital expenditures are based on the
Company's current estimates. There can be no assurance that actual
expenditures will not significantly exceed current estimates.
 
  Holding Company Structure; Inability to Access Cash Flow. The Company is a
holding company with substantially all of its operations conducted through the
Operating Companies, and the Company expects that it could develop new
networks and operations in the future through joint ventures in which the
Company will own less than 50% of the equity interests. Accordingly, the
Company's cash flow and, consequently, its ability to service its debt,
including the Senior Notes, the Adelphia Note (as defined) and any other
indebtedness, is dependent on its pro rata share of the cash flow of the
Operating Companies and the payment of funds by those Operating Companies in
the form of management fees, loans, dividends, distributions or otherwise. The
Operating Companies are separate and distinct legal entities and have no
obligation, contingent or otherwise, to pay any amounts due pursuant to the
Senior Notes or to make any funds available therefor, whether in the form of
loans, dividends, distributions or otherwise. Furthermore, the Company may be
unable to access the cash flow of certain of the Operating Companies because
it holds a 50% or less ownership interest in certain of such entities and,
therefore, does not have the requisite control to cause such entities to make
distributions or pay dividends (as applicable) to the partners or equity
holders (as applicable). In addition, such entities will be permitted to incur
indebtedness that may severely restrict or prohibit the making of
distributions, the payment of dividends (as applicable) or the making of
loans. See "--Risks Associated with Joint Ventures" and "--Substantial
Leverage."
 
  Expansion Risk. The Company is experiencing a period of rapid expansion
which the Company believes will accelerate following the Offerings. The
operating complexity of the Company, as well as the level of responsibility
for management personnel, has increased as a result of this expansion. The
Company's ability to manage such growth effectively will require it to
continue to expand and improve its operational and financial systems and to
expand, train and manage its employee base.
 
  Dependence on Business from IXCs. For the year ended March 31, 1996,
approximately 75% of the Operating Companies' combined revenues were
attributable to access services provided to MCI, AT&T and other IXCs. The loss
of access revenues from IXCs in general or the loss of MCI or AT&T as a
customer could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business. See
"Business--Company Strategy."
 
  The Company's growth strategy assumes increased revenues from IXCs and end
users following the deployment of switches in the Company's networks and the
provision of switched access origination and termination services. In
addition, the Company competes in its markets with other CLECs for IXC
business. Accordingly, there is no assurance that the IXCs will continue to
increase their utilization of the Company's services, or will not reduce or
cease their utilization of the Company's services, either of which could have
a material adverse effect on the Company.
 
                                      16
<PAGE>
 
  Furthermore, the Telecommunications Act establishes procedures under which
RBOCs can obtain authority to compete with the IXCs in the long distance
market. Due to the Operating Companies' dependence on business from IXCs, any
loss of market share by the IXCs could have a material adverse effect on the
Company.
   
  Need to Obtain and Maintain Permits and Rights-of-Way. There can be no
assurance that the Company or the Operating Companies, through Local Partners,
Adelphia or their own efforts, will be able to maintain existing permits and
rights-of-way or to obtain and maintain the other permits and rights-of-way
needed to develop and operate existing and future networks. In addition, the
Company and the Operating Companies may require pole attachment or conduit use
agreements with incumbent LECs, utilities or other LECs to operate existing
and future networks, and there can be no assurance that such agreements will
be obtained or will be obtainable on reasonable terms. Failure to obtain or
maintain such permits, rights-of-way and agreements could have a material
adverse effect on the Company's ability to operate and expand its networks.
See "Business--Operating Agreements--Fiber Lease Agreements."     
   
  The amount of lease payments could be affected by the costs the Local
Partners incur for attachments to poles, or use of conduit, owned by incumbent
LECs or electric utilities. Various state public utility commissions ("State
PUCs"), and the FCC are reviewing whether use of Local Partner facilities for
telecommunications purposes (as occurs when the Operating Companies lease
fiber optic capacity from Local Partners) should entitle incumbent LECs and
electric utilities to higher pole attachment or conduit occupancy fees. Such
increased fees could result in an increase in the amount of the lease payments
made by the Operating Companies to the Local Partners and could have a
significant impact on the profitability of the Operating Companies.     
 
  Rapid Technological Changes. The telecommunications industry is subject to
rapid and significant changes in technology. While the Company believes that
for the foreseeable future these changes will neither materially affect the
continued use of fiber optic telecommunications networks nor materially hinder
the Company's ability to acquire necessary technologies, the effect of
technological changes on the businesses of the Company cannot be predicted.
Thus, there can be no assurance that technological developments will not have
a material adverse effect on the Company.
 
  Anti-Takeover Provisions and Change of Control Considerations. The Company's
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, the provisions of the Delaware
General Corporation Law and the Indenture with respect to the Senior Notes may
make it difficult in some respects to effect a change of control of the
Company and replace incumbent management. The existence of these provisions
may have a negative impact on the price of the Class A Common Stock, may
discourage third party bidders from making a bid for the Company, or may
reduce any premiums paid to stockholders for their Class A Common Stock. In
addition, the Board of Directors has the authority to fix the rights and
preferences of and issue shares of the Company's Preferred Stock, which may
have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control of the Company
without action by its stockholders.
   
  The Company and its Operating Companies are subject to regulation by State
PUCs in the states in which they operate. Certain State PUCs have passed or
are considering passing regulations that would require an investor who
acquires a specified percentage of the Company's or the relevant Operating
Company's securities, to obtain approval to own such securities from such
State PUC. See "Regulation--State Regulation."     
 
  No Prior Trading Market for Class A Common Stock; Potential Volatility of
Stock Price. Prior to the Offerings, there has been no public market for the
Class A Common Stock, and there can be no assurance that an active trading
market will develop or be sustained after the Offerings. The initial public
offering price will be determined through negotiations between the Company and
the representatives of the Underwriters (the "Representatives") based on
several factors and may not be indicative of the market price of the Class A
Common Stock after the Offerings. See "Underwriting."
 
                                      17
<PAGE>
 
The market price of the shares of Class A Common Stock may be significantly
affected by factors such as actual or anticipated fluctuations in the
Company's operating results, new products or services or new contracts by the
Company or its competitors, legislative and regulatory developments,
conditions and trends in the telecommunications industry, 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 common stock of
telecommunications companies and that have often been unrelated to the
operating performance of particular companies. These broad market fluctuations
may also adversely affect the market price of the Company's Class A Common
Stock.
 
  Dilution. The initial public offering price is substantially higher than the
net tangible book value per share of Common Stock. Investors purchasing Class
A Common Stock in the Offerings at the initial offering price will therefore
incur immediate and substantial net tangible book value dilution of $7.61 per
share of Class A Common Stock (assuming no exercise of the Underwriters' over-
allotment option). To the extent that the Warrants or outstanding options to
purchase the Common Stock are exercised or further Common Stock is issued by
the Company at prices less than the then current net tangible book value,
there will be further dilution. See "Dilution."
   
  Shares Eligible for Future Sale. Sales of substantial amounts of Class A
Common Stock in the public market after the Offerings may have an adverse
effect on the market price of the Class A Common Stock. The Company and the
Selling Stockholder have agreed that they will not, directly or indirectly,
offer, sell, grant any option to purchase or otherwise dispose (or approve any
offer, sale, grant or other disposition) of any shares of Class A Common
Stock, Class B Common Stock or other capital stock of the Company or any
securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, any share of
Class A Common Stock or other capital stock of the Company (the "Lock-Up
Agreements") (except in connection with certain transfers to affiliates, the
Company's 1996 Plan and the Warrants), without the prior written consent of
the Representatives for a period of 180 days after the date of this
Prospectus. The Underwriters have agreed that each of Messrs. Drenning,
Fajerski and Fowler may sell up to $1.0 million worth of shares of Class A
Common Stock after 30 days following the date of this Prospectus. Their
remaining shares will be subject to Lock-Up Agreements substantially identical
to those of the Company and the Selling Stockholder. Unless otherwise
restricted, all shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the
outstanding Class B Common Stock will be immediately eligible for sale in the
public market in reliance upon Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Securities Act"), subject to the restrictions contained therein.
Additionally, the Company intends to register under the Securities Act up to
5,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock reserved for future grants under the
Company's 1996 Plan. See "Shares Eligible for Future Sale."     
 
  Lack of Dividend History. The Company has never declared or paid any cash
dividends on its Common Stock and does not expect to declare any such
dividends in the foreseeable future. Payment of any future dividends will
depend upon earnings and capital requirements of the Company, the Company's
debt facilities and other factors the Board of Directors considers
appropriate. The Company intends to retain its earnings, if any, to finance
the development and expansion of its business, and therefore does not
anticipate paying any dividends in the foreseeable future. In addition, the
terms of the Senior Notes restrict the payment of dividends. See "Dividend
Policy."
 
                                      18
<PAGE>
 
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
  The net proceeds to the Company from the sale of the Class A Common Stock
offered hereby, after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and
estimated expenses of the Offerings, are estimated to be approximately $186.0
million.
 
  The Company currently intends to use the net proceeds from the Offerings,
together with the remaining net proceeds from the offering of the Senior Notes
and Warrants, to fund the Company's capital expenditures, working capital
requirements, operating losses and pro rata investments in Operating Companies
and for general corporate purposes. The Operating Companies and the Company
will invest a substantial portion of these proceeds in capital expenditures.
These capital expenditures will include: (i) connecting new buildings to the
Company's networks; (ii) purchasing electronics (including switches) to
increase the services provided by the Company's existing networks; (iii)
financing the completion of the networks currently under construction and (iv)
building additional networks in the future. In addition, the Company may use a
portion of the proceeds to acquire existing networks or other
telecommunications-related assets. Management will retain a substantial amount
of discretion over the application of the net proceeds of the Offering and
there can be assurance that the application of net proceeds will not vary
significantly from the Company's current plans. Pending such uses, the net
proceeds will be invested in short-term, highly liquid investment-grade
securities.
 
  The Company expects to accelerate the expansion of its operations to take
advantage of the recent regulatory changes mandated by the passage of the
Telecommunications Act. In particular, the Company expects to continue to
expand the Operating Companies' networks and to build networks in additional
markets which the Company anticipates will include additional networks with
cable and utility partners. The Company expects to fund these efforts through
the sale of the Class A Common Stock offered hereby, the remaining net
proceeds from the offering of the Senior Notes and Warrants, pro rata
investments by Local Partners, Fiber Lease Financings (as defined), additional
external financings and internally generated funds. There can be no assurance
that the Company will be able to secure such sources for the development of
its own networks and those of the Operating Companies. In addition, the
Indenture relating to the Senior Notes limits the ability of the Company and
the Operating Companies to incur additional indebtedness.
 
  The Underwriters have been granted an option to purchase an additional
1,980,000 shares at the initial public offering price, less the underwriting
discount, solely to cover over-allotments. Additionally, the International
Underwriters have been granted a similar option with respect to an additional
495,000 shares as part of the concurrent international offering. In the event
that the Underwriters exercise such over-allotment options, the Selling
Stockholder may elect to satisfy such over-allotment options by selling shares
of Class A Common Stock; however, to the extent that such Selling Stockholder
elects not to do so, then such shares will be issued and sold by the Company.
If such over-allotment options are exercised in full, the total initial public
offering price, underwriting discount and proceeds to (i) the Selling
Stockholder, in the event that such Selling Stockholder sells all of the
shares necessary to satisfy such options, will be $     , $     , and $    ,
respectively and (ii) the Company, in the event that the Company sells all of
the shares necessary to satisfy such options, will be $     , $      , and
$      , respectively. The Company will not receive any of the proceeds from
the sale of Class A Common Stock by the Selling Stockholder. See "Principal
Stockholders."
 
                                      19
<PAGE>
 
                                CAPITALIZATION
 
  The following table sets forth the capitalization of the Company as of June
30, 1996 and as adjusted to reflect the receipt of net proceeds from the sale
of 16,500,000 shares of Class A Common Stock offered by the Company (assuming
no exercise of the Underwriters' over-allotment options) at an assumed initial
public offering price of $12.00. This table should be read in conjunction with
the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements and related Notes included
elsewhere in this Prospectus.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            JUNE 30, 1996
                                                       ------------------------
                                                        ACTUAL   AS ADJUSTED(1)
                                                       --------  --------------
                                                       (AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                    <C>       <C>
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS............................. $132,142     $318,142
                                                       ========     ========
LONG-TERM DEBT
  13% Senior Discount Notes due 2003.................. $168,620     $168,620
  Note Payable--Adelphia..............................   25,855       25,855
                                                       --------     --------
TOTAL LONG-TERM DEBT.................................. $194,475     $194,475
                                                       --------     --------
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIENCY)
  Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value, 300,000,000
   shares
   authorized, no shares issued and outstanding
   (16,500,000 as
   adjusted)(2).......................................      --           165
  Class B Common Stock, $.01 par value, 150,000,000
   shares
   authorized, 20,000,000 shares issued and outstand-
   ing (20,000,000 as adjusted).......................      200          200
  Class B Common Stock Warrants.......................   11,087       11,087
  Additional paid-in-capital..........................      --       185,835
  Loans to stockholders...............................   (3,000)      (3,000)
  Accumulated deficit.................................  (26,972)     (26,972)
                                                       --------     --------
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIENCY)...............  (18,685)     167,315
                                                       --------     --------
TOTAL CAPITALIZATION.................................. $175,790     $361,790
                                                       ========     ========
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) Reflects the effect of $186.0 million in estimated net proceeds from the
    issuance and sale by the Company of shares of Class A Common Stock in the
    Offerings.
(2) Excludes (i) 21,226,854 shares of Class A Common Stock reserved for
    issuance upon conversion of outstanding Class B Common Stock and Class B
    Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding Warrants, (ii)
    5,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock reserved for issuance under the
    Company's 1996 Plan, and (iii) 1,226,854 shares of Class B Common Stock
    issuable upon exercise of outstanding Warrants. See "Management--Long-Term
    Compensation Plan" and "Description of Capital Stock--Common Stock" and
    "--Warrants."
 
                                DIVIDEND POLICY
 
  The Company has no plans to pay dividends on the Common Stock. The Company
presently intends to retain earnings to reduce outstanding indebtedness and to
fund the growth of the Company's business. The payment of any future dividends
will be determined by the Board of Directors in light of conditions then
existing, including the Company's results of operations, financial condition,
cash requirements, restrictions in financing agreements, business conditions
and other factors. The ability of the Company to pay dividends is restricted
by covenants contained in the Indenture relating to the Senior Notes.
 
 
                                      20
<PAGE>
 
                                   DILUTION
 
  The net tangible book value of the Company's Common Stock as of June 30,
1996 was $(25,589,001) or approximately $(1.28) per share. Net tangible book
value per share represents the amount of the Company's stockholders' equity
(deficiency), less intangible assets, divided by 20,000,000 shares of Common
Stock outstanding.
 
  Net tangible book value dilution per share represents the difference between
the amount per share paid by purchasers of shares of Class A Common Stock in
the Offerings and the pro forma net tangible book value per share of the
Common Stock immediately after completion of the Offerings. After giving
effect to the sale by the Company of 16,500,000 shares of Class A Common Stock
in the Offerings at an assumed initial public offering price of $12.00 per
share, after deduction of underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated
offering expenses, the pro forma net tangible book value of the Company as of
June 30, 1996 would have been $160,411,000, or $4.39 per share of Common
Stock. This represents an immediate increase in net tangible book value of
$5.67 per share to existing stockholders and an immediate dilution of net
tangible book value of $7.61 per share to purchasers of Class A Common Stock
in the Offerings, as illustrated in the following table:
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                              <C>     <C>
Public offering price per share of Class A Common Stock.........         $12.00
  Net tangible book value per share of Common Stock before the
 Offerings...................................................... $(1.28)
  Increase per share of Common Stock attributable to new
 investors......................................................   5.67
                                                                 ------
Pro forma net tangible book value per share of Common Stock
 after the Offerings............................................           4.39
                                                                         ------
Net tangible book value dilution per share to new investors.....          $7.61
                                                                         ======
</TABLE>
 
  The following table sets forth as of June 30, 1996 the difference between
the existing stockholders and the new investors in the Offerings (at an
assumed initial public offering price of $12.00 per share) with respect to the
number of shares purchased from the Company, the total consideration paid and
the average price per share paid:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                            SHARES PURCHASED   TOTAL CONSIDERATION
                           ------------------  --------------------  AVERAGE PRICE
                             NUMBER   PERCENT     AMOUNT    PERCENT    PER SHARE
                           ---------- -------  ------------ -------  -------------
<S>                        <C>        <C>      <C>          <C>      <C>
Existing stockholders..... 20,000,000  54.79%  $    200,000   0.10%     $ 0.01
New investors............. 16,500,000  45.21    198,000,000  99.90      $12.00
                           ---------- ------   ------------ ------
    Total................. 36,500,000 100.00%  $198,200,000 100.00%
                           ========== ======   ============ ======
</TABLE>
   
  The foregoing tables assume no exercise of options issued under the
Company's 1996 Plan or outstanding Warrants. As of October 3, 1996, there were
5,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock reserved for issuance under the
Company's 1996 Plan and 1,226,854 shares of Class B Common Stock issuable upon
the exercise of outstanding Warrants at an exercise price of $0.005 per share.
The Warrants may not be exercised until the earlier of (i) May 1, 1997 and
(ii) in the event a Change of Control (as defined in the warrant agreement
relating to the Warrants which has been filed as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part) occurs, the date
the Company mails notice thereof to holders of the Warrants. The foregoing
tables also assume no exercise of the Underwriters' over-allotment options. To
the extent that any of such shares are issued in connection with the 1996
Plan, outstanding Warrants or the Underwriters' over-allotment options, there
will be further dilution to new investors. See "Management--Long-Term
Compensation Plan" and "--Employment Contracts" and "Description of Capital
Stock--Common Stock" and "--Warrants."     
 
                                      21
<PAGE>
 
                     SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
 
  The following selected financial data (except the unaudited information for
the fiscal years ended March 31, 1992 and 1993, and the three months ended
June 30, 1995 and 1996) are derived from, and should be read in conjunction
with, the audited Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company and the
related Notes thereto contained herein. The unaudited information for the
fiscal years ended March 31, 1992 and 1993 and the three months ended June 30,
1995 and 1996 are derived from other Company information. All of the following
information should be read in conjunction with the Company's Consolidated
Financial Statements and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations" contained elsewhere in this Prospectus.
 
 
<TABLE>

COMPANY DATA (A):
<CAPTION>
                                                                         THREE MONTHS
                                FISCAL YEAR ENDED MARCH 31,             ENDED JUNE 30,
                          --------------------------------------------  ----------------
                           1992    1993     1994      1995      1996     1995     1996
                          ------  -------  -------  --------  --------  -------  -------
                               (AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<S>                       <C>     <C>      <C>      <C>       <C>       <C>      <C>
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
DATA:
 Telecommunications
  service and management
  fee revenue...........  $   --  $    89  $   417  $  1,729  $  3,322  $   686  $ 1,102
 Operating expenses:
 Network operations.....       2       19      330     1,382     2,690      628      859
 Selling, general and
  administrative........     209      921    2,045     2,524     3,084      831    1,027
 Depreciation and
  amortization..........      --       30      189       463     1,184      250      695
                          ------  -------  -------  --------  --------  -------  -------
 Operating loss.........    (211)    (881)  (2,147)   (2,640)   (3,636)  (1,023)  (1,479)
 Gain on sale of
  investment............      --       --       --        --        --       --    8,405
 Interest income........      --       --       17        39       199       16    1,433
 Interest expense and
  fees..................      --       --   (2,164)   (3,321)   (6,088)  (1,328)  (6,169)
 Equity in net loss of
  joint ventures........      --     (194)    (528)   (1,799)   (4,292)    (797)  (1,636)
 Net (loss) income .....  $ (211) $(1,075) $(4,725) $ (7,692) $(13,620) $(3,113) $   551
 Net (loss) income per
  weighted average share
  of common stock.......  $(0.01) $ (0.05) $ (0.24) $  (0.38) $  (0.68) $ (0.16) $  0.03
 Weighted average shares
  of common stock
  outstanding...........  20,000   20,000   20,000    20,000    20,000   20,000   21,050
OTHER COMPANY DATA:
 EBITDA (b).............  $ (211) $  (851) $(1,958) $ (2,177) $ (2,452) $  (773) $  (784)
 Capital expenditures
  and Company
  investments (c).......      60    3,891    8,607    10,376    18,899    5,390    6,568
 Cash used in operating
  activities............    (184)    (725)  (2,121)   (2,130)     (833)  (1,621)  (2,657)
 Cash (used in) provided
  by investing
  activities............     (60)  (3,806)  (8,607)  (10,376)  (18,899)  (5,390)   5,050
 Cash provided by
  financing activities..     248    4,645   10,609    12,506    19,732    7,011  129,749
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                     AS OF MARCH 31,                   AS OF
                         -------------------------------------------  JUNE 30,
                         1992    1993     1994      1995      1996      1996
                         -----  -------  -------  --------  --------  --------
                                      (AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                      <C>    <C>      <C>      <C>       <C>       <C>
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
 Cash and cash
  equivalents........... $   5  $   118  $    --  $     --  $     --  $132,142
 Total assets...........    82    4,316   14,765    23,212    35,269   176,793
 Long term debt.........    --    4,814   19,968    35,541    50,855   194,475
 Stockholders' equity
  (deficiency)..........  (211)  (1,286)  (6,011)  (13,703)  (27,323)  (18,685)
</TABLE>
- --------
(a) Financial Information for the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries.
    As of June 30, 1996, 13 of the Company's networks were owned by joint
    ventures in which it owns an interest of 50% or less, and for which the
    Company reports its interest pursuant to the equity method of accounting
    consistent with generally accepted accounting principles.
(b) EBITDA consists of net (loss) income before interest, equity in net loss
    of joint ventures, gain on sale of investment, income taxes, depreciation
    and amortization for the periods presented. It is a measure commonly used
    in the telecommunications industry and is presented to assist in
    understanding the Company's operating results. However, it is not intended
    to represent cash flow or results of operations in accordance with
    generally accepted accounting principles. See the Company's Consolidated
    Financial Statements and Notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this
    Prospectus.
(c) For the fiscal years ended March 31, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 and the
    three months ended June 30, 1995 and 1996, the Company's capital
    expenditures (including capital expenditures relating to its wholly owned
    Operating Companies) were $0.1, $2.0, $3.1, $2.9, $6.1, $1.4 and $1.8
    million, respectively, and the Company's investments in its less than
    wholly owned Operating Companies and the South Florida Partnership were
    $0.0, $1.9, $5.5, $7.5, $12.8, $4.0 and $4.8 million, respectively, for
    the same periods. See the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements and
    Notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus.
 
                                      22
<PAGE>
 
                            SUMMARY OPERATING DATA
 
  The following summary operating data is unaudited information that
represents data for 100% of the Operating Companies' networks and is derived
from Company information. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations--Supplementary Operating Company
Financial Analysis." As of June 30, 1996, 13 of the Company's 17 networks were
50% or less owned by the Company, and as of September 30, 1996, 14 of the
Company's 18 networks were 50% or less owned by the Company. The Company
reports its interest in such 50% or less owned networks pursuant to the equity
method of accounting consistent with generally accepted accounting principles.
As a result, the financial information set forth below is not indicative of
the Company's overall financial position and investors should not place undue
reliance on such information when considering an investment in the Class A
Common Stock offered hereby. The Company was organized in October 1991 and did
not provide any service through its Operating Companies until after Fiscal
1992.
 
<TABLE>

NETWORK DATA
(UNAUDITED)(A):
<CAPTION>
                                                                 THREE MONTHS
                                                                     ENDED
                             FISCAL YEAR ENDED MARCH 31,           JUNE 30,
                         --------------------------------------  --------------
                         1992 1993    1994     1995      1996     1995    1996
                         ---- -----  -------  -------  --------  ------  ------
                                   (AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                      <C>  <C>    <C>      <C>      <C>       <C>     <C>
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
DATA:
 Network revenues....... $--  $ 195  $   962  $ 3,056  $  7,763  $1,505  $2,926
 Operating expenses:
  Network operations....  --    504      789    1,946     4,871     819   1,501
  Selling, general and
  administrative........  --    353    1,145    2,439     5,316     973   1,941
  Depreciation and
  amortization..........  --    207      839    2,467     6,137   1,298   2,709
                         ---  -----  -------  -------  --------  ------  ------
 Operating loss.........  --   (869)  (1,811)  (3,796)   (8,561) (1,585) (3,225)
 Net loss...............  --   (948)  (2,077)  (4,569)  (11,285) (1,945) (4,112)
OTHER OPERATING DATA:
 EBITDA (b)............. $--  $(662) $  (972) $(1,329) $ (2,424) $ (287) $ (516)
 Capital expenditures...  --  4,947   13,790   24,658    45,177   7,980  13,887
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                             AS OF MARCH 31,            AS OF
                                   ----------------------------------- JUNE 30,
                                   1992  1993   1994    1995    1996     1996
                                   ---- ------ ------- ------- ------- --------
                                              (AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                <C>  <C>    <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
 Gross Property, Plant & Equipment
 (c).............................. $60  $6,952 $21,907 $49,107 $97,318 $112,497
 Capital lease obligations (d)....  --   1,244   3,291  11,166  18,163   24,833
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  AS OF    AS OF       AS OF
                                                MARCH 31, JUNE 30, SEPTEMBER 30,
                                                  1996      1996       1996
                                                --------- -------- -------------
<S>                                             <C>       <C>      <C>
OTHER NETWORK DATA:
 Networks in operation.........................       13       13          15
 Cities served (e).............................       19       19          33
 Networks under construction...................        4        4           3
 Route miles (e)...............................    2,210    2,647       2,887
 Fiber miles (e)...............................  106,080  127,063     138,571
 Buildings connected...........................      822      908       1,101
 LEC-COs collocated (f)........................       44       69          89
 Voice grade equivalent circuits...............  186,292  279,864     316,080
 Switches installed (g)........................        5        5           6
 Employees (h).................................      155      155         179
</TABLE>
- --------
(a) Unless otherwise stated, represents the summation of all of the networks'
    financial and operating information for each of the categories presented.
    Network Data is derived from the Operating Companies' records and presents
    information for the Company's networks, but does not include information
    for the South Florida Partnership.
(b) EBITDA consists of net (loss) income before interest, equity in net loss
    of joint ventures, gain on sale of investment, income taxes, depreciation
    and amortization for the periods presented. It is a measure commonly used
    in the telecommunications industry and is presented to assist in
    understanding the Company's operating results. However, it is not intended
    to represent cash flow or results of operations in accordance with
    generally accepted accounting principles.
(c) Represents total property, plant and equipment (before accumulated
    depreciation) of the networks, the NOCC and the Company. Excludes the $5.4
    million (subject to post-closing adjustments) SONET ring fiber backbone
    purchased by the Vermont Operating Company from Adelphia effective
    September 30, 1996. See "Prospectus Summary--Recent Developments."
(d) Represents fiber lease financings with the respective Local Partners for
    each network.
(e) Excludes networks under construction.
(f) LEC-CO collocated means that the Company has interconnected its network at
    the LEC-CO.
(g) Represents Lucent 5ESS switches or remote switch modules which deliver
    full switch functionality.
(h) Employees includes combined employees of the Operating Companies and the
    Company.
 
                                      23
<PAGE>
 
  MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
                                  OPERATIONS
 
  The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the
Company's audited Consolidated Financial Statements and the Notes thereto
appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus. Unless otherwise stated or the context
otherwise requires, the following information is as of June 30, 1996.
 
OVERVIEW
 
  The Company, through its Operating Companies, provides a competitive
alternative to the telecommunications services offered by the incumbent LECs
in its markets. Since its inception in October 1991 through June 30, 1996, the
Company experienced substantial growth, building from its original two
partnerships covering two networks to 13 Operating Companies and 17 networks.
At June 30, 1996, 13 of these 17 networks were operational. Between June 30,
1996 and September 30, 1996, two additional networks became operational and
one additional network under construction was added. The Operating Companies'
customers are principally small, medium and large businesses and government
and educational end users and resellers, including IXCs. The Company believes
that its strategy of utilizing Local Partners to develop its networks has
allowed the Company to build networks with greater coverage, lower upfront and
ongoing costs and superior service and reliability.
 
  As of June 30, 1996, the Company's Operating Companies were made up of three
wholly owned subsidiaries and ten joint ventures (through which the Company
has an interest in 14 networks) where the Company owns 50% or less of the
aggregate equity interests in such Operating Companies. Between June 30, 1996
and September 30, 1996, one of the Company's joint ventures became a majority-
owned subsidiary and the Company added one joint venture. Results of majority-
owned subsidiaries are consolidated into the Company's financial statements in
this Prospectus. The Company's pro rata share of the results of the Operating
Companies where the Company owns 50% or less and the South Florida
Partnership, until the date of sale, are recorded under the caption "Equity in
net loss of joint ventures" in the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements
utilizing the equity method of accounting. Correspondingly, the Company's
initial investments in these Operating Companies and the South Florida
Partnership are carried at cost and are subsequently adjusted for the
Company's pro rata share of the Operating Companies' and the South Florida
Partnership's net losses, additional capital contributions to the Operating
Companies and the South Florida Partnership, and distributions from the
Operating Companies and the South Florida Partnership to the Company. The
Company is responsible for the design, construction, management and operation
of the networks owned by all of the Operating Companies and receives
management fees from the Operating Companies for its management and network
monitoring services. Management fees, which are generally based on the
Company's costs of providing such services, are determined by Local Partner
Agreements and vary depending upon the market. Management fees are accounted
for as revenues of the Company. To date, the Company's principal source of
revenues has been derived through management fees from its Operating
Companies, although in the future the Company expects that majority-owned
Operating Companies revenues will represent an increasing proportion of the
Company's revenue.
 
  Since its inception, the Company, in conjunction with its Local Partners,
has made substantial investments in designing, constructing and enhancing the
Operating Companies' fiber optic networks. As of June 30, 1996, the Company's
networks had approximately 2,647 route miles, approximately 127,063 fiber
miles and were connected to approximately 908 buildings in 13 operating
networks. As of September 30, 1996, the Company's networks had approximately
2,887 route miles, approximately 138,571 fiber miles and were connected to
approximately 1,101 buildings in 15 operating networks. As of June 30, 1996,
the Operating Companies had also installed five switches or remote modules
which serve five networks, and the Company had built its NOCC in Coudersport,
Pennsylvania, which
 
                                      24
<PAGE>
 
   
provides for remote control, monitoring and diagnosis of all of the Operating
Companies' networks; as of September 30, 1996, the Operating Companies had
installed six switches or remote modules which served six networks. The
Company believes it is the third largest CLEC in the United States based upon
route miles and buildings connected data made publicly available by other
CLECs. Funding for the development of the Operating Companies has come from
investments by the Company and the Local Partners as well as from Fiber Lease
Financings which enable the Company to finance the building of fiber optic
plant through long-term leases. Excluding investments in the South Florida
Partnership, the combined capital invested through June 30, 1996 in the
Operating Companies' networks, the NOCC and other activities totaled
approximately $164.8 million. Due to savings achieved in the construction of
fiber optic networks by working with Local Partners, the Company believes that
building a comparable level of network infrastructure without Local Partners
would require a substantially greater level of capital investment.     
 
  The Company believes that as a result of the Telecommunications Act, the
potential market for its services has expanded significantly. According to the
Company's analysis of FCC data and its knowledge of the industry, in the
markets where the Company's 18 networks are currently operating or are under
construction, the Company believes it has an addressable market of
approximately $5.1 billion annually, substantially all of which is currently
provided by the incumbent LECs. This addressable market estimate does not
include the market for enhanced data services (currently targeted by the
Company through its partnership with !NTERPRISE) or the market for interLATA
toll, which the Company has the ability to enter at its option. The Company
plans to deploy switches or remote switching modules in the balance of its
markets by mid-1997 in order to more fully address this potential market
opportunity. See "Business" and "Regulation."
 
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
 Three Months Ended June 30, 1996 in Comparison with Three Months Ended June
30, 1995
 
  Revenues increased 61% to $1.1 million for the three months ended June 30,
1996 from $0.7 million for the same quarter in the prior fiscal year. Growth
in revenues of $0.3 million resulted from continued expansion in the number
and size of Operating Companies and the resultant increase in management fees.
Revenues from the Company's first wholly owned Operating Company, which
operates in the Vermont market (the "Vermont Operating Company"), increased
$0.1 million due to increases in the customer base.
 
  Network operations expense increased 37% to $0.9 million for the three
months ended June 30, 1996 from $0.6 million for the same quarter in the prior
fiscal year. Substantially all of the increase was attributable to the
expansion of operations at the NOCC due to the increased number and size of
the Operating Companies which resulted in increased employee-related costs and
equipment maintenance costs.
 
  Selling, general and administrative expense increased 24% to $1.0 million
for the three months ended June 30, 1996 from $0.8 million for the same
quarter in the prior fiscal year. Corporate and NOCC overhead increased to
accommodate the growth in the number of Operating Companies managed and
monitored by the Company.
 
  Depreciation and amortization expense increased 178% to $0.7 million during
the three months ended June 30, 1996 from $0.3 million for the same quarter in
the prior fiscal year primarily as a result of an increase in amortization of
$0.3 million in connection with the issuance of the Senior Notes and Warrants,
and increased depreciation resulting from higher capital expenditures at the
NOCC and the wholly owned Operating Companies.
 
                                      25
<PAGE>
 
  Gain on sale of investment recognized in the three month period ended June
30, 1996 was $8.4 million. On May 16, 1996 the Company completed the sale of
its 15.7% partnership interest in the South Florida Partnership to Teleport
Communications Group Inc. for an aggregate sales price of $11.6 million,
resulting in a pre-tax gain of $8.4 million.
 
  Interest income for the three months ended June 30, 1996 increased by $1.4
million from the same quarter in the prior fiscal year as a result of interest
earned on the proceeds of the Senior Notes and Warrants.
 
  Interest expense and fees increased 365% to $6.2 million during the three
months ended June 30, 1996 from $1.3 million for the same period in the prior
fiscal year. The increase was directly attributable to $4.9 million of
interest associated with the Senior Notes.
 
  Equity in net loss of joint ventures increased by 105% to $1.6 million
during the three months ended June 30, 1996 from $0.8 million for the same
quarter in the prior fiscal year as more nonconsolidated Operating Companies
began operations. The net losses of the Operating Companies for the three
months ended June 30, 1996 were primarily the result of revenues only
partially offsetting startup and other costs and expenses associated with
design, construction, operation and managment of the networks of the Operating
Companies, and the effect of the typical lag time between the incurrence of
such costs and expenses and the subsequent generation of revenues by a
network.
 
  The number of nonconsolidated networks paying management fees to the Company
increased from 11 at June 30, 1995 to 12 at June 30, 1996. These networks paid
management and monitoring fees to the Company aggregating approximately $0.8
million for the three months ended June 30, 1996, an increase of approximately
$0.3 million over the same quarter in the prior fiscal year. The networks' net
losses, including networks under construction, for the three months ended June
30, 1996 aggregated approximately $3.6 million as compared to $1.7 million for
the comparable prior period.
 
  Net (loss) income increased from ($3.1) million for the three months ended
June 30, 1995 to $0.6 million for the same quarter in the current fiscal year.
The increase was primarily attributable to higher interest income and the gain
recognized for the sale of the Company's investment in TCG of South Florida,
partially reduced by greater interest expense associated with the Senior
Notes, increased equity in the net losses of the Company's joint ventures, and
increased depreciation and amortization.
 
  EBITDA of ($0.8) million for the three months ended June 30, 1996 was
comparable with EBITDA of ($0.8) million for the same quarter in the prior
fiscal year. Increased revenues from management fees and the Vermont Operating
Company were offset by increased operating costs. EBITDA consists of net
(loss) income before interest, equity in net loss of joint ventures, gain on
sale of investment, income taxes, depreciation and amortization for the
periods presented. It is a measure commonly used in the telecommunications
industry and is presented to assist in understanding the Company's operating
results. However, it is not intended to represent cash flow or result of
operations in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
 
 Fiscal 1996 in Comparison with Fiscal 1995
 
  Revenues increased 92.1% to $3.3 million for the year ended March 31, 1996
("Fiscal 1996") from $1.7 million for the prior fiscal year. Approximately
$1.0 million of the increase resulted from continued expansion in the number
and size of Operating Companies and the resulting increase in management fees,
and $0.6 million of the increase resulted from the Vermont Operating Company
generating revenues during the entire fiscal year.
 
  Network operations expense increased 94.6% to $2.7 million in Fiscal 1996
from $1.4 million for the prior fiscal year. Approximately $0.8 million of the
increase was attributable to the Vermont Operating Company reporting expenses
relating to its operations for the entire fiscal year and $0.4 million was
attributable to the expansion of operations at the NOCC, including systems
upgrades.
 
                                      26
<PAGE>
 
  Selling, general and administrative expense increased 22% to $3.1 million in
Fiscal 1996 from $2.5 million for the prior fiscal year. Of the increase,
approximately $0.4 million was attributable to corporate overhead increases to
accommodate the growth in the number of Operating Companies managed by the
Company, and $0.1 million was attributable to the full twelve-months of
operations at the Vermont Operating Company.
 
  Depreciation and amortization expense increased 156% to $1.2 million in
Fiscal 1996 from $0.5 million for the prior fiscal year primarily as a result
of increased capital expenditures at the Vermont Operating Company and the
NOCC.
 
  Interest expense and fees increased 83% to $6.1 million in Fiscal 1996 from
$3.3 million for the prior fiscal year. The increase was directly attributable
to increased borrowings from Adelphia which were used to fund investments in
Operating Companies and the South Florida Partnership, capital expenditures
and the Company's operations. All of the Company's interest expense was non-
cash and was added to amounts due to Adelphia.
 
  Equity in net loss of joint ventures increased by 139% to ($4.3) million in
Fiscal 1996 from ($1.8) million for the prior fiscal year as two more
nonconsolidated Operating Companies began operations. The net loss for the
nonconsolidated Operating Companies and the South Florida Partnership for the
year ended March 31, 1996 aggregated approximately ($14.5) million. The net
losses of the Operating Companies for the year ended March 31, 1996 were
primarily the result of revenues only partially offsetting startup and other
costs and expenses associated with the design, construction, operation and
management of the networks of the Operating Companies, and the effect of the
typical lag time between the incurrence of such costs and expenses and the
subsequent generation of revenues by a network.
 
  The number of nonconsolidated networks paying management fees to the Company
increased from nine at March 31, 1995 to 12 at March 31, 1996. Such 12
networks paid management and monitoring fees to the Company aggregating
approximately $2.4 million for Fiscal 1996, an increase of approximately $1.1
million over Fiscal 1995.
 
  Net income (loss) increased to ($13.6) million for Fiscal 1996 from ($7.7)
million for Fiscal 1995. The increase was primarily attributable to greater
interest expense, increased equity in the net losses of the Company's joint
ventures, and increased depreciation and amortization, as noted above.
 
  EBITDA decreased 13% to ($2.5) million in Fiscal 1996 from ($2.2) million
for the prior fiscal year. Increased revenues from management fees and the
Vermont Operating Company were more than offset by increased operating costs.
 
 Fiscal 1995 in Comparison with Fiscal 1994
 
  Revenues increased 315% from $0.4 million to $1.7 million from the year
ended March 31, 1994 ("Fiscal 1994") to the year ended March 31, 1995 ("Fiscal
1995"). Approximately $1.0 million of the increase in revenues resulted from
growth in the number of Operating Companies and the resulting management fees.
The number of nonconsolidated networks paying management fees to the Company
increased from three at March 31, 1994 to nine at March 31, 1995.
Approximately $0.2 million of the increase was due to the Vermont Operating
Company which commenced operations during Fiscal 1995.
 
  Network operations expense increased 319% from $0.3 million in Fiscal 1994
to $1.4 million in Fiscal 1995. Approximately $0.8 million of the increase was
the result of the expansion of the Company's NOCC staff and technical
resources staff required to support an increasing number of Operating
Companies that were operating during Fiscal 1995 and the expansion of the
Vermont Operating Company staff.
 
                                      27
<PAGE>
 
  Selling, general, and administrative expense increased 23% from $2.0 million
in Fiscal 1994 to $2.5 million in Fiscal 1995. The change was primarily due to
increases in accounting, regulatory and marketing personnel to support
increased management and monitoring operations and, to a lesser extent, to
additional personnel and related costs for the commencement of operations at
the Vermont Operating Company.
 
  Depreciation and amortization expense increased by 145% from $0.2 million in
Fiscal 1994 to $0.5 million in Fiscal 1995. Approximately two-thirds of the
increase was attributable to the addition of telecommunications monitoring
equipment totaling $1.5 million and the expansion of the telecommunications
networks in the Company's wholly owned Operating Companies.
 
  Interest expense and fees increased by 53% from $2.2 million in Fiscal 1994
to $3.3 million in Fiscal 1995. The increase was primarily due to the increase
in borrowings from Adelphia to fund investments in Operating Companies and the
South Florida Partnership, capital expenditures and the Company's operations.
All of the Company's interest expense was non-cash and was added to amounts
due to Adelphia.
 
  Equity in net loss of joint ventures increased by ($1.3) million from ($0.5)
million in Fiscal 1994 to ($1.8) million in Fiscal 1995. The increase was
primarily due to the six nonconsolidated networks beginning operations in
Fiscal 1995, resulting in a total of nine nonconsolidated networks at year
end. The net loss for such nonconsolidated Operating Companies and the South
Florida Partnership for the year ended March 31, 1995 was approximately ($7.3)
million. The net losses of the Operating Companies for Fiscal 1995 were
primarily the result of revenues only partially offsetting startup and other
costs and expenses associated with the design, construction, operation and
management of the networks of the Operating Companies, and the effect of the
typical lag time between the incurrence of such costs and expenses and the
subsequent generation of revenues by a network. The nine nonconsolidated
networks paid the Company an aggregate of approximately $1.3 million in
management and monitoring fees for Fiscal 1995, an increase of $1.0 million
over Fiscal 1994.
 
  Net income (loss) increased ($3.0) million from ($4.7) million in Fiscal
1994 to ($7.7) million in Fiscal 1995. This increase was primarily the result
of the increase in the Company's operating loss, greater interest expense and
increased equity in the net losses of the Company's joint ventures, as noted
above.
 
  EBITDA decreased by $0.2 million or 10% from ($2.0) million in Fiscal 1994
to ($2.2) million in Fiscal 1995. This decrease was the result of increasing
expenses incurred in advance of new networks becoming operational, which more
than offset increased revenues.
 
SUPPLEMENTARY OPERATING COMPANY FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
 
  The Company believes that working with Local Partners to develop markets
enables the Company to build larger networks in a rapid and cost effective
manner. In pursuit of this strategy, the Company currently has ten joint
ventures with Local Partners where the Company owns 50% or less of each
partnership or corporation. As a result of the Company's ownership position in
these joint ventures, a substantial portion of the Operating Companies'
results are reported by the Company on the equity method of accounting for
investments which only reflects the Company's pro rata share of net income or
loss of the Operating Companies. Because all of the assets, liabilities and
results of operations of the Operating Companies are not presented in the
Company's consolidated financial statements, financial analysis of these
Operating Companies based upon the Company's results does not represent a
complete measure of the growth or operations of the Operating Companies.
 
  In order to provide an additional measure of the growth and performance of
all of the Company's networks, management of the Company analyzes a variety of
financial information including revenues,
 
                                      28
<PAGE>
 
EBITDA and capital expenditures. Revenues and EBITDA of the Operating
Companies indicate the level of activity in the Company's networks. Capital
expenditures of the Operating Companies along with network construction
statistics, such as route miles and buildings connected, indicate the
extensiveness of the Company's construction and expansion efforts in those
markets. The financial information set forth below, however, is not indicative
of the Company's overall financial position and investors should not place
undue reliance on such information when considering an investment in the Class
A Common Stock offered hereby.
 
  The Operating Companies have shown substantial growth in revenues since the
Company's inception in October 1991. Total combined revenues for the Operating
Companies have more than doubled each year since the Company's inception.
 
  The increase in revenue during Fiscal 1995 as compared to Fiscal 1994 of
$2.1 million or 218% was due to the expansion of the Syracuse and Jacksonville
networks and the commencement of operations in the Vermont, Albany,
Binghamton, Richmond, Nashville and Wichita networks. Revenues during Fiscal
1996 of $7.8 million were $4.7 million or 154% higher than during Fiscal 1995
due to the expansion of the above mentioned networks and the initial
generation of revenues in the Buffalo and Louisville networks. Revenues
continued to expand in all markets during the three months ended June 30, 1996
as compared with the corresponding period in the prior year.
 
  There can be no assurance that the Operating Companies will continue to
experience revenue growth at this rate, or at all. See "Risk Factors--Negative
Cash Flow and Operating Losses; Limited History of Operations." Furthermore,
there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to benefit from such
growth in revenues if such growth occurs. See "Risk Factors--Holding Company
Structure; Inability to Access Cash Flow."
 
  EBITDA decreased by ($0.3) million in Fiscal 1995 to ($1.3) million as
compared to ($1.0) million in Fiscal 1994. The decrease was primarily
attributable to operating losses in many of the networks as operations
commenced, particularly in Vermont, Buffalo, Richmond, Louisville and
Nashville, offset somewhat by increased EBITDA in the more established
Syracuse and Jacksonville markets. For Fiscal 1996, EBITDA decreased by ($1.1)
million to ($2.4) million from ($1.3) million in Fiscal 1995. The decrease was
primarily due to a continued increase in operating expenses in several
networks, including Vermont, Buffalo, New Brunswick, Harrisburg,
Charlottesville and Louisville, offset somewhat by increased EBITDA in the
Syracuse, Richmond, Nashville and Wichita networks.
 
  The Operating Companies' capital expenditures for Fiscal 1995 and 1996 have
grown consistently, reflecting the addition of new networks and the expansion
and growth of existing networks. Capital expenditures for the quarter ended
June 30, 1996 were somewhat lower than expected due to the timing of certain
capital projects. The Company expects capital expenditures for the quarter
ended September 30, 1996 to be higher than during the prior quarter as a
result of these timing considerations. There can be no assurance, however,
that the Company and Operating Companies will continue to be able to fund the
Company's significant requirements for future capital expenditures of the
Operating Companies. See "Risk Factors--Significant Future Capital
Requirements."
 
                                      29
<PAGE>
 
 Supplementary Operating Company Financial Information by Cluster (unaudited)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         REVENUES
                                          ----------------------------------
                                                               THREE MONTHS
                                          FISCAL FISCAL FISCAL     ENDED
                                           1994   1995   1996  JUNE 30, 1996
                                          ------ ------ ------ -------------
                                                (AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                       <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>          
Northeast................................  $703  $1,393 $3,991    $1,265
Mid-Atlantic.............................     4     267    735       345
Mid-South................................    --      44    473       239
Other Networks...........................   255   1,352  2,564     1,077
                                           ----  ------ ------    ------
  Total..................................  $962  $3,056 $7,763    $2,926
                                           ====  ====== ======    ======
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       EBITDA
                                      ---------------------------------------
                                                                THREE MONTHS
                                      FISCAL  FISCAL   FISCAL       ENDED
                                       1994    1995     1996    JUNE 30, 1996
                                      ------  -------  -------  -------------
                                             (AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                   <C>     <C>      <C>      <C>         
Northeast............................ $ 180   $  (183) $  (765)     $ 215
Mid-Atlantic.........................  (170)     (308)    (766)      (753)
Mid-South............................    --      (605)    (878)      (231)
Other Networks.......................  (982)     (233)     (15)       253
                                      -----   -------  -------      -----
  Total.............................. $(972)  $(1,329) $(2,424)     $(516)
                                      =====   =======  =======      =====
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                 CAPITAL EXPENDITURES
                                       -------------------------------------
                                                               THREE MONTHS
                                       FISCAL  FISCAL  FISCAL      ENDED
                                        1994    1995    1996   JUNE 30, 1996
                                       ------- ------- ------- -------------
                                              (AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                    <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>          
Northeast............................. $ 5,629 $ 8,167 $ 6,978    $ 2,031
Mid-Atlantic..........................   2,831   3,923  14,351      7,802
Mid-South.............................   1,591   4,002   7,321      1,610
Other Networks........................   3,739   8,566  16,527      2,444
                                       ------- ------- -------    -------
  Total............................... $13,790 $24,658 $45,177    $13,887
                                       ======= ======= =======    =======
</TABLE>
 
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
 
  The development of the Company's business and the installation and expansion
of the Operating Companies' networks, combined with the construction of the
Company's NOCC, have resulted in substantial capital expenditures and
investments during the past several years. Capital expenditures by the Company
were $3.1 million, $2.9 million and $6.1 million for Fiscal 1994, Fiscal 1995
and Fiscal 1996, respectively and $1.4 million and $1.8 million for the three
months ended June 30, 1995 and 1996, respectively. Further, investments made
in the Company's nonconsolidated Operating Companies and the South Florida
Partnership by the Company were $5.5 million, $7.5 million and $12.8 million
in Fiscal 1994, Fiscal 1995 and Fiscal 1996, respectively, and $4.0 million
and $4.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 1995 and 1996,
respectively. The Company expects that it will continue to have substantial
capital and investment requirements. The Company also expects to have to
continue to fund operating losses as the Company develops and grows its
business. See "Risk Factors--Significant Future Capital Requirements."
   
  Through June 30, 1996, Adelphia had made loans and advances totaling
approximately $64.8 million, including accrued interest, to the Company and
leased $6.7 million in fiber network construction to certain Operating
Companies. During April 1996, the Company repaid $37.8 million of such loans
and advances. In addition, Local Partners have invested approximately $57.4
million as their pro rata     
 
                                      30
<PAGE>
 
   
investment in those networks. These amounts exclude previous investments in
the South Florida Partnership which were sold on May 16, 1996. These partners
have also provided additional capital of $26.7 million for the construction of
the Company's networks through the partnership agreements by funding the fiber
construction of the network and leasing the fiber to the partnership under
long-term, renewable agreements. In addition, the Company used $9.2 million to
fund its pro rata investment in the networks, capital expenditures and
operations. Collectively, these investments and the Fiber Lease Financings
have totaled $164.8 million from the Company's inception through June 30,
1996.     
 
  The Company has experienced negative cash flow since its inception. A
combination of operating losses, the substantial capital investments required
to build the Company's wholly owned networks and its state-of-the-art NOCC,
and incremental investments in the Operating Companies has resulted in
substantial negative cash flow. See "Risk Factors--Negative Cash Flow and
Operating Losses; Limited History of Operations." For the fiscal years ended
March 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996, cash used in operating activities totalled $2.1
million, $2.1 million and $.8 million, respectively, cash used in investing
activities totalled $8.6 million, $10.4 million and $18.9 million,
respectively, and cash provided by financing activities totalled $10.6
million, $12.5 million and $19.7 million, respectively. For the three month
periods ended June 30, 1995 and 1996, cash used in investing activities
totalled $5.4 million and cash provided by investing activities totalled $5.1
million, respectively. The cash provided by investing activities in the three
month period ended June 30, 1996 is primarily from the sale of the South
Florida Partnership. Cash provided by financing activities totalled $7.0
million and $129.7 million, respectively, for the three month periods ended
June 30, 1995 and 1996. Prior to April 15, 1996, funding of the Company's cash
flow deficiency was principally accomplished through additional borrowings
from Adelphia. Prior to April 15, 1996, interest and fees on this unsecured
credit facility were based upon the weighted average cost of unsecured
borrowings of Adelphia. The average interest rate charged for all periods was
11.3% through April 15, 1996 (excluding fees charged which were based on the
amount borrowed) and 16.5% for the period since April 16, 1996.
 
  On April 15, 1996, the Company issued $329.0 million of 13% Senior Discount
Notes due April 15, 2003, and 329,000 Warrants to purchase an aggregate of
613,427 shares of its common stock, prior to adjustment for the
Recapitalization Events. See "Description of Capital Stock--Warrants."
Proceeds to the Company, net of discounts, commissions, and other transaction
costs were approximately $168.6 million. Such net proceeds were used to fund
the Company's capital expenditures, working capital requirements, operating
losses and its pro-rata investments in joint ventures, to pay $25.0 million of
indebtedness owing to Adelphia and to make loans of $3.0 million to certain
key members of management. Proceeds from the Senior Notes and Warrants were
also used to repay amounts related to capital expenditures, working capital
requirements, operating losses and pro-rata investments in joint ventures
totaling $12.8 million incurred during the period from January 1, 1996 to
April 15, 1996. These amounts had been funded during the same time period
through advances from Adelphia. As of April 15, 1996, approximately $26.1
million of outstanding indebtedness owed to Adelphia was evidenced by an
unsecured subordinated note due April 16, 2003 (the "Adelphia Note"), that
accrues interest at 16.5% and is subordinated to the Senior Notes. Interest on
the Adelphia Note is payable quarterly in cash, through the issuance of
identical subordinated notes, or in any combination thereof, at the option of
the Company. See "Certain Relationships and Transactions."
 
  On May 16, 1996, the Company completed the sale of its 15.7% partnership
interest in the South Florida Partnership to Teleport Communications Group
Inc. for an aggregate sales price of approximately $11.6 million resulting in
a pre-tax gain of approximately $8.4 million. Amounts related to the South
Florida Partnership included in the Company's investments and equity in net
loss of joint ventures as of the sale date and for the three months ended June
30, 1996 were approximately $3.2 million and ($0.2) million, respectively. As
part of the transaction, the Company was released from its covenant not to
compete with respect to the South Florida market. The Company plans to use the
proceeds from the sale to continue to expand and develop its existing markets,
complete new networks under construction and enter additional markets.
 
                                      31
<PAGE>
 
  Effective September 30, 1996, the Company purchased approximately 280 miles
of SONET ring fiber backbone used by the Vermont Operating Company from
Adelphia for $5.4 million, Adelphia's historical cost for such assets, subject
to post-closing adjustments. Prior to such purchase, the Company had been
leasing such fiber backbone in the Vermont network from Adelphia at an annual
rate of approximately $1.0 million.
 
  The competitive local telecommunication service business is a capital-
intensive business. The Company's operations have required and will continue
to require substantial capital investment for (i) the installation of
electronics for switched services in the Company's networks, (ii) the
expansion and improvement of the Company's NOCC and (iii) the design,
construction and development of additional networks. The Company plans to make
substantial capital investments and investments in Operating Companies in
connection with the deployment of switches in all of its operating markets by
mid-1997, the expansion of existing networks and the construction and
development of new networks. Expansion of the Company's networks will include
the geographic expansion of the Company's existing clusters and the
development of new markets. The Company expects to continue to build new
networks in additional markets which the Company anticipates will include
additional networks with utility partners. In addition, the Company may
acquire existing networks in the future. The Company estimates that it will
require approximately $200 million to fund anticipated capital expenditures,
working capital requirements and operating losses of the Company and to make
investments in existing and new Operating Companies during calendar years 1997
and 1998. The Company expects that it will have adequate resources to fund
such expenditures through the proceeds from the Offerings and the offering of
the Senior Notes and Warrants and internal sources of funds including cash
flow from operations. See "Use of Proceeds". There can be no assurance,
however, as to the availability of funds from internal cash flow or from the
private or public equity markets. See "Risk Factors--Significant Future
Capital Requirements." The Company recently increased its interests in three
other markets. See "Prospectus Summary--Recent Developments."
 
  In addition, the Company expects that pro rata investments by the Company
and its Local Partners as well as Fiber Lease Financings and anticipated
vendor financings will be adequate to fund the requirements of the Operating
Companies for capital expenditures, operating losses and working capital for
existing networks, networks currently under construction and certain of the
Company's planned additional markets during calendar years 1997 and 1998.
There can be no assurance as to the availability of funds from internal cash
flow, the Local Partners or other external sources or as to the terms of such
financings. In addition, the Indenture provides certain restrictions upon the
Company's ability to incur additional indebtedness. The Company's inability to
fund pro rata investments required for the Operating Companies could result in
a dilution of the Company's interest in the individual Operating Companies or
could otherwise have a material adverse effect upon the Company and/or the
Operating Companies.
 
IMPACT OF INFLATION
 
  The Company does not believe that inflation has had a significant impact on
the Company's consolidated operations or on the operations of the Operating
Companies over the past three fiscal years.
 
                                      32
<PAGE>
 
                                   BUSINESS
 
MARKET POTENTIAL
 
  Deregulation, technological change and the increasingly information
intensive nature of the United States economy have significantly expanded the
role of telecommunications in business. In particular these changes have
accelerated the growth of certain aspects of the telecommunications market.
For example, industry sources estimate that voice traffic is growing at a rate
of approximately seven percent per year while data communications are growing
at three to five times that rate due to the increase in computerized
transaction processing and video applications, the movement to distributed
data processing and the rise of decentralized management structures, all of
which require the transmission of large amounts of information with speed,
accuracy and reliability.
 
  The present structure of the U.S. telecommunications market resulted largely
from the divestiture of the "Bell System" in 1984 (the "Divestiture"). As part
of the Divestiture, seven RBOCs were created to offer services in
geographically defined areas called LATAs. The RBOCs were separated from the
long distance provider, AT&T, resulting in the creation of two distinct
industries: local exchange and interexchange (commonly known as long
distance). The Divestiture facilitated direct, open competition in the long
distance segment of the telecommunications market; however, it did not promote
competition in the local telecommunications market. Nonetheless, several
factors have served to promote competition in the local telecommunications
market and the emergence of competitive access providers ("CAPs"), including
(i) the incumbent LECs' monopoly position and regulated pricing structure,
which provided little incentive for incumbent LECs to reduce prices, improve
service or upgrade their networks, (ii) customer demand for an alternative to
the incumbent LEC monopoly, which demand grew rapidly and was spurred in part
by the development of competitive activities in the long distance market and
increasing demand for high quality, reliable services, (iii) the advancement
of fiber optic and digital electronic technologies (such as ATM and SONET),
which combined the ability to transmit voice, data and video at high speeds
with greatly increased capacity and reliability as compared to the incumbent
LECs' copper-based networks and (iv) the significant fees, called "access
charges," IXCs are required to pay to incumbent LECs for originating and
terminating calls on the incumbent LEC networks.
 
  Established in the mid 1980s, CAPs were among the first competitors in the
local telecommunications market. CAPs provided non-switched services (i.e.,
dedicated special access and private line) by installing fiber optic
facilities connecting IXC POPs within a metropolitan area and, in some cases,
connecting end users (primarily large businesses and government agencies) with
IXCs. CAPs used the substantial capacity and economies of scale inherent in
fiber optic cable to offer customers service that was generally less expensive
and of a higher quality than could be obtained from incumbent LECs. In
addition, CAPs offered customers shorter installation and repair intervals and
improved service reliability in comparison to incumbent LECs.
 
  The Company believes the passage of the Telecommunications Act on February
8, 1996 will substantially expand the market opportunities for the Company and
its networks. Based upon data compiled by the FCC, the Company believes that
the passage of the Telecommunications Act increases the potential market for
CLECs to approximately $97.1 billion annually due to the opening of the market
for all switched services which will permit CLECs to offer a full range of
local telecommunications services including local dial tone, local calls,
customer calling features and intraLATA toll services for both businesses and
residential customers. The Telecommunications Act provides for the removal of
legal barriers to entering the local exchange telecommunications market and
directs the incumbent LECs to negotiate with CLECs to resolve network and
competitive issues such as interconnection of CLEC and incumbent LEC networks,
reciprocal compensation for termination of calls originating on a competing
network, telephone number portability, access to rights-of-way and the
unbundling of network services. The Telecommunications Act may provide an
incentive for incumbent LECs to cooperate with local facilities-based
competitors, such as the Company, on
 
                                      33
<PAGE>
 
interconnection issues because the existence of an interconnection agreement
with a facilities-based competitor is a prerequisite for incumbent LEC entry
into the long distance market unless no such facilities-based competitor has
requested access and interconnection in accordance with the terms of the
Telecommunications Act. According to industry data, revenues from switched
services, including local dial tone, represented 85% of local
telecommunications revenues in the United States in 1995. In the markets where
the Company's networks are currently operating or are under construction, the
Company believes it has an addressable market of approximately $5.1 billion
annually, substantially all of which is currently provided by the incumbent
LECs. This addressable market estimate does not include the market for
enhanced data services (currently targeted by the Company through its
partnerships with !NTERPRISE) or the market for interLATA toll, which the
Company has the ability to enter at its option.
 
THE COMPANY
 
  The Company is a leading provider of local telecommunications services over
state-of-the-art fiber optic networks in selected markets within the United
States. Hyperion believes it is the third largest CLEC in the United States,
based upon route miles and buildings connected data made publicly available by
other CLECs. Each of the Company's 18 networks (including three currently
under construction) has been developed by partnering with a Local Partner with
operations in that region. This approach has allowed Hyperion to rapidly
construct high-capacity networks which generally have broader coverage of its
markets than those of other CLECs. The Company believes that the breadth of
its networks will allow it to originate and terminate a significant proportion
of its customers' local telephone calls over its own network, instead of
relying on the network of the incumbent LEC. The Company also believes that
working with a Local Partner significantly reduces the cost of constructing
its fiber optic networks through the utilization of existing cable or utility
facilities and by sharing construction costs with its Local Partners, who
usually upgrade the capacity of their cable or utility infrastructure during
construction of the telecommunications network.
 
  The Company offers a broad array of integrated, high quality voice, video
and enhanced data communications services to end users such as small, medium
and large businesses, as well as to resellers, including IXCs. The Company
believes the design and breadth of its networks is a key competitive advantage
in attracting customers. As IXCs seek to offer their customers an integrated
switched local and long distance service offering, the Company believes IXCs
will increasingly rely on the local networks of CLECs such as the Company.
This is in part due to the IXCs' desire to minimize usage of the incumbent
LEC's network due to the expected entry of incumbent LECs into the long
distance marketplace. The Company believes its networks will be attractive to
IXCs, such as AT&T, MCI and Sprint, and other resellers because the Company's
networks are 100% fiber optic-based and generally offer the broadest market
coverage (other than that of the incumbent LEC). Hyperion believes its
services will also be attractive to end users because it can offer (i) lower
prices than the incumbent LEC, (ii) high-capacity fiber-optic network
connection directly to substantially all of its customers' premises in a
particular city, (iii) high quality customer service and reliability, and (iv)
brand name recognition through its alliances with its Local Partners and IXCs.
 
  The Company plans to offer switched services, including customer dial tone,
in each of its 18 networks by mid-1997, and has already installed switches or
remote switching capability in six of its networks. According to industry
data, revenues from switched services, including local dial tone, represented
85% of local telecommunications revenues in the United States in 1995. The
Company also offers traditional access services to IXCs, and large customers,
which to date have represented the principal source of revenue for the
Company's networks. The Company currently offers enhanced data services to its
customers in four of its networks in a partnership with !NTERPRISE, a wholly
owned subsidiary of U S WEST, and plans to offer such services in all of its
networks. Enhanced data services currently include frame relay, ATM data
transport, business video conferencing, private line data interconnect service
and LAN connection and monitoring services. These services, along with the
long distance services provided by IXCs, enable the Company to provide an
integrated telecommunications service offering to network customers that is
more reliable, has a superior level of service and is priced lower relative to
that of the incumbent LEC in markets served by the Company's networks.
 
                                      34
<PAGE>
 
   
  From the Company's inception in October 1991 through June 30, 1996, the
Company and its partners have invested approximately $164.8 million to build
and develop the network infrastructure and operations (excluding the South
Florida Partnership; see "Management Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations--Liquidity and Capital Resources"). As of
September 30, 1996, the Company's 15 operating networks served 33 cities, and
included approximately 2,887 route miles of fiber optic cable and were
connected to approximately 1,101 buildings. The Company also has three
networks which are currently under construction. The Company intends to
increase the density of its existing network clusters and expand into new
geographic markets or clusters through the Company's continued construction of
new networks with cable and utility partners.     
 
  Hyperion's ownership interest in its networks ranges from 19.7% to 100%. See
"--The Company's Markets." Consistent with the Company's goal of owning at
least a 50% interest in its Operating Companies, the Company has recently
entered into a non-binding letter of intent to consolidate its interests in
its networks in the State of New York. This transaction would increase its
weighted average ownership interest in its networks from 40% to 44% (based on
total fixed assets of the networks). See "Prospectus Summary--Recent
Developments." The Company reports its interest in joint ventures in which it
owns an interest of 50% or less pursuant to the equity method of accounting
consistent with generally accepted accounting principles. The Company manages
the day-to-day operation of all of the Company's networks, for which it
receives management fees which are based on the Company's costs.
 
COMPANY STRATEGY
 
  The Company, through its networks, is a leading provider of integrated local
telecommunications services to small, medium and large businesses, government
and educational end users and resellers, including IXCs, in its markets. By
partnering with local cable television operators and utility companies, the
Company develops networks that will provide customers with greater market
coverage, lower costs and superior service. The Company's networks leverage
the IXCs' name recognition and reputation for quality and reliability and
existing customer base by becoming preferred suppliers for IXCs of local
telecommunications services in the Company's markets. The IXCs market their
long distance services in conjunction with the Company's local service
offerings to provide end users with a fully integrated telecommunications
service offering in all of the Company's operating markets. Principal elements
of the Company's network, market and customer strategies include:
 
  Develop a Rapid Entry/Low Cost Approach with Local Partners. The Company
works with a Local Partner in order to significantly reduce the cost and time
to construct a fiber optic network, enable the Company to rapidly begin
offering services and lower the overhead associated with operating and
maintaining the Company's networks. Advantages of building the Company's
networks with Local Partners include (i) sharing the cost of building a fiber
optic network, which the Company believes reduces the cost of aerial fiber
construction by approximately 62% in the case of cable partners and 40% in the
case of utility partners, (ii) reducing the time and cost of obtaining access
to rights-of-way and building entrances and (iii) leveraging the Local
Partners' existing fiber optic network maintenance and installation
infrastructure. Through the partnerships, the Company has financed its
expansion at a lower cost relative to its competitors by utilizing pro rata
equity investments and Local Partner financings of a significant portion of
fiber construction. Local Partners generally provide funding for the fiber
build in a network and lease the fiber capacity back to the partnership under
long-term agreements, while the partnership funds other capital expenditures,
including switching infrastructure and electronics.
 
  The Company estimates that approximately 70% of its network construction
will be aerial and in many cases, where conduit is available, the Company can
achieve similar savings in underground construction. These estimates are based
upon historical experience, and there can be no assurance that the Company
will be able to achieve similar results in future efforts. These cost savings
are achieved primarily through the sharing of pole attachment costs ("Pole
Attachment Costs") and the
 
                                      35
<PAGE>
 
elimination of costs of the engineering and rearrangement of cables to prepare
telephone poles for the attachment of new fiber optic cable ("Make Ready
Costs"). An analysis of the estimated cost savings for the Company for one
mile of aerial construction is set forth in the following table.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                      WITH LOCAL     WITH LOCAL       WITHOUT
COSTS                                CABLE PARTNER UTILITY PARTNER LOCAL PARTNER
- -----                                ------------- --------------- -------------
                                               (AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                  <C>           <C>             <C>
Make Ready Costs....................     $  --(a)       $  --(b)       $18.0(c)
Pole Attachment Costs...............       3.4(d)          --(b)         5.0
Fiber Costs and Installation........       8.0(e)        18.5(e)         8.0
Splicing Costs......................       0.6(f)         0.6(f)         0.6
                                         -----          -----          -----
  Total.............................     $12.0(g)       $19.1(g)       $31.6
                                         =====          =====          =====
</TABLE>
- --------
(a) Assumes a fiber overlash of existing cable plant.
(b) Assumes placing fiber in the space allocated for the local utility partner
    on the pole.
(c) Assumes an average cost of $200 per pole, 40 poles per mile, to move the
    telephone and cable television wires in the space allocated for
    communications providers on the pole and the replacement of two poles per
    mile.
(d) Assumes the payment of a pro rata portion (approximately 33%) of such
    costs by the Local Partner with respect to capacity to be available for
    such partner's use.
(e) Represents the cost of the Operating Company's fiber and its installation
    on the pole.
(f) Represents the cost of cutting and integrating new fiber components.
(g) In the above analysis, this would be the amount amortized by an applicable
    fiber lease financing between an Operating Company and its Local Partner.
 
  Create Additional Partnerships with Utility Companies. The Company believes
that a significant proportion of the networks the Company constructs in the
future will be through partnerships with utility companies. Utility companies
have a number of features which make them particularly attractive as partners
for the Company, including (i) contiguous and broad geographic coverage with
extensive conduits and rights-of-way in both business and residential areas;
(ii) significant access to capital; (iii) existing relationships with business
and residential customers; and (iv) a reputation for reliability and quality
customer service. The Company believes that it is an attractive partner for
utility companies because it builds large metropolitan networks which are
similar to those of the utility company and because it can offer utility
companies a significant stake in its networks, both from a financial and
operational perspective.
 
  Build Broad Network Coverage. The Company intends to build substantially
larger networks than the networks of the CLECs it competes with in its
markets. As of September 30, 1996, in all of the markets in which the Company
and its networks operate, management believes that the Company has the
broadest network coverage in terms of route miles of any of its CLEC
competitors. The Company believes that expanded network coverage will enable
the Company to (i) provide broader and more reliable coverage for network
customers, (ii) carry a greater amount of traffic on its own networks rather
than on the networks of other carriers thereby increasing the Company's
revenues and profit margins, (iii) increase the potential market available to
the Company due to the greater number of buildings, LEC-COs and customers that
the Company's networks can service, (iv) increase the attractiveness of the
Company's networks to IXCs, cellular providers and new telecommunications
providers such as PCS operators that need wide backbone coverage, (v) offer
services in areas where there are fewer potential CLECs with facilities and
(vi) leverage the fixed cost structure of the Company's networks, particularly
with regard to network electronics such as switches.
 
                                      36
<PAGE>
 
  Expand through Development of Network Clusters. The Company's networks are
located primarily in the eastern half of the United States. The Company
expects to continue to focus on this region due to the eastern location of the
Company's existing networks and the Company's NOCC and headquarters. The
Company also believes that the eastern half of the United States, particularly
the Northeast, has greater concentrations of large business, government and
educational end users and telecommunications traffic. The Company intends to
build on its extensive network size by expanding its existing networks into
nearby areas and establishing new networks in close proximity to existing
ones. Management believes that there are significant operating and marketing
advantages to locating its networks in clusters. Clustering enables the
Company to (i) take advantage of economies of scale in management,
construction, network operations and sales and marketing, (ii) reduce capital
expenditures by optimizing the networks' switching capacity through the use of
remote switch capacity in nearby cities, (iii) cost-effectively offer services
to smaller markets which are adjacent to its networks and in which the
Company's networks are less likely to face strong competition from incumbent
LECs and other CLECs and (iv) increase the networks' ability to offer highly
reliable, end-to-end connectivity on a regional basis. The Company also
believes that creating regional networks will enable the Company to gain a
greater share of high margin long distance transport traffic.
 
  Leverage Strategic Relationships with IXCs. The Company, through its
networks, provides customers with an integrated, one-stop shopping approach to
their telecommunications needs through its strategic relationships with IXCs
such as AT&T, MCI, Sprint, WorldCom and others. The goal of these
relationships is for the Company's networks to offer their local services in
conjunction with the long distance services of these IXCs. Management believes
that working in partnership with IXCs enables the Company to (i) utilize
extensive market information from the IXCs regarding traffic patterns and
building requirements to more optimally construct and extend its networks,
(ii) work closely with IXC account teams to provide an integrated service
approach to end users, (iii) increase market penetration by capitalizing on
the IXCs' name recognition and (iv) lower sales and marketing costs by
utilizing the extensive marketing resources and salesforce of the IXCs to
market the networks' products and services. In pursuing this strategy, the
Company has entered into a national service agreement
with AT&T pursuant to which the Company, through its networks, will be an AT&T
preferred supplier of dedicated special access and switched access transport
services. The Company has also passed AT&T's Switch Network Validation test.
 
  Expand Enhanced Service Offerings. Four of the Company's networks operate in
partnership with !NTERPRISE, a leading, nationwide network integrator that
designs, develops and deploys state-of-the-art data networks (including both
network services and equipment) to support and enhance the information systems
with which the customers of the !NTERPRISE Partnerships operate their
businesses. !NTERPRISE co-markets enhanced services, including frame relay,
ATM data transport, business video conferencing, private line data
interconnect service and LAN connection and monitoring services to the
networks' customers in the networks' respective markets through its
partnerships with the Company's networks. The Company believes that the
partnerships with !NTERPRISE provide the opportunity to offer network
customers a full complement of enhanced services more rapidly and without the
Company incurring the cost and overhead of establishing its own nationwide
enhanced services marketing, sales and installation effort. The Operating
Companies intend to enter into additional agreements with !NTERPRISE in all of
the Company's existing networks and may enter into agreements with other
service integrators in the future.
 
COMPANY SERVICES
 
  The Company currently offers traditional access services to all of its
customers. The Company has installed six switches or remote switching modules,
and plans to offer switched services, including dial tone, in its 18 networks
by mid-1997. The Company currently offers enhanced data services in four
networks, and plans to offer these services in all of its networks.
 
                                      37
<PAGE>
 
 Traditional Access Services
 
  Special Access and Private Line Services. Non-switched dedicated
connections, including high capacity interconnections between (i) POPs of an
IXC, (ii) the POPs of different IXCs, (iii) large end users and their selected
IXCs and (iv) different locations of particular customers. These services are
billed at a flat, non-usage sensitive, monthly rate.
 
  Collocated Special Access Services. A dedicated line carrying switched
transmissions from the IXC POP, through the LEC-CO to the end user.
 
  Switched Access Transport Services. A dedicated line carrying switched
transmissions from the LEC-CO to an IXC POP.
 
  Long Distance Transport Services. Non-switched, high capacity intraLATA
services sold on a wholesale basis to IXCs and cellular and PCS operators.
 
 Switched Services
 
  Local Exchange Services. Switched services providing dial tone to business
customers, as well as intraLATA toll.
 
  Long Distance Services. Switching and transport of interexchange traffic,
including voice, data and video billed on a minutes-of-use basis. The Company
currently offers these services to its customers in conjunction with IXCs.
 
 Enhanced Data Services
 
  The Company and the Operating Companies currently offer, or intend to offer,
their customers a broad array of high bandwidth, enhanced data services,
including frame relay, ATM transport services, business Internet access and
high speed video conferencing. Operating Companies currently offer some of
those services to customers in four markets through partnerships with
!NTERPRISE, a wholly owned subsidiary of U S WEST, and the Company plans to
offer such services in all of its markets.
 
MARKET SIZE
 
  The following table sets forth the Company's estimate, based upon an
analysis of industry sources including industry projections and FCC data, of
the total local telecommunications revenue for calendar year 1995 in the
markets where the Company's 18 networks are currently located. The estimates,
however, do not include estimates for enhanced data services which the Company
expects will provide substantial revenue opportunities. See "--Company
Services." There is currently limited direct information relating to these
markets and therefore a significant portion of the information set forth below
is based upon estimates and assumptions made by the Company. Management
believes that these estimates are based upon reliable information and that its
assumptions are reasonable. There can be no assurance, however, that these
estimates will not vary substantially from the actual market data. Investors
should not place undue reliance on this information in making an investment
decision with respect to the Class A Common Stock offered hereby.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                   TRADITIONAL                     TOTAL REVENUE
CLUSTER                          ACCESS SERVICES SWITCHED SERVICES POTENTIAL(A)
- -------                          --------------- ----------------- -------------
                                              (AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS)
<S>                              <C>             <C>               <C>
Northeast.......................     $ 47.8          $1,387.5        $1,435.3
Mid-Atlantic....................      109.7           2,332.3         2,442.0
Mid-South.......................       31.1             693.2           724.3
Other Networks..................       24.7             505.1           529.8
                                     ------          --------        --------
  Total.........................     $213.3          $4,918.1        $5,131.4
                                     ======          ========        ========
</TABLE>
- --------
(a) Excludes the potential market for enhanced data services and long distance
    services.
 
                                      38
<PAGE>
 
THE COMPANY'S MARKETS
 
 Overview
 
  The Company currently has 18 networks (including three under construction).
The networks are owned by the Operating Companies, ten of which are Operating
Partnerships and four of which are Operating Corporations. Three of the
Operating Corporations are wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company. The
Company manages and operates these networks through a combination of local
management, the Company's headquarters and NOCC in Coudersport, Pennsylvania,
and the Company's marketing offices in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The following
table describes the Company's current networks:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                 ACTUAL OR
                               EXPECTED DATE  HYPERION
COMPANY NETWORKS              OF OPERATION(B) INTEREST     LOCAL PARTNER(S)
- ----------------              --------------- -------- -------------------------
<S>                           <C>             <C>      <C>
      Northeast Cluster
Albany, NY(a)................      2/95         50.0%  Time Warner/Advance(c)
Binghamton, NY(a)............      3/95         20.0   Time Warner/Advance(c)
Buffalo, NY(a)...............      1/95         40.0   Tele-Communications, Inc.
                                                       Time Warner/Advance(d)
Syracuse, NY(a)..............      8/92         50.0   Time Warner/Advance(c)(d)
Vermont......................      11/94       100.0   (d)
    Mid-Atlantic Cluster
Charlottesville, VA..........      11/95       100.0   (d)
Harrisburg, PA...............      4/95         50.0   Lenfest Communications
Morristown, NJ...............      7/96         19.7   TKR Cable(e)
New Brunswick, NJ............      11/95        19.7   TKR Cable(e)
Philadelphia, PA.............      8/96         50.0   PECO Energy
Richmond, VA.................      9/93         37.0   Continental Cablevision
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, PA....    mid-1997      100.0   (d)
York, PA.....................    mid-1997       50.0   Susquehanna Cable
      Mid-South Cluster
Lexington, KY(f).............      12/96        50.0   TKR Cable(g)
Louisville, KY(f)............      3/95         50.0   TKR Cable(g)
Nashville, TN(f).............      11/94        95.0   InterMedia Partners
       Other Networks
Jacksonville, FL.............      9/92         20.0   Continental Cablevision
Wichita, KS..................      9/94         49.9   Gannett
</TABLE>
- --------
(a) The Company has entered into a non-binding letter of intent with Time
    Warner to increase its ownership interest in the Buffalo network to 50%
    and in the Syracuse network to 100%, and to eliminate its ownership
    interests in and management responsibility for the Albany and Binghamton
    networks. See "Prospectus Summary--Recent Developments."
 
(b) Refers to the date on which (i) the network is connected to at least one
    IXC POP; (ii) the network is capable of accepting traffic from IXCs and
    end users; (iii) the Company's central office is fully functional and (iv)
    the initial network SONET fiber rings have been completed.
 
(c) The interests in the Albany, Binghamton and Syracuse networks are all
    owned by one Operating Company.
 
(d) Adelphia or its affiliates lease fiber capacity to the Operating Companies
    in these networks.
 
(e) The interests in the Morristown and New Brunswick networks are owned by
    one Operating Company. Sutton Capital Associates also owns a minority
    interest in the Operating Company.
 
(f) The Company's interest in these networks has recently changed. See
    "Prospectus Summary--Recent Developments."
 
(g) The interests in the Lexington and Louisville networks are owned by one
    Operating Company.
 
                                      39
<PAGE>
 
CLUSTER STATISTICS(A)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                THREE MONTHS
                             ROUTE  FIBER  BUILDINGS         ENDED JUNE 30, 1996
CLUSTER                      MILES  MILES  CONNECTED VGES(B)      REVENUES
- -------                      ----- ------- --------- ------- -------------------
<S>                          <C>   <C>     <C>       <C>     <C>
Northeast................... 1,084  52,054     294   101,952       $1,265
Mid-Atlantic................   786  37,714     309    65,664          345
Mid-South...................   364  17,472     201    39,264          239
Other Networks..............   653  31,331     297   109,200        1,077
                             ----- -------   -----   -------       ------
  Total..................... 2,887 138,571   1,101   316,080       $2,926
                             ===== =======   =====   =======       ======
</TABLE>
- --------
(a) Non-financial information is as of September 30, 1996 and does not include
    networks under construction.
 
(b) Voice grade equivalents circuits.
 
OPERATING AGREEMENTS
 
  Generally, subsidiaries of the Company enter into partnership agreements with
Local Partners to take advantage of the benefits of building networks in
conjunction with local cable television or utility operators. Typically
Operating Partnerships are formed and operated pursuant to three key
agreements: (i) a partnership agreement between the Company or one of its
wholly owned subsidiaries and a cable operator or utility company (the "Local
Partner Agreement"); (ii) a fiber capacity lease agreement between the Local
Partner and the Operating Partnership (the "Fiber Lease Agreement"); and (iii)
a management agreement between the Operating Partnership and the Company or one
of its subsidiaries (the "Management Agreement"). Four of the Operating
Companies have also entered into agreements with !NTERPRISE, a wholly owned
subsidiary of U S WEST, to co-market enhanced services.
 
  The following chart summarizes the allocation of responsibilities and certain
payments to be made under the Local Partner Agreements, Fiber Lease Agreements
and Management Agreements.
 
 
                            [GRAPHIC APPEARS HERE]
 
 
                                      40
<PAGE>
 
 Local Partner Agreements
 
  Each Local Partner Agreement establishes the structure of the applicable
Operating Partnership by determining, among other things, the partner's
capital contribution requirements, capital structure, purpose and scope of
business activities, transfer restrictions, dissolution procedures, duration
and competition restrictions, as well as the voting and buy/sell rights and
rights of first refusal of the partners of the Operating Partnership.
 
  Ownership and Capital Contributions. The initial capital contributions and
percentage of ownership of the Operating Partnerships vary. Some of the Local
Partner Agreements establish maximum capital contributions such that each
partner's ultimate aggregate capital contribution is determined at the
Operating Partnership's inception. Initial capital contributions are generally
paid on an installment basis as determined by the management committee of the
Operating Partnership, which is comprised of representatives of each partner.
Additional capital contributions in excess of the initial capital contribution
may be required in several Local Partner Agreements, but generally either must
be initiated by the manager of the Operating Partnership or approved by at
least a majority vote of the management committee. Generally, the percentage
of ownership is also fixed at the Operating Partnership's inception. Absent an
agreement by the partners, generally, the only circumstances that result in
the dilution of such partner's ownership interest are a partner's failure to
make a capital contribution or its failure to exercise a right of first
refusal.
 
  Matters Requiring a Vote. Most partner votes of an Operating Partnership
require only a majority vote; however, a unanimous vote of the partners is
required for, among other things, expansion of the scope of the business
activities in the defined business area, admission of additional partners and
merger or consolidation with any other entity if the Operating Partnership is
not the surviving entity.
 
  Distributions. Generally, the Local Partner Agreements allow for
distributions to the partners; however, the Local Partner Agreements vary with
regard to the procedure for determining if, when and how much of a
distribution should be made. In one Local Partner Agreement, the Company,
through its affiliate, controls such determinations. In the remaining Local
Partner Agreements, the partners or the partnership's managing committee makes
such determinations by either majority, approval or unanimous consent. All
distributions are required to be made in proportion to each partner's
percentage interest in the partnership.
 
  Transfer of Ownership. The Local Partner Agreements generally prohibit the
transfer of partnership interests, including most changes in control.
Generally, transfers of entire partnership interests to subsidiaries of a
partner's parent corporation and the sale or disposition of all or
substantially all of the stock or assets of a partner's parent are expressly
permitted in the typical Local Partner Agreement.
 
  Rights of First Refusal; Buy/Sell Agreements. The partners of most of the
Operating Partnerships also retain certain rights of first refusal and
buy/sell rights. See "Risk Factors--Risks Associated with Joint Ventures."
Generally, after a specified period of time, usually three to six years after
the inception of the Operating Partnership, either partner may transfer its
interest to an unrelated third party if such partner first offers its interest
to the other partner at the same terms and the other partner elects not to
purchase the interest. The right of first refusal usually requires that the
selling partner sell all, and not less than all, of its partnership interest
pursuant to an offer by a bona fide third party. The selling party must first
give the other partners the opportunity to purchase (on a pro rata basis) the
interest at the same price and under the same terms as the third party's
offer.
 
  Several of the Local Partner Agreements set forth rights of first refusal in
connection with the sale of cable television systems. These provisions give
partners the right to sell all of their partnership interests in conjunction
with the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of, or controlling
interest in,
 
                                      41
<PAGE>
 
the cable television systems operated by the selling partner or its affiliates
in the defined business area, on any terms and conditions agreed to among the
selling partners, its affiliates and the purchaser; provided, however, that if
a partner elects to sell its interest in the partnership to an entity that, at
the time of the potential sale, is engaged in a competitive business in the
business area, the remaining partner generally has a right of first refusal to
purchase the selling partner's interest at a price and terms comparable to the
offer made by the competitor. In addition, in most of the Operating
Partnerships, either partner can, after a specified period of time, usually
five years after the inception of the partnership, make an offer to the other
partner(s) to sell its own interest. Within 30 days of submitting a price
which generally must be based on a written third party valuation of the
partnership interest, the other partner must respond to the offer indicating
its election to either accept the offer to buy or sell at the offered price.
Certain partners in two of the partnerships have the right after a specified
period of time to put their interest in the respective partnership (i) to the
other partners at an amount equal to the fair market value of such partner's
interest pursuant to one agreement and (ii) to the Company at an amount equal
to the partner's capital contributions plus interest less any distributions
pursuant to the other agreement.
 
  Term. Most of the Operating Partnerships were created in the last three and
half years and have a duration of 10 to 25 years unless earlier dissolved. Two
of the Local Partner Agreements contain provisions whereby the respective
Local Partner can terminate its interest, at such Local Partner's sole
discretion, prior to 2003. See "Risk Factors--Risks Associated with Joint
Ventures." Generally, each partner and certain of its affiliates are
restricted from competing with the Operating Partnership in the defined
business area so long as the partner is a partner plus two or three years
thereafter.
 
 Fiber Lease Agreements
 
  Generally, the Operating Partnerships lease fiber optic capacity from their
Local Partners. In some instances, the Operating Partnerships lease existing
fiber optic capacity and in other instances, the Operating Partnerships
request the Local Partners to construct new fiber optic capacity. In many
cases, Local Partners upgrade the capacity of their cable or utility
infrastructure, and as a result, share construction costs equally with the
Operating Partnership. Monthly lease payments in both instances are based on
the amortization of the Operating Partnership's share of the Local Partner's
cost of construction and material costs over the term of the Fiber Lease
Agreement. Because construction and material costs are amortized over the then
current term of the Fiber Lease Agreement, it is possible for the amount of a
monthly lease payment to be significantly lower during a renewal term unless
the construction of additional fiber optic cable is scheduled for such renewal
term. Typically, the amount of the lease payments in a renewal period equals
the amount of monthly maintenance costs for the leased fiber optic cable.
 
  Each of the Fiber Lease Agreements is in its initial term. The initial terms
vary from five to 25 years in length. The Fiber Lease Agreements contain
various renewal options. Generally, either party can terminate the Fiber Lease
Agreement at the end of the then current term if the terminating party
provides prior written notice to the other party. Several of the Fiber Lease
Agreements contain termination rights which provide the lessor with the option
to terminate the lease if the lessor becomes subject to telecommunications
regulation, an action is brought against the lessor challenging or seeking to
adversely modify the lessor's continued validity or authority to operate,
legal or regulatory determination renders it unlawful or impossible for the
lessor to satisfy its obligations under the lease or in case of an imposition
of public utility or common carrier status on the lessor as a result of its
performance of the lease.
 
  Throughout the term of the Fiber Lease Agreements and thereafter, title to
the fiber optic cable remains with the Local Partner. Similarly, the Operating
Partnerships retain title to all of their own electronics and switches that
become a part of the network. A Local Partner cannot sell the fiber subject to
the Fiber Lease Agreement to a third party unless its obligations under the
Fiber Lease Agreement are assumed by the third party.
 
                                      42
<PAGE>
 
   
  The amount of the lease payments could be affected by the costs the Local
Partners incur for attachments to poles, or use of conduit, owned by incumbent
LECs or electric utilities. Various State PUCs and the FCC are reviewing
whether use of Local Partner facilities for telecommunications purposes (as
occurs when the Operating Companies lease fiber optic capacity from Local
Partners) should entitle incumbent LECs and electric utilities to higher pole
attachment or conduit occupancy fees. Such increased fees could result in an
increase in the amount of the lease payments made by the Operating Companies
to the Local Partners and could have significant impact on the profitability
of the Operating Companies.     
       
 Management Agreements
 
  Generally, the Company or a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company provides
the Operating Partnerships with the following services pursuant to the
Management Agreement for a fee based on the Company's cost of providing such
services: general management, monitoring, marketing, regulatory processing,
accounting, engineering, designing, planning, construction, maintenance,
operations, service ordering and billing. The term of the typical Management
Agreement is three or five years and automatically renews for continuous one-
year periods unless one party provides the other with written notice that it
intends to terminate the agreement.
 
 Enhanced Data Services Agreements
 
  Four of the Operating Companies have entered into partnerships with
!NTERPRISE, a wholly owned subsidiary of U S WEST (the "!NTERPRISE
Partnerships"), in order to provide enhanced services such as frame relay, ATM
data transport, business video conferencing, private line data interconnect
service and LAN connection and monitoring services. The partners in the
!NTERPRISE Partnerships each have a 50% ownership interest and are required to
contribute equal amounts in order to retain their shares. The business area
serviced by the !NTERPRISE Partnerships is generally the same as that serviced
by the applicable Operating Company. The partners and their respective
affiliates are also prohibited from competing for as long as the partners are
partners plus two years thereafter. In addition, the partners have a right of
first refusal with regard to the sale of partnership interests and, under
certain circumstances, may put their interest to the !NTERPRISE Partnership.
Generally, the !NTERPRISE Partnerships have a 20 year duration.
 
AT&T CERTIFICATION
 
  AT&T has established a certification process called Operational Readiness
Testing ("ORT") in order to determine whether a supplier's network, systems
and processes are capable of providing a level of service which meets AT&T
standards. ORT is a lengthy process comprised of the following components: (i)
Operational Readiness Assessment ("ORA"), (ii) Network Validation Testing
("NVT") and (iii) Switch Network Validation Testing ("SNVT"). CLECs must pass
AT&T's ORT for access services in order to provide access services to AT&T and
AT&T's ORT for switched services in order to provide switched services to
AT&T. The Company has passed AT&T's ORA, NVT and SNVT.
 
SALES AND MARKETING
 
  The Company targets its network sales and marketing activities at resellers,
including IXCs, and business, government and educational end users. The
Company and the Operating Companies currently have 45 local sales
representatives and eight national account representatives. The Company's
primary reseller customers are the major IXCs as well as smaller and regional
IXCs; however, the Company also targets other resellers, such as PCS, cellular
and local distance resellers. The Company's networks offer their services in
accordance with tariffs filed with the FCC for interstate services and state
regulatory authorities for intrastate services. The Operating Companies are
classified as non-dominant carriers by the FCC and therefore have substantial
pricing flexibility and in many cases may enter into customer and product
specific agreements.
 
                                      43
<PAGE>
 
 Resellers
 
  Resellers utilize the Operating Companies' services primarily as a local
component of their own service offerings to end users. In many cases, the
Company works in conjunction with IXCs when marketing to these end users in
order to leverage the name recognition, marketing reputation and resources of
IXCs.
 
  The Company has national supplier agreements with all of the major IXCs. The
Company believes it can effectively provide IXCs with a full complement of
traditional access services as well as switched services. Factors that
increase the value of the Company's networks to IXCs include reliability,
state-of-the-art technology, route diversity, ease of ordering and customer
service. The Company also generally prices the services of an Operating
Company at a discount relative to the incumbent LEC. In order to further
complement the services provided to the IXCs, the Company integrates its
networks with IXC networks to enable the IXC to (i) access service, billing
and other data directly from the Company and (ii) electronically send
automated service requests to the Company.
 
  An important component of the Company's strategy is to work with major IXCs
to provide local services which the IXC can integrate with its long distance
offering, and thereby provide a single source for the customers'
telecommunications needs. The Company believes this strategy will provide
greater access to the IXCs' large customer base and enable the Operating
Companies to leverage the IXCs' name recognition and reputation for
reliability and quality. In pursuing this strategy, the Company has entered
into the National Service Agreement with AT&T pursuant to which the Company
through its networks will be an AT&T preferred supplier of dedicated special
access and switched access transport services. The National Service Agreement
requires the Company to provide such services to AT&T at a discount from the
tariffed or published LEC rates. See "--AT&T Certification."
 
  The Company currently utilizes national account representatives to market to
IXC customers since the major IXCs have established national or regional
groups to manage and coordinate their purchasing of access services. These
groups assess CLECs not only upon price, quality, service and ease of
provisioning in a particular market, but also upon size, scope of operations
and financial stability in order to maximize the leverage of their CLEC
relationships. The Company focuses on serving the Operating Companies' IXC
customers in all of the Company's markets with a view to establishing national
preferred vendor relationships. The terms and conditions applicable to
services ordered by IXCs are generally specified in agreements under which
some services can be terminated by the IXC on 60 days or less notice.
 
 End Users
 
  The Company targets end users which include small, medium and large
businesses as well as government and educational institutions. Each Operating
Company works in conjunction with IXCs to offer an integrated package of local
and long distance service offerings to end users. Initially, the Operating
Company offers high quality access services to these end users in combination
with an IXC's long distance offerings. Building on its success with the end
users, the Operating Company attempts to increase the size and number of
service offerings it provides by working with customers to analyze the
customers' local telecommunications needs. In particular, the typical
Operating Company offers end users a variety of services, including local dial
tone, frame relay, ATM transport, business video conferencing and other
services. The Company believes that, based upon the Operating Companies'
reputation developed in conjunction with major IXCs, the Operating Companies
will be able to systematically increase their share of the end users'
telecommunications expenditures. The Company believes the networks will be
able to compete for end users' needs based upon price, reliability, product
diversity, service and custom solutions to end user needs. A significant
component of an Operating Company's reliability will be its ability to offer
customers end-to-end SONET ring construction for many localized applications.
The Operating Companies' construction of SONET rings combined with the
Company's large network size will enable the Operating Companies to offer
fiber optic coverage superior to the incumbent LEC in its markets.
 
                                      44
<PAGE>
 
  End users are currently marketed through Company direct sales
representatives in each market. The national sales organization also provides
support for the local sales groups and develops new product offerings and
customized telecommunications applications and solutions which address the
specific requirements of particular customers. In addition, the Company
markets the Operating Companies' products through advertisements, media
relations, direct mail and participation in trade conferences. End users
typically commit to a service agreement for a term of three to five years
which is either renegotiated or automatically converted to a month-to-month
arrangement at the end of the contract term.
 
 Special Purpose Networks
 
  The Company develops special purpose networks in conjunction with the
Operating Companies in order to meet specific customer network requirements.
To date, these special purpose networks have included construction of IXC
backbone networks, campus networks, private carriage networks and other
similar network applications. The terms and conditions for these special
purpose networks are generally specified in agreements with three to five year
terms which automatically renew on a month-to-month basis. In addition,
special customer networks are normally constructed with excess fiber bandwith
capacity, which allows the Company to make additional capacity available to
other end users.
 
NETWORK DEVELOPMENT AND DESIGN
 
  Prior to any network construction in a particular market, the Company's
corporate development staff reviews the demographic, economic, competitive and
telecommunications demand characteristics of the market. These characteristics
generally include market location, the size of the telecommunications market,
the number and size of business, educational and government end users and the
economic prospects for the area. In addition, the Company also carefully
analyzes demand information provided by IXCs, including demand for end user
special access and volume of traffic from the LEC-CO and the IXC POPs. The
Company also analyzes market size utilizing a variety of data, including
available estimates of the number of interstate access and intrastate private
lines in the region, which is available from the FCC.
 
  If a particular market targeted for development is deemed to have
sufficiently attractive demographic, economic, competitive and
telecommunications demand characteristics, the Company's network planning and
design personnel, working in conjunction with the Company's Local Partner,
Adelphia, or one of Adelphia's affiliates, design a large regional network
targeted to provide access to the identified business, educational and
government end user revenue base and to the IXC POPs and the LEC-COs in the
geographic area covered by the proposed network.
 
  The actual network design is influenced by a number of market, cost and
technical factors including:
 
  . Availability and ease of fiber deployment
  . Location of IXC POPs
  . Density of telecommunications revenue based upon IXC information
  . The Company's market information
  . Cost of construction
 
  The objective of the network design is to maximize revenue derived from
service to IXC POPs, LEC-COs and important customers in consideration of
network construction costs. In most cases, the Local Partner bears the costs
of construction for the required fiber, retains ownership of the fiber and
leases the fiber to the Operating Company. The fiber lease costs are
determined by amortizing the Operating Company's portion of the Local
Partner's cost of construction over the term of the Fiber Lease Agreement at
an assumed interest rate. This structure generally allows the Operating
Company to better match its capital costs to cash flows. See "--Operating
Agreements--Fiber Lease Agreements."
 
                                      45
<PAGE>
 
NETWORK CONSTRUCTION
 
  The Company's networks are constructed to cost-effectively access areas of
significant end user telecommunications traffic, as well as the POPs of most
IXCs and the majority of the LEC-COs. The Company establishes with its Local
Partner or Adelphia general requirements for network design including,
engineering specifications, fiber type and amount, construction timelines and
quality control. The Company's engineering personnel provide project
management, including contract negotiation and overall supervision of the
construction, testing and certification of all facilities. The construction
period for a new network varies depending upon the number of route miles to be
installed, the initial number of buildings targeted for connection to the
network, the general deployment of the network and other factors. Networks
that the Company has installed to date have generally become operational
within six to ten months after the beginning of construction.
 
NETWORK OPERATING CONTROL CENTER
 
  In Coudersport, Pennsylvania, the Company has built a NOCC that is equipped
with state-of-the-art system monitoring and control technology. The NOCC is a
single point interface for monitoring all of the Company's networks and
provisioning all services and systems necessary to operate the networks. The
NOCC currently supports all of the Company's networks including the management
of approximately 1,101 building connections, six switches or remote switching
modules and approximately 2,887 network route miles. The NOCC is designed to
accommodate the Company's anticipated growth.
 
  The NOCC is utilized for a variety of network management and control
functions including monitoring, managing and diagnosing the Company's SONET
networks, central office equipment, customer circuits and signals and the
Company's switches and associated equipment. The NOCC is also the location
where the Company provisions, coordinates, tests and accepts all orders for
switched and dedicated circuit orders. In addition, the NOCC maintains the
database for the Company's circuits and network availability. Network
personnel at the NOCC also develop and distribute a variety of software
utilized to manage and maintain the networks.
 
EQUIPMENT SUPPLY
 
  The Company and the Operating Companies purchase fiber optic transmission
and other electronic equipment from Lucent, Fujitsu, Tellabs, and other
suppliers at negotiated prices. The Company expects that fiber optic cable,
equipment and supplies for the construction and development of its networks
will continue to be readily available from Lucent, Fujitsu and other suppliers
as required. The Company has negotiated multi-year contracts for equipment
with Lucent, Fujitsu, and Tellabs. The Company and the Operating Companies
have deployed three Lucent 5ESS Switches ("5ESSs") and three Lucent remote
switching modules, which deliver full switching functionality, in six of their
current markets. The Company and the Operating Companies plan to deploy 5ESSs
or remote switching modules in all of its existing networks by mid-1997 and
additional 5ESSs or remote switching modules in each of the Company's future
networks.
 
CONNECTIONS TO CUSTOMER LOCATIONS
 
  Office buildings are connected by network backbone extensions to one of a
number of physical rings of fiber optic cable, which originate and terminate
at the Operating Company's central office. Signals are sent simultaneously on
both primary and alternate protection paths through a network backbone to the
Operating Company's central office. Within each building, Operating Company-
owned internal wiring connects the Operating Company's fiber optic terminal
equipment to the customer premises. Customer equipment is connected to
Operating Company-provided electronic equipment generally located where
customer transmissions are digitized, combined and converted to an optical
signal. The traffic is then transmitted through the network backbone to the
Operating Company's central office where it can be reconfigured for routing to
its ultimate destination on the network.
 
 
                                      46
<PAGE>
 
  The Operating Company locates its fiber optic equipment in space provided by
the building owner or, more typically, on a customer's premises. IXCs often
enter into discussions with building owners to allow the Company to serve the
IXCs' customers. This network configuration enables the Company to share
electronic equipment among multiple customers, causes little interruption for
customers during installation and maintenance and allows the Company to
introduce new services rapidly and at low incremental cost.
 
  The following diagram is an illustration of an Operating Company fiber optic
transport network in a typical market.
 
 
                            [GRAPHIC APPEARS HERE]
 
EMPLOYEES
 
  As of September 30, 1996, the Operating Companies and the Company employed a
total of 99 and 80 full-time employees, respectively, in support of the
Operating Companies' and the Company's operations. The Company also regularly
uses the services of its Local Partners, employees and contract technicians
for the installation and maintenance of its networks. None of the Operating
Companies' or the Company's employees is represented by a collective
bargaining agreement. The Company believes that the Operating Companies' and
the Company's relations with their respective employees are good.
 
PROPERTIES
 
  The Company leases its principal executive offices in Coudersport,
Pennsylvania and its offices in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Additionally, the
Company owns its NOCC facilities, and leases certain office space from
Adelphia, in Coudersport, Pennsylvania.
 
  All of the fiber optic cable, fiber optic telecommunications equipment and
other properties and equipment used in the networks, are owned or leased by
the applicable Operating Company. See "--The Company's Markets." Fiber optic
cable plant used in providing service is primarily on or under public roads,
highways or streets, with the remainder being on or under private property. As
of
 
                                      47
<PAGE>
 
September 30, 1996, the Company's total telecommunications equipment in
service consists of fiber optic telecommunications equipment, fiber optic
cable, furniture and fixtures, leasehold improvements and construction in
progress. Such properties do not lend themselves to description by character
and location of principal units.
 
  Substantially all of the fiber optic telecommunications equipment used in
the Company's networks is housed in multiple leased facilities in various
locations throughout the metropolitan areas served by the Company. The Company
believes that its properties and those of its Operating Companies are adequate
and suitable for their intended purpose.
 
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
 
  The Company is not a party to any pending legal proceedings except for
claims and lawsuits arising in the normal course of business. The Company does
not believe that these claims or lawsuits will have a material effect on the
Company's financial condition or results of operations.
 
                                  COMPETITION
 
  The Company operates in a highly competitive environment and has no
significant market share in any market in which it operates. In each of the
areas served by an Operating Company, services similar to those offered by the
Operating Company are offered by the incumbent LEC serving that area.
Incumbent LECs have long-standing relationships with their customers, have far
greater technical and financial resources and provide services that an
Operating Company may not currently be authorized by state regulators to
offer. See "Regulation--State Regulation." Following the enactment of the
Telecommunications Act, there has been significant merger activity among the
RBOCs which will result in competitors with even greater financial resources
and geographic scope than currently faced by the Company. In addition, in many
markets, the incumbent LEC currently is excused from paying license or
franchise fees or pays fees materially lower than those required to be paid by
the Operating Companies.
 
  While new business opportunities will be made available to the Company
through the Telecommunications Act and other federal and state regulatory
initiatives, regulators are likely to provide the incumbent LECs with an
increased degree of flexibility with regard to pricing of their services as
competition increases. If the incumbent LECs elect to lower their rates and
can sustain lower rates over time, this may adversely affect the revenues of
the Operating Companies and the Company by placing downward pressure on the
rates the Operating Companies can charge. The Company believes this effect
will be offset by the increased revenues available by offering new services,
but if future regulatory decisions afford the incumbent LECs excessive pricing
flexibility or other regulatory relief, such decisions could have a material
adverse effect on the Company.
 
  Competition for the Company's and the Operating Companies' services are
based on price, quality, network reliability, service features and
responsiveness to customer needs. The Company believes that its management
expertise, coupled with its highly reliable, state-of-the-art digital networks
and back-office infrastructure, which offer significant transmission capacity
at competitive prices, will allow it to compete effectively with the incumbent
LECs, which may not yet have fully deployed fiber optic networks in many of
the Company's target markets. The Company believes that the Operating
Companies price their services at a modest discount compared to the prices of
incumbent LECs while providing a higher level of customer service. The
Company's networks provide diverse access routing and redundant electronics,
design features not widely deployed by the incumbent LEC networks at the
present time. However, as incumbent LECs continue to upgrade their networks,
any competitive advantage held by the Company due to the superiority of its
facilities may diminish.
 
  Other current or potential competitors of the Company's networks include
other CLECs, IXCs, wireless telecommunications providers, microwave carriers,
satellite carriers, private networks built by
 
                                      48
<PAGE>
 
large end users and cable television operators or utilities in markets in
which the Company has not partnered with one or the other. In many markets
served by the Company, one or more CLECs already are providing service.
Furthermore, the three major IXCs have announced ambitious plans to enter the
local exchange market. There is no assurance that these IXCs will choose to
obtain local services from the Operating Companies in the Company's markets.
In addition, the Telecommunications Act requires all local exchange providers,
including new entrants, to offer their services for resale. See "Regulation--
Telecommunications Act of 1996." This requirement permits companies to enter
the market for local telecommunications services without investing in new
facilities, thereby increasing the number of likely competitors in any given
market, and enables the IXCs to provide local services by reselling the
service of the incumbent LEC rather than using services provided by the
Company.
 
                                  REGULATION
 
OVERVIEW
 
  Telecommunications services provided by the Company and its networks are
subject to regulation by federal, state and local government agencies. At the
federal level, the FCC has jurisdiction over interstate services, which
constitute a majority of the Operating Companies' current services. Interstate
services, for the purpose of determining FCC jurisdiction, are communications
that originate in one state and terminate in another state or foreign country.
State regulatory commissions exercise jurisdiction over intrastate services.
Intrastate services are communications that originate and terminate in the
same state. Additionally, municipalities and other local government agencies
may regulate limited aspects of the Company's business, such as use of rights-
of-way.
 
TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 1996
 
  On February 8, 1996, the Telecommunications Act of 1996 was signed into law
and is considered to be the most comprehensive reform of the nation's
telecommunications laws since the Communications Act of 1934. The
Telecommunications Act will result in substantial changes in the marketplace
for voice, data and video services. These changes will open the local exchange
market to competition and will result in a substantial increase in the
addressable market for the Company's networks. Among its more significant
provisions, the Telecommunications Act (i) removes legal barriers to entry in
local telephone markets, (ii) requires incumbent LECs to "interconnect" with
competitors, (iii) establishes procedures for incumbent LEC entry into new
markets, such as long distance and cable television, (iv) relaxes regulation
of telecommunications services provided by incumbent LECs and all other
telecommunications service providers, and (v) directs the FCC to establish a
subsidy mechanism for the preservation of universal service.
 
 Removal of Entry Barriers
 
  Prior to enactment of the Telecommunications Act, many states limited the
services that could be offered by a company competing with the incumbent LEC.
See "--State Regulation." In these states, the incumbent LEC retained a
monopoly over basic local exchange services pursuant to state statute or
regulatory policy. In states with these legal barriers to entry, the Company
had been limited to the provision of dedicated telecommunications services,
which constitutes only a small portion of the local telephone market.
 
  The Telecommunications Act prohibits state and local governments from
enforcing any law, rule or legal requirement that prohibits or has the effect
of prohibiting any person from providing interstate or intrastate
telecommunications services. States retain jurisdiction under the
Telecommunications Act to adopt laws necessary to preserve universal service,
protect public safety and welfare, ensure the continued quality of
telecommunications services and safeguard the rights of consumers.
 
  This provision of the Telecommunications Act should enable the Operating
Companies to provide a full range of local telecommunications services in any
state. The Operating Companies will continue
 
                                      49
<PAGE>
 
their policy of not providing long distance services that compete with the
major IXCs in order to enable the Company to work with IXCs to provide an
integrated local and long distance service offering to end users. Although the
Operating Companies will be required to obtain certification from the state
regulatory commission in almost all cases, the Telecommunications Act limits
substantially the ability of a state commission to deny a request for
certification filed by an Operating Company. While this provision of the
Telecommunications Act expands significantly the markets available to the
Operating Companies, it also reduces the barriers to entry by other potential
competitors and therefore increases the level of competition the Operating
Companies will face in all their markets. See "Competition."
 
  The Vermont Public Service Board ("PSB") is currently considering actions
that would attempt to preserve universal service and protect the public safety
and welfare. The actions would impose conditions on the certificate issued to
the Vermont Operating Company which would require it to offer service on a
geographically widespread basis through the construction of facilities to
serve all residents and business customers in such areas, the acquisition from
other carriers of network facilities required to provide such service, or the
resale of other carriers' services. The Company does not believe that the
Vermont PSB has the authority to impose such requirements under the
Telecommunications Act. The imposition of such conditions by the Vermont PSB
or other state commissions could increase the cost to the Operating Companies
to provide local exchange services.
 
 Access and Interconnection with LEC Facilities
 
  A company cannot compete effectively with the incumbent LEC in the market
for switched local telephone services unless it is able to connect its
facilities with the incumbent LEC and obtain access to certain essential
services and resources under reasonable rates, terms and conditions. Incumbent
LECs historically have been reluctant to provide these services voluntarily
and generally have done so only when ordered to by state regulatory
commissions.
 
  The Telecommunications Act imposes a number of access and interconnection
requirements on all local exchange providers, including CLECs, with additional
requirements imposed on incumbent LECs. These requirements will provide access
to certain networks under reasonable rates, terms and conditions.
Specifically, LECs must provide the following:
 
  Telephone Number Portability. Telephone number portability enables a
customer to keep the same telephone number when the customer switches local
exchange carriers. New entrants are at a competitive disadvantage without
telephone number portability because of inconvenience and costs to customers
that must change numbers.
 
  Dialing Parity. All LECs must provide dialing parity, which means that a
customer calling to or from a CLEC network cannot be required to dial more
digits than is required for a comparable call originating and terminating on
the LEC's network.
 
  Reciprocal Compensation. The duty to provide reciprocal compensation means
that LECs must terminate calls that originate on competing networks in
exchange for a given level of compensation and that they are entitled to
termination of calls that originate on their network for which they must pay a
given level of compensation.
 
  Resale. A LEC may not prohibit or place unreasonable restrictions on the
resale of its services. In addition, incumbent LECs must offer services to
resellers at a wholesale rate that is less than the retail rate charged to end
users.
 
  Access to Rights-of-Way. A LEC must provide access to its poles, ducts,
conduits and rights-of-way on a reasonable, nondiscriminatory basis.
 
  Unbundling of Network Services. Incumbent LECs must offer unbundled access
to the various elements of their network. This requirement allows new entrants
to purchase elements of an incumbent
 
                                      50
<PAGE>
 
LEC's network that may be necessary to provide service to customers not
located in the new entrants' networks.
 
  On July 2, 1996 the FCC released its First Report and Order and Further
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking promulgating rules and regulations to implement
Congress' statutory directive concerning number portability (the "Number
Portability Order"). The FCC ordered all LECs to begin phased development of a
long-term service provider portability method in the 100 largest Metropolitan
Statistical Areas ("MSAs") no later than October 1, 1997, and to complete
deployment in those MSAs by December 31, 1998. Number portability must be
provided in those areas by all LECs to all requesting telecommunications
carriers. After December 31, 1998, each LEC must make number portability
available within six months after receiving a specific request by another
telecommunications carrier in areas outside the 100 largest area MSAs in which
the requesting carrier is operating or plans to operate. Until long-term
service portability is available, all LECs must provide currently available
number portability measures as soon as reasonably possible after a specific
request from another carrier. As new carriers are at a competitive
disadvantage without telephone number portability, the Number Portability
Order should enhance the Company's ability to offer service in competition
with the incumbent LECs, but it is uncertain how effective these regulations
will be in promoting number portability. The Number Portability Order does not
address how the costs of implementing long-term service portability will be
recovered. This issue is subject to an additional comment period and is not
expected to be decided until 1997. Further, the Number Portability Order is
subject to Petitions for Reconsideration filed at the FCC. To the extent that
the outcome of the Petitions results in new rules that decrease the LEC
obligation to provide number portability or increase the CLEC obligation to
pay for number portability, changes to the Number Portability Order could
decrease the Company's ability to offer service in competition with the
incumbent LECs.
   
  On August 8, 1996 the FCC released its First Report and Order and Second
Report and Order and Memorandum Opinion and Order promulgating rules and
regulations to implement Congress' statutory directive concerning the
interconnection of CLEC and incumbent LEC networks and incumbent LEC pricing
of unbundled elements (the "Local Competition Orders"). The Local Competition
Orders adopt a national framework for interconnection but leave to the
individual states the task of implementing the FCC's rules. Because
implementation of the Local Competition Orders will be at the state level, it
is uncertain how these new requirements will affect the Company. The Local
Competition Orders indicate that the FCC intends to take up access charge
reform as early as the fourth quarter of 1996 with new rules in place as early
as the first quarter of 1997. To the extent that the Local Competition Orders
reduce the ability of incumbent LECs to impose non-cost-based access charges
on IXCs, the Company's competitive advantage in providing customers with
access services will decrease. However, to the extent that CLECs are able to
interconnect with incumbent LEC networks on favorable terms, the Company's
ability to provide competitive local exchange services will increase. The
Local Competition Orders are subject to Petitions for Reconsideration filed at
the FCC and Petitions for Review filed at the United States Court of Appeals.
Additionally, the Eighth Circuit has granted a stay of the pricing and "most
favored nation" provisions of the First Report and Order. The pricing
provisions establish price ceilings and default prices for interconnection
elements, and the "most favored nation" provision allows carriers to request
the incumbent LEC to make available to them on the same terms and conditions,
any interconnection, service or network element contained in an approved
agreement to which the incumbent LEC is a party. The stay is limited to
certain FCC rules. None of the provisions of the Telecommunications Act has
been stayed. Various parties have filed petitions to modify the stay with the
Eighth Circuit, and the FCC and a group of telecommunications companies have
filed petitions with the United States Supreme Court to overturn the stay. As
of October 29, 1996, the stay remained in place. To the extent that one or
more of the stay motions are granted or that the outcome of these petitions
results in new rules, the Company's ability to provide competitive local
exchange services could be impaired.     
 
  Although the Number Portability Order, the Local Competition Orders and the
underlying statutory requirements are intended to benefit new entrants in the
local exchange market, such as the Operating
 
                                      51
<PAGE>
 
Companies, it is uncertain how effective these requirements will be until
state regulators begin to implement the FCC's requirements. In particular, if
CLECs are unable to obtain favorable agreements with the incumbent LEC
regarding call termination and resale of incumbent LEC facilities and services
through negotiation with the incumbent LEC or arbitration at state public
utility commissions, there is a diminished likelihood that an Operating
Company will be successful in its local exchange market. In addition, the
ability of CLECs to resell incumbent LEC services obtained at wholesale rates
may permit some CLECs to compete with the Operating Companies without
investing in facilities.
 
  Moreover, these requirements place burdens on an Operating Company when it
provides switched local exchange services that will benefit potential
competitors. In particular, the obligation to offer services for resale means
that a company can resell the Operating Company's services without investing
in facilities, although unlike incumbent LECs, the Operating Companies are not
required to offer services for resale at discounted rates. Similarly, the
obligation to provide access to rights-of-way is of limited benefit to the
Operating Companies, which already have such access through their Local
Partners, but benefits other potential competitors to a far greater degree.
 
 LEC Entry into New Markets
 
  The Company's principal competitor in each market it enters is the incumbent
LEC. See "Competition." Prior to enactment of the Telecommunications Act,
incumbent LECs generally were prohibited from providing cable television
service pursuant to the "telco/cable cross-ownership prohibition" contained in
the Communications Act of 1934, although the prohibition had been stayed by
several courts and was not being enforced by the FCC. In addition, the RBOCs
generally were prohibited by the MFJ (as defined) from providing interLATA
(i.e., long distance) services within the region in which they provide local
exchange service.
 
  The Telecommunications Act repeals the telco/cable cross-ownership
prohibition and permits incumbent LECs to provide cable television service.
Prior to the Telecommunications Act repeal, some LECs were investing in fiber
optic networks on a limited basis through the FCCs "video dialtone" regulatory
regime. With the telco/cable cross ownership prohibition removed, incumbent
LECs are more likely to invest in fiber optic networks because those
facilities will be able to generate a revenue stream previously unavailable on
a widespread basis to the incumbent LECs. While incumbent LEC entry into the
video market may be the motivating factor for construction of new facilities,
these facilities also can be used by an incumbent LEC to provide services that
compete with the Company's networks.
 
  The Telecommunications Act also eliminates the prospective effect of the MFJ
and establishes procedures under which an RBOC can enter the market for
interLATA services within its telephone service area. Before an RBOC can enter
the interLATA market, it must enter into a state-approved interconnection
agreement with a company that provides local exchange service to business and
residential customers predominantly over its own facilities. Alternatively, if
no such competitor requests interconnection, the RBOC can request authority to
provide interLATA services if it offers interconnection under state-approved
terms and conditions. The interconnection offered or provided by the RBOC must
comply with a "competitive checklist" that is comparable to the
interconnection requirements discussed above. See "--Access and
Interconnection with LEC Facilities."
 
  The ability of the RBOCs to provide interLATA services enables them to
provide customers with a full range of local and long distance
telecommunications services. The provision of interLATA services by RBOCs is
expected to reduce the market share of the major long distance carriers, who
are the Company's networks' primary customers. Consequently, the entry of the
RBOCs into the long distance market may have adverse consequences on the
ability to generate revenues from the IXCs.
 
 Relaxation of Regulation
 
  A long-term goal of the Telecommunications Act is to increase competition
for telecommunications services, thereby reducing the need for regulation of
these services. To this end, the
 
                                      52
<PAGE>
  
Telecommunications Act requires the FCC to streamline its regulation of
incumbent LECs and permits the FCC to forbear from regulating particular
classes of telecommunications services or providers. Since the Company is a
non-dominant carrier and, therefore, is not heavily regulated by the FCC, the
potential for regulatory forbearance likely will be more beneficial to the
incumbent LECs than the Company in the long run.
 
  Pursuant to the forbearance provisions of the Telecommunications Act, the
Company has filed a petition requesting that the FCC reinstate its forbearance
policy with regard to tariff filing requirements for competitive providers of
interstate access services, such as the Company. See "--Federal Regulation."
This would relieve the Company of its biggest existing federal regulatory
burden. The FCC has not set a timetable for action on the Company's petition.
 
  The Telecommunications Act eliminates the requirement that LECs obtain FCC
authorization before constructing new facilities for interstate services. The
Telecommunications Act also limits the FCC's ability to review LEC tariff
filings. These changes will increase the speed with which incumbent LECs are
able to introduce new service offerings and new pricing of existing services,
thereby increasing the incumbent LECs' ability to compete with the Company.
 
 Preservation of Universal Service
 
  One of the primary goals of the original Communications Act of 1934 was to
extend telephone service to all the citizens of the United States. This goal
has been achieved largely by keeping the rates for basic local exchange
service at a reasonable level. It was traditionally thought that incumbent
LECs were able to keep basic residential rates reasonable by subsidizing them
with revenues from business and IXC customers, and by subsidizing rural
service at the expense of urban customers. The existence and level of these
subsidies has been widely disputed in recent years because they are so
difficult to quantify.
 
  The Telecommunications Act continues the goal of advancing and preserving
universal service by requiring the FCC to establish an explicit mechanism for
subsidizing service to those who might otherwise drop off the public switched
network. Although the details will be determined by the FCC, all carriers will
be required to contribute and carriers that serve eligible customers will be
able to receive subsidies. In addition, subsidies likely will be available for
companies that provide service to schools, libraries and hospitals.
 
  Depending on how the FCC implements its statutory mandate, this subsidy
mechanism may provide an additional source of revenue to those LECs willing
and able to provide service to markets that are less desirable, either because
of the high cost of providing service or the limited revenues that might be
available. This could be advantageous to the Company or it could be beneficial
to the Company's competitors, depending on the geographic areas and type of
customers for which subsidies are available. For example, if distributions are
limited to companies that provide service to residential customers, the
Company may contribute more than it receives from the universal service fund
due to its focus on business customers.
 
FEDERAL REGULATION
 
  Through a series of regulatory proceedings, the FCC has established
different levels of regulation for "dominant carriers" and "non-dominant
carriers." Only incumbent LECs are classified as dominant; all other providers
of domestic interstate services, including the Operating Companies, are
classified as non-dominant carriers. As non-dominant carriers, the Operating
Companies are subject to relatively limited regulation by the FCC. The
Operating Companies must offer interstate services at just and reasonable
rates in a manner that is not unreasonably discriminatory, subject to the
complaint provisions of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.
 
 
                                      53
<PAGE>
 
   
  Presently, the Operating Companies are required to file tariffs listing the
terms, conditions and rates for their services. The FCC's policy of forbearing
from requiring non-dominant carriers to file tariffs was rejected by the U.S.
Supreme Court and its policy of permitting carriers to file tariffs listing a
range of rates for each service was rejected by the U.S. Court of Appeals for
District of Columbia Circuit. Under the Telecommunications Act, the FCC has
authority to reinstate its forbearance policy for non-dominant carriers. The
Company has filed a petition requesting the FCC to take this action with
regard to competitive providers of interstate access services, but there can
be no assurance that it will do so. On October 29, 1996, the FCC adopted an
order in its proceeding concerning regulatory requirements for non-dominant
carriers. Although this order had not been released as of October 29, 1996, a
press release issued on that date indicates that the order will eliminate
tariff requirements for non-dominant IXCs and makes no mention of CAPs or of
the Company's forbearance petition. The press release is not, however, a
binding statement from the FCC, and the order may differ from the press
release.     
   
  The FCC has adopted rules requiring incumbent LECs to provide "collocation"
to CAPs for the purpose of interconnecting their competing networks. These
rules enable the Operating Companies to carry a portion of a customer's
interstate traffic to an IXC even if the customer is not located on the
Company's network. The Company has requested collocation in some, but not all,
of its markets. The incumbent LECs have proposed interconnection rates that
are being investigated by the FCC to determine whether they are excessive. If
the FCC orders the incumbent LECs to reduce these rates, collocation will be a
more attractive option for CLECs. Under the Local Competition Order, incumbent
LECs will be required to provide both virtual collocation and actual
collocation at their switching offices.     
 
  Under the Telecommunications Act, an Operating Company may become subject to
additional federal regulatory obligations when it provides local exchange
service in a market. All LECs, including CLECs, must make their services
available for resale by other carriers, provide nondiscriminatory access to
rights-of-way, offer reciprocal compensation for termination of traffic and
provide dialing parity and telephone number portability. In addition, the
Telecommunications Act requires all telecommunications carriers to contribute
to the universal service mechanism established by the FCC and to ensure that
their services are accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities.
 
  Because the states have not yet implemented the FCC's rules under the
Telecommunications Act, it is uncertain how burdensome these requirements will
be for the Company and the Operating Companies. The obligation to provide
services for resale by others potentially limits any competitive advantage
held by the Company by virtue of its state-of-the-art facilities because other
carriers, including the incumbent LEC and the IXCs, can simply resell the
Operating Companies' services. Similarly, the obligation to provide access to
rights-of-way benefits certain competitors more than the Company, which
already has such access through its Local Partners. Most of the other
obligations impose costs on the Operating Companies that also will be borne by
competing carriers so the competitive implication of these requirements should
not be significant if they are implemented fairly.
 
  As part of its decision requiring incumbent LECs to provide virtual
collocation, the FCC also granted incumbent LECs flexibility to reduce their
rates for interstate access services in markets where a CAP is collocated.
This flexibility includes the ability to offer volume and term discounts and
to de-average access rates in different "zones" in a state based on the level
of traffic. In addition, the FCC has granted two incumbent LECs further
flexibility in their most competitive markets and the FCC could grant in the
future similar waivers in markets served by the Operating Companies. The FCC
also is considering granting incumbent LECs additional pricing flexibility in
its pending proceeding regarding incumbent LEC price caps. With the passage of
the Telecommunications Act and the anticipated increase in the level of
competition faced by incumbent LECs, the FCC could grant incumbent LECs
substantial pricing flexibility with regard to interstate access services. It
is also anticipated that the prices incumbent LECs charge for access services
will be substantially reduced as a result of the
 
                                      54
<PAGE>
 
FCC's reform of the current access charge regime and the adoption of universal
service rules. A Federal-State Joint Board mandated by the Telecommunications
Act is required to make recommendations regarding universal service by
November 8, 1996, and new universal service rules must be in place by May 8,
1997. The Local Competition Orders indicate that the FCC intends to take up
access charge reform as early as the fourth quarter of 1996 with new rules in
place as early as the first quarter of 1997. To the extent these regulatory
initiatives enable or require incumbent LECs to offer selectively reduced
rates for access services, the rates the Operating Companies may charge for
access services will be constrained. The Operating Companies' rates also will
be constrained by the fact that competitors other than the incumbent LECs are
subject to the same streamlined regulatory regime as the Operating Companies
and can price their services to meet competition.
 
STATE REGULATION
 
  Most state public utility commissions require companies that wish to provide
intrastate common carrier services to be certified to provide such services.
These certifications generally require a showing that the carrier has adequate
financial, managerial and technical resources to offer the proposed services
in a manner consistent with the public interest.
 
  Operating Companies have been certificated to provide telecommunications
services in Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee,
Vermont and Virginia. The New Jersey Operating Company currently has an
application for initial operating authority pending before the New Jersey
Board of Public Utilities. The certificates in New York, Florida and Tennessee
permit the Operating Companies to provide a full range of local
telecommunications services, including basic local exchange service. In light
of the Telecommunications Act, the Operating Companies will request removal of
any restrictions that now exist on its certificates in the remaining states
and anticipate that requests will be granted. See "--Telecommunications Act of
1996--Removal of Entry Barriers." In addition, the Telecommunications Act will
enable the Company to enter new states providing a full range of local
services upon certification. In certain states, each of the Company, its
subsidiaries and the Operating Companies may be subject to additional state
regulatory requirements, including tariff filing requirements, in order to
begin offering the telecommunications services for which such entities have
been certificated. Many states also may have additional regulatory
requirements such as reporting and customer service requirements and universal
service contributions.
   
  In addition to obtaining certification, an Operating Company must negotiate
terms of interconnection with the incumbent LEC before it can begin providing
switched services. Most states in which the Company operates have not adopted
rules governing the interconnection of competing networks although certain
states, such as New York, have recently approved voluntary interconnection
agreements which may set a pattern for arbitrated agreements. Under the
Telecommunications Act, the FCC has adopted interconnection requirements. See
"--Telecommunications Act of 1996--Access and Interconnection with LEC
Facilities." These rules establish guidelines for the states to follow when
reviewing interconnection agreements and should greatly facilitate the
negotiation of interconnection agreements, although it is anticipated that
some incumbent LECs may remain reluctant to comply with interconnection
requests, thereby delaying an Operating Company's ability to provide switched
services. State regulators are generally responsible for resolving any
disputes that cannot be resolved through negotiation between carriers.     
          
  The Operating Companies are not presently subject to price regulation or
rate of return regulation in any state, although there can be no assurance
this will not change when the Operating Companies begin providing switched
services in some states. In most states, an Operating Company is required to
file tariffs setting forth the terms, conditions and prices for intrastate
services. In some states, an Operating Company's tariff lists a rate range or
sets prices on an individual case basis.     
 
                                      55
<PAGE>
 
  Several states have allowed incumbent LECs rate and tariff flexibility,
particularly for services deemed subject to competition. This pricing
flexibility increases the ability of the incumbent LEC to compete with an
Operating Company and constrains the rates an Operating Company may charge for
its services. In light of the additional competition that is expected to
result from the Telecommunications Act, states may grant incumbent LECs
additional pricing flexibility. At the same time, some incumbent LECs may
request increases in local exchange rates to offset revenue losses due to
competition.
 
  An investor who acquires ten percent or more of the Company's outstanding
voting securities may have to obtain approval of the Vermont PSB to own ten
percent or more of such securities because such ownership might be deemed to
constitute an indirect controlling interest in the Vermont Operating Company.
See "Risk Factors--Anti-Takeover Provisions and Change of Control
Considerations."
 
LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTHORIZATIONS
   
  An Operating Company may be required to obtain from municipal authorities
street opening and construction permits, or operating franchises, to install
and expand its fiber optic networks in certain cities. In some cities, the
Local Partners or subcontractors may already possess the requisite
authorizations to construct or expand the Company's networks. An Operating
Company or its Local Partners also must obtain a license to attach facilities
to utility poles in order to build and expand facilities. Because utilities
that are owned by a cooperative or municipality are not subject to federal
pole attachment regulation, there are no assurances that an Operating Company
or its Local Partners will be able to obtain pole attachments from these
utilities at reasonable rates, terms and conditions.     
 
  In some of the areas where the Operating Companies provide service, their
Local Partners pay license or franchise fees based on a percent of gross
revenue. In addition, in areas where the Company does not use facilities
constructed by a Local Partner, the Operating Company may be required to pay
such fees. There are no assurances that certain municipalities that do not
currently impose fees will not seek to impose fees in the future, nor is there
any assurance that, following the expiration of existing franchises, fees will
remain at their current levels. In many markets, other companies providing
local telecommunications services, particularly the incumbent LECs, currently
are excused from paying license or franchise fees or pay fees that are
materially lower than those required to be paid by the Operating Company or
Local Partner. The Telecommunications Act requires municipalities to charge
nondiscriminatory fees to all telecommunications providers, but it is
uncertain how quickly this requirement will be implemented by particular
municipalities in which the Company operates or plans to operate or whether it
will be implemented without a legal challenge initiated by the Company or
another CLEC.
 
  If any of the existing Local Partner Agreements or Fiber Lease Agreements
held by a Local Partner or an Operating Company for a particular market were
terminated prior to its expiration date and the Local Partner or Operating
Company were forced to remove its fiber optic cables from the streets or
abandon its network in place, even with compensation, such termination could
have a material adverse effect on the Company.
 
                                      56
<PAGE>
 
                                  MANAGEMENT
 
DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
 
  The directors and executive officers of the Company are:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 NAME                          AGE POSITION
 ----                          --- --------
 <C>                           <C> <S>
 John J. Rigas...............   71 Chairman and Director
 James P. Rigas..............   38 Vice Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and
                                    Director
 Michael J. Rigas............   42 Vice Chairman and Director
 Timothy J. Rigas............   40 Vice Chairman, Chief Financial Officer,
                                    Treasurer and Director
 Daniel R. Milliard..........   49 President, Chief Operating Officer,
                                    Secretary and Director
 Charles R. Drenning.........   51 Senior Vice President, Engineering
                                    Operations and Director
 Paul D. Fajerski............   47 Senior Vice President, Marketing and Sales
                                    and Director
 Randolph S. Fowler..........   45 Senior Vice President, Business Development
                                    and Regulatory Affairs and Director
</TABLE>
 
  Within 90 days of the consummation of the Offerings and pursuant to Nasdaq
National Market requirements, the Company intends to identify and elect two
new Directors, each of whom will be an independent director who is not an
employee of the Company or its subsidiaries.
 
  The bylaws of the Company provide that the Board of Directors shall consist
of a minimum of seven and a maximum of 21 directors, such number to be
determined from time to time by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors
currently consists of eight members. All directors hold office until the next
annual meeting of stockholders or until their successors have been elected and
qualified. Executive officers serve at the discretion of the Board of
Directors.
 
  John J. Rigas is the Chairman of the Board of the Company. He also is the
founder, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Adelphia. Mr.
Rigas has owned and operated cable television systems since 1952. Among his
business and community service activities, Mr. Rigas is Chairman of the Board
of Directors of Citizens Bank Corp., Inc., Coudersport, Pennsylvania and a
member of the Board of Directors of the Charles Cole Memorial Hospital. He is
a director of the National Cable Television Association and a member of its
Pioneer Association and a past President of the Pennsylvania Cable Television
Association. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of C-SPAN and the
Cable Advertising Bureau, and is a Trustee of St. Bonaventure University. He
graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a B.S. in Management
Engineering in 1950.
 
  John J. Rigas is the father of Michael J. Rigas, Timothy J. Rigas and James
P. Rigas, each of whom currently serves as a director and executive officer of
the Company.
 
  James P. Rigas is Vice Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and a Director of
the Company, Executive Vice President, Strategic Planning and a Director of
Adelphia and a Vice President and Director of Adelphia's other subsidiaries.
He has been with Adelphia since 1986. Mr. Rigas graduated from Harvard
University (magna cum laude) in 1980 and received a Juris Doctor degree and an
M.A. degree in Economics from Stanford University in 1984. From June 1984 to
February 1986, he was a consultant with Bain & Co., a management consulting
firm.
 
  Michael J. Rigas is Vice Chairman and a Director of the Company, Executive
Vice President, Operations and a Director of Adelphia and a Vice President and
Director of Adelphia's other subsidiaries. He has been with Adelphia since
1981. From 1979 to 1981, he worked for Webster, Chamberlain & Bean, a
Washington, D.C. law firm. Mr. Rigas graduated from Harvard University (magna
cum laude) in 1976 and received his Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law
School in 1979.
 
 
                                      57
<PAGE>
 
  Timothy J. Rigas is Vice Chairman, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and a
Director of the Company, Executive Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer,
Treasurer and a Director of Adelphia, and a Vice President and Director of
Adelphia's other subsidiaries. He has been with Adelphia since 1979. Mr. Rigas
graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School, with a B.S.
degree in Economics (cum laude) in 1978.
 
  Daniel R. Milliard is President, Chief Operating Officer, Secretary and a
Director of the Company, and Senior Vice President and Secretary and a
Director of Adelphia and its other subsidiaries. Mr. Milliard currently spends
substantially all of his time on concerns of the Company. He has been with
Adelphia since 1982. He served as outside general counsel to Adelphia's
predecessors from 1979 to 1982. Mr. Milliard graduated from American
University in 1970 with a B.S. degree in Business Administration. He received
an M.A. degree in Business from Central Missouri State University in 1971,
where he was an Instructor in the Department of Finance, School of Business
and Economics, from 1971-73, and received his Juris Doctor degree from the
University of Tulsa School of Law in 1976. He is a member of the Board of
Directors of Citizens Bank Corp., Inc. in Coudersport, Pennsylvania and is
President of the Board of Directors of the Charles Cole Memorial Hospital.
 
  Charles R. Drenning has served as Senior Vice President, Engineering
Operations effective October 1996, and has been a Director of the Company
since October 1991. Prior to joining Hyperion as Vice President, Engineering
Operations in October 1991, Mr. Drenning was a District Sales manager for Penn
Access Corporation. In addition, he has over 22 years experience with AT&T and
the Bell System, where he served in a number of executive level positions in
sales and marketing, accounting, data processing, research and development,
and strategic planning. Mr. Drenning began his career with AT&T as a member of
the technical staff of Bell Laboratories in Columbus, Ohio. His seven years of
research work at the laboratories included both hardware and software
development for central office switching equipment. Mr. Drenning holds a B.S.
in Electrical Engineering and an M.S. in Computer Information Science from
Ohio State University. He is a member of the Pennsylvania Technical Institute
and IEEE.
 
  Paul D. Fajerski has served as Senior Vice President, Marketing and Sales
effective October 1996, and has been a Director of the Company since October
1991. Prior to joining Hyperion as Vice President, Marketing and Sales in
October 1991, Mr. Fajerski was a District Sales Manager for Penn Access
Corporation, a competitive access provider in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In
addition, he has over 13 years experience with AT&T and the Bell System where
he served in a number of executive level positions in sales and marketing. Mr.
Fajerski holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the College of
Steubenville.
 
  Randolph S. Fowler has served as Senior Vice President, Business Development
and Regulatory Affairs effective October 1996, and has been a Director of the
Company since October 1991. Prior to joining Hyperion as Vice President,
Business Development and Regulatory Affairs in October 1991, Mr. Fowler was
Vice President of Marketing for Penn Access Corporation, a competitive access
provider in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He previously served for four years as
Director of Technology Transfer and Commercial Use of Space in two NASA-
sponsored technology transfer programs. In addition, he has over 17 years
experience with AT&T and the Bell System, where he served in a number of
executive level positions in sales and marketing, operations, human resources,
business controls, and strategy development. Mr. Fowler holds a B.S. in
Business Administration from the University of Pittsburgh. He has developed
and taught courses in Marketing, Network Management, and Regulation for the
University of Pittsburgh's Graduate Program in Telecommunications.
 
  In addition to the above, Edward E. Babcock, an officer and Vice President,
Finance of the Company, serves as Chief Accounting Officer.
 
 
                                      58
<PAGE>
  
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
  The following table sets forth certain information regarding compensation
paid by the Company for services rendered during the Company's last three
fiscal years ending March 31, 1996 to the Company's President and the other
most highly compensated executive officers whose total annual salary and bonus
exceeds $100,000.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION(A)  FISCAL YEAR  SALARY   BONUS  ALL OTHER COMPENSATION
- ------------------------------  ----------- -------- ------- ----------------------
<S>                             <C>         <C>      <C>     <C>
Daniel R. Milliard(b).....         1996     $207,474 $    --         $5,250(c)
 President and Secretary           1995      187,412      --          5,350(c)
                                   1994      183,484      --          5,250(c)
Charles R. Drenning.......         1996     $139,982 $25,000         $   --
 Vice President                    1995      128,254  17,345             --
                                   1994      105,379  21,250             --
Paul D. Fajerski..........         1996     $139,982 $25,000         $   --
 Vice President                    1995      128,254  17,345             --
                                   1994      105,379  21,250             --
Randolph S. Fowler........         1996     $139,982 $25,000         $   --
 Vice President                    1995      128,254  17,345             --
                                   1994      105,379  21,250             --
</TABLE>
- --------
(a) James P. Rigas, Michael J. Rigas and Timothy J. Rigas are not employed by
    the Company, and the Company does not reimburse Adelphia for any services
    they provide to the Company.
   
(b) Daniel R. Milliard is not employed by the Company, but is compensated by
    Adelphia for his services to the Company pursuant to an employment
    agreement with Adelphia. The Company currently reimburses Adelphia for Mr.
    Milliard's base salary, insurance premium payments and other benefits paid
    by Adelphia. However, the Company expects to enter into an employment
    agreement with Mr. Milliard. See "--Employment Contracts."     
 
(c) Fiscal 1996, 1995 and 1994 amounts include (i) life insurance premiums
    paid during each respective fiscal year pursuant to the employment
    agreement of Daniel R. Milliard with Adelphia, in the premium payment
    amounts of $4,500 during Fiscal 1996, $4,600 during Fiscal 1995, and
    $4,500, during Fiscal 1994, on policies owned by Mr. Milliard and (ii)
    $750 in matching contributions for Mr. Milliard under Adelphia's 401(k)
    savings plan for each of Fiscal 1996, 1995 and 1994.
 
BOARD COMMITTEES
   
  The Special Nominating Committee of the Board of Directors was established
in October 1996 and consists of the following members: John J. Rigas, Michael
J. Rigas and Daniel R. Milliard (with Timothy J. Rigas and James P. Rigas as
alternates). The Special Nominating Committee is empowered to expand the
number of seats on the Board of Directors from eight to up to 12 at any time
prior to the next annual meeting of the stockholders of the Company, and to
fill the vacancies created thereby. In addition to other actions it may take,
it is expected that within the 90 days of the consummation of the Offerings,
the Special Nominating Committee will expand the number of seats on the Board
of Directors by two and fill the vacancies created thereby with independent
persons who are not employees of the Company or its subsidiaries. Such
appointments will meet the requirements for quotation on the Nasdaq National
Market and will avoid liquidated damages under the Indenture for the Senior
Notes. See "--Directors and Executive Officers."     
   
  Following consummation of the Offerings, the Board of Directors expects to
appoint a Compensation Committee that will establish salaries, incentives and
other forms of compensation for officers and employees of the Company and
administer the Company's 1996 Plan.     
 
 
                                      59
<PAGE>
  
   
  The Audit Committee, which will also be established following the Offerings,
after the appointment of two independent directors as provided above, will
review, act on and report to the Board of Directors with respect to various
auditing and accounting matters, including the selection of the Company's
auditors, the scope of the annual audits, fees paid to auditors, the
performance of the Company's auditors and the accounting practices of the
Company.     
 
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
 
  The directors do not currently receive any compensation for services
rendered to the Company in their capacities as directors.
 
LONG-TERM COMPENSATION PLAN
   
  The Company's 1996 Long-Term Compensation Plan (the "1996 Plan") provides
for the grant of options which qualify as "incentive stock options" within the
meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"Code"), options which do not so qualify, share awards (with or without
restrictions on vesting), stock appreciation rights and stock equivalent or
phantom units. The number of shares of Class A Common Stock available for the
issuance of such options, awards, rights and phantom stock units under the
1996 Plan initially will be 3,500,000. Such number is to increase each year by
a number of shares equal to one percent (1%) of outstanding shares of all
classes of Common Stock, up to a maximum of 5,000,000 shares. Options, awards
and units may be granted under the 1996 Plan to directors, officers, employees
and consultants. The purposes of the 1996 Plan are to encourage ownership of
the Class A Common Stock by directors, executive officers, employees and
consultants; to induce them to remain employed or involved with the Company;
and to provide additional incentive for such persons to promote the success of
the Company. Any shares subject to the Plan in excess of 2,000,000 shares will
require the consent of the Management Stockholders (as defined below) under
the Plan. No stock options, stock awards, stock appreciation rights or phantom
stock units have been granted under the Plan.     
 
EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS
   
  The Company and Mr. Milliard are expected to enter into an employment
agreement which will provide for his employment as President and Chief
Operating Officer of the Company. The agreement is expected to include the
following provisions:(i) a base salary of at least $230,000, to be increased
from time to time to be comparable to salaries paid by comparable companies
for comparable positions, (ii) an annual cash bonus, subject to achievement of
certain benchmarks, of up to 50% of base salary, (iii) stock options to be
granted currently to purchase up to 200,000 shares of Class A Common Stock at
an exercise price of 50% of fair market value, stock options to purchase
150,000 shares of Class A Common Stock at an exercise price equal to the fair
market value of the Class A Common Stock on the closing date of the Offerings,
stock options to purchase 50,000 shares of Class A Common Stock at fair market
value granted on the first day of each of the next four fiscal years,
commencing April 1, 1997 and the ability to receive, upon attainment of
certain benchmarks, stock options to purchase 50,000 shares of Class A Common
Stock at fair market value during fiscal 1997 and the next four fiscal years,
(iv) a current cash bonus of $75,000, a portion of which will be used to repay
outstanding loans to Adelphia and (v) certain employee benefits. It is
expected that all such stock options would be granted under the 1996 Plan. The
initial term of the proposed employment agreement expires on March 31, 2001,
unless terminated earlier for cause (as defined therein) or due to death or
disability. The agreement also is expected to provide that upon a change-in-
control (as defined therein) of the Company, the obligations under the
agreement, if not assumed, would be cancelled in exchange for a payment by the
Company equal to its then fair value. In the event of a change-in-control of
the Company and Adelphia in which no party assumes the Company's obligations
under the agreement, Mr. Milliard would receive a lump sum payment from the
Company equal to two times his annual base salary then in effect. The
employment agreement will also contain provisions     
 
                                      60
<PAGE>
 
   
with respect to confidentiality, non-competition and non-solicitation of
customers, suppliers and employees. Mr. Milliard will continue to serve as a
senior vice president and secretary of Adelphia, although he will receive no
additional compensation for serving in such capacities. The execution of such
employment agreement will be subject to the final negotiation of definitive
terms thereof between the Company and Mr. Milliard after the consummation of
the Offerings and there can be no assurance that the final terms of the
agreement will not materially vary from those set forth above.     
 
  Each of Messrs. Drenning, Fajerski and Fowler (the "Management
Stockholders") have employment agreements with the Company which expire on
October 20, 1998. The employment agreements provide for base salary, bonuses
and benefits, and contain noncompetition and nondisclosure provisions. The
employment agreements also provide for base pay and bonuses to be paid to each
Management Stockholder that are comparable to industry average base pay and
bonuses paid by comparable companies for comparable positions.
 
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
 
  The Company's Board of Directors currently does not, and during Fiscal 1996
did not, have a Compensation Committee. Consequently, all Directors have
participated in deliberations concerning executive officer compensation,
including decisions relative to their own compensation. See "Certain
Relationships and Transactions."
 
                    CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND TRANSACTIONS
 
  The Company was founded in October 1991. From the Company's inception
through March 31, 1996, Adelphia, which owns 89% of the Company's outstanding
Common Stock prior to the Offerings, provided all the equity capital to the
Company and also made loans and advances totaling approximately $50.9 million.
The Company repaid $25 million of such indebtedness to Adelphia from the
proceeds of the offering of Senior Notes and Warrants on April 15, 1996, on
which date the remaining $26.1 million, including accrued interest and fees of
approximately $1.2 million for the period January 1, 1996 through April 15,
1996, was evidenced by the Adelphia Note, an unsecured subordinated note due
April 16, 2003 that accrues interest at an annual rate of 16.5% and is
subordinated to the Senior Notes. Interest on the Adelphia Note is payable
quarterly in cash, through the issuance of identical subordinated notes or in
any combination thereof, at the option of the Company. Interest (excluding
fees relating to amounts borrowed) accrued on the indebtedness to Adelphia at
an annual rate of 11.3% prior to April 15, 1996. Proceeds from the Senior
Notes and Warrants were also used to repay amounts related to capital
expenditures, working capital requirements, operating losses and pro-rata
investments in joint ventures totaling $12.8 million incurred during the
period from January 1, 1996 to April 15, 1996. These amounts had been funded
during the same time period through advances from Adelphia.
 
  Messrs. Drenning, Fajerski and Fowler together hold 11% of the Company's
outstanding Common Stock prior to the Offerings, and are parties to a
shareholder agreement, as amended ("Shareholder Agreement") with Adelphia. The
Shareholder Agreement provides, among other things, (i) that upon the earlier
of (a) the termination of employment of any Management Stockholder or (b)
after October 7, 1998, such Management Stockholder may put his shares to
Adelphia for fair market value, unless such put rights are terminated as a
result of the registration of the Company's Common Stock under the Securities
Act; (ii) for Adelphia to vote its shares in the Company to elect each
Management Stockholder to the Board of Directors of the Company; and (iii) for
certain buy/sell and termination rights and duties among Adelphia and the
Management Stockholders. The Shareholder Agreement terminates automatically
upon the date when the Company's Common Stock is registered under the 1933 Act
or 1934 Act and the Management Stockholders have the opportunity to sell their
shares pursuant to the registration rights agreement discussed below.
 
                                      61
<PAGE>
 
  The Company has also entered into Term Loan and Stock Pledge Agreements
("Loan Agreements") with each of the Management Stockholders. Pursuant to the
Loan Agreements, each Management Stockholder has borrowed $1 million from the
Company. Each of these loans accrues interest at the average rate at which the
Company can invest cash on a short-term basis, is secured by a pledge of the
borrower's Common Stock in the Company, and matures upon the earlier of (i)
October 8, 1998 or (ii) the date when the Company's Common Stock is registered
under the 1933 Act and the Management Stockholders have the right to sell
their shares pursuant to the registration rights agreement discussed below.
Each Loan Agreement also provides that any interest accruing on a loan from
the date six months after the date of such loan shall be offset by a bonus
payment which shall be paid when principal and interest thereon are due and
which shall include additional amounts to pay income taxes applicable to such
bonus payment.
   
  The Company and the Management Stockholders have entered into a registration
rights agreement whereby the Company has agreed to provide the Management
Stockholders with one collective demand registration right relating to the
Common Stock owned by them or certain permitted transferees. Such demand
registration right may be exercised beginning six months after the completion
of the Offerings and terminated upon the earlier of (i) the sale or
disposition of all of such Common Stock or (ii) the date on which all such
shares of Common Stock become freely tradeable pursuant to Rule 144.     
   
  The Company and Adelphia have entered into a registration rights agreement
whereby the Company has agreed to provide Adelphia and certain permitted
transferees with two demand registration rights per year under certain
conditions, including that any such demand be with respect to shares with a
minimum of $10 million in market value, and with certain piggyback
registration rights in future public offerings of the Common Stock. Adelphia's
demand registration rights terminate at such time as Adelphia ceases to hold
at least $10 million in market value of Common Stock.     
   
  The Company, Adelphia and the Management Stockholders have agreed that upon
or following the consummation of the Offerings, (i) the Shareholder Agreement
and Loan Agreements will terminate, (ii) the Management Stockholders will each
repay the $1 million borrowed from the Company pursuant to the Loan Agreements
with the proceeds from margin loans secured by Common Stock owned by such
Management Stockholders, and (iii) the Company will pay to the Management
Stockholders bonus payments in the amount of interest accruing on the margin
loans through March 1, 1997 and any additional amounts necessary to pay income
taxes applicable to such bonus payments.     
 
  During Fiscal 1994, 1995, 1996 and the three months ended June 30, 1996, the
Company incurred charges from Adelphia of $0.5, $0.5, $0.4 and $0.1 million,
respectively, for the provision to the Company of shared corporate overhead
services in areas such as personnel, payroll, management information services,
shared use of office, aircraft and network facilities and support equipment.
The Company expects that charges for the provision of similar services by
Adelphia to the Company, or by the Company to Adelphia, will continue to be
incurred or charged by the Company in the future. The transactions related to
the provision of these services have been based on allocation of Adelphia's
costs incurred for these services, and do not necessarily represent the cost
to the Company had these services been provided on an arm's length basis.
During Fiscal 1995, 1996 and the three months ended June 30, 1996, the Company
paid Adelphia or certain of Adelphia's affiliates, fiber lease payments of
$0.3, $1.0 and $0.3 million, respectively.
 
  Effective September 30, 1996, the Vermont Operating Company purchased from
Adelphia approximately 280 miles of SONET ring fiber backbone presently used
by the Vermont Operating Company for $5.4 million, Adelphia's historical cost
for such assets, subject to post-closing adjustments.
 
                                      62
<PAGE>
 
                            PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS
   
  The following table provides information, as of October 30, 1996, with
respect to the beneficial ownership of the Company's Class A Common Stock and
Class B Common Stock by (i) each person known by the Company to be a
beneficial owner of more than 5% of either the Class A Common Stock or Class B
Common Stock, (ii) the directors and executive officers and (iii) all
directors and executive officers as a group.     
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                CLASS A              CLASS B           TOTAL          TOTAL
                              COMMON STOCK        COMMON STOCK      COMMON STOCK  COMMON STOCK
                             OWNED PRIOR TO      OWNED PRIOR TO    OWNED PRIOR TO  OWNED AFTER
                          AND AFTER OFFERINGS  AND AFTER OFFERINGS OFFERINGS (%)  OFFERINGS (%)
                          -------------------- ------------------- -------------- -------------
<S>                       <C>                  <C>                 <C>            <C>
Adelphia Communications
 Corporation (a)(b)(c)..     (c)                   17,800,040           89.00         48.77
Charles R. Drenning (d).     (c)                      733,320            3.67          2.01
Paul D. Fajerski (d)....     (c)                      733,320            3.67          2.01
Randolph S. Fowler (d)..     (c)                      733,320            3.67          2.01
All executive officers
and directors as  a
group (eight
persons)(a).............     (c)                   20,000,000(e)       100.00         54.79
</TABLE>
- --------
(a) The business address of Adelphia Communications Corporation is the same as
    that of the Company. In their capacity as executive officers of Adelphia,
    the following persons share or may be deemed to share voting and
    dispositive power over the shares of Common Stock owned by Adelphia,
    subject to the discretion of the Board of Directors of Adelphia: John J.
    Rigas, Michael J. Rigas, Timothy J. Rigas, James P. Rigas and Daniel R.
    Milliard.
(b) In the event that the Underwriters exercise the over-allotment options,
    Adelphia may elect to sell shares of Class A Common Stock to satisfy such
    over-allotment options. The information presented assumes no exercise of
    such over-allotment options by the Underwriters. In the event that the
    over-allotment options are exercised in full by the Underwriters and
    Adelphia elects to satisfy such over-allotment options through the sale of
    shares of Class A Common Stock, Adelphia would own 15,325,040 shares of
    Class B Common Stock after the conversion and sale of shares of Class A
    Common Stock in connection with the over-allotment options and the
    resulting percentage of total Common Stock owned by Adelphia after the
    Offerings would be 41.99%. In the event that Adelphia does not elect to
    sell shares in connection with the Underwriters over-allotment options,
    Adelphia would own 17,800,040 shares of Class B Common Stock, which would
    represent 45.67% of the total Common Stock outstanding after the
    Offerings.
(c) Each share of Class B Common Stock is convertible at any time at the
    option of the holder into an equal number of shares of Class A Common
    Stock. Holders of Class A Common Stock are entitled to one vote per share
    and holders of Class B Common Stock are entitled to 10 votes per share on
    all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders. Upon completion of the
    Offerings, Adelphia will possess approximately 82.22% of the combined
    power of both classes of Common Stock. See "Description of Capital Stock."
   
(d) The business address of each such holder is 2570 Boyce Plaza, Pittsburgh,
    Pennsylvania 15241. Includes with respect to (i) Mr. Drenning, an
    aggregate of 130,000 shares of Class B Common Stock held in trust for the
    benefit of Mr. Drenning's children for which his spouse serves as co-
    trustee and as to which shares Mr. Drenning has neither the power to
    dispose nor the power to vote; and (ii) Mr. Fajerski, an aggregate of
    130,000 shares held in trust for the benefit of Mr. Fajerski's children
    for which his spouse serves as co-trustee and as to which shares Mr.
    Fajerski has neither the power to dispose nor the power to vote.     
(e) Includes 17,800,040 shares of Class B Common Stock held by Adelphia, for
    which the following executive officers and directors of the Company share
    or may be deemed to share voting and dispositive power over the shares,
    subject to the discretion of the Board of Directors of Adelphia: John J.
    Rigas, Michael J. Rigas, Timothy J. Rigas, James P. Rigas and Daniel R.
    Milliard.
 
                         DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
 
  The following description of the capital stock of Hyperion and certain
provisions of Hyperion's Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws is a summary
and is qualified in its entirety by Hyperion's Certificate of Incorporation
and Bylaws, which documents are filed as exhibits to the Registration
Statement of which this Prospectus is a part and are incorporated herein by
reference.
 
                                      63
<PAGE>
 
  Following the Recapitalization Events, Hyperion's authorized capital stock
will consist of 300,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $.01 per
share, 150,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock, par value $.01 per share,
and 5,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share.
 
COMMON STOCK
 
  Shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock are substantially
identical, except that holders of Class A Common Stock are entitled to one
vote per share and holders of Class B Common Stock are entitled to 10 votes
per share on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders.
 
 Class A Common Stock
 
  The holders of Class A Common Stock are entitled to one vote per share on
all matters to be voted on by the stockholders. Subject to preferences that
may be applicable to any outstanding Preferred Stock, the holders of Class A
Common Stock and Class B Common Stock are entitled to receive dividends
ratably, if any such dividends are declared, from time to time by the Board of
Directors out of funds legally available therefor. Stock dividends declared on
Class A Common Stock shall be in shares of Class A Common Stock, and stock
dividends on Class B Common Stock shall be in shares of Class B Common Stock.
In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the
holders of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock are entitled to share
ratably in all assets remaining after payment of liabilities, subject to prior
rights of the holders of the Preferred Stock then outstanding. There are no
redemption or sinking fund provisions available to the Class A Common Stock.
All outstanding shares of Common Stock are fully paid and non-assessable, and
the shares of Class A Common Stock to be issued upon completion of this
offering will be fully paid and non-assessable.
 
 Class B Common Stock
 
  The holders of Class B Common Stock are entitled to ten votes per share on
all matters to be voted on by the stockholders. Each share of Class B Common
Stock is convertible at the option of the holder into one share of Class A
Common Stock. In all other respects, the provisions of the Class B Common
Stock are identical to those of the Class A Common Stock.
 
  Neither the holders of Class A Common Stock nor the holders of Class B
Common Stock have cumulative voting rights. For a discussion of the effects of
the disproportionate voting rights of the Class A Common Stock and Class B
Common Stock, see "Risk Factors--Control by Principal Stockholder."
 
PREFERRED STOCK
 
  The Board of Directors will be authorized, subject to any limitations
prescribed by law, without further stockholder approval, to issue from time to
time such shares of Preferred Stock, in one or more classes or series. Each
class or series of Preferred Stock shall have such number of shares,
designations, preferences, voting powers, qualifications and special or
relative rights or privileges as shall be determined by the Board of
Directors, which may include, among others, dividend rights, voting rights,
redemption and sinking fund provisions, liquidation preferences, conversion
rights and preemptive rights. The ownership and control of the Company by the
holders of Common Stock would be diluted if the Company were to issue
Preferred Stock that had voting rights or that was convertible into Common
Stock. In addition, the holders of Preferred Stock issued by the Company would
be entitled by law to vote on certain transactions such as a merger or
consolidation, and thus the issuance of Preferred Stock could dilute the
voting rights of the holders of Common Stock on such issues.
 
  The Company currently has no shares of Preferred Stock outstanding. At
present, the Company has no plans to issue any shares of Preferred Stock.
 
WARRANTS
 
  The Warrants were issued pursuant to the Warrant Agreement between the
Company and Bank of Montreal Trust Company, as warrant agent (the "Warrant
Agent") on April 15, 1996 as part of a
 
                                      64
<PAGE>
 
private placement by the Company of 329,000 units consisting of $329.0 million
aggregate principle amount at maturity of Senior Notes and Warrants to
purchase an aggregate of 613,427 shares of common stock of the Company, prior
to adjustment for the Recapitalization Events. Following the Recapitalization
Events, there were outstanding Warrants for the purchase of an aggregate of
1,226,854 shares of Class B Common Stock. The following summary of certain
provisions of the Warrant Agreement and the Warrants does not purport to be
complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Warrant
Agreement and the Warrants, including the definitions therein of certain
terms. As used in this section, the term "Company" refers only to Hyperion
Telecommunications, Inc. and not to its subsidiaries.
 
  After the Recapitalization Events each Warrant, when exercised, will entitle
the holder thereof to purchase 3.729 shares of Class B Common Stock (the
"Warrant Shares") at the exercise price of $0.005 per share. The exercise
price and the number of Warrant Shares issuable on exercise of a Warrant are
both subject to adjustment in certain cases referred to below. The Warrants
are exercisable at any time on or after the earlier to occur of (i) May 1,
1997 and (ii) in the event a Change of Control occurs, the date the Company
mails notice thereof to holders of the Senior Notes and to the holders of the
Warrants, Warrant Shares and any other securities issued or issuable with
respect thereto. Unless exercised, the Warrants will automatically expire on
April 1, 2001, the Expiration Date. The Company will give notice of expiration
not less than 90 and not more than 120 days prior to the Expiration Date to
the registered holders of the then outstanding Warrants. If the Company fails
to give such notice, the Warrants will not expire until 90 days after the
Company gives such notice. In no event will holders be entitled to any damages
or other remedy for the Company's failure to give such notice other than any
such extension.
 
  In connection with the issuance of the Warrants, the Company agreed to file
Warrant Shelf Registration Statements under the Securities Act (i) covering
the Warrants, on or prior to October 1, 1996, and (ii) covering the Warrant
Shares, on or prior to January 1, 1997, and to use its best efforts to cause
such Warrant Shelf Registration Statements to be declared effective by the
Commission on or prior to 90 days after the dates specified for such filings.
The Company filed a registration statement covering the Warrants and the
Warrant Shares on September 25, 1996. The Warrant Shelf Registration Statement
has not been declared effective by the Commission as of the date of this
Prospectus. The Company has agreed to keep the Warrant Shelf Registration
Statements with respect to the Warrants and the Warrant Shares as described in
the immediately preceding paragraph effective until October 1, 1999 and
January 1, 2000, respectively. If the Company does not comply with its
registration obligations under the Warrant Registration Rights Agreement, it
will be required to pay liquidated damages to holders of the Warrants or
Warrant Shares under certain circumstances.
 
ANTI-TAKEOVER EFFECTS OF PROVISIONS OF THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION AND
DELAWARE LAW
 
 Delaware General Corporation Law
 
  Although the Company's Certificate of Incorporation currently provides that
the Company is not subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation
Law ("Section 203"), the Company could become subject to Section 203 through
stockholder action in the future. Section 203, subject to certain exceptions,
prohibits a Delaware corporation, the voting stock of which is generally
publicly traded (i.e., listed on a national securities exchange or authorized
for quotation on an inter-dealer quotation system of a registered national
securities association) or held of record by more than 2,000 stockholders,
from engaging in any "business combination" with any "interested stockholder"
for a period of three years following the time that such stockholder became an
interested stockholder, unless (i) prior to such time, the Board of Directors
of the corporation approved either such business combination or the
transaction which resulted in such stockholder becoming an interested
stockholder, (ii) upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in such
stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder
owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the
time such transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the
number of shares outstanding
 
                                      65
<PAGE>
 
those shares owned (y) by persons who are directors and also officers and (z)
by employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right
to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be
tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or (iii) at or subsequent to such
time, such business combination is approved by the board of directors and
authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written
consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting
stock which is not owned by the interested stockholder.
 
  Section 203 defines business combination to include: (i) any merger or
consolidation involving the corporation and the interested stockholder; (ii)
any sale, transfer, pledge or other disposition involving the interested
stockholder of 10% or more of the assets of the corporation; (iii) subject to
certain exceptions, any transaction which results in the issuance or transfer
by the corporation of any stock of the corporation to the interested
stockholder; (iv) any transactions involving the corporation beneficially
owned by the interested stockholder; or (v) the receipt by the interested
stockholder of the benefit of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or
other financial benefits provided by or through the corporation. In general,
Section 203 defines an interested stockholder as any entity or person
beneficially owning (or within the past three years having owned) 15% or more
of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation and any entity or person
affiliated with or controlling or controlled by such entity or person.
 
 Certificate of Incorporation
 
  In addition to the voting rights of the Class A and Class B Common Stock
described above, the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, by
means of a "blank check preferred" provision authorizes the Board of
Directors, at any time, to divide any or all of the shares of Preferred Stock
into one or more series and to fix and determine the number of shares and the
designation of such series so as to distinguish it from the shares of all
other series. Further, the Board of Directors, when issuing a series of
Preferred Stock, may fix and determine the voting rights, designations,
preferences, qualifications, privileges, limitations, options, conversion
rights, restrictions and other special or relative rights of the Preferred
Stock of such series.
 
  This blank check preferred provision gives the Board of Directors
flexibility in dealing with methods of raising capital and responding to
possible hostile takeover attempts. The provision may have the effect of
making it more difficult for a third party to acquire the Company, discourage
a third party from attempting to acquire the Company or deter a third party
from paying a premium to acquire a majority of the outstanding voting stock of
the Company. Additionally, depending on the rights and preferences of any
series of Preferred Stock issued and outstanding, the issuance of Preferred
Stock may adversely affect the voting and other rights of the holders of the
Common Stock, including the possibility of the loss of voting control to
others.
 
  For a discussion of the effects of the disproportionate voting rights of the
Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, see "Risk Factors--Control by
Principal Stockholder" and "Description of Capital Stock--Common Stock."
 
DIVIDEND RESTRICTIONS
 
  The terms of the Indenture for the Senior Notes contain restrictions on the
ability of the Company to pay dividends on the Common Stock. The payment of
dividends on the Common Stock is also subject to the preferences that may be
applicable to any then outstanding Preferred Stock.
 
TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR
 
  The Transfer Agent and Registrar for the Common Stock is the American Stock
Transfer & Trust Company. The Transfer Agent and Registrar for the Warrants is
Bank of Montreal Trust Company, New York, New York.
 
                                      66
<PAGE>
 
                    CERTAIN UNITED STATES TAX CONSEQUENCES
                         TO NON-UNITED STATES HOLDERS
 
  The following is a general discussion of certain United States federal
income and estate tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of Class A
Common Stock applicable to "Non-United States Holders." A "Non-United States
Holder" is any beneficial owner of Class A Common Stock that, for United
States federal income tax purposes, is a non-resident alien individual, a
foreign corporation, a foreign partnership or a non-resident fiduciary of a
foreign estate or trust as such terms are defined in the Code. This discussion
is based on the Code and administrative and judicial interpretations as of the
date hereof, all of which are subject to change either retroactively or
prospectively. This discussion does not address all aspects of United States
federal income and estate taxation that may be relevant to Non-United States
Holders in light of their particular circumstances and does not address any
tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local or foreign taxing
jurisdiction. Prospective investors are urged to consult with their tax
advisors regarding the United States federal, state and local income and other
tax consequences, and the non-United States tax consequences, of owning and
disposing of Class A Common Stock.
 
DIVIDENDS
 
  Subject to the discussion below, any dividend paid to a Non-United States
Holder generally will be subject to United States withholding tax either at a
rate of 30% of the gross amount of the dividend or such lower rate as may be
specified by an applicable income tax treaty. For purposes of determining
whether tax is to be withheld at a 30% rate or at a reduced rate as specified
by an income tax treaty, the Company ordinarily will presume that dividends
paid to an address in a foreign country are paid to a resident of such country
absent knowledge that such presumption is not warranted. However, under
proposed United States Treasury regulations not currently in effect, a Non-
United States Holder would be required to file certain forms accompanied by a
statement from a competent authority of the treaty country in order to claim
the benefits of a tax treaty. Dividends paid to a holder with an address
within the United States generally will not be subject to withholding tax,
unless the Company has actual knowledge that the holder is a Non-United States
Holder.
 
  Dividends received by a Non-United States Holder that are effectively
connected with a United States trade or business conducted by such Non-United
States Holder are exempt from withholding tax. However, such effectively
connected dividends are subject to regular United States income tax in the
same manner as if the Non-United States Holder were a United States resident.
A Non-United States Holder may claim exemption from withholding under the
effectively connected income exception by filing Form 4224 (Statement Claiming
Exemption from Withholding of Tax on Income Effectively Connected With the
Conduct of Business in the United States) each year with the Company or its
paying agent prior to the payment of the dividends for such year. Effectively
connected dividends received by a corporate Non-United States Holder may be
subject to an additional "branch profits tax" at a rate of 30% (or such lower
rate as may be specified by an applicable tax treaty) of such corporate Non-
United States Holder's effectively connected earnings and profits, subject to
certain adjustments.
 
  A Non-United States Holder eligible for a reduced rate of United States
withholding tax pursuant to a tax treaty may obtain a refund of any excess
amounts currently withheld by filing an appropriate claim for refund with the
United States Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS").
 
GAIN ON DISPOSITION OF ORDINARY COMMON STOCK
 
  A Non-United States Holder generally will not be subject to United States
federal income tax with respect to a gain realized upon the sale or a
disposition of Class A Common Stock unless: (i) such gain is effectively
connected with a United States trade or business of the Non-United States
Holder, (ii) the Non-United States Holder is an individual who is present in
the United States for a period or
 
                                      67
<PAGE>
 
periods aggregating 183 days or more during the taxable year in which such
sale or disposition occurs and certain other conditions are met, or (iii) the
Company is or has been a "United States real property holding corporation" for
federal income tax purposes at any time within the shorter of the five-year
period preceding such disposition or such holder's holding period and certain
other conditions are met. The Company has determined that it is not, has not
been for the last five years, and does not believe that it will become a
"United States real property holding corporation" for federal income tax
purposes. If a Non-United States Holder falls under clause (i) above, the Non-
United States holder will be taxed on the net gain derived from the sale under
regular graduated United States federal income tax rates (and, with respect to
corporate Non-United States Holders, may also be subject to the branch profits
tax described above). If an individual Non-United States Holder falls under
clause (ii) above, the Non-United States Holder generally will be subject to a
30% tax on the gain derived from the sale, which gain may be offset by United
States capital losses recognized within the same taxable year of such sale.
 
BACKUP WITHHOLDING AND INFORMATION REPORTING
 
  Generally, the Company must report to the IRS the amount of dividends paid,
the name and address of the recipient, and the amount, if any, of tax
withheld. A similar report is sent to the holder. Pursuant to tax treaties or
other agreements, the IRS may make its reports available to tax authorities in
the recipient's country of residence.
 
  Unless the Company has actual knowledge that a holder is a non-United States
person, dividends paid to a holder at an address within the United States may
be subject to backup withholding at a rate of 31% if the holder is not an
exempt recipient as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.6049-4(c)(1)(ii)
(which includes corporations) and fails to provide a correct taxpayer
identification number and other information to the Company. Backup withholding
will generally not apply to dividends paid to holders at an address outside
the United States (unless the Company has knowledge that the holder is a
United States person.)
 
  If the proceeds of the disposition of Class A Common Stock by a Non-United
States Holder are paid over, by or through a United States office of a broker,
the payment is subject to information reporting and to backup withholding at a
rate of 31% unless the disposing holder certifies as to its name, address and
status as a Non-United States Holder under penalties of perjury or otherwise
establishes an exemption. Generally, United States information reporting and
backup withholding will not apply to a payment of disposition proceeds if the
payment is made outside the United States through a non-United States office
of a non-United States broker. However, United States information reporting
requirements (but not backup withholding) will apply to a payment of
disposition proceeds outside the United States if (a) the payment is made
through an office outside the United States of a broker that is either (i) a
United States person for United States federal income tax purposes, (ii) a
"controlled foreign corporation" for United States federal income tax
purposes, or (iii) a foreign person which derives 50% or more of its gross
income for certain periods from the conduct of a United States trade or
business, and (b) the broker fails to maintain documentary evidence in its
files that the holder is a Non-United States Holder and that certain
conditions are met or that the holder otherwise is entitled to an exemption.
 
  Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Rather, the tax liability of
persons subject to 31% backup withholding will be reduced by the amount of tax
withheld. If withholding results in an overpayment of taxes, a refund may be
obtained, provided that the required information is furnished to the IRS.
 
  The United States Treasury has recently issued proposed regulations
regarding the withholding and information reporting rules discussed above. In
general, the proposed regulations do not alter the substantive withholding and
information reporting requirements but unify current certification
 
                                      68
<PAGE>
 
procedures and forms and clarify reliance standards. If finalized in their
current form, the proposed regulations would generally be effective for
payments made after December 31, 1997, subject to certain transition rules.
 
ESTATE TAX
 
  An individual Non-United States Holder who is treated as the owner of Class
A Common Stock at the time of his or her death or has made certain lifetime
transfers of an interest in Class A Common Stock will be required to include
the value of such Class A Common Stock in his or her gross estate for United
States federal estate tax purposes and may be subject to United States federal
estate tax, unless an applicable estate tax treaty provides otherwise.
 
                        SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
 
  Upon completion of the Offerings, the Company will have 36,500,000 shares of
Class A Common Stock outstanding or issuable on the conversion of outstanding
Class B Common Stock (assuming no exercise of the Underwriters' over-allotment
options or of outstanding Warrants). Of these shares, the 16,500,000 shares of
Class A Common Stock sold in the Offerings will generally be freely tradeable
without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act.
1,226,854 shares of Class A Common Stock which are issuable on conversion of
shares of Class B Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding
Warrants, which are not subject to the Lock-Up Agreements, will be eligible
for resale in the public market upon their issuance, which may occur at the
opinion of the holders of such a Warrant, on or after (i) May 1, 1997, or (ii)
in the event a Change of Control (as defined in the warrant agreement relating
to Warrants which has been filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement
of which this Prospectus forms a part) occurs, the date the Company mails
notice thereof to holders of the Warrants, in accordance with a registration
statement filed by the Company. Assuming no exercise of the Underwriters'
over-allotment options, 20,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable
upon conversion of outstanding Class B Common Stock will be subject to Lock-Up
Agreements described below. Upon the expiration of the Lock-Up Agreements, or
earlier at the discretion of the Representatives, all of such shares of Class
A Common Stock issuable upon the conversion of Class B Common Stock, will be
"restricted shares" which are nonetheless eligible for sale in the public
market pursuant to the provisions and limitations of Rule 144 under the
Securities Act ("Rule 144"). See "--Sale of Restricted Shares." Additionally,
the Company intends to register all shares of Class A Common Stock reserved
for issuance under its 1996 Plan, thus permitting the issuance of such shares
to plan participants under the Securities Act.
 
SALE OF RESTRICTED SHARES
 
  In general, pursuant to Rule 144, beginning November 10, 1996, a person (or
persons whose shares are aggregated) who has beneficially owned restricted
shares ("Restricted Shares") for at least two years, will be entitled to sell,
within any three-month period, a number of shares of Class A Common Stock
equal to the greater of (i) one percent of the shares of Class A Common Stock
outstanding, or (ii) the average weekly trading volume of the Class A Common
Stock on the Nasdaq National Market during the four calendar weeks immediately
preceding the date on which notice of such sale is filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission. Sales pursuant to Rule 144 are also subject to
certain requirements relating to the manner of sale, notice and the
availability of current public information about the Company. A person (or
persons whose shares are aggregated) who is not an Affiliate (as such term is
defined under the Securities Act) and has not been an Affiliate of the Company
at any time during the three months immediately preceding the sale and who has
beneficially owned Restricted Shares for at least three years is entitled to
sell such shares pursuant to Rule 144(k) without regard to the Rule 144
limitations described above.
 
 
                                      69
<PAGE>
 
  The Company intends to file a registration statement under the Securities
Act covering the shares issuable on the exercise of options for the purchase
of Class A Common Stock granted under the Company's 1996 Plan. The Company
expects that this registration will automatically become effective upon
filing. Accordingly, shares registered under such registration statement will
immediately thereafter be available for sale in the public market, subject to
Rule 144 volume limitations applicable to Affiliates, and subject to any
applicable vesting restrictions.
 
LOCK-UP AGREEMENTS
   
  The Lock-Up Agreements provide that the Company and the Selling Stockholder
will not, directly or indirectly, offer, sell, grant any option to purchase or
otherwise dispose (or approve any offer, sale, grant or other disposition) of
any shares of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock or other capital
stock of the Company or any securities convertible into, or exercisable or
exchangeable for, any shares of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock or
other capital stock of the Company (except in connection with certain
transfers to affiliates, the Company's 1996 Plan and the Warrants) without the
prior written consent of the Representatives for a period of 180 days after
the date of this Prospectus. The Underwriters have agreed that (i) each of
Messrs. Drenning, Fajerski and Fowler may sell up to $1.0 million worth of
shares of Class A Common Stock after 30 days following the date of this
Prospectus and (ii) Mr. Fajerski may at any time following the date of this
Prospectus make gifts of up to 25,000 shares of Common Stock to certain family
members and others, provided that such transferees agree to be bound by Lock-
Up Agreements substantially identical to the one signed by Mr. Fajerski. Their
remaining shares will be subject to Lock-Up Agreements substantially identical
to those of the Company and the Selling Stockholder. The Representatives, in
their discretion, may waive the foregoing restrictions in whole or in part,
with or without a public announcement of such action.     
 
 
                                      70
<PAGE>
 
                                 LEGAL MATTERS
 
  The validity of the Class A Common Stock offered hereby will be passed upon
on behalf of the Company by Buchanan Ingersoll Professional Corporation,
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Certain legal matters will be passed upon on behalf
of the Company by its special local regulatory counsel, Dow, Lohnes &
Albertson, Washington, D.C.; Downs Rachlin & Martin, St. Johnsbury, Vermont;
Gullett Sanford Robinson & Martin, Nashville, Tennessee; Pennington,
Culpepper, Moore, Wilkinson, Dunbar & Dunlap, P.A., Tallahassee, Florida;
Roland, Fogel, Koblenz & Carr, Albany, New York; and Sonnenschein, Nath &
Rosenthal, Kansas City, Missouri. Certain legal matters relating to the
securities offered hereby will be passed upon on behalf of the Representatives
by Latham & Watkins, New York, New York.
 
                                    EXPERTS
 
  The financial statements as of March 31, 1995 and 1996 and for each of the
three years in the period ended March 31, 1996 included in this prospectus
have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors, as stated in
their report appearing herein (which report expresses an unqualified opinion
and includes an explanatory paragraph referring to a change in the method of
accounting for income taxes), and have been so included in reliance upon the
report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and
auditing.
 
                            ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 
  The Company has filed with the Commission in Washington, D.C., a
Registration Statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act with respect to
the Common Stock offered hereby. This Prospectus, which is part of the
Registration Statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in
the Registration Statement and the exhibits and schedules thereto. For further
information with respect to the Company and the Common Stock, reference is
made to such Registration Statement and the exhibits and schedules filed as
part thereof. Statements contained in this Prospectus regarding the contents
of any contract or any other document are necessarily summaries and each such
statement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the copy of such
contract or document filed as an Exhibit to the Registration Statement.
 
  The Company is currently subject to the informational reporting requirements
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and in accordance
therewith will file periodic reports, proxy statements and other information
with the Commission. The Registration Statement and the exhibits and schedules
thereto, as well as such periodic reports, proxy statements and other
information filed with the Commission, may be inspected without charge at the
Public Reference Section of the Commission at Room 1024, Judiciary Plaza, 450
Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549 and will also be available for
inspection and copying at the regional offices of the Commission located at
Seven World Trade Center, 13th Floor, New York, New York 10048 and the
Citicorp Center, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661.
Copies of all or any portion of the Registration Statement may be obtained
from the Public Reference Section of the Commission upon payment of certain
prescribed fees.
 
  The Company intends to furnish its stockholders with annual reports
containing financial statements audited by independent auditors.
 
 
                                      71
<PAGE>
 
               HYPERION TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                   INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
HYPERION TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                          <C>
Independent Auditors' Report...............................................  F-2
Consolidated Balance Sheets, March 31, 1995 and 1996, and June 30, 1996
 (Unaudited)...............................................................  F-3
Consolidated Statements of Operations, Years Ended March 31, 1994, 1995 and
 1996, and Three Months Ended June 30, 1995 and 1996 (Unaudited)...........  F-4
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Deficiency), Years Ended
 March 31, 1994,
 1995 and 1996, and Three Months Ended June 30, 1996 (Unaudited)...........  F-5
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, Years Ended March 31, 1994, 1995 and
 1996, and Three Months Ended June 30, 1995 and 1996 (Unaudited)...........  F-6
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.................................  F-7
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-1
<PAGE>
 
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
 
Hyperion Telecommunications, Inc.:
 
  We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Hyperion
Telecommunications, Inc. and subsidiaries as of March 31, 1995 and 1996 and
the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders' equity
(deficiency) and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended
March 31, 1996. These financial statements are the responsibility of the
Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these
financial statements based on our audits.
 
  We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to
obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of
material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence
supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit
also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant
estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial
statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis
for our opinion.
 
  In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in
all material respects, the financial position of Hyperion Telecommunications,
Inc. and subsidiaries at March 31, 1995 and 1996 and the results of their
operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period
ended March 31, 1996 in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles.
 
  As discussed in Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements, effective
April 1, 1993, the Company changed its method of accounting for income taxes.
 
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
 
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
 
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
June 28, 1996 (October 3, 1996 as to
           Notes 4 and 5, the
           sixth paragraph of Note 6
           and the last paragraph of Note 7)
 
                                      F-2
<PAGE>
 
               HYPERION TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                          CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
                (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                     MARCH 31,
                                                  ----------------   JUNE 30,
                                                   1995     1996       1996
                                                  -------  -------  -----------
                                                                    (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                               <C>      <C>      <C>
ASSETS:
- -------
Current assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents...................... $   --   $   --    $132,142
  Other current assets...........................     511      282        304
  Due from affiliates--net.......................   1,799      --       2,115
                                                  -------  -------   --------
    Total current assets.........................   2,310      282    134,561
Investments......................................  12,564   21,087     20,988
Property, plant and equipment--net...............   7,538   12,561     14,044
Other assets--net................................     712    1,045      6,906
Deferred income taxes--net.......................      88      294        294
                                                  -------  -------   --------
    Total........................................ $23,212  $35,269   $176,793
                                                  =======  =======   ========
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
(DEFICIENCY):
- ------------------------------------
Current liabilities:
  Accounts payable............................... $ 1,169  $ 2,529   $    492
  Due to affiliates--net.........................     --     8,707        --
  Other current liabilities......................     205      501        511
                                                  -------  -------   --------
    Total current liabilities....................   1,374   11,737      1,003
13% Senior Discount Notes due 2003...............      --       --    168,620
Note payable--Adelphia...........................  35,541   50,855     25,855
                                                  -------  -------   --------
    Total liabilities............................  36,915   62,592    195,478
                                                  -------  -------   --------
Commitments and contingencies (Note 6)
Stockholders' equity (deficiency):
  Class A Common Stock, $0.01 par value,
   300,000,000 shares authorized and 0 shares
   oustanding....................................     --       --         --
  Class B Common Stock, $0.01 par value,
   150,000,000 shares authorized and 20,000,000
   shares oustanding.............................     200      200        200
  Class B Common Stock Warrants..................     --       --      11,087
  Loans to Stockholders..........................     --       --      (3,000)
  Accumulated deficit............................ (13,903) (27,523)   (26,972)
                                                  -------  -------   --------
    Total stockholders' equity (deficiency)...... (13,703) (27,323)   (18,685)
                                                  -------  -------   --------
    Total........................................ $23,212  $35,269   $176,793
                                                  =======  =======   ========
</TABLE>
 
                See notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
                                      F-3
<PAGE>
 
               HYPERION TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
 
                (AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 THREE MONTHS
                                      YEAR ENDED MARCH 31,      ENDED JUNE 30,
                                    --------------------------  ---------------
                                     1994     1995      1996     1995     1996
                                    -------  -------  --------  -------  ------
                                                                 (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                 <C>      <C>      <C>       <C>      <C>
Revenues..........................  $   417  $ 1,729  $  3,322  $   686  $1,102
                                    -------  -------  --------  -------  ------
Operating expenses:
  Network operations..............      330    1,382     2,690      628     859
  Selling, general and
  administrative..................    2,045    2,524     3,084      831   1,027
  Depreciation and amortization...      189      463     1,184      250     695
                                    -------  -------  --------  -------  ------
    Total.........................    2,564    4,369     6,958    1,709   2,581
                                    -------  -------  --------  -------  ------
Operating loss....................   (2,147)  (2,640)   (3,636)  (1,023) (1,479)
Other income (expense):
  Gain on sale of investment......      --       --        --       --    8,405
  Interest income.................       17       39       199       16   1,433
  Interest expense and fees.......   (2,164)  (3,321)   (6,088)  (1,328) (6,169)
                                    -------  -------  --------  -------  ------
(Loss) income before income taxes,
 equity in net loss of joint
 ventures and cumulative effect of
 change in accounting principle...   (4,294)  (5,922)   (9,525)  (2,335)  2,190
Income tax benefit (expense)......       55       29       197       19      (3)
                                    -------  -------  --------  -------  ------
(Loss) income before equity in net
 loss of joint ventures and
 cumulative effect of change in
 accounting principle.............   (4,239)  (5,893)   (9,328)  (2,316)  2,187
Equity in net loss of joint
ventures..........................     (528)  (1,799)   (4,292)    (797) (1,636)
                                    -------  -------  --------  -------  ------
(Loss) income before cumulative
 effect of change in accounting
 principle........................   (4,767)  (7,692)  (13,620)  (3,113)    551
Cumulative effect of change in
 accounting for income taxes......       42      --        --       --      --
                                    -------  -------  --------  -------  ------
Net (loss) income.................  $(4,725) $(7,692) $(13,620) $(3,113) $  551
                                    =======  =======  ========  =======  ======
(Loss) income per weighted average
 share of common stock before
 cumulative effect of change in
 accounting principle.............  $ (0.24) $ (0.38) $  (0.68) $ (0.16) $ 0.03
Cumulative effect per weighted
 average share of common stock of
 change in accounting for income
 taxes............................      --       --        --       --      --
                                    -------  -------  --------  -------  ------
Net (loss) income per weighted
 average share of common stock....  $ (0.24) $ (0.38) $  (0.68) $ (0.16) $ 0.03
                                    =======  =======  ========  =======  ======
Weighted average shares of common
 stock outstanding................   20,000   20,000    20,000   20,000  21,050
                                    =======  =======  ========  =======  ======
</TABLE>
 
                See notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
                                      F-4
<PAGE>
 
               HYPERION TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
          CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIENCY)
 
                (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                          CLASS B
                          CLASS A CLASS B  COMMON                           STOCKHOLDERS'
                          COMMON  COMMON   STOCK     LOANS TO   ACCUMULATED    EQUITY
                           STOCK   STOCK  WARRANTS STOCKHOLDERS   DEFICIT   (DEFICIENCY)
                          ------- ------- -------- ------------ ----------- -------------
<S>                       <C>     <C>     <C>      <C>          <C>         <C>
Balance, March 31, 1993.   $--     $200   $   --     $   --      $ (1,486)    $ (1,286)
  Net loss..............    --      --        --         --        (4,725)      (4,725)
                           ----    ----   -------    -------     --------     --------
Balance, March 31, 1994.    --      200       --         --        (6,211)      (6,011)
  Net loss..............    --      --        --         --        (7,692)      (7,692)
                           ----    ----   -------    -------     --------     --------
Balance, March 31, 1995     --      200       --         --       (13,903)     (13,703)
  Net loss..............    --      --        --         --       (13,620)     (13,620)
                           ----    ----   -------    -------     --------     --------
Balance, March 31, 1996.    --      200       --         --       (27,523)     (27,323)
  Proceeds from issuance
   of Class B Common
   Stock warrants
   (unaudited)..........    --      --     11,087        --           --        11,087
  Loans to stockholders'
   (unaudited)..........    --      --        --      (3,000)         --        (3,000)
  Net income (unau-
   dited)...............    --      --        --         --           551          551
                           ----    ----   -------    -------     --------     --------
Balance, June 30, 1996
 (unaudited)............   $--     $200   $11,087    $(3,000)    $(26,972)    $(18,685)
                           ====    ====   =======    =======     ========     ========
</TABLE>
 
 
 
 
                See notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
                                      F-5
<PAGE>
 
               HYPERION TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
                (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                THREE MONTHS
                                   YEAR ENDED MARCH 31,        ENDED JUNE 30,
                                 ---------------------------  -----------------
                                  1994      1995      1996     1995      1996
                                 -------  --------  --------  -------  --------
                                                                (UNAUDITED)
<S>                              <C>      <C>       <C>       <C>      <C>
Cash flows from operating
 activities:
  Net (loss) income............  $(4,725) $ (7,692) $(13,620) $(3,113) $    551
  Adjustments to reconcile net
   (loss) income to net cash
   used in operating
   activities:
    Depreciation...............      183       397     1,061      214       335
    Amortization...............        6        66       123       36       360
    Equity in net loss of joint
     ventures..................      528     1,799     4,292      797     1,636
    Non-cash interest expense..    2,164     3,321     6,088    1,328     4,915
    Cumulative effect of
     accounting change.........      (42)      --        --       --        --
    Deferred income taxes......       (9)      (37)     (206)     --        --
    Gain on sale of investment.      --        --        --       --     (8,405)
    Changes in operating assets
     and liabilities:
      Other assets--net........     (535)     (550)     (227)      26       (22)
      Accounts payable.........      223       499     1,360     (966)   (2,037)
      Other liabilities--net...       86        67       296       57        10
                                 -------  --------  --------  -------  --------
Net cash used in operating
 activities....................   (2,121)   (2,130)     (833)  (1,621)   (2,657)
                                 -------  --------  --------  -------  --------
Cash flows from investing
 activities:
   Expenditures for property,
    plant and equipment........   (3,097)   (2,850)   (6,084)  (1,370)   (1,818)
   Proceeds from sale of
    investment.................      --        --        --       --     11,618
   Investments in joint
    ventures...................   (5,510)   (7,526)  (12,815)  (4,020)   (4,750)
                                 -------  --------  --------  -------  --------
Cash (used in) provided by
 investing activities..........   (8,607)  (10,376)  (18,899)  (5,390)    5,050
                                 -------  --------  --------  -------  --------
Cash flows from financing
 activities:
   Proceeds from debt..........      --        --        --       --    163,705
   Proceeds from issuance of
    Class B Common Stock
    warrants...................      --        --        --       --     11,087
   Costs associated with debt
    financing..................      --        --        --       --     (6,221)
   Loans to stockholders.......      --        --        --       --     (3,000)
   Borrowings on (repayment of)
    note payable--Adelphia.....   12,990    12,252     9,226    5,524   (25,000)
   Advances from (to) related
    parties....................   (2,381)      254    10,506    1,487   (10,822)
                                 -------  --------  --------  -------  --------
Net cash provided by financing
 activities....................   10,609    12,506    19,732    7,011   129,749
                                 -------  --------  --------  -------  --------
Net (decrease) increase in cash
 and cash equivalents..........     (119)      --        --       --    132,142
Cash and cash equivalents
 beginning of period...........      119       --        --       --        --
                                 -------  --------  --------  -------  --------
Cash and cash equivalents end
 of period.....................  $   --   $    --   $    --   $   --   $132,142
                                 =======  ========  ========  =======  ========
</TABLE>
                See notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
                                      F-6
<PAGE>
 
              HYPERION TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                  NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
                FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 1994, 1995, 1996
               AND THE THREE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1995 AND 1996
(INFORMATION AS TO THE THREE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1995 AND 1996 IS UNAUDITED)
                (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

(1)THE COMPANY AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
 Organization and Business
 
  The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Hyperion
Telecommunications, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries (the "Company").
All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in
consolidation. The Company was formed in 1991 and is an 89% owned subsidiary
of Adelphia Communications Corporation ("Adelphia"). The remaining 11% is
owned by certain key Company officers.
 
  The Company provides telecommunications service through its subsidiaries and
joint ventures, in which it has less than a majority equity interest. The
Company's efforts have been directed primarily toward becoming an owner and
manager of competitive local exchange carrier ("CLEC") business
telecommunications services in selected mid-sized cities. The Company
generally partners with a local cable television or utility company, whose
fiber facilities are located in the market areas, to build competitive access
fiber optic networks. The Company then operates the networks for a management
fee. Each network provides local special access, carrier-to-carrier, and
point-to-point telecommunications services to major businesses and government
customers. The Company's revenues are derived from a combination of direct
business telecommunication services provided by its subsidiaries and
management fees from its unconsolidated joint ventures.
 
  Joint ventures in which the Company does not have a majority interest are
accounted for under the equity method of accounting.
 
 Unaudited Interim Information
 
  In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of only normal
recurring accruals necessary to present fairly the unaudited results of
operations for the three months ended June 30, 1995 and 1996, have been
included.
 
 Cash and cash equivalents
 
  Cash and cash equivalents generally consist of highly liquid instruments
with an initial maturity date of three months or less.
 
 Property, Plant and Equipment
 
  Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost less accumulated
depreciation. Costs capitalized include amounts directly associated with
network engineering, design and construction.
 
  Provision for depreciation of property, plant and equipment is computed
using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets
beginning in the month the asset is available for use or is acquired.
 
  The estimated useful lives of the Company's principal classes of property,
plant and equipment are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
   <S>                                                               <C>
   Telecommunications networks...................................... 10-20 years
   Network monitoring equipment.....................................  5-10 years
   Other............................................................  3-10 years
</TABLE>
 
 
                                      F-7
<PAGE>
 
              HYPERION TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                  NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
                FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 1994, 1995, 1996 
               AND THE THREE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1995 AND 1996
(INFORMATION AS TO THE THREE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1995 AND 1996 IS UNAUDITED)
                (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

(1)THE COMPANY AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES, CONTINUED
 
 Revenue Recognition
 
  The Company recognizes revenues related to management and network monitoring
of the joint ventures in the month that the related services are provided. The
Company recognizes revenue from telecommunications services in the month the
related service is provided. Revenues on billings to customers for services in
advance of providing such services are deferred and recognized when earned.
 
 Income (Loss) Per Common Share
 
  The computation of income (loss) per common share is based upon the weighted
average number of common shares outstanding. All references in the
accompanying consolidated financial statements to the number of shares of
common stock have been retroactively restated to reflect the stock splits (See
Note 5).
 
 Income Taxes
 
  Deferred income taxes are recognized for the tax effects of temporary
differences between financial statement and income tax bases of assets and
liabilities and for loss carryforwards for which income tax benefits are
expected to be realized in future years. A valuation allowance is established
to reduce deferred tax assets to the net amount that management believes will
more likely than not be realized. The effect on deferred taxes of a change in
tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment
date.
 
 Other Assets
 
  Costs incurred in developing new networks or expanding existing networks,
including network design, negotiating rights-of-way and obtaining
legal/regulatory authorizations are deferred and amortized over five years.
Pre-operating costs represent certain nondevelopment costs incurred during the
pre-operating phase of a newly constructed network and are amortized over
five-year periods commencing with the start of operations.
 
 Asset Impairments
 
  The Company reviews the carrying value of its long-lived assets for
impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the
carrying value of these assets may not be recoverable. Measurement of any
impairment would include a comparison of estimated future operating cash flows
anticipated to be generated during the remaining life of the assets with their
net carrying value. An impairment loss would be recognized as the amount by
which the carrying value of the assets exceeds their fair value.
 
 Financial Instruments
 
  Financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to concentration
of credit risk consist principally of accounts receivable. Concentration of
credit risk with respect to accounts receivable is limited due to the
dispersion of the Company's customer base among different entities and
geographic areas. The carrying value of the Note Payable--Adelphia (see Note
4) at March 31, 1995 and 1996 approximates its fair value based upon the terms
of the note in comparison with other similar instruments.
 
 
                                      F-8
<PAGE>
 
              HYPERION TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                  NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
                FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 1994, 1995, 1996 
              AND THE THREE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1995 AND 1996 
(INFORMATION AS TO THE THREE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1995 AND 1996 IS UNAUDITED) 
                (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

(1)THE COMPANY AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES, CONTINUED
 
 Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements
 
  The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles 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 revenues and expenses during the
reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
 Reclassification
 
  For the fiscal years ended March 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996, certain amounts
have been reclassified to conform with the June 30, 1996 presentation.
 
(2)PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
 
  Property, plant and equipment consists of the following:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                     MARCH 31,
                                                   ---------------
                                                                     JUNE 30,
                                                    1995    1996       1996
                                                   ------  -------  -----------
<S>                                                <C>     <C>      <C>
                                                                    (UNAUDITED)
  Telecommunications networks..................... $1,704  $ 6,312  $     6,668
  Network monitoring equipment....................  3,244    5,267        6,332
  Construction in process.........................  2,910    2,245        2,636
  Other...........................................    270      388          394
                                                   ------  -------  -----------
                                                    8,128   14,212       16,030
  Less accumulated depreciation...................   (590)  (1,651)      (1,986)
                                                   ------  -------  -----------
    Total......................................... $7,538  $12,561  $    14,044
                                                   ======  =======  ===========
</TABLE>
 
(3)INVESTMENTS
 
  The equity method of accounting is used to account for investments in joint
ventures in which the Company owns less than a majority interest. Under this
method, the Company's initial investment is recorded at cost and subsequently
adjusted for the amount of its equity in the net income or losses of its joint
ventures. Dividends or other distributions are recorded as a reduction of the
Company's investment. Investments in joint ventures accounted for using the
equity method reflect the Company's equity in their underlying net assets.
 
 
                                      F-9
<PAGE>
 
              HYPERION TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                  NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
                FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 1994, 1995, 1996 
               AND THE THREE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1995 AND 1996
(INFORMATION AS TO THE THREE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1995 AND 1996 IS UNAUDITED)
                (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
 
(3)INVESTMENTS, CONTINUED
 
  The Company's nonconsolidated investments are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  MARCH 31,
                                               ----------------
                                    OWNERSHIP                     JUNE 30,
                                    PERCENTAGE  1995     1996       1996
                                    ---------- -------  -------  -----------
<S>                                 <C>        <C>      <C>      <C>
                                                                 (UNAUDITED)
EQUITY BASIS INVESTMENTS:
Continental Fiber Technologies
(Jacksonville).....................       20%  $ 1,467  $ 4,701  $     5,399
Multimedia Hyperion
Telecommunications (Wichita).......     49.9%    1,445    2,620        2,719
Louisville Lightwave...............       50%      531      996        1,640(1)
NewChannels Hyperion
Telecommunications (Albany)........       50%      924      999          924
NewChannels Hyperion
Telecommunications (Binghamton)....       20%      355      504          504
NHT Partnership (Buffalo)..........       40%    1,369    2,457        2,937
NewChannels Hyperion
Telecommunications (Syracuse)......       50%    2,957    3,140        3,215
Hyperion of Harrisburg.............       50%      701    1,600        1,919
Hyperion of Tennessee (Nashville)..       25%      695    1,345        1,345
Alternet of Virginia (Richmond)....       37%    1,633    3,406        3,813
New Jersey Fiber Technologies (New
Brunswick).........................     19.7%        9      956        1,231
TCG of South Florida...............     15.7%    2,981    4,679           --
PECO-Hyperion (Philadelphia) ......       50%       --       --        1,692
Other .............................  Various        18      497          622
                                               -------  -------  -----------
                                                15,085   27,900       27,960
Cumulative equity in net losses....             (2,521)  (6,813)      (6,972)
                                               -------  -------  -----------
Total Investments..................            $12,564  $21,087  $    20,988
                                               =======  =======  ===========
</TABLE>
 
(1) As discussed in Note 6, the Company has committed to make additional
    capital contributions of approximately $2,300 relating to the increase in
    its ownership percentage.
 
  Summarized unaudited combined financial information for the Company's
investments being accounted for using the equity method of accounting as of
and for the years ended March 31, 1994, 1995, 1996, and the three months ended
June 30, 1995 and 1996 is as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      MARCH 31,
                                               ------------------------
                                                                        JUNE 30,
                                                1994    1995     1996     1996
                                               ------- ------- -------- --------
   <S>                                         <C>     <C>     <C>      <C>
   Current assets............................. $ 7,278 $ 6,842 $  5,709 $ 7,075
   Non-current assets.........................  29,410  59,870  109,583  85,182
   Current liabilities........................  10,345   6,444   11,683   7,580
   Non-current liabilities....................   2,743  20,858   25,912  19,427
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                       MARCH 31,                JUNE 30,
                                -------------------------  --------------------
                                 1994     1995     1996       1995       1996
                                -------  -------  -------  ---------  ---------
   <S>                          <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>        <C>
   Revenues.................... $ 1,028  $ 3,894  $11,513     $1,435     $2,651
   Net loss....................  (2,059)  (7,319) (14,475)    (1,619)    (3,572)
</TABLE>
 
 
                                     F-10
<PAGE>
 
              HYPERION TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                  NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
                FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 1994, 1995, 1996 
               AND THE THREE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1995 AND 1996
(INFORMATION AS TO THE THREE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1995 AND 1996 IS UNAUDITED)
                (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
 
(3) INVESTMENTS, CONTINUED
 
  Amounts shown above as of and for the years ended March 31, 1994, 1995 and
1996 include TCG of South Florida. Amounts shown above as of and for the three
months ended June 30, 1995 and 1996 exclude TCG of South Florida.
 
  On May 16, 1996, the Company sold its 15.7% interest in TCG of South Florida
to a third party for approximately $11,618 cash resulting in a pre-tax gain of
approximately $8,400. Amounts related to TCG of South Florida included in the
Company's investments and equity in net loss of joint ventures as of and for
the year ended March 31, 1996 were $3,422 and $778, respectively. The
Company's equity in net loss of joint ventures included a loss of $221 for TCG
of South Florida for the three months ended June 30, 1996.
 
(4)FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS
 
 Note Payable--Adelphia
 
  The Company has an unsecured credit arrangement with Adelphia which had no
repayment terms prior to April 15, 1996. On April 15, 1996, $25,000 of the
proceeds from the sale of the 13% Senior Discount Notes and Class B Common
Stock Warrants discussed below were used to repay a portion of this
obligation. Interest expense and fees on this credit arrangement were based
upon the weighted average cost of unsecured borrowings of Adelphia during the
corresponding periods.
 
  Interest at 11.28% per annum plus fees was charged on the Note Payable--
Adelphia for the years ended March 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996. The total amount
of interest converted to note principal at March 31, 1996 and June 30, 1996 is
$9,007.
 
  Effective April 15, 1996, the remaining balance due on the Note Payable--
Adelphia is evidenced by an unsecured subordinated note due April 16, 2003.
This obligation bears interest at 16.5% per annum with interest payable
quarterly in cash; by issuing additional subordinated notes; or a combination
of cash and additional subordinated notes, all of which is at the Company's
option.
 
 13% Senior Discount Notes and Class B Common Stock Warrants
 
  On April 15, 1996, the Company issued $329,000 of 13% Senior Discount Notes
(the "Senior Notes") due April 15, 2003 and 329,000 warrants to purchase an
aggregate of 1,226,854 shares of its Class B Common Stock, after giving effect
for the two-for-one stock split (see Note 5). Proceeds to the Company, net of
discounts, commissions, and other transaction costs were approximately
$168,600. Such net proceeds were used to pay $25,000 of the Note Payable--
Adelphia discussed above, to make loans of $3,000 to certain key Company
officers (see Note 5) and to fund the Company's capital expenditures, working
capital requirements, operating losses and its pro-rata investments in joint
ventures. Use of proceeds from the Senior Notes also included the repayment of
amounts related to capital expenditures, working capital requirements,
operating losses and pro-rata investments in joint ventures totaling $12,800
incurred during the period from January 1, 1996 to April 15, 1996. These
amounts had been funded during the same time period through advances from
Adelphia.
 
  Prior to April 15, 2001, interest on the Senior Notes is not payable in
cash, but is added to principal. Thereafter, interest is payable semi-annually
commencing October 15, 2001. The Senior
 
                                     F-11
<PAGE>
 
              HYPERION TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                  NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
                FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 1994, 1995, 1966 
               AND THE THREE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1995 AND 1996
(INFORMATION AS TO THE THREE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1995 AND 1996 IS UNAUDITED)
                (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
 
(4) FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS, CONTINUED
 
Notes are unsecured and are senior to the Note Payable--Adelphia and all
future subordinated indebtedness. On or before April 15, 1999 and subject to
certain restrictions, the Company may redeem, at its option, up to 25% of the
aggregate principal amount of the Senior Notes at a price of 113% of the
Accreted Value (as defined in the Indenture). On or after April 15, 2001, the
Company may redeem, at its option, all or a portion of the Senior Notes at
106.5% which declines to par in 2002, plus accrued interest.
 
  The holders of the Senior Notes may put the Senior Notes to the Company at
any time at a price of 101% upon the occurrence of a Change of Control (as
defined in the Indenture). In addition, the Company will be required to offer
to purchase Senior Notes at a price of 100% with the proceeds of certain asset
sales (as defined in the Indenture).
 
  The Indenture stipulates, among other things, limitations on additional
borrowings, issuance of equity instruments, payment of dividends and other
distributions, repurchase of equity interests or subordinated debt, sale--
leaseback transactions, liens, transactions with affiliates, sales of Company
assets, mergers and consolidations.
 
  In accordance with a registration rights agreement, the Company filed a
registration statement offering to exchange the Senior Notes for Series B
Senior Discount Notes registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "Securities Act"). Terms of the Series B Senior Discount Notes are
substantially the same as the Senior Notes. The above exchange was consummated
within the time periods stipulated in the agreement. The Company's filing
became effective as of August 12, 1996 and the Company did not incur any
liquidated damages.
 
  The Class B Common Stock Warrants are exercisable at $0.005 per share, after
giving effect for the two-for-one stock split (see Note 5), upon the earlier
of May 1, 1997 or a Change of Control. Unless exercised, the Class B Common
Stock Warrants expire on April 1, 2001. The number of shares and the exercise
price for which a warrant is exercisable are subject to adjustment under
certain circumstances. In accordance with a registration rights agreement, the
Company has agreed to file shelf registration statements under the Securities
Act covering the Warrants and the Warrant Shares. Under certain circumstances,
if the shelf registrations are not effective within the time period specified
in the agreement, the Company must pay liquidated damages to the holders of
the Warrants or Warrant Shares ranging from $0.0025 to $0.0125 per week per
Warrant or per Warrant Share then issuable based on the amount of additional
time required to accomplish the shelf registrations.
 
  If the Senior Notes and Class B Common Stock Warrants had been issued on
April 1, 1995, interest expense would have been approximately $27,796 for the
year ended March 31, 1996.
 
(5)STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
  The Class B Common Stock of the Company held by Adelphia and certain key
Company officers (the "Officers") is subject to sale and transfer restriction
provisions. These provisions state that none of the Officers may transfer any
shares unless they have offered to sell such shares to Adelphia (or the other
remaining Officers if Adelphia declines) at a price per share equal to the
terms of the proposed third party sale or exchange.
 
 
                                     F-12
<PAGE>
 
              HYPERION TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                  NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
                FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 1994, 1995, 1996 
               AND THE THREE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1995 AND 1996
(INFORMATION AS TO THE THREE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1995 AND 1996 IS UNAUDITED)
                (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
 
(5) STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY, CONTINUED
 
  In accordance with a shareholder agreement, upon termination of employment
or at any time after October 7, 1996, the Officers could have required
Adelphia to purchase all their outstanding Class B shares (the "Officers'
Option"). At any time after October 7, 2001, Adelphia could have required the
Officers to sell all of their outstanding Class B shares to Adelphia (the
"Adelphia Option"). The price per share shall be equal to the fair market
value of the shares as determined by a nationally recognized financial advisor
selected by Adelphia and the Officers.
 
  On March 19, 1996, such shareholder agreement was amended primarily to (i)
grant the Officers certain registration rights regarding their Class B Common
Stock; (ii) extend the Officers' Option date until after October 7, 1998;
(iii) extend the Adelphia Option date until after October 7, 2003 and (iv)
provide for aggregate loans to the Officers of $3,000 from the proceeds
received from the private placement of the Senior Notes and Class B Common
Stock Warrants discussed in Note 4. Such loans, including accrued interest at
a rate equal to the rate which the Company is able to invest cash on a short-
term basis, are secured by a pledge of each Officer's Class B Common Stock in
the Company and are payable to the Company on the earlier of October 8, 1998
or the date of the registration of an equity security of the Company as
described below. Also, an amount equal to the interest that accrues on such
loans from the date six months after the date the loans are made until due and
payable will be satisfied through additional compensation to the Officers. The
shareholder agreement is terminated upon the registration of an equity
security of the Company under the Securities Act or the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended, which equity security is of the same class as the
equity security held by the Officers.
 
  On October 3, 1996, the Board of Directors of the Company approved charter
amendments to (i) increase the Company's authorized shares from 30,000,000
shares of Common Stock to 150,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock, (ii)
authorize 300,000,000 shares of a second class of common stock (Class A Common
Stock), and (iii) reclassify each previously authorized and outstanding share
of Common Stock as Class B Common Stock. Holders of the Class A Common Stock
and Class B Common Stock vote as a single class on all matters submitted to a
vote of the stockholders, with each share of Class A Common Stock entitled to
one vote and each share of Class B Common Stock entitled to ten votes. In
addition, each share of Class B Common Stock is automatically convertible into
one share of Class A Common Stock. In the event a cash dividend is paid, the
holders of the Class A Common Stock and the Class B Common Stock will be paid
an equal amount.
 
  On March 19, 1996, the Board of Directors of the Company approved a ten
thousand-for-one stock split of its Class B Common Stock and the reduction of
the par value from $1.00 per share to $.01 per share. On October 3, 1996, the
Board of Directors of the Company approved a two-for-one stock split of its
Class B Common Stock. In addition, on March 19, 1996, the Board of Directors
approved charter amendments to increase the Company's authorized shares of
Class B Common Stock from 1,000 shares to 30,000,000 shares and authorized
5,000,000 shares of preferred stock with terms of such preferred stock to be
determined by the Board of Directors of the Company. No preferred stock has
been issued by the Company.
 
 
                                     F-13
<PAGE>
 
              HYPERION TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                  NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
                FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 1994, 1995, 1996 
               AND THE THREE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1995 AND 1996
(INFORMATION AS TO THE THREE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1995 AND 1996 IS UNAUDITED)
                (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

  All references in the accompanying consolidated financial statements to the
number of shares of common stock and the par value have been retroactively
restated to reflect the stock splits, the par value reduction and the charter
amendments authorized on March 19, 1996 and October 3, 1996.
 
  On October 3, 1996, the Board of Directors and stockholders of the Company
approved the Company's 1996 Long-Term Compensation Plan (the "1996 Plan"). The
1996 Plan provides for the grant of (i) options which qualify as "incentive
stock options" within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended, (ii) options which do not so qualify, (iii) share awards
(with or without restrictions on vesting), (iv) stock appreciation rights and
(v) stock equivalent or phantom units. The number of shares of Class A Common
Stock available for issuance initially will be 3,500,000. Such number is to
increase each year by (1%) of outstanding shares of all classes of the
Company's Common Stock, up to a maximum of 5,000,000 shares. Options, awards
and units may be granted under the 1996 Plan to directors, officers, employees
and consultants. The 1996 Plan provides that incentive stock options must be
granted with an exercise price of not less than the fair market value of the
underlying Common Stock on the date of grant. Options outstanding under the
Plan may be exercised by paying the exercise price per share through various
alternative settlement methods. No stock options, stock awards, stock
appreciation rights or phantom stock units have been granted under the Plan.
 
(6)COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
 
  The Company rents office space, node space and fiber under leases with terms
which are generally less than one year or under agreements that are generally
cancelable on short notice. Total rental expense under all operating leases
aggregated $65, $478 and $1,210 for the years ended March 31, 1994, 1995 and
1996, respectively.
 
  The minimum future lease obligations under the noncancelable operating
leases as of March 31, 1996 are approximately:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         PERIOD ENDING MARCH 31,
                                                         -----------------------
   <S>                                                   <C>
   1997.................................................          $140
   1998.................................................            14
   1999.................................................            13
   2000.................................................             4
   2001.................................................             4
   Thereafter...........................................            --
</TABLE>
 
  Under certain investment agreements, the Company has committed to make
specific capital contributions to the joint ventures. Total capital
commitments to be made as a result of these agreements at March 31, 1996 were
$2,299. Total capital commitments to be made as of June 30, 1996 increased to
$15,405 due to additional commitments related to the PECO-Hyperion
(Philadelphia) investment.
 
  Certain investors in two of the joint ventures have the right after a
specified period of time to sell their interest to the Company. Under one
agreement, the sales price represents the investor's aggregate capital
contribution less distributions plus interest accrued at the prime rate. The
Company's obligation under this commitment at March 31 and June 30, 1996 was
approximately $2,946 and $3,079 respectively. The sales price under the second
agreement is equal to the fair market value of such investor's interest.
 
 
                                     F-14
<PAGE>
 
              HYPERION TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                  NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
                FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 1994, 1995, 1996 
               AND THE THREE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1995 AND 1996
(INFORMATION AS TO THE THREE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1995 AND 1996 IS UNAUDITED)
                (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

(6) COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES, CONTINUED
 
  The Company has agreed that it will make all required capital contributions
to Louisville Lightwave that are necessary to increase its ownership to 50%.
As of June 30, 1996, the Company expects these capital contributions will
aggregate approximately $2,300.
 
  On August 1, 1996, the Company purchased additional general and limited
partnership interests in Hyperion of Tennessee for approximately $5,000, which
increases the Company's ownership of Hyperion of Tennessee to 95%. The
following unaudited financial information of the Company for the year ended
March 31, 1996 assumes that this acquisition had occurred on April 1, 1995:
 
<TABLE>
         <S>                                            <C>
         Revenues                                       $ 3,963
         Net loss before extraordinary items             15,239
         Net loss                                        15,239
         Net loss per weighted average share of common
          stock                                           $0.76
</TABLE>
 
  The Company has entered into employment agreements with certain key Company
officers, the terms of which expire on October 20, 1998, as amended. The
employment agreements provide for base salary, benefits and bonuses payable if
specified management goals are attained. In addition, the employment
agreements contain noncompetition and nondisclosure provisions.
 
  The President of the Company has an employment agreement with Adelphia where
he is a vice president and secretary. His agreement provides for base salary,
benefits and insurance premium payments. The Company reimburses Adelphia for
such payments.
 
  The Company's operations and the operations of its joint ventures may be
adversely affected by changes and developments in governmental regulation,
competitive forces and technology. The telecommunications industry is subject
to extensive regulation at the federal, state and local levels. On February 8,
1996, President Clinton signed the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (the
"Telecommunications Act"), the most comprehensive reform of the nation's
telecommunications laws since the Communications Act of 1934.
 
  The more significant provisions of the Telecommunications Act and certain
  of its possible effects are as follows:
 
  The Telecommunications Act removes legal barriers of entry in local
  telephone markets. This provision should enable the Company to provide a
  full range of services in any state while potentially increasing the level
  of competition the Company faces in all its markets.
 
  The Telecommunications Act requires incumbent Local Exchange Company's
  ("LECs") to "interconnect" with competitors which will provide access to
  certain networks under reasonable rates, terms and conditions. It is
  uncertain how effective these requirements will be or their impact on the
  Company until the FCC completes its rulemaking proceedings requiring the
  LECs to provide telephone number portability, dialing parity, reciprocal
  compensation, resale, access to rights-of-way and unbundling of network
  services.
 
  The Telecommunications Act establishes procedures for LEC and Bell
  Operating Company ("BOC") entry into new markets, including long distance
  and cable television service. The
 
                                     F-15
<PAGE>
 
              HYPERION TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                  NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
                FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 1994, 1995, 1996 
               AND THE THREE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1995 AND 1996
(INFORMATION AS TO THE THREE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1995 AND 1996 IS UNAUDITED)
                (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
 
(6) COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES, CONTINUED
 
  Company's management believes LECs are now more likely to invest in fiber
  optic networks and enter the video market which will generate a revenue
  stream previously unavailable to them.
 
  These facilities can then also be used to provide services that compete
  with the Company. By allowing the BOC to enter the long distance market,
  this may reduce the market share of the major long distance carriers (the
  Company's joint ventures' primary customers) and have adverse consequences
  on the Company's joint ventures' ability to generate revenues from the long
  distance carriers.
 
  The Telecommunications Act eliminates the requirement that LECs obtain FCC
  authorization before constructing new facilities for interstate services
  and limits the FCC's ability to review LEC tariff filings. The changes will
  increase the speed with which the LECs are able to introduce new service
  offerings and new pricing of existing services, thereby increasing the
  LEC's ability to compete with the Company.
 
  The Telecommunications Act requires the FCC to establish an explicit
  mechanism for subsidizing service to markets that are less desirable,
  either because of the high cost of providing service or the limited
  revenues that might be available. This could be advantageous to the Company
  or it could be beneficial to the Company's competitors depending on the
  geographic areas and the type of customers for which subsidies are
  available.
 
  On July 2, 1996 the FCC released its First Report and Order and Further
  Notice of Proposed Rulemaking promulgating rules and regulations to
  implement Congress' statutory directive concerning number portability (the
  "Number Portability Order"). The FCC ordered all LECs to begin phased
  development of a long-term service provider portability method in the 100
  largest Metropolitan Statistical Areas ("MSAs") no later than October 1,
  1997, and to complete deployment in those MSAs by December 31, 1998. Number
  portability must be provided in those areas by all LECs to all requesting
  telecommunications carriers. As new carriers are at a competitive
  disadvantage without telephone number portability, the Company believes the
  Number Portability Order should enhance the Company's ability to offer
  service in competition with the incumbent LECs, but it is uncertain how
  effective these regulations will be in promoting number portability. The
  Number Portability Order does not address how the costs of implementing
  long-term service portability will be recovered. This issue is subject to
  an additional comment period and is not expected to be decided until 1997.
 
  On August 8, 1996 the FCC released its First Report and Order and Second
  Report and Order and Memorandum Opinion and Order promulgating rules and
  regulations to implement Congress' statutory directive concerning the
  interconnection of CLEC and incumbent LEC networks and incumbent LEC
  pricing of unbundled elements (the "Local Competition Orders"). The Local
  Competition Orders adopt a national framework for interconnection but
  leaves to the individual states the task of implementing the FCC's rules.
  Because implementation of the Local Competition Orders will be at the state
  level, it is uncertain how these new requirements will affect the Company.
  The Local Competition Orders indicate that the FCC intends to take up
  access charge reform as early as the fourth quarter of 1996 with new rules
  in place as early as the first quarter
 
                                     F-16
<PAGE>
 
              HYPERION TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                  NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
                FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 1994, 1995, 1996 
               AND THE THREE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1995 AND 1996
(INFORMATION AS TO THE THREE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1995 AND 1996 IS UNAUDITED)
                (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

  of 1997. To the extent that the Local Competition Orders reduce the ability
  of incumbent LECs to impose non-cost-based access charges on IXCs, the
  Company's competitive advantage in providing customers with access services
  will decrease. However, to the extent that CLECs are able to interconnect
  with incumbent LEC networks on favorable terms, the Company believes its
  ability to provide competitive local exchange services will increase.
 
(7)RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
 
  The following table summarizes the transactions with related parties which
are included in the Company's consolidated financial statements:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  THREE MONTHS
                                                                   ENDED JUNE
                                                  MARCH 31,            30,
                                             -------------------- -------------
                                              1994   1995   1996   1995   1996
                                             ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
   <S>                                       <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>
                                                                   (UNAUDITED)
   REVENUES:
     Management fees........................ $  261 $1,045 $1,950 $  373 $  679
     Network monitoring fees................     51    217    446     99    119
     Special access fees....................     --    189    651    188    180
                                             ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
     Total.................................. $  312 $1,451 $3,047 $  660 $  978
                                             ====== ====== ====== ====== ======
   EXPENSES:
     Interest expense and fees.............. $2,164 $3,321 $6,088 $  773 $1,254
     Allocated corporate costs..............    473    511    417    147    121
     Fiber leases...........................     --    303  1,022    255    282
                                             ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
     Total.................................. $2,637 $4,135 $7,527 $1,175 $1,657
                                             ====== ====== ====== ====== ======
</TABLE>
 
  Management fees from related parties represent fees received by the Company
from its unconsolidated joint ventures for the performance of financial,
legal, regulatory and other administrative services.
 
  Network monitoring fees represent fees received by the Company for technical
support for the monitoring of each individual joint venture's
telecommunications system.
 
  Special access fees represent amounts charged to joint ventures for use of
the network of a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.
 
  Interest expense and fees relate to the Note Payable--Adelphia (See Note 4).
 
  Allocated corporate costs represent costs incurred by Adelphia on behalf of
the Company for the administration and operation of the Company. These costs
include charges for office space, corporate aircraft and shared services such
as finance activities, information systems, computer services, human
resources, and taxation. Such costs were estimated by Adelphia and do not
necessarily represent the actual costs required for these services.
 
  Fiber lease expense represents amounts paid to various subsidiaries of
Adelphia for the utilization of existing cable television plant for
development and operation of the consolidated operating networks.
 
 
                                     F-17
<PAGE>
 
              HYPERION TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                  NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
                FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 1994, 1995, 1996 
               AND THE THREE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1995 AND 1996
(INFORMATION AS TO THE THREE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1995 AND 1996 IS UNAUDITED)
                (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

  Interest income charged on certain affiliate receivable balances with joint
ventures was $0, $65, $199, $16 and $13 for the periods ended March 31, 1994,
1995, and 1996 and the three months ended June 30, 1995 and 1996,
respectively.
 
  On September 30, 1996, the Company purchased from Adelphia for approximately
$5,446 certain fiber that had previously been leased from Adelphia.
 
(8)INCOME TAXES
 
  The Company and its corporate subsidiaries adopted Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes,"
effective April 1, 1993. The cumulative effect of adopting SFAS No. 109 at
April 1, 1993 was to decrease net loss by $42 for the year ended March 31,
1994. Adoption of SFAS No. 109 had no other effect on net loss for the year
ended March 31, 1994.
 
  Adelphia and its corporate subsidiaries (including the Company) file a
consolidated federal income tax return. For financial reporting purposes,
current and deferred income tax assets and liabilities are computed on a
separate company basis. The valuation allowance is adjusted for benefits
associated with filing a consolidated income tax return, similar to provisions
of the Internal Revenue Code. At March 31, 1996, the Company had net operating
loss carryforwards for federal income tax purposes of $23,100 expiring through
2011.
 
  Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of (a) temporary
differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for
financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes and
(b) operating loss carryforwards.
 
  Temporary differences and carryforwards that give rise to deferred tax
assets and liabilities are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                MARCH 31,
                                                             -----------------
                                                              1995      1996
                                                             -------  --------
   <S>                                                       <C>      <C>
   DEFERRED TAX ASSETS:
    Differences between book and tax basis of intangible
   assets................................................... $   404  $    119
    Net operating loss carryforwards........................   4,823     9,302
    Investment in Partnerships..............................     327     1,401
    Other...................................................      27       134
                                                             -------  --------
     Total..................................................   5,581    10,956
    Valuation allowance.....................................  (5,295)  (10,459)
                                                             -------  --------
     Total..................................................     286       497
                                                             -------  --------
   DEFERRED TAX LIABILITIES:
    Differences between book and tax basis of property,
   plant and
     equipment..............................................     198       203
                                                             -------  --------
   Net deferred tax asset................................... $    88  $    294
                                                             =======  ========
</TABLE>
 
  The net change in the total valuation allowance for the years ended March
  31, 1995 and 1996 was an increase of $3,111 and $5,164, respectively.
 
 
                                     F-18
<PAGE>
 
              HYPERION TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                  NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
                FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 1994, 1995, 1996 
               AND THE THREE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1995 AND 1996
(INFORMATION AS TO THE THREE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1995 AND 1996 IS UNAUDITED)
                (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
 
(8)INCOME TAXES, CONTINUED
 
  Income tax benefit for the years ended March 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996 is as
follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   MARCH 31,
                                                                 ---------------
                                                                 1994 1995  1996
                                                                 ---- ----  ----
<S>                                                              <C>  <C>   <C>
  Current....................................................... $46  $(8)  $ (9)
  Deferred......................................................   9   37    206
                                                                 ---  ---   ----
  Total......................................................... $55  $29   $197
                                                                 ===  ===   ====
</TABLE>
 
  A reconciliation of the statutory federal income tax rate and the Company's
effective income tax rate is as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                MARCH 31,
                                                            -------------------
                                                            1994   1995   1996
                                                            -----  -----  -----
<S>                                                         <C>    <C>    <C>
  Statutory federal income tax rate........................  35.0%  35.0%  35.0%
  Change in valuation allowance............................ (42.0) (39.0) (34.6)
  State taxes, net of federal benefit and other............   8.1    4.4    1.0
                                                            -----  -----  -----
  Income tax benefit.......................................   1.1%    .4%   1.4%
                                                            =====  =====  =====
</TABLE>
 
                                     F-19
<PAGE>
 
                                  APPENDIX A
 
                                   GLOSSARY
 
  Access Charges--The fees paid by long distance carriers to LECs for
originating and terminating long distance calls over the LECs' local networks.
 
  ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode)--A recently commercialized switching and
transmission technology that is one of a general class of packet technologies
that relay traffic by way of an address contained within the first five bits
of a standard fifty-three bit-long packet or cell. ATM-based packet transport
was specifically developed to allow switching and transmission of mixed voice,
data and video (sometimes referred to as "multi-media" information) at varying
rates. The ATM format can be used by many different information systems,
including LANs.
 
  Broadband--Broadband communications systems can transmit large quantities of
voice, data and video by way of digital or analog signals. Examples of
broadband communication systems include DS-3 fiber optic systems, which can
transmit 672 simultaneous voice conversations, or a broadcast television
station signal, that transmits high resolution audio and video signals into
the home. Broadband connectivity is also an essential element for interactive
multimedia applications.
 
  CAP (Competitive Access Provider)--A company that provides its customers
with an alternative to the incumbent local telephone company for local
transport of private line, special access and interstate transport of switched
access telecommunications services. CAPs are also referred to in the industry
as alternative local telecommunications service providers (ALTs), metropolitan
area network providers (MANs) and alternative access vendors (AAVs).
 
  Central Offices or LEC-COs--The switching centers or central switching
facilities of the LECs or CLECs.
 
  Centrex--Centrex is a service that offers features similar to those of a
Private Branch Exchange (PBX), except the equipment is located at the
carrier's premises and not at the premises of the customer. These features
include direct dialing within a given phone system, direct dialing of incoming
calls, and automatic identification of outbound calls. This is a value-added
service that LECs and CLECs can provide to a wide range of customers who do
not have the size or the funds to support their own on-site PBX.
 
  CLEC (Competitive Local Exchange Carrier)--A CAP that also provides switched
local telecommunications services.
 
  Collocation--The ability of a CAP, IXC or end user to connect its network to
a LEC-COs. Physical collocation occurs when a CAP places its network
connection equipment inside the LEC-COs. Virtual collocation is an alternative
to physical collocation pursuant to which the LEC permits a CAP to connect its
network to the LEC-COs on comparable terms, even though the CAP's network
connection equipment is not physically located inside the central offices.
 
  Dedicated Lines--Telecommunications lines dedicated or reserved for use
exclusively by particular customers along predetermined routes (in contrast to
telecommunications lines within the public switched network).
 
  Digital--A method of storing, processing and transmitting information
through the use of distinct electronic or optical pulses that represent the
binary code digits 0 and 1. Digital transmission and switching technologies
employ a sequence of these pulses to represent information as opposed to the
continuously variable analog signal. Digital transmission and switching
technologies offer a threefold improvement in speed and capacity over analog
techniques, allowing much more efficient and cost-effective transmission of
voice, video and data.
 
                                      A-1
<PAGE>
 
  Dialing Parity--Dialing parity exists when a customer calling to or from the
network of a CLEC is not required to dial any more digits than for a
comparable call originating and terminating on the incumbent LEC's network.
 
  Diverse Access Routing--A telecommunications network configuration in which
signals are transported simultaneously along two different paths so that if
one cable is cut, traffic can continue in the other direction without
interruption to its destination. The Company's networks generally provide
diverse access routing.
 
  DS-0, DS-1, DS-3--Standard telecommunications industry digital signal
formats, which are distinguishable by bit rate (the number of binary digits (0
and 1) transmitted per second). DS-0 service has a bit rate of up to 64
kilobits per second. DS-1 service has a bit rate of 1.544 megabits per second
and DS-3 service has a bit rate of 45 megabits per second.
 
  FCC--Federal Communications Commission
 
  Fiber Mile--The number of route miles installed (excluding pending
installations) along a telecommunications path multiplied by the number of
fibers along that path. See the definition of "route mile" below.
 
  Fiber Optics--Fiber optic cable is the medium of choice for the
telecommunications and cable industries. Fiber is immune to electrical
interference and environmental factors that affect copper wiring and satellite
transmission. Fiber optic technology involves sending laser light pulses
across glass strands in order to transmit digital information. A strand of
fiber optic cable is as thick as a human hair yet is said to have more
bandwidth capacity than copper cable the size of a telephone pole.
 
  Fiber Optic Ring Network--Most CAPs have built their networks in ring
configurations in order to ensure that, if one segment of a network is damaged
or cut, the traffic is simply re-routed and sent to its destination in the
opposite direction. The Company uses a "self-healing" optical fiber ring
architecture known as SONET.
 
  Frame Relay--Frame relay is a high speed data packet switching service used
to transmit data between computers. Frame relay supports data units of
variable lengths at access speeds ranging from 56 kilobits to 1.5 megabits.
This service is appropriate for connecting LANs, but is not appropriate for
voice and video applications due to the variable delays which can occur. Frame
relay was designed to operate at higher speeds on modern fiber optic networks.
 
  Frame Relay Service--Data communications service that functions as a fast
packet transport service of variable length data packets between customer
designated locations and supports the establishment of software defined
logical connections and circuits that act as private facilities on a public
platform.
 
  Hubs--Collection centers located centrally in an area where
telecommunications traffic can be aggregated at a central point for transport
and distribution.
 
  Interconnection Decisions--Rulings by the FCC announced in September 1992
and August 1993, which require the RBOCs and most other LECs to provide
interconnection in LEC-COs to any CAP, IXC or end user seeking such
interconnection for the provision of interstate special access and switched
access transport services.
 
  InterLATA Calls--InterLATA calls are calls that pass from one LATA to
another. Typically, these calls are referred to as long distance calls. The
Telecommunications Act establishes procedures under which the RBOCs can
receive authority to provide interLATA services.
 
                                      A-2
<PAGE>
 
  IntraLATA Calls--IntraLATA calls, also known as short haul calls, are those
calls that originate and terminate within the same LATA. All states allow
intraLATA competition, but dialing parity still does not exist in most states
and very little LEC intraLATA revenue has been won by competitors.
 
  IXC (Interexchange or Long Distance Carriers)--Usually referred to as long
distance carriers. There are many facilities-based IXCs, including AT&T, MCI,
WorldCom and Sprint, as well as a few CAPs that provide interexchange service.
 
  Kilobit--One thousand bits of information. The information-carrying capacity
(i.e., bandwidth of a circuit may be measured in "kilobits per second.")
 
  LANs (Local Area Networks)--The interconnection of computers for the purpose
of sharing files, programs and various devices such as work stations, printers
and high-speed modems. LANs may include dedicated computers or file servers
that provide a centralized source of shared files and programs.
 
  LATAs--The geographically defined Local Access and Transport Areas in which
LECs are authorized by the MFJ to provide local exchange services. These LATAs
roughly reflect the population density of their respective states (for example
California has 11 LATAs while Wyoming has one). There are 164 LATAs in the
United States.
 
  LEC (Local Exchange Carrier)--A company providing local telephone services.
 
  LEC-CO--Local Exchange Carrier's Central Office.
 
  Local Exchange Areas--A geographic area determined by the appropriate state
regulatory authority in which local calls generally are transmitted without
toll charges to the calling or called party.
 
  Megabit--One million bits of information. The information-carrying capacity
(i.e., bandwidth) of a circuit may be measured in "megabits per second."
 
  MFJ (Modified Final Judgment)--The MFJ was a consent decree entered into in
1982 between AT&T and the Department of Justice which forced the breakup of
the old Bell System through the divestiture of the seven separate Regional
Bell Operating Companies (RBOCs) from AT&T. Divestiture resulted in two
distinct segments of the telecommunications service market: local and long
distance. This laid the groundwork for intense competition in the long
distance industry, but essentially created seven separate regionally-based
local exchange service monopolies. The Telecommunications Act removes most MFJ
restrictions on a prospective basis from AT&T and the RBOCs.
 
  Network Systems Integration--Involves the creation of a turnkey
telecommunications network including (i) route and site selection and
obtaining rights of way and legal authorizations to install the network; (ii)
design and engineering of the system, including technology and vendor
assessment and selection, determining fiber optic circuit capacity, and
establishing reliability/flexibility standards; and (iii) project and
construction management, including contract negotiations, purchasing and
logistics, installation as well as testing and construction management.
 
  Number Portability--The ability of an end user to change local exchange
carriers while retaining the same telephone number.
 
  Off-Net--A customer that is not physically connected to one of the Company's
networks but who is accessed through interconnection with a LEC network.
 
  On-Net--A customer that is physically connected to one of the Company's
networks.
 
  Overlash--An aerial cable construction technique that involves the
attachment of a new cable to an existing cable by placing the new cable beside
the existing cable, and lashing (or binding) the two cables together by means
of a lashing wire that is wrapped around both cables. This technique allows
for the addition of new cable facilities utilizing existing pole attachments
without the requirement for additional space on the pole.
 
                                      A-3
<PAGE>
 
  PCS (Personal Communications Service)--A type of wireless telephone system
that uses light, inexpensive handheld sets and communicates via low power
antennas.
 
  PBX--A Private Branch Exchange is a switching system within an office
building which allows calls from outside to be routed directly to the
individual or through a central number. A PBX also allows for calling within
an office by way of four digit extensions. Centrex is a service which can
simulate this service from an outside switching source, thereby eliminating
the need for a large capital expenditure on a PBX.
 
  Physical Collocation--Physical Collocation occurs when a CAP places its own
network connection equipment inside the LEC-CO. The Telecommunications Act
gives the FCC authority to mandate physical collocation. See Virtual
Collocation.
 
  POPs (Points of Presence)--Locations where an IXC has installed transmission
equipment in a service area that serves as, or relays calls to, a network
switching center of that IXC.
 
  Private Line--A private, dedicated telecommunications connection between
different end user locations (excluding IXC POPs).
 
  Private Line Data Interconnect Service--A data transport service utilizing
data products and private line facilities that are packaged together with data
products.
 
  Public Switched Network--That portion of a LEC's network available to all
users generally on a shared basis (i.e., not dedicated to a particular user).
 
  Public Utility Commission--A state regulatory body which regulates
utilities, including telephone companies providing intrastate services. In
some states this regulatory body may have a different name, such as public
service commission.
 
  RBOCs (Regional Bell Operating Companies)--The seven local telephone
companies established by the MFJ. The RBOCs were prohibited from providing
interLATA services and from manufacturing telecommunications equipment under
the MFJ, but the Telecommunications Act of 1996 establishes procedures for
lifting these restrictions.
 
  Reciprocal Compensation--The compensation paid by a local carrier for
termination of a local call on the network of a competing carrier which is
obligated to pay a comparable charge to terminate traffic on the network of
the first carrier. Reciprocal compensation is distinct from the one way access
charges by which the IXCs compensate LEC's for originating or terminating
traffic.
 
  Redundant Electronics--A telecommunications facility using two separate
electronic devices to transmit a telecommunications signal so that if one
device malfunctions, the signal may continue without interruption.
 
  Remote Modules (or Remote Switching Modules)--Telephone switching units that
are attached to a host switch (usually via DS1 lines) in a different
geographic location. Remote modules provide the capability of offering
switching functionality to areas that will not economically support a host
switch.
 
  Rights of Way--Rights of certain entities (usually utility, cable TV or
telephone companies and local government agencies) to "pass over" or place
facilities on, over, or underneath property. This includes the ability to
place cable on poles, in conduit, and to bury cable underground.
 
  Route Miles--The number of miles of the telecommunications path in which
fiber optic cables are installed as it would appear on a network map.
 
  Second and Third Tier Markets--Metropolitan markets in the United States
with population bases ranging from 250,000 to two million.
 
  Special Access Services--The lease of private, dedicated telecommunications
lines or "circuits" along the network of a LEC or a CAP, which lines or
circuits run to or from the IXC POPs. Examples of special access services are
telecommunications lines running between POPs of a single IXC, from one IXC
POP to the POP of another IXC or from an end user to its IXC POP. Special
access services do not require the use of switches.
 
                                      A-4
<PAGE>
 
  SONET (Synchronous Optical Network)--SONET is the electronics and network
architecture which enable transmission of voice, video and data (multimedia)
at very high speeds. This state-of-the-art self-healing ring network offers
advantages over older linear networks in that a cut line or equipment failure
can be overcome by re-routing calls within the network. If the line is cut,
the traffic is simply reversed and sent to its destination around the other
side of the ring.
 
  Switch--A sophisticated computer that accepts instructions from a caller in
the form of a telephone number. Like an address on an envelope, the numbers
tell the switch where to route the call. The switch opens or closes circuits
or selects the paths or circuits to be used for transmission of information.
Switching is a process of interconnecting circuits to form a transmission path
between users. Switches allow local telecommunications service providers to
connect calls directly to their destination, while providing advanced features
and recording connection information for future billing.
 
  Switched Access Transport Services--Transportation of switched traffic along
dedicated lines between the LEC central offices and IXC POPs.
 
  Switched Services--Services which utilize a switch, as opposed to dedicated
services which are non-switched. These services are the greatest source of
revenue for carriers.
 
  Switched Traffic--Telecommunications traffic along a switched network.
 
  Virtual Collocation--Virtual collocation is an alternative to physical
collocation in which the CAPs connect their equipment to the LECs facilities
from a remote location and request that the LEC install the necessary
electronics in its central office which is then leased by the LEC to the CAP
for charges which are generally higher than the charges for physical
collocation. However, the CAP avoids payment of the initial capital costs for
the leased facilities which the CAP must incur under physical collocation.
 
  Voice Grade Equivalent Circuit--One DS-0. One voice grade equivalent circuit
is equal to 64 kilobits of bandwidth per second.
 
                                      A-5
<PAGE>
 
                                 UNDERWRITING
 
  Subject to the terms and conditions of the Underwriting Agreement, the
Company has agreed to sell to each of the U.S. Underwriters named below, and
each of such U.S. Underwriters, for whom Goldman, Sachs & Co., Bear, Stearns &
Co. Inc., Lazard Freres & Co. LLC and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated are acting as representatives, have severally agreed to purchase
from the Company, the respective number of shares of Class A Common Stock set
forth opposite its name below:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     NUMBER OF
                                                                     SHARES OF
                                                                      CLASS A
             UNDERWRITER                                            COMMON STOCK
             -----------                                            ------------
   <S>                                                              <C>
   Goldman, Sachs & Co.............................................
   Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.........................................
   Lazard Freres & Co. LLC.........................................
   Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
            Incorporated...........................................
                                                                     ----------
     Total.........................................................  13,200,000
                                                                     ==========
</TABLE>
 
  Under the terms and conditions of the Underwriting Agreement, the U.S.
Underwriters are committed to take and pay for all of the shares offered
hereby, if any are taken.
 
  The U.S. Underwriters propose to offer the shares of Class A Common Stock in
part directly to the public at the initial public offering price set forth on
the cover page of this Prospectus and in part to certain securities dealers at
such price less a concession of $   per share. The U.S. Underwriters may
allow, and such dealers may reallow, a concession not in excess of $   per
share to certain brokers and dealers. After the shares of Class A Common Stock
are released for sale to the public, the offering price and other selling
terms may from time to time be varied by the representatives.
 
  The Company and the Selling Stockholder have entered into an underwriting
agreement (the "International Underwriting Agreement") with the underwriters
of the international offering (the "International Underwriters") providing for
the concurrent offer and sale of 3,300,000 shares of Class A Common Stock in
an international offering outside the United States. The offering price and
aggregate underwriting discounts and commissions per share for the two
Offerings are identical. The closing of the U.S. Offering made hereby is a
condition to the closing of the International Offering, and vice versa. The
representatives of the International Underwriters are Goldman Sachs
International, Bear, Stearns International Limited, Lazard Capital Markets and
Merrill Lynch International.
 
  Pursuant to an Agreement between the U.S. and International Underwriting
Syndicates (the "Agreement Between") relating to the two Offerings, each of
the U.S. Underwriters named herein has agreed that, as a part of the
distribution of the shares offered hereby and subject to certain exceptions,
it will offer, sell or deliver the shares of Class A Common Stock, directly or
indirectly, only in the United States of America (including the States and the
District of Columbia), its territories, its possessions and other areas
subject to its jurisdiction (the "United States") and to U.S. persons, which
term shall mean, for purposes of this paragraph: (a) any individual who is a
resident of the United States or (b) any corporation, partnership or other
entity organized in or under the laws of the United States or any political
subdivision thereof and whose office most directly involved with the purchase
is located in the United States. Each of the International Underwriters has
agreed pursuant to the Agreement Between that, as a part of the distribution
of the shares offered as a part of the international offering, and subject to
certain exceptions, it will (i) not, directly or indirectly, offer, sell or
deliver shares of Class A Common Stock (a) in the United States or to any U.S.
persons or (b) to any person who it believes intends to
 
                                      U-1
<PAGE>
  
reoffer, resell or deliver the shares in the United States or to any U.S.
persons, and (ii) cause any dealer to whom it may sell such shares at any
concession to agree to observe a similar restriction.
 
  Pursuant to the Agreement Between, sales may be made between the U.S.
Underwriters and the International Underwriters of such number of shares of
Common Stock as may be mutually agreed. The price of any shares so sold shall
be the initial public offering price, less an amount not greater than the
selling concession.
 
  The U.S. Underwriters have been granted an option exercisable for 30 days
after the date of this Prospectus to purchase up to an aggregate of 1,980,000
additional shares of Class A Common Stock solely to cover over-allotments, if
any. In the event that the Underwriters exercise such over-allotment options,
the Selling Stockholder may elect to satisfy such over-allotment options by
selling shares of Class A Common Stock; however, to the extent that such
Selling Stockholder elects not to do so, then such shares will be issued and
sold by the Company. If the U.S. Underwriters exercise their over-allotment
option, the U.S. Underwriters have severally agreed, subject to certain
conditions, to purchase approximately the same percentage thereof that the
number of shares to be purchased by each of them, as shown in the foregoing
table, bears to the 13,200,000 shares of Class A Common Stock offered. The
Company has granted the International Underwriters a similar option to
purchase up to an aggregate of 495,000 additional shares of Class A Common
Stock.
 
   
  The Company and the Selling Stockholder have agreed that, during the period
beginning from the date of this Prospectus and continuing to and including the
date 180 days after the date of the Prospectus, they will not offer, sell,
contract to sell or otherwise dispose of any securities of the Company (other
than pursuant to certain transfers to affiliates, the 1996 Plan and the
Warrants) without the prior written consent of the representatives, except for
the shares of Class A Common Stock offered in connection with the concurrent
U.S. and International Offerings. The Underwriters have agreed that (i) each
of Messrs. Drenning, Fajerski and Fowler may sell up to of $1.0 million worth
of shares of Class A Common Stock after 30 days following the date of this
Prospectus and (ii) Mr. Fajerski may at any time following the date of this
Prospectus, make gifts of up to 25,000 shares of Common Stock to certain
family members and others, provided that such transferees agree to be bound by
Lock-Up Agreements substantially identical to the one signed by Mr. Fajerski.
    
 
  The representatives of the Underwriters have informed the Company that they
do not expect sales to accounts over which the Underwriters exercise
discretionary authority to exceed five percent of the total number of shares
of Class A Common Stock offered by them.
 
  Prior to the Offerings, there has been no public market for the shares. The
initial public offering price was negotiated among the Company and the
representatives of the U.S. Underwriters and the International Underwriters.
Among the factors considered in determining the initial public offering price
of the Common Stock, in addition to prevailing market conditions, were the
Company's historical performance, estimates of the business potential and
earnings prospects of the Company, an assessment of the Company's management
and the consideration of the above factors in relation to market valuation of
companies in related businesses.
 
  The Class A Common Stock is expected to be quoted on the Nasdaq National
Market under the symbol "HYPT".
 
  The Company and, in the event that the Selling Stockholder sells shares to
satisfy the over-allotment options, if any, the Selling Stockholder have
agreed to indemnify the several Underwriters against certain liabilities,
including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933.
 
   
  Chase Securities Inc., one of the U.S. Underwriters, is an affiliate of The
Chase Manhattan Bank which is a lender to affiliates of the Company.     
 
  This Prospectus may be used by underwriters and dealers in connection with
offers and sales of the Class A Common Stock, including shares initially sold
in the international offering, to persons located in the United States.
 
                                      U-2
<PAGE>
 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY
REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS AND, IF GIVEN OR
MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING
BEEN AUTHORIZED. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE
SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY SECURITIES OTHER THAN THE SECURITIES TO
WHICH IT RELATES OR AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY
SUCH SECURITIES IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS
UNLAWFUL. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER
SHALL, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO
CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY SINCE THE DATE HEREOF OR THAT THE
INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS CORRECT AS OF ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT TO ITS DATE
HEREOF.
 
                                  -----------
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
                                                                           PAGE
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                          <C>
Prospectus Summary..........................................................   1
Risk Factors................................................................  12
Use of Proceeds.............................................................  19
Capitalization..............................................................  20
Dividend Policy.............................................................  20
Dilution....................................................................  21
Selected Consolidated Financial and
 Operating Data.............................................................  22
Management's Discussion and Analysis of
 Financial Condition and Results of
 Operations.................................................................  24
Business....................................................................  33
Competition.................................................................  48
Regulation..................................................................  49
Management..................................................................  57
Certain Relationships and Transactions......................................  61
Principal Stockholders......................................................  63
Description of Capital Stock................................................  63
Certain United States Tax Consequences to Non-United States Holders.........  67
Shares Eligible for Future Sale.............................................  69
Legal Matters...............................................................  71
Experts.....................................................................  71
Additional Information......................................................  71
Index to Financial Statements............................................... F-1
Glossary.................................................................... A-1
Underwriting................................................................ U-1
</TABLE>
       
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                               16,500,000 SHARES
 
                       HYPERION TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.
 
               CLASS A COMMON STOCK (PAR VALUE $0.01 PER SHARE)
 
 
 
                 [LOGO OF HYPERION TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.]
 
 
                             GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
                           BEAR, STEARNS & CO. INC.
                            LAZARD FRERES & CO. LLC
                              MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
 
                      REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNDERWRITERS
 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
 
                                    PART II
 
                    INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
 
ITEM 13. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.
 
  The following is an estimate of expenses which will be incurred in
connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being
registered. In the event that the Selling Stockholder sells any shares of
Class A Common Stock pursuant to the Underwriters' over-allotment options,
expenses with respect to any such sale will be paid for by the Company.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     PAYABLE BY
                                                                     THE COMPANY
                                                                     -----------
      <S>                                                            <C>
      SEC filing fee................................................  $ 69,697
      Legal fees and expenses.......................................   200,000
      NASD filing fees and expenses.................................    23,500
      Nasdaq National Market application fee........................    50,000
      Printing and engraving fees...................................   170,000
      Accounting fees and expenses..................................    75,000
      Blue sky legal fees, filing fees and expenses.................    20,000
      Transfer agent and registrar fees.............................     3,500
      Miscellaneous expense.........................................     3,303
                                                                      --------
        Total.......................................................  $615,000
                                                                      ========
</TABLE>
 
ITEM 14. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
 
  Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides in general that
a corporation may indemnify its directors, officers, employees or agents
against expenditures (including judgments, fines, amounts paid in settlement
and attorneys' fees) made by them in connection with certain lawsuits to which
they may be made parties by reason of their being directors, officers,
employees or agents and shall so indemnify such persons against expenses
(including attorneys' fees) if they have been successful on the merits or
otherwise. The bylaws of Hyperion provide for indemnification of the officers
and directors of Hyperion to the full extent permissible under Delaware law.
 
  Hyperion's Certificate of Incorporation also provides, pursuant to Section
102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law, that directors of Hyperion
shall not be personally liable to Hyperion or its stockholders for monetary
damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director for acts or omissions,
provided that directors shall nonetheless be liable for breaches of the duty
of loyalty, bad faith, intentional misconduct, knowing violations of law,
unlawful distributions to stockholders, or transactions from which a director
derived an improper personal benefit.
 
ITEM 15. RECENT SALES OF UNREGISTERED SECURITIES
 
  On April 15, 1996, the Company issued 329,000 Units consisting of $329.0
million aggregate principal amount at maturity of 13% Senior Discount Notes
due April 15, 2003 (the "Senior Notes") and 329,000 Warrants to purchase an
aggregate of 613,427 shares (prior to adjustment) of common stock (the
"Warrants") in a private placement to institutional investors pursuant to the
exemptions from registration under Section 4(2) of the 1933 Act and Rule 144A.
Gross proceeds were approximately $175.3 million and net proceeds to the
Company were approximately $168.6 million after discounts and commissions of
approximately $6.1 million and other transaction costs. The initial purchasers
of the Unit placement were Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., Chase Securities Inc. and
NationsBanc Capital Markets, Inc.
 
                                     II-1
<PAGE>
 
ITEM 16. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
 
  (a) The following is a complete list of Exhibits filed as part of this
Registration Statement, which are incorporated herein:
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT NO.               DESCRIPTION                             REFERENCE
- -----------               -----------                             ---------
<S>          <C>                                    <C>
    1.1      Form of Underwriting Agreement         Filed herewith.
    2.1      Purchase Agreement effective as of May Incorporated herein by reference is
             13, 1996 between Teleport Communica-   Exhibit 2.1 to Registration Statement
             tions Group Inc. and Hyperion Telecom- No. 333-06957 on Form S-4.
             munications of Florida, Inc.
    3.1      Certificate of Incorporation of Regis- Incorporated herein by reference is
             trant, together with all amendments    Exhibit 3.1 to Registrant's
             thereto.                               Registration Statement on Form 8-A,
                                                    dated October 23, 1996.
    3.2      Bylaws of Registrant.                  Incorporated herein by reference is
                                                    Exhibit 3.2 to Registrant's
                                                    Registration Statement on Form 8-A,
                                                    dated October 23, 1996.
    4.1      Indenture, dated as of April 15, 1996, Incorporated herein by reference is
             between the Registrant and Bank of     Exhibit 4.1 to Registration Statement
             Montreal Trust Company.                No. 333-06957 on Form S-4.
    4.2      First Supplemental Indenture, dated as Incorporated herein by reference is
             of September 11, 1996, between, the    Exhibit 4.2 to Registration Statement
             Registrant and Bank of Montreal Trust  No. 333-12619 on Form S-1.
             Company
    4.3      Form of 13% Senior Discount Note.      Incorporated herein by reference is
                                                    Exhibit 4.3 to Registration Statement
                                                    No. 333-12619 on Form S-1.
    4.4      Registration Rights Agreement dated as Incorporated herein by reference is
             of April 15, 1996, between the Regis-  Exhibit 4.3 to Registration Statement
             trant and the Initial Purchasers.      No. 333-06957 on Form S-4.
    4.5      Subordinated Note dated April 15, 1996 Incorporated herein by reference is
             by the Company in favor of Adelphia.   Exhibit 4.4 to Registration Statement
                                                    No. 333-06957 on Form S-4.
    4.6      Form of Class A Common Stock Certifi-  Incorporated herein by reference is
             cate.                                  Exhibit 4.1 to Registran's
                                                    Registration Statement on Form 8-A,
                                                    dated October 23, 1996.
    5.1      Opinion of Buchanan Ingersoll Profes-  Filed herewith.
             sional Corporation.
   10.1      Purchase Agreement dated as of April   Incorporated herein by reference is
             10, 1996 between the Registrant and    Exhibit 1.1 to Registration Statement
             Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., Chase Secu-  No. 333-06957 on Form S-4.
             rities Inc. and NationsBanc Capital
             Markets, Inc. (collectively, the "Ini-
             tial Purchasers").
   10.2      Employment Agreement between the Reg-  Incorporated herein by reference is
             istrant and Charles R. Drenning.       Exhibit 10.1 to Registration Statement
                                                    No. 333-06957 on Form S-4.
   10.3      Employment Agreement between the Reg-  Incorporated herein by reference is
             istrant and Paul D. Fajerski.          Exhibit 10.2 to Registration Statement
                                                    No. 333-06957 on Form S-4.
   10.4      Employment Agreement between the Reg-  Incorporated herein by reference is
             istrant and Randolph S. Fowler.        Exhibit 10.3 to Registration Statement
                                                    No. 333-06957 on Form S-4.
</TABLE>    
 
 
                                      II-2
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
 EXHIBIT NO.            DESCRIPTION                           REFERENCE
 -----------            -----------                           ---------
 <C>         <S>                                      <C>
    10.5     Employment Agreement dated July 1,       Incorporated herein by reference is
             1986 between Adelphia and Daniel R.      Exhibit 10.15 to Adelphia's
             Milliard.                                Registration Statement No. 33-6974 on
                                                      Form S-1.
    10.6     Pre-Incorporation and Shareholder Re-    Incorporated herein by reference is
             strictive Agreement between Adelphia,    Exhibit 10.5 to Registration Statement
             Paul D. Fajerski, Charles R. Drenning    No. 333-06957 on Form S-4.
             and
             Randolph S. Fowler.
    10.7     Term Loan Note dated May 10, 1996 be-    Incorporated herein by reference is
             tween Charles R. Drenning in favor of    Exhibit 10.6 to Registration Statement
             Registrant in the amount of              No. 333-06957 on Form S-4.
             $1,000,000.
    10.8     Term Loan Note dated May 10, 1996 be-    Incorporated herein by reference is
             tween Paul D. Fajerski in favor of       Exhibit 10.7 to Registration Statement
             Registrant in the amount of              No. 333-06957 on Form S-4.
             $1,000,000.
    10.9     Term Loan Note dated May 10, 1996 be-    Incorporated herein by reference is
             tween Randolph S. Fowler in favor of     Exhibit 10.8 to Registration Statement
             Registrant in the amount of              No. 333-06957 on Form S-4.
             $1,000,000.
    10.10    Term Loan and Stock Pledge Agreement     Incorporated herein by reference is
             dated May 10, 1996 between the Regis-    Exhibit 10.9 to Registration Statement
             trant and Charles R. Drenning.           No. 333-06957 on Form S-4.
    10.11    Term Loan and Stock Pledge Agreement     Incorporated herein by reference is
             dated May 10, 1996 between the Regis-    Exhibit 10.10 to Registration
             trant and Paul D. Fajerski.              Statement No. 333-06957 on Form S-4.
    10.12    Term Loan and Stock Pledge Agreement     Incorporated herein by reference is
             dated May 10, 1996 between the Regis-    Exhibit 10.11 to Registration
             trant and Randolph S. Fowler.            Statement No. 333-06957 on Form S-4.
    10.13    Letter Agreement dated March 19, 1996    Incorporated herein by reference is
             between the Registrant, Charles R.       Exhibit 10.12 to Registration
             Drenning, Paul D. Fajerski, Randolph     Statement No. 333-06957 on Form S-4.
             S. Fowler and Adelphia.
    10.14    Warrant Agreement dated as of April      Incorporated herein by reference is
             15, 1996, by and among Hyperion Tele-    Exhibit 10.13 to Registration
             communications, Inc. and Bank of Mon-    Statement No. 333-06957 on Form S-4.
             treal Trust Company.
    10.15    Warrant Registration Rights Agreement    Incorporated herein by reference is
             dated as of April 15, 1996, by and       Exhibit 10.14 to Registration
             among Hyperion Telecommunications,       Statement No. 333-06957 on Form S-4.
             Inc. and the Initial Purchasers.
    10.16    Form of Management Agreement.            Incorporated herein by reference is
                                                      Exhibit 10.15 to Registration
                                                      Statement No. 333-06957 on Form S-4.
    10.17    1996 Long-Term Compensation Plan.        Filed herewith.
    10.18    Registration Rights Agreement among      Filed herewith.
             Charles R. Drenning, Paul D. Fajerski,
             Randolph S. Fowler, Adelphia Communi-
             cations Corporation and the Company
    10.19    Registration Rights Agreement between    Filed herewith.
             Adelphia Communications Corporation
             and the Company.
</TABLE>    
       
                                      II-3
<PAGE>

 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
 EXHIBIT NO.                            DESCRIPTION                 REFERENCE
 -----------                            -----------                 ---------
 <C>         <S>                                      <C>
    21.1     Subsidiaries of the Registrant.          Incorporated herein by reference is
                                                      Exhibit 21.1 to Registration Statement
                                                      No. 333-06957 on Form S-4.
    23.1     Consent of Buchanan Ingersoll Profes-    Filed herewith.
             sional Corporation (contained in its
             opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1 hereto).
    23.2     Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.        Filed herewith.
    24.1     Power of Attorney.                       Previously filed.
    27.1     Financial Data Schedule.                 Incorporated herein by reference is
                                                      Exhibit 27.01 to Registrant's Form 10-
                                                      Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1996.
</TABLE>    
 
ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS
 
  Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of 1933 may 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 of 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.
 
  The undersigned hereby undertakes to provide to the underwriters at the
closing specified in the underwriting agreements, certificates in such
denominations and registered in such names as required by the underwriters to
permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.
 
  The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:
 
    (1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of
  1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), the information omitted from the
  form of prospectus filed as part of this Registration Statement in reliance
  upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the
  registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities
  Act shall be deemed to be part of this Registration Statement as of the
  time it was declared effective.
 
    (2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities
  Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus 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.
 
                                     II-4
<PAGE>
 
                                  SIGNATURES
   
  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
has duly caused this Amendment to this Registration Statement to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of
Coudersport, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, on the 30th day of October, 1996.
    
                                          HYPERION TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.
 
                                               /s/ Daniel R. Milliard
                                          By:  ________________________________
                                              Daniel R. Milliard President and
                                                  Chief Operating Officer
 
  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Amendment to this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
 
      SIGNATURE                           TITLE                       DATE
 
*                             Chairman and Director                 
- -------------------------                                        October 30,
John J. Rigas                                                    1996     
 
*                             Vice Chairman and Director            
- -------------------------                                        October 30,
Michael J. Rigas                                                 1996     
 
*                             Vice Chairman, Treasurer,             
- -------------------------     Chief Financial Officer and        October 30,
Timothy J. Rigas              Director                           1996     
 
*                             Vice Chairman, Chief Executive        
- -------------------------     Officer and Director               October 30,
James P. Rigas                                                   1996     
 
/s/ Daniel R. Milliard        President, Secretary, Chief           
- -------------------------     Operating Officer and Director     October 30,
Daniel R. Milliard                                               1996     
 
*                             Senior Vice President and             
- -------------------------     Director                           October 30,
Charles R. Drenning                                              1996     
 
*                             Senior Vice President and             
- -------------------------     Director                           October 30,
Paul D. Fajerski                                                 1996     
 
*                             Senior Vice President and             
- -------------------------     Director                           October 30,
Randolph S. Fowler                                               1996     
 
*                             Vice President and Chief              
- -------------------------     Accounting Officer                 October 30,
Edward E. Babcock                                                1996     
 
* /s/ Daniel R. Milliard
- -------------------------
Daniel R. Milliard, as attorney-in-fact
 
                                     II-5
<PAGE>
 
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT NO.               DESCRIPTION                             REFERENCE
- -----------               -----------                             ---------
<S>          <C>                                    <C>
    1.1      Form of Underwriting Agreement         Filed herewith.
    2.1      Purchase Agreement effective as of May Incorporated herein by reference is
             13, 1996 between Teleport Communica-   Exhibit 2.1 to Registration Statement
             tions Group Inc. and Hyperion Telecom- No. 333-06957 on Form S-4.
             munications of Florida, Inc.
    3.1      Certificate of Incorporation of Regis- Incorporated herein by reference is
             trant, together with all amendments    Exhibit 3.1 to Registrant's
             thereto.                               Registration Statement on Form 8-A,
                                                    dated October 23, 1996.
    3.2      Bylaws of Registrant.                  Incorporated herein by reference is
                                                    Exhibit 3.2 to Registrant's
                                                    Registration Statement on Form 8-A,
                                                    dated October 23, 1996.
    4.1      Indenture, dated as of April 15, 1996, Incorporated herein by reference is
             between the Registrant and Bank of     Exhibit 4.1 to Registration Statement
             Montreal Trust Company.                No. 333-06957 on Form S-4.
    4.2      First Supplemental Indenture, dated as Incorporated herein by reference is
             of September 11, 1996, between, the    Exhibit 4.2 to Registration Statement
             Registrant and Bank of Montreal Trust  No. 333-12619 on Form S-1.
             Company
    4.3      Form of 13% Senior Discount Note.      Incorporated herein by reference is
                                                    Exhibit 4.3 to Registration Statement
                                                    No. 333-12619 on Form S-1.
    4.4      Registration Rights Agreement dated as Incorporated herein by reference is
             of April 15, 1996, between the Regis-  Exhibit 4.3 to Registration Statement
             trant and the Initial Purchasers.      No. 333-06957 on Form S-4.
    4.5      Subordinated Note dated April 15, 1996 Incorporated herein by reference is
             by the Company in favor of Adelphia.   Exhibit 4.4 to Registration Statement
                                                    No. 333-06957 on Form S-4.
    4.6      Form of Class A Common Stock Certifi-  Incorporated herein by reference is
             cate.                                  Exhibit 4.1 to Registran's
                                                    Registration Statement on Form 8-A,
                                                    dated October 23, 1996.
    5.1      Opinion of Buchanan Ingersoll Profes-  Filed herewith.
             sional Corporation.
   10.1      Purchase Agreement dated as of April   Incorporated herein by reference is
             10, 1996 between the Registrant and    Exhibit 1.1 to Registration Statement
             Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., Chase Secu-  No. 333-06957 on Form S-4.
             rities Inc. and NationsBanc Capital
             Markets, Inc. (collectively, the "Ini-
             tial Purchasers").
   10.2      Employment Agreement between the Reg-  Incorporated herein by reference is
             istrant and Charles R. Drenning.       Exhibit 10.1 to Registration Statement
                                                    No. 333-06957 on Form S-4.
   10.3      Employment Agreement between the Reg-  Incorporated herein by reference is
             istrant and Paul D. Fajerski.          Exhibit 10.2 to Registration Statement
                                                    No. 333-06957 on Form S-4.
   10.4      Employment Agreement between the Reg-  Incorporated herein by reference is
             istrant and Randolph S. Fowler.        Exhibit 10.3 to Registration Statement
                                                    No. 333-06957 on Form S-4.
</TABLE>    
       
<PAGE>
 
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
 EXHIBIT NO.                            DESCRIPTION                 REFERENCE
 -----------                            -----------                 ---------
 <C>         <S>                                      <C>
    10.5     Employment Agreement dated July 1,       Incorporated herein by reference is
             1986 between Adelphia and Daniel R.      Exhibit 10.15 to Adelphia's
             Milliard.                                Registration Statement No. 33-6974 on
                                                      Form S-1.
    10.6     Pre-Incorporation and Shareholder Re-    Incorporated herein by reference is
             strictive Agreement between Adelphia,    Exhibit 10.5 to Registration Statement
             Paul D. Fajerski, Charles R. Drenning    No. 333-06957 on Form S-4.
             and
             Randolph S. Fowler.
    10.7     Term Loan Note dated May 10, 1996 be-    Incorporated herein by reference is
             tween Charles R. Drenning in favor of    Exhibit 10.6 to Registration Statement
             Registrant in the amount of              No. 333-06957 on Form S-4.
             $1,000,000.
    10.8     Term Loan Note dated May 10, 1996 be-    Incorporated herein by reference is
             tween Paul D. Fajerski in favor of       Exhibit 10.7 to Registration Statement
             Registrant in the amount of              No. 333-06957 on Form S-4.
             $1,000,000.
    10.9     Term Loan Note dated May 10, 1996 be-    Incorporated herein by reference is
             tween Randolph S. Fowler in favor of     Exhibit 10.8 to Registration Statement
             Registrant in the amount of              No. 333-06957 on Form S-4.
             $1,000,000.
    10.10    Term Loan and Stock Pledge Agreement     Incorporated herein by reference is
             dated May 10, 1996 between the Regis-    Exhibit 10.9 to Registration Statement
             trant and Charles R. Drenning.           No. 333-06957 on Form S-4.
    10.11    Term Loan and Stock Pledge Agreement     Incorporated herein by reference is
             dated May 10, 1996 between the Regis-    Exhibit 10.10 to Registration
             trant and Paul D. Fajerski.              Statement No. 333-06957 on Form S-4.
    10.12    Term Loan and Stock Pledge Agreement     Incorporated herein by reference is
             dated May 10, 1996 between the Regis-    Exhibit 10.11 to Registration
             trant and Randolph S. Fowler.            Statement No. 333-06957 on Form S-4.
    10.13    Letter Agreement dated March 19, 1996    Incorporated herein by reference is
             between the Registrant, Charles R.       Exhibit 10.12 to Registration
             Drenning, Paul D. Fajerski, Randolph     Statement No. 333-06957 on Form S-4.
             S. Fowler and Adelphia.
    10.14    Warrant Agreement dated as of April      Incorporated herein by reference is
             15, 1996, by and among Hyperion Tele-    Exhibit 10.13 to Registration
             communications, Inc. and Bank of Mon-    Statement No. 333-06957 on Form S-4.
             treal Trust Company.
    10.15    Warrant Registration Rights Agreement    Incorporated herein by reference is
             dated as of April 15, 1996, by and       Exhibit 10.14 to Registration
             among Hyperion Telecommunications,       Statement No. 333-06957 on Form S-4.
             Inc. and the Initial Purchasers.
    10.16    Form of Management Agreement.            Incorporated herein by reference is
                                                      Exhibit 10.15 to Registration
                                                      Statement No. 333-06957 on Form S-4.
    10.17    1996 Long-Term Compensation Plan.        Filed herewith.
 
 
    10.18    Registration Rights Agreement among      Filed herewith.
             Charles R. Drenning, Paul D. Fajerski,
             Randolph S. Fowler, Adelphia Communi-
             cations Corporation and the Company
    10.19    Registration Rights Agreement between    Filed herewith.
             Adelphia Communications Corporation
             and the Company.
</TABLE>    
 
<PAGE>
 
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
 EXHIBIT NO.                            DESCRIPTION                 REFERENCE
 -----------                            -----------                 ---------
 <C>         <S>                                      <C>
    21.1     Subsidiaries of the Registrant.          Incorporated herein by reference is
                                                      Exhibit 21.1 to Registration Statement
                                                      No. 333-06957 on Form S-4.
    23.1     Consent of Buchanan Ingersoll Profes-    Filed herewith.
             sional Corporation (contained in its
             opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1 hereto).
    23.2     Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.        Filed herewith.
    24.1     Power of Attorney.                       Previously filed.
    27.1     Financial Data Schedule.                 Incorporated herein by reference is
                                                      Exhibit 27.01 to Registrant's Form 10-
                                                      Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1996.
</TABLE>    
 

<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 1.1 
                       Hyperion Telecommunications, Inc.

                              Class A Common Stock

                           (par value $.01 per share)

                             Underwriting Agreement
                                (U.S. Version)

                                                         ............., 1996
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.
Lazard Freres & Co. LLC
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
         Incorporated
  As representatives of the several Underwriters
   named in Schedule I hereto,
c/o Goldman, Sachs & Co.
85 Broad Street,
New York, New York 10004

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         Hyperion Telecommunications, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein, to
issue and sell to the Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the
"Underwriters") an aggregate of ........  shares of Class A Common Stock, $.01
par value per share ("Stock"), of the Company and, at the election of the
Underwriters, Adelphia Communications Corporation, a Delaware corporation
("Adelphia" or the "Selling Stockholder") proposes, subject to the terms and
conditions stated herein, to sell to the Underwriters an aggregate of ........
shares of additional Stock; provided that in the event that the Selling
Stockholder elects not to sell such shares of Stock, the Company will issue and
sell up to ........  additional shares of Stock, subject to the terms and
conditions stated herein.  The aggregate of ........  shares to be sold by the
Company is herein called the "Firm Shares" and the aggregate of ........
additional shares to be sold by the Selling Stockholder or the Company, as the
case may be, is herein called the "Optional Shares".  The Firm Shares and the
Optional Shares that the Underwriters elect to purchase pursuant to Section 2
hereof are herein collectively called the "Shares".

         It is understood and agreed to by all parties that the Company and the
Selling Stockholder are concurrently entering into an agreement (the
"International Underwriting Agreement") providing for the sale by the Company
and the Selling Stockholder of up to a total of .......  shares of Stock (the
"International Shares"), including the overallotment option thereunder, through
arrangements with certain underwriters outside the United States (the
<PAGE>
 
"International Underwriters"), for whom Goldman Sachs International is acting as
lead manager. Anything herein or therein to the contrary notwithstanding, the
respective closings under this Agreement and the International Underwriting
Agreement are hereby expressly made conditional on one another.  The
Underwriters hereunder and the International Underwriters are simultaneously
entering into an Agreement between U.S. and International Underwriting
Syndicates (the "Agreement between Syndicates") which provides, among other
things, for the transfer of shares of Stock between the two syndicates.  Two
forms of prospectus are to be used in connection with the offering and sale of
shares of Stock contemplated by the foregoing, one relating to the Shares
hereunder and the other relating to the International Shares.  The latter form
of prospectus will be identical to the former except for certain substitute
pages relating solely to international matters.  Except as used in Sections 2,
3, 4, 9 and 11 herein, and except as the context may otherwise require,
references hereinafter to the Shares shall include all the shares of Stock which
may be sold pursuant to either this Agreement or the International Underwriting
Agreement, and references herein to any prospectus whether in preliminary or
final form, and whether as amended or supplemented, shall include both the U.S.
and the international versions thereof.

         1.  (a)  The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each
of the Underwriters that:

         (i)   The registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-13663) (the
     "Initial Registration Statement") in respect of the Shares has been filed
     with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"); the Initial
     Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, each in
     the form heretofore delivered to you, and, excluding exhibits thereto, to
     you for each of the other Underwriters, have been declared effective by the
     Commission in such form; other than a registration statement, if any,
     increasing the size of the offering (a "Rule 462(b) Registration
     Statement"), filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of
     1933, as amended (the "Act"), which became effective upon filing, no other
     document with respect to such Initial Registration Statement has heretofore
     been filed with the Commission; and no stop order suspending the
     effectiveness of such Initial Registration Statement, any post-effective
     amendment thereto or the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, has
     been issued and no proceeding for that purpose has been initiated or
     threatened by the Commission (any preliminary prospectus included in such
     Initial Registration Statement or filed with the Commission pursuant to
     Rule 424(a) of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Act,
     is hereinafter called a "Preliminary Prospectus"); the various parts of
     such Initial Registration Statement and the Rule 462(b) Registration
     Statement, if any, including all exhibits thereto and including the
     information contained in the form of final prospectus filed with the
     Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act in accordance with Section
     5(a) hereof and deemed by virtue of Rule 430A under the Act to be part of
     the Initial Registration Statement at the time it was declared effective or
     such part of the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, became or
     hereafter becomes effective, each as amended at the time such part of the
     registration statement became effective, are hereinafter collectively
     called the "Registration Statement"; and such final prospectus, in the form
     first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act, is hereinafter called
     the "Prospectus".

         (ii)  No order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary
     Prospectus

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
     has been issued by the Commission, and each Preliminary Prospectus, at the
     time of filing thereof, conformed in all material respects to the
     requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission
     thereunder, and did not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or
     omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
     make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which
     they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that this representation
     and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in
     reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to
     the Company by an Underwriter through Goldman, Sachs & Co. expressly for
     use therein.

         (iii) The Registration Statement conforms, and the Prospectus and any
     further amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the
     Prospectus will conform, in all material respects to the requirements of
     the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and do
     not and will not, as of the applicable effective date as to the
     Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and as of the applicable
     filing date as to the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto,
     contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
     fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
     therein not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and
     warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance
     upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company
     by an Underwriter through Goldman, Sachs & Co. expressly for use therein.

         (iv)  Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries (as defined) (A) has
     been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good
     standing under the laws of its respective jurisdiction of incorporation,
     (B) has all requisite power and authority (corporate and other) to own its
     properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus, and (C)
     has been duly qualified as a foreign corporation for the transaction of
     business and is in good standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction
     in which it owns or leases properties or conducts any business so as to
     require such qualification, or is subject to no material liability or
     disability, the effect of which would be materially adverse to the Company,
     the Subsidiaries and the Joint Ventures, taken as a whole, by reason of the
     failure to be so qualified in any such jurisdiction.  The Company has no
     direct or indirect subsidiaries as of the Closing Date other than those set
     forth in Schedule II hereto (referred to collectively herein as
     "Subsidiaries" and individually as a "Subsidiary"), other than the
     Company's Joint Venture (as defined) located in Nashville, Tennessee, which
     is treated as a consolidated subsidiary of the Company for accounting
     purposes.

         (iv)  Each of the Joint Ventures (A) has been duly formed as a
     partnership or corporation, as applicable, under the laws of its respective
     jurisdiction of formation, (B) has all requisite power and authority
     (corporate or partnership, as applicable, and other), to carry on its
     business as it is currently being conducted and as described in the
     Prospectus and to own, lease and operate its properties and (C) is duly
     qualified and in good standing as a foreign corporation or partnership, as
     applicable, authorized to do business in each jurisdiction in which the
     nature of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires
     such qualification, or is subject to no material liability or disability,
     the effect of which would be materially adverse to the Company, the
     Subsidiaries and the Joint Ventures, taken as a whole, by reason of the
     failure to be so

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
     qualified in any such jurisdiction.  Neither the Company
     nor its Subsidiaries has any ownership interest in any joint venture other
     than those set forth on Schedule III hereto (referred to herein
     collectively as "Joint Ventures" and individually a "Joint Venture"),
     except for ownership interests of any Subsidiary or Joint Venture in any
     partnership between any such Subsidiary or Joint Venture and !NTERPRISE.

         (vi)  Each of the Company, its Subsidiaries and the Joint Ventures, has
     good and marketable title to all real property and good and marketable
     title to all personal property owned by them, in each case free and clear
     of all security interests, liens or other encumbrances and defects except
     such as are described in the Prospectus or such as do not materially affect
     the value of such property and do not materially interfere with the use
     made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company, its
     Subsidiaries and the Joint Ventures; and any real property and buildings
     held under lease by the Company, its Subsidiaries and the Joint Ventures
     are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with such
     exceptions as are not material and do not materially interfere with the use
     made and proposed to be made of such property and buildings by the Company,
     its Subsidiaries and the Joint Ventures.

         (vii) None of the Company, its Subsidiaries or the Joint Ventures has
     sustained since the date of the latest audited financial statements
     included in the Prospectus any material loss or interference with its
     business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not
     covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental
     action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the
     Prospectus; and, since the respective dates as of which information is
     given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there has not been
     any change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company, any of
     its Subsidiaries or any of its Joint Ventures, or any material adverse
     change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change,
     in or affecting the general affairs, management, financial position,
     stockholders' or partners' equity or results of operations of the Company,
     the Subsidiaries and the Joint Ventures, taken as a whole, otherwise than
     as set forth or contemplated in the Prospectus.

         (viii) The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the
     Prospectus, and all of the issued shares of capital stock of the Company
     have been duly and validly authorized and issued are fully paid and non-
     assessable and conform to the description of the Stock contained in the
     Prospectus; and all of the issued shares of capital stock of each
     Subsidiary of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued,
     are fully paid and non-assessable and except as set forth in the Prospectus
     are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of all
     security interests, liens or other encumbrances.

         (ix)  The unissued Shares to be issued and sold by the Company to the
     Underwriters hereunder and under the International Underwriting Agreement
     have been duly and validly authorized and, when issued and delivered
     against payment therefor as provided herein, will be duly and validly
     issued and fully paid and non-assessable and will conform to the
     description of the Stock contained in the Prospectus;

         (x)   None of (A) the execution, delivery or performance by the Company
     and the Selling Stockholder of this Agreement and the International
     Underwriting Agreement, (B) the issuance and sale of the Shares to be sold
     by the Company and the Shares to

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
     be sold by the Selling Stockholder, if any, hereunder and (C) the
     consummation by the Company and the Selling Stockholder of the transactions
     described herein, in the International Underwriting Agreement and in the
     Prospectus will conflict with, or result in a breach or violation of any of
     the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under (or constitute an
     event that with notice or the lapse of time, or both, would constitute a
     default), or require consent under, or result in the imposition of a lien
     or encumbrance on any properties of the Company, any Subsidiary or any
     Joint Venture, or an acceleration of any indebtedness of the Company, any
     Subsidiary or any Joint Venture pursuant to, (i) the charter or bylaws of
     the Company or any Subsidiary or the partnership agreement governing any
     Joint Venture, (ii) any bond, debenture, note, indenture, mortgage, deed of
     trust or other agreement or instrument to which the Company, any Subsidiary
     or any Joint Venture is a party or by which any of them or their property
     is or may be bound, (iii) any local, state or Federal law, statute,
     ordinance, rule, regulation or requirement (including, without limitation,
     the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (the "Telecommunications Act") and the
     rules and regulations of the Federal Communications Commission ("FCC") and
     environmental laws, statutes, ordinances, rules or regulations) applicable
     to the Company, any Subsidiary, any Joint Venture or any of their
     respective assets or properties or (iv) any judgment, order or decree of
     any court or governmental agency or authority having jurisdiction over the
     Company, the Subsidiaries, the Joint Ventures or any of their assets or
     properties except in the case of clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv) for such
     violations conflicts, breaches, defaults, consents, impositions of liens or
     accelerations that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a
     material adverse effect on the Company, the Subsidiaries and the Joint
     Ventures, taken as a whole. Other than as described in the Prospectus, no
     consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing, registration,
     qualification, license or permit of or with, (A) any court or governmental
     agency, body or administrative agency (including, without limitation, the
     FCC) or (B) any other person is required for (1) the execution, delivery
     and performance by the Company of this Agreement and International
     Underwriting Agreement or (2) the issuance and sale of the Shares and the
     transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, except (y) such as have been
     obtained and made under the Act for the Shares, and state or foreign
     securities or Blue Sky laws or regulations in connection with the purchase
     and distribution of the Shares by the Underwriters and the International
     Underwriters or such as may be required by the NASD (as defined below) or
     (z) where the failure to obtain any such consent, approval, authorization
     or order of, or filing, registration, qualification, license or permit
     could not reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse effect on
     the Company, the Subsidiaries and the Joint Ventures, taken as a whole.

         (xi)  None of the Company, the Subsidiaries or the Joint Ventures is
     and, after giving effect to the transactions set forth in the Prospectus,
     including the offerings of the Stock (the "Offerings"), will be (A) in
     violation of its charter and bylaws or partnership agreement, as
     applicable, (B) in default in the performance of any bond, debenture, note,
     indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or other agreement or instrument to
     which it is a party or by which it is bound or to which any of its
     properties is subject, or (C) in violation of any local, state or Federal
     law, statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, requirement, judgment or court
     decree (including, without limitation, the Communications Act of 1934, as
     amended by the Telecommunications Act, and the rules and regulations of the
     FCC and environmental laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations,
     judgments or court decrees) applicable to the Company, any Subsidiary, any
     Joint Venture or any of

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
     their respective assets or properties (whether owned or leased), other
     than, in the cases of clauses (B) and (C), any default or violation that
     could not reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the
     aggregate, in a material adverse effect on the Company, any of the
     Subsidiaries and any of the Joint Ventures, taken as a whole.

         (xii)  All of the outstanding capital stock of each Subsidiary is owned
     by the Company, free and clear of any security interest, claim, lien,
     limitation on voting rights or other charge or encumbrance.  Except as
     disclosed in the Prospectus, there are not currently, and will not be as a
     result of the Offerings, any outstanding subscriptions, rights, warrants,
     calls, commitments of sale or options to acquire, or instruments
     convertible into or exchangeable for, any capital stock or other equity
     interest of the Company or any Subsidiary.

         (xiii) The statements set forth in the Prospectus under the caption
     "Description of Capital Stock", insofar as they purport to constitute a
     summary of the terms of the Stock, under the caption "Certain United States
     Tax Consequences to Non-United States Holders" insofar as they purport to
     summarize the laws discussed therein, and under the caption "Underwriting"
     (insofar as such statements describe this Agreement and the International
     Underwriting Agreement), insofar as they purport to summarize the
     provisions of the laws and documents referred to therein, are accurate,
     complete and fair, in all material respects.

         (xiv)  Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates does business with
     the government of Cuba or with any person or affiliate located in Cuba
     within the meaning of Section 517.075, Florida Statutes.

         (xv)   Deloitte & Touche, LLP, who have certified certain financial
     statements of the Company and its subsidiaries, are independent public
     accountants as required by the Act and the rules and regulations of the
     Commission thereunder.

         (xvi)  There is (i) no action, suit or proceeding before or by any
     court, arbitrator or governmental agency, body or official, domestic or
     foreign, now pending or threatened or contemplated to which the Company,
     any of the Subsidiaries or any of the Joint Ventures is or may be a party
     or to which the business or property of the Company, any Subsidiary or any
     Joint Venture is subject, (ii) no local, state or Federal law, statute,
     ordinance, rule, regulation, requirement, judgment or court decree
     (including, without limitation, the Telecommunications Act and the rules
     and regulations of the FCC) or order that has been enacted, adopted or
     issued by any governmental agency or, to the best of the Company's
     knowledge, that has been proposed by any governmental body and (iii) no
     injunction, restraining order or other order or decree of any nature by a
     federal or state court or foreign court of competent jurisdiction to which
     the Company, any Subsidiary or any Joint Venture is or could reasonably be
     expected to be subject or to which the business, assets, or property of the
     Company, any Subsidiary or any Joint Venture are or could reasonably be
     expected to be subject, that is not disclosed in the Prospectus or could
     reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in a
     material adverse effect on the current or future consolidated financial
     position, stockholders' or partners' equity, as applicable, or results of
     operations of the Company, the Subsidiaries and the Joint Ventures, taken
     as a whole.

         (xvii) No action has been taken and no local, state or Federal law,
     statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, requirement, judgment or court decree
     has been

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
     enacted, adopted or issued by any governmental agency that prevents the
     issuance of the Shares or prevents or suspends the use of the Prospectus or
     the Registration Statement; no injunction, restraining order or other order
     or decree of any nature by a federal or state court of competent
     jurisdiction has been issued that prevents the issuance of the Shares or
     prevents or suspends the sale of the Shares in any jurisdiction referred to
     in Section 5(b) hereof; and every request of any securities authority or
     agency of any jurisdiction for additional information has been complied
     with in all material respects.

         (xviii) There is (i) no unfair labor practice complaint pending or
     threatened against the Company, any Subsidiary or any Joint Venture, before
     the National Labor Relations Board, any state or local labor relations
     board or any foreign labor relations board, and no significant grievance or
     significant arbitration proceeding arising out of or under any collective
     bargaining agreement is so pending or threatened against the Company, any
     Subsidiary or any Joint Venture, (ii) no significant strike, labor dispute,
     slowdown or stoppage pending or threatened against the Company, any
     Subsidiary or any Joint Venture and (iii) no union representation question
     existing with respect to the employees of the Company, any Subsidiary or
     any Joint Venture that, in the case of clauses (i), (ii) or (iii), could
     reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in a
     material adverse effect on the Company, the Subsidiaries and the Joint
     Ventures, taken as a whole.  To the best of the Company's knowledge, no
     collective bargaining organizing activities are taking place with respect
     to the Company, the Subsidiaries or the Joint Ventures.  None of the
     Company, any Subsidiary or any Joint Venture has violated (A) any federal,
     state or local law or foreign law relating to discrimination in hiring,
     promotion or pay of employees, (B) any applicable wage or hour laws or (C)
     any provision of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
     amended ("ERISA"), or the rules and regulations thereunder, which in the
     case of clause (A), (B) or (C) above could reasonably be expected,
     individually or in the aggregate, to result in a material adverse effect to
     the Company, any of its Subsidiaries and any of its Joint Ventures, taken
     as a whole.

         (xix)   None of the Company, any Subsidiary or any Joint Venture has
     violated any environmental, safety or similar law or regulation applicable
     to it or its business or property relating to the protection of human
     health and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic substances or
     wastes, pollutants or contaminants ("Environmental Laws"), lacks any
     permit, license or other approval required of it under applicable
     Environmental Laws is violating any term or condition of such permit,
     license or approval which could reasonably be expected to, either
     individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect, on the
     Company, the Subsidiaries and the Joint Ventures, taken as a whole.

         (xx)    Each of the Company, the Subsidiaries and the Joint Ventures 
     has (i) peaceful and undisturbed possession under all leases to which any
     of them is a party as lessee, (ii) all licenses, certificates, permits,
     authorizations, approvals, franchises and other rights from, and has made
     all declarations and filings with, all federal, state and local authorities
     (including, without limitation, the FCC), all self-regulatory authorities
     and all courts and other tribunals (each an "Authorization") necessary to
     engage in the business as presently conducted by any of them in the manner
     described in the Prospectus, except as described in the Prospectus or where
     failure to hold such

                                       7
<PAGE>
 
     Authorizations would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material
     adverse effect on the Company, the Subsidiaries and the Joint Ventures,
     taken as a whole and (iii) except as set forth in the Prospectus, no reason
     to believe that any governmental body or agency is considering limiting,
     suspending or revoking any such Authorization. Except where the failure to
     be in full force and effect would not have, individually or in the
     aggregate, a material adverse effect on the Company, the Subsidiaries and
     the Joint Ventures, taken as a whole, all such Authorizations are valid and
     in full force and effect and each of the Company, the Subsidiaries and the
     Joint Ventures is in compliance with the terms and conditions of all such
     Authorizations and with the rules and regulations of the regulatory
     authorities having jurisdiction with respect thereto.

         (xxi)  Each of the Company, the Subsidiaries and the Joint Ventures
     owns, possesses or has the right to employ all patents, patent rights,
     inventions, copyrights, know-how (including, without limitation, trade
     secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or
     confidential information, software, systems or procedures), trademarks,
     service marks and trade names, inventions, computer programs, technical
     data and information (collectively, the "Intellectual Property") presently
     employed by the Company, the Subsidiaries or the Joint Ventures in
     connection with the businesses now operated by it or which are proposed to
     be operated by the Company, the Subsidiaries or the Joint Ventures free and
     clear of and without violating any right, claimed right, charge,
     encumbrance, pledge, security interest, restriction or lien of any kind of
     any other person and none of the Company, any Subsidiary or any Joint
     Venture has received any notice of infringement of or conflict with
     asserted rights of others with respect to any of the foregoing except as
     could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have
     a material adverse effect on the Company, the Subsidiaries and the Joint
     Ventures, taken as a whole.  The use of the Intellectual Property in
     connection with the business and operations of the Company, the
     Subsidiaries and the Joint Ventures does not infringe on the rights of any
     person, except as would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a
     material adverse effect on the Company, the Subsidiaries and the Joint
     Ventures, taken as a whole.

         (xxii) None of the Company, any Subsidiary, any Joint Venture or any of
     their respective officers, directors, partners, employees, agents or
     affiliates or any other person acting on behalf of the Company, any
     Subsidiary or any Joint Venture, as the case may be, has, directly or
     indirectly, given or agreed to give any money, gift or similar benefit
     (other than legal price concessions to customers in the ordinary course of
     business) to any customer, supplier, employee or agent of a customer or
     supplier, official or employee of any governmental agency (domestic or
     foreign), instrumentality of any government (domestic or foreign) or any
     political party or candidate for office (domestic or foreign) or other
     person who was, is or may be in a position to help or hinder the business
     of the Company, any Subsidiary or any Joint Venture (or assist the Company,
     any Subsidiary or any Joint Venture in connection with any actual or
     proposed transaction) which (i) might subject the Company, any Subsidiary,
     or any other individual or entity to any damage or penalty in any civil,
     criminal or governmental litigation or proceeding (domestic or foreign),
     (ii) if not given in the past, could reasonably be expected to have had,
     individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on the assets,
     business or operations of the Company, any Subsidiary and any
     Joint Venture, taken as a whole or (iii) if not continued in the future,
     could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
     material adverse effect on the Company, any Subsidiary and any 

                                       8
<PAGE>
 
     Joint Venture, taken as a whole.

         (xxiii) All tax returns required to be filed by the Company, each of 
     the Subsidiaries and each of the Joint Ventures in all jurisdictions have
     been so filed. All taxes, including, without limitation, withholding taxes,
     penalties and interest, assessments, fees and other charges due or claimed
     to be due from such entities or that are due and payable have been paid,
     other than those being contested in good faith and for which adequate
     reserves have been provided or those currently payable without penalty or
     interest. There are no proposed additional tax assessments against the
     Company, any Subsidiary, any Joint Venture or the assets or property of the
     Company, any Subsidiary or any Joint Venture.

         (xxiv)  None of the Company, the Subsidiaries or the Joint Ventures is,
     or will be after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Shares (i)
     an "investment company" or a company "controlled" by an "investment
     company" within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
     amended (the "Investment Company Act"), or (ii) a "holding company" or a
     "subsidiary company" or an "affiliate" of a holding company within the
     meaning of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended (the
     "PUC Act").

         (xxv)   Except as set forth in the Prospectus, there are no holders of
     securities of the Company, the Subsidiaries or the Joint Ventures who, by
     reason of the execution by the Company of this Agreement or the
     International Underwriting Agreement or the consummation by the Company of
     the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, have the right to request
     or demand that the Company, any of the Subsidiaries or any of the Joint
     Ventures register any of its securities under the Act.

         (xxvi)  Each of the Company, the Subsidiaries and the Joint Ventures
     maintains a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide
     reasonable assurance that: (i) transactions are executed in accordance with
     management's general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are
     recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in
     conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain
     accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in
     accordance with management's general or specific authorization and (iv) the
     recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at
     reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect thereto.

         (xxvii) Each of the Company, the Subsidiaries and the Joint Ventures
     maintains insurance covering its properties, operations, personnel and
     businesses.  Such insurance insures against such losses and risks as are
     adequate in accordance with customary industry practice to protect the
     Company, the Subsidiaries, the Joint Ventures and their respective
     businesses.  None of the Company, any Subsidiary or any Joint Venture has
     received notice from any insurer or agent of such insurer that substantial
     capital improvements or other expenditures will have to be made in order to
     continue such insurance.  All such insurance is outstanding and duly in
     force.

         (xxviii) None of the Company, any Subsidiary or any Joint Venture has 
     (i) taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to, or that might
     reasonably be expected to, cause or result in stabilization or manipulation
     of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or
     resale of the Shares or (ii) since the date of the Preliminary Prospectus
     (A) sold, bid for, purchased or paid any person any compensation 

                                       9
<PAGE>
 
     for soliciting purchases of the Shares or (B) paid or agreed to pay to any
     person any compensation for soliciting another to purchase any other
     securities of the Company.

         (xxix)   Set forth on Schedule IV hereto is a list of each employee
     pension or benefit plan with respect to which the Company or any
     corporation considered an affiliate of the Company within the meaning of
     Section 407(d)(7) of ERISA (an "ERISA Affiliate") is a party in interest or
     disqualified person.

         (xxx)    Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is
     given in the Prospectus and up to the Closing Date, except as set forth in
     the Prospectus (i) none of the Company, any Subsidiary or any Joint Venture
     has incurred any liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent, which
     are material, individually or in the aggregate, to the Company, the
     Subsidiaries and the Joint Ventures, taken as a whole, nor entered into any
     transaction not in the ordinary course of business, (ii) there has been no
     dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company
     or its Subsidiaries on any class of capital stock and (iii) there has been
     no distribution of profits or return of capital contribution by any Joint
     Venture.

         (xxxi)   The accountants who have certified or will certify the 
     financial statements included or to be included as part of the Registration
     Statement and Prospectus are independent accountants. The historical
     financial statements of the Company and each of the Subsidiaries comply as
     to form in all material respects with the requirements applicable to
     registration statements on Form S-1 under the Act and present fairly in all
     material respects the financial position and results of operations of the
     Company and each of its Subsidiaries, at the respective dates and for the
     respective periods indicated. Such financial statements have been prepared
     in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a
     consistent basis throughout the periods presented. The other financial
     information and data included in the Registration Statement and the
     Prospectus, historical and pro forma, are accurately presented in all
     material respects and prepared on a basis consistent with the financial
     statements, historical and pro forma, included in the Registration
     Statement and the Prospectus and the books and records of the Company, each
     of its Subsidiaries and each of its Joint Ventures, as applicable. The
     statistical information and data included in the Prospectus are accurately
     presented in all material respects.

         (xxxii)  Except pursuant to this Agreement, there are no contracts,
     agreements or understandings between the Company, any of the Subsidiaries
     or any of the Joint Ventures and any other person that would give rise to a
     valid claim against the Company or any of the Underwriters for a brokerage
     commission, finder's fee or like payment in connection with the issuance,
     purchase and sale of the Shares.

         (xxxiii) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, there are no business
     relationships or related party transactions required to be disclosed
     therein pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K of the Commission.

             (b) The Selling Stockholder represents and warrants to, and agrees
with, each of the Underwriters and the Company that:

         (i)   All consents, approvals, authorizations and orders necessary for
     the execution and delivery by the Selling Stockholder of this Agreement,
     the International

                                      10
<PAGE>
 
     Underwriting Agreement, the Power of Attorney and the Custody Agreement
     hereinafter referred to, and for the sale and delivery of the Shares, if
     any, to be sold by the Selling Stockholder hereunder and under the
     International Underwriting Agreement, have been obtained except, where the
     failure to obtain any such consent, approval, authorization or order of, or
     filing, registration, qualification, license or permit could not reasonably
     be expected to result in a material adverse effect on the Selling
     Stockholder; and the Selling Stockholder has full right, power and
     authority to enter into this Agreement, the International Underwriting
     Agreement, the Power of Attorney and the Custody Agreement and to sell,
     assign, transfer and deliver the Shares, if any, to be sold by the Selling
     Stockholder hereunder and under the International Underwriting Agreement;

         (ii)  The sale of the Shares, if any, to be sold by the Selling
     Stockholder hereunder and under the International Underwriting Agreement
     and the compliance by the Selling Stockholder with all of the provisions of
     this Agreement, the International Underwriting Agreement, the Power of
     Attorney and the Custody Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
     herein and therein contemplated will not conflict with or result in a
     breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a
     default under, any statute, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan
     agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Selling Stockholder
     is a party or by which the Selling Stockholder is bound, or to which any of
     the property or assets of the Selling Stockholder is subject, nor will such
     action result in any violation of the provisions of the Certificate of
     Incorporation or By-laws of the Selling Stockholder or any statute or any
     order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body
     having jurisdiction over the Selling Stockholder or the property of the
     Selling Stockholder;

         (iii) The Selling Stockholder has, and immediately prior to such Time
     of Delivery (as defined in Section 4 hereof) the Selling Stockholder will
     have, good and valid title to the Shares, if any, to be sold by the Selling
     Stockholder hereunder and under the International Underwriting Agreement,
     free and clear of all security interests, liens or other encumbrances; and,
     upon delivery of such Shares, if any, and payment therefor pursuant hereto
     and thereto, good and valid title to such Shares, free and clear of all
     security interests, liens or other encumbrances, will pass to the several
     Underwriters or the International Underwriters, as the case may be;

         (iv)  The Selling Stockholder (A) has been duly incorporated and is
     validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of its
     jurisdiction of incorporation, (B) has all requisite power and authority
     (corporate and other) to own its properties and conduct its business as
     described in the Prospectus and to enter into this Agreement and the
     International Underwriting Agreement, and (C) has been duly qualified as a
     foreign corporation for the transaction of business and is in good standing
     under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases
     properties or conducts any business so as to require such qualification, or
     is subject to no material liability or disability by reason of the failure
     to be so qualified in any such jurisdiction;

         (v)   The Selling Stockholder has not taken and will not take, directly
     or indirectly, any action which is designed to or which has constituted or
     which might reasonably be expected to cause or result in stabilization or
     manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the
     sale or resale of the Shares;

         (vi)  To the extent that any statements or omissions made in the

                                      11
<PAGE>
 
     Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any
     amendment or supplement thereto are made in reliance upon and in conformity
     with written information furnished to the Company by the Selling
     Stockholder expressly for use therein, such Preliminary Prospectus and the
     Registration Statement did, and the Prospectus and any further amendments
     or supplements to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, when they
     become effective or are filed with the Commission, as the case may be, will
     conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the
     rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and will not contain any
     untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
     required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
     not misleading;

         (vii)  In order to document the Underwriters' compliance with the
     reporting and withholding provisions of the Tax Equity and Fiscal
     Responsibility Act of 1982 with respect to the transactions herein
     contemplated, the Selling Stockholder will deliver to you prior to or at
     the Time of Delivery (as hereinafter defined) a properly completed and
     executed United States Treasury Department Form W-9 (or other applicable
     form or statement specified by Treasury Department regulations in lieu
     thereof);

         (viii) Certificates in negotiable form representing all of the Shares
     to be sold by the Selling Stockholder hereunder and under the International
     Underwriting Agreement have been placed in custody under a Custody
     Agreement, in the form heretofore furnished to you (the "Custody
     Agreement"), duly executed and delivered by the Selling Stockholder to
     Buchanan Ingersoll, as custodian (the "Custodian"), and the Selling
     Stockholder has duly executed and delivered a Power of Attorney, in the
     form heretofore furnished to you (the "Power of Attorney"), appointing
     Daniel Milliard as the Selling Stockholder's attorney-in-fact (the
     "Attorney-in-Fact") with authority to execute and deliver this Agreement
     and the International Underwriting Agreement on behalf of the Selling
     Stockholder, to determine the purchase price to be paid by the Underwriters
     and the International Underwriters to the Selling Stockholder as provided
     in Section 2 hereof, to authorize the delivery of the Shares, if any, to be
     sold by the Selling Stockholder hereunder and otherwise to act on behalf of
     the Selling Stockholder in connection with the transactions contemplated by
     this Agreement, the International Underwriting Agreement and the Custody
     Agreement; and

         (ix)  The Shares represented by the certificates held in custody for
     the Selling Stockholder under the Custody Agreement are subject to the
     interests of the Underwriters hereunder and the International Underwriters
     under the International Underwriting Agreement; the arrangements made by
     the Selling Stockholder for such custody, and the appointment by the
     Selling Stockholder of the Attorneys-in-Fact by the Power of Attorney, are
     to that extent irrevocable; the obligations of the Selling Stockholder
     hereunder shall not be terminated by operation of law, whether by the
     dissolution of the corporation, or by the occurrence of any other event; if
     the corporation should be dissolved, or if any other such event should
     occur, before the delivery of the Shares hereunder, certificates
     representing the Shares, if any, shall be delivered by or on behalf of the
     Selling Stockholder in accordance with the terms and conditions of this
     Agreement, of the International Underwriting Agreement and of the Custody
     Agreements; and actions taken by the Attorneys-in-Fact pursuant to the
     Powers of Attorney shall be as valid as if such dissolution or other event
     had not occurred, regardless of whether or


                                      12
<PAGE>
 
     not the Custodian, the Attorneys-in-Fact, or any of them, shall have
     received notice of such dissolution or other event.

     2.  Subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, (a) the
Company agrees to sell to each of the Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters
agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at a purchase
price per share of $......................, the number of Firm Shares set forth
opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto and (b) in the event
and to the extent that the Underwriters shall exercise the election to purchase
Optional Shares as provided below, the Selling Stockholder and the Company, as
the case may be, agree to sell to each of the Underwriters, and each of the
Underwriters agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Selling
Stockholder and the Company, as the case may be, at the purchase price per share
set forth in clause (a) of this Section 2, that portion of the number of
Optional Shares as to which such election shall have been exercised (to be
adjusted by you so as to eliminate fractional shares) determined by multiplying
such number of Optional Shares by a fraction the numerator of which is the
maximum number of Optional Shares which such Underwriter is entitled to purchase
as set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto and the
denominator of which is the maximum number of Optional Shares that all of the
Underwriters are entitled to purchase hereunder.

     The Selling Stockholder hereby grants to Underwriters the right to 
purchase, at the Underwriters' election, up to ........... Optional Shares, at
the purchase price per share set forth in the paragraph above; provided, that,
subject to the Selling Stockholder's compliance with the procedure set forth in
the following sentence, the Selling Stockholder shall have the right to elect
not to sell such Optional Shares; provided, further that, in the event that the
Selling Stockholder elects not to sell such Optional Shares, the Company hereby
grants to the Underwriters the right to purchase at such Underwriters' election
that portion of Optional Shares that the Selling Stockholder elects not to sell,
at the purchase price per share set forth in the paragraph above. In the event
that the Selling Stockholder elects not to sell Optional Shares, the Selling
Stockholder shall notify Goldman, Sachs & Co. of such election within 24 hours
of such Selling Stockholder's receipt of notice of the Underwriter's election to
purchase Optional Shares. The Underwriters' election to purchase Optional Shares
may be exercised only by written notice from you to both the Company and the
Attorney-in-Fact, given within a period of 30 calendar days after the date of
this Agreement and setting forth the aggregate number of Optional Shares to be
purchased and the date on which such Optional Shares are to be delivered, as
determined by you but in no event earlier than the First Time of Delivery (as
defined in Section 4 hereof) or, unless you and the Company and the Attorney-in-
Fact otherwise agree in writing, earlier than two or later than ten business
days after the date of such notice.

     3. Upon the authorization by you of the release of the Firm Shares, the
several Underwriters propose to offer the Firm Shares for sale upon the terms
and conditions set forth in the Prospectus.

     4. (a) The Shares to be purchased by each Underwriter hereunder, in
definitive form, and in such authorized denominations and registered in such
names as Goldman, Sachs & Co. may request upon at least forty-eight hours' prior
notice to the Company and, in the case of the sale of Optional Shares by the
Selling Stockholder, the Selling Stockholder shall be delivered by or on behalf
of the Company and, in the case of the sale of Optional Shares by the Selling
Stockholder, the Selling Stockholder to Goldman, Sachs & Co., through the
facilities of The

                                      13
<PAGE>
 
Depository Trust Company ("DTC"), for the account of such Underwriter, against
payment by or on behalf of such Underwriter of the purchase price therefor by
same day funds and, in the case of the sale of Optional Shares by the Selling
Stockholder, the Custodian and the Selling Stockholder, by same day funds. The
Company will cause the certificates representing the Shares to be made available
for checking and packaging at least twenty-four hours prior to the Time of
Delivery (as defined below) with respect thereto at the office of Goldman, Sachs
& Co., 85 Broad Street, New York, New York 10004 (the "Designated Office"). The
time and date of such delivery and payment shall be, with respect to the Firm
Shares, 9:30 a.m., New York City time, on ............., 1996 or on such other
time and date as Goldman, Sachs & Co. and the Company may agree upon in writing
and, with respect to the Optional Shares, 9:30 a.m., New York City time, on the
date specified by Goldman, Sachs & Co. in the written notice given by Goldman,
Sachs & Co. of the Underwriters' election to purchase such Optional Shares, or
such other time and date as Goldman, Sachs & Co., the Company and, in the case
of the sale of Optional Shares by the Selling Stockholder, the Selling
Stockholder may agree upon in writing. Such time and date for delivery of the
Firm Shares is herein called the "First Time of Delivery", such time and date
for delivery of the Optional Shares, if not the First Time of Delivery, is
herein called the "Second Time of Delivery", and each such time and date for
delivery is herein called a "Time of Delivery".

         (b) The documents to be delivered at each Time of Delivery by or on 
behalf of the parties hereto pursuant to Section 7 hereof, including the cross-
receipt for the Shares and any additional documents requested by the
Underwriters pursuant to Section 7(m) hereof, will be delivered at the offices
of Latham & Watkins, 885 Third Avenue, New York, New York, 10022-4802 (the
"Closing Location"), and the Shares will be delivered at the Designated Office,
all at each Time of Delivery. A meeting will be held at the Closing Location at
2:00 p.m., New York City time, on the New York Business Day next preceding each
Time of Delivery, at which meeting the final drafts of the documents to be
delivered pursuant to the preceding sentence will be available for review by the
parties hereto. For the purposes of this Section 4, "New York Business Day"
shall mean each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a
day on which banking institutions in New York are generally authorized or
obligated by law or executive order to close.

     5.   The Company agrees with each of the Underwriters:

         (a) To prepare the Prospectus in a form approved by you and to file 
     such Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act not later than the
     Commission's close of business on the second business day following the
     execution and delivery of this Agreement, or, if applicable, such earlier
     time as may be required by Rule 430A(a)(3) under the Act; to make no
     further amendment or any supplement to the Registration Statement or
     Prospectus which shall be disapproved by you promptly after reasonable
     notice thereof; to advise you, promptly after it receives notice thereof,
     of the time when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed
     or becomes effective or any supplement to the Prospectus or any amended
     Prospectus has been filed and to furnish you copies thereof; to advise you,
     promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the issuance by the
     Commission of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the
     use of any Preliminary Prospectus or prospectus, of the suspension of the

                                      14
<PAGE>
 
     qualification of the Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, of
     the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose, or of
     any request by the Commission for the amending or supplementing of the
     Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information; and, in
     the event of the issuance of any stop order or of any order preventing or
     suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or prospectus or
     suspending any such qualification, promptly to use its best efforts to
     obtain the withdrawal of such order;

        (b)  Promptly from time to time to take such action as you may 
     reasonably request to qualify the Shares for offering and sale under the
     securities laws of such jurisdictions as you may request and to comply with
     such laws so as to permit the continuance of sales and dealings therein in
     such jurisdictions for as long as may be necessary to complete the
     distribution of the Shares, provided that in connection therewith the
     Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to
     file a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction;

        (c)  Prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the New York Business
     Day next succeeding the date of this Agreement and from time to time, to
     furnish the Underwriters with copies of the Prospectus in New York City in
     such quantities as you may reasonably request, and, if the delivery of a
     prospectus is required at any time prior to the expiration of nine months
     after the time of issue of the Prospectus in connection with the offering
     or sale of the Shares and if at such time any events shall have occurred as
     a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would
     include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
     material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the
     light of the circumstances under which they were made when such Prospectus
     is delivered, not misleading, or, if for any other reason it shall be
     necessary during such period to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order
     to comply with the Act, to notify you and upon your request to prepare and
     furnish without charge to each Underwriter and to any dealer in securities
     as many copies as you may from time to time reasonably request of an
     amended Prospectus or a supplement to the Prospectus which will correct
     such statement or omission or effect such compliance, and in case any
     Underwriter is required to deliver a prospectus in connection with sales of
     any of the Shares at any time nine months or more after the time of issue
     of the Prospectus, upon your request but at the expense of such
     Underwriter, to prepare and deliver to such Underwriter as many copies as
     you may request of an amended or supplemented Prospectus complying with
     Section 10(a)(3) of the Act;

        (d)  To make generally available to its securityholders as soon as
     practicable, but in any event not later than eighteen months after the
     effective date of the Registration Statement (as defined in Rule 158(c)
     under the Act), an earnings statement of the Company and its subsidiaries
     (which need not be audited) complying with Section 11(a) of the Act and the
     rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (including, at the
     option of the Company, Rule 158);

        (e)  During the period beginning from the date hereof and continuing to
     and including the date 180 days after the date of the Prospectus, not to,
     directly or indirectly, offer, sell, grant any option to purchase or
     otherwise dispose (or approve any offer, sale, grant or other disposition),
     except as provided hereunder and under the International Underwriting
     Agreement, the Shares or any securities of the Company that are
     substantially similar to the Shares, including but not limited to any
     securities that are

                                      15
<PAGE>
 
     convertible into or exchangeable for, or that represent the right to
     receive, Stock or any such substantially similar securities (other than, as
     described in the Prospectus, pursuant to the 1996 Long Term Compensation
     Plan, the exercise of warrants existing on, or upon the conversion or
     exchange of convertible or exchangeable securities outstanding as of, the
     date of this Agreement or private transactions with an Affiliate of
     Adelphia), without your prior written consent. For purposes of this
     subsection (e), an "Affiliate" of a specified person shall mean a person
     that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or
     is controlled by, or is under common control with, the person specified;

        (f)  To furnish to its securityholders as soon as practicable after the
     end of each fiscal year an annual report (including a balance sheet and
     statements of income, stockholders' equity and cash flows of the Company
     and its consolidated subsidiaries certified by independent public
     accountants) and, as soon as practicable after the end of each of the first
     three quarters of each fiscal year (beginning with the fiscal quarter
     ending after the effective date of the Registration Statement),
     consolidated summary financial information of the Company and its
     subsidiaries for such quarter in reasonable detail;

        (g)  During a period of five years from the effective date of the
     Registration Statement, to furnish to you copies of all reports or other
     communications (financial or other) furnished to stockholders, and to
     deliver to you (i) as soon as they are available, copies of any reports and
     financial statements furnished to or filed with the Commission or any
     national securities exchange on which any class of securities of the
     Company is listed; and (ii) such additional information concerning the
     business and financial condition of the Company as you may from time to
     time reasonably request (such financial statements to be on a consolidated
     basis to the extent the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries are
     consolidated in reports furnished to its stockholders generally or to the
     Commission);

        (h)  To use the net proceeds received by it from the sale of the Shares
     pursuant to this Agreement and the International Underwriting Agreement in
     the manner specified in the Prospectus under the caption "Use of Proceeds";

        (i)  To use its best efforts to list, subject to notice of issuance, the
     Shares on the Nasdaq National Market;
  
        (j)  To file with the Commission such reports on Form SR as may be
     required by Rule 463 under the Act; and

        (k)  If the Company elects to rely upon Rule 462(b), the Company shall
     file a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement with the Commission in compliance
     with Rule 462(b) by 10:00 P.M. Washington D.C. time, on the date of this
     Agreement, the Company shall at the time of filing either pay to the
     Commission the filing fee for the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement or
     give irrevocable instructions for the payment of such fee pursuant to Rule
     111(b) under the Act.

     6.  (a) The Company covenants and agrees with the several Underwriters that
(a) the Company will pay or cause to be paid the following: (i) the fees,
disbursements and expenses of the Company's counsel and accountants in
connection with the registration of the Shares

                                      16
<PAGE>
 
under the Act and all other expenses in connection with the preparation,
printing and filing of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus
and the Prospectus and amendments and supplements thereto and the mailing and
delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers; (ii) the cost of
printing or producing any Agreement among Underwriters, this Agreement, the
International Underwriting Agreement, the Agreement between Syndicates, the
Selling Agreements, the Blue Sky Memorandum, closing documents (including any
compilations thereof) and any other documents in connection with the offering,
purchase, sale and delivery of the Shares; (iii) all expenses in connection with
the qualification of the Shares for offering and sale under state securities
laws as provided in Section 5(b) hereof, including, without limitation, the
reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection
with such qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky surveys; (iv) all
fees and expenses in connection with listing the Shares on the Nasdaq National
Market; (v) the filing fees incident to, and the reasonable fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with, securing any
required review by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD")
of the terms of the sale of the Shares; (vi) the cost of preparing stock
certificates; (vii) the cost and charges of any transfer agent or registrar; and
(viii) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of its
obligations hereunder which are not otherwise specifically provided for in this
Section; and (b) the Selling Stockholder will pay or cause to be paid all costs
and expenses incident to the performance of such Selling Stockholder's
obligations hereunder which are not otherwise specifically provided for in this
Section, including (i) any fees and expenses of counsel for such Selling
Stockholder, (ii) the fees and expenses of the Attorneys-in-Fact and the
Custodian and (iii) all expenses and taxes incident to the sale and delivery of
the Shares to be sold by such Selling Stockholder to the Underwriters hereunder.
In connection with Clause (b)(iii) of the preceding sentence, Goldman, Sachs &
Co. agrees to pay New York State stock transfer tax, and the Selling Stockholder
agrees to reimburse Goldman, Sachs & Co. for associated carrying costs if such
tax payment is not rebated on the day of payment and for any portion of such tax
payment not rebated. It is understood, however, that the Company shall bear, and
the Selling Stockholder shall not be required to pay or to reimburse the Company
for, the cost of any other matters not directly relating to the sale and
purchase of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement, and that, except as provided
in this Section, and Sections 8 and 11 hereof, the Underwriters will pay all of
their own costs and expenses, including the fees of their counsel, stock
transfer taxes on resale of any of the Shares by them, and any advertising
expenses connected with any offers they may make.

     7.  The obligations of the Underwriters hereunder, as to the Shares to be
delivered at each Time of Delivery, shall be subject, in their discretion, to
the condition that all representations and warranties and other statements of
the Company and of the Selling Stockholder herein are, at and as of such Time of
Delivery, true and correct, the condition that the Company and the Selling
Stockholder shall have performed all of its and their obligations hereunder
theretofore to be performed, and the following additional conditions:

         (a) The Prospectus shall have been filed with the Commission pursuant 
     to Rule 424(b) within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing
     by the rules and regulations under the Act and in accordance with Section
     5(a) hereof; if the Company has elected to rely upon Rule 462(b), the Rule
     462(b) Registration Statement shall have become effective by 10:00 P.M.
     Washington, D.C. time, on the date of this Agreement; no stop order
     suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part
     thereof shall have been issued and no proceeding for that purpose shall
     have been initiated or threatened by the Commission; and all requests for
     additional information on

                                      17
<PAGE>
 
     the part of the Commission shall have been complied with to your reasonable
     satisfaction;

         (b) Latham & Watkins, counsel for the Underwriters, shall have 
     furnished to you such opinion or opinions (a draft of each such opinion is
     attached as Annex II(a) hereto), dated such Time of Delivery, with respect
     to the matters covered in paragraphs (i), (ii), (vii), (xi) and (xiii) of
     subsection (c) below as well as such other related matters as you may
     reasonably request, and such counsel shall have received such papers and
     information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such
     matters;

         (c) Buchanan Ingersoll, counsel for the Company, shall have furnished 
     to you their written opinion (a draft of each such opinion is attached as
     Annex II(b) hereto), dated such Time of Delivery, in form and substance
     satisfactory to you, to the effect that:

             (i)   The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly 
         existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the
         Delaware, with corporate power and corporate authority to own its
         properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus;

             (ii)  The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth 
         in the Prospectus, and all of the issued shares of capital stock of the
         Company (including the Shares being delivered at such Time of Delivery)
         have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and
         non-assessable and were not issued in violation of preemptive rights;
         and the Shares conform to the description of the Stock contained in the
         Prospectus;

             (iii) The Company has been duly qualified as a foreign corporation
         for the transaction of business and is in good standing under the laws
         of each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases properties or
         conducts any business so as to require such qualification, or is
         subject to no material liability or disability, the effect of which
         would be materially adverse to the Company, the Subsidiaries and the
         Joint Ventures, taken as a whole, by reason of failure to be so
         qualified in any such jurisdiction;

             (iv)  Each of the Subsidiaries has been duly formed or 
         incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing
         under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation; all of the issued
         shares of capital stock of each such Subsidiary have been duly and
         validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and
         were not issued in violation of preemptive rights, and, are owned of
         record directly or indirectly by the Company, to the best of such
         counsel's knowledge, free and clear of all security interests, liens or
         other encumbrances.

             (v)   Each of the Joint Ventures has been duly formed or 
         incorporated as a corporation, general partnership or limited
         partnership under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or
         formation, as applicable, and has all requisite corporate or
         partnership power and authority to own its properties and conduct is
         business as described in the Prospectus, and is duly qualified as a
         foreign corporation, general partnership or limited partnership, as
         applicable, in each jurisdiction in which it owns or leases properties
         or conducts any business so as to require such qualification, or is
         subject to no material liability or disability, the effect of which
         would be materially adverse to the Company, the Subsidiaries and the
         Joint Ventures, taken as a whole, by reason

                                      18
<PAGE>
 
         of failure to be so qualified in any such jurisdiction. Each Joint
         Venture that is a corporation or a limited partnership is validly
         existing as a corporation or limited partnership, as applicable, and is
         in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction or formation, as
         applicable. All of the limited partnership interests owned by each
         Subsidiary have been duly authorized and validly issued and, except as
         set forth in the Prospectus, all of such limited partnership interests
         are owned of record by each respective Subsidiary, and are, to the best
         of such counsel's knowledge, owned free and clear of any security
         interest, lien or other encumbrance;

             (vi)  Except with regard to matters addressed by the counsel 
         retained by the Company to deliver the opinions set forth in Sections
         7(d) and (e) (the "Local and Regulatory Opinions") (as to which such
         counsel is not required to express an opinion), to the best of such
         counsel's knowledge and other than as set forth in the Prospectus,
         there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending, threatened or
         contemplated to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party
         or of which any property of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is
         the subject which, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its
         Subsidiaries, would individually or in the aggregate have a material
         adverse effect on the current consolidated financial position,
         stockholders' equity or results of operations of the Company, the
         Subsidiaries and the Joint Ventures, taken as a whole.

             (vii) This Agreement and the International Underwriting Agreement 
         have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company;

             (viii) The issue and sale of the Shares being delivered at such 
         Time of Delivery to be sold by the Company and the compliance by the
         Company with all of the provisions of this Agreement and the
         International Underwriting Agreement and the consummation of the
         transactions herein and therein contemplated will not conflict with or
         result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of,
         or constitute a default under, (i) any indenture, mortgage, deed of
         trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument known to such
         counsel to which the Company, any of the Subsidiaries or Joint Ventures
         is a party or by which the Company, any of the Subsidiaries or Joint
         Ventures is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the
         Company, any of its Subsidiaries or Joint Ventures is subject and
         identified to such counsel as material (assuming for purposes of such
         opinion that all of such agreements are governed by Pennsylvania law),
         (ii) the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of
         the Company or (iii) any statute or any order, rule or regulation known
         to such counsel of any court or governmental agency or body having
         jurisdiction over the Company, the Subsidiaries or the Joint Ventures
         or any of their properties except as to the clauses (i) and (iii) in
         cases in which such violation, breach or default would not have a
         material adverse effect on the Company, the Subsidiaries and the Joint
         Ventures, taken as a whole (such counsel shall be entitled to state
         that is expressing no opinion with respect to state or foreign
         securities or blue sky laws in connection with the purchase and
         distribution of the shares by the Underwriters and the International
         Underwriters);

             (ix)  No consent, approval, authorization, order, filing, 
         registration or qualification of or with any such court or governmental
         agency or body is required for the issue and sale of the Shares or the
         consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this
         Agreement and the International Underwriting Agreement, except the
         registration under the Act of the Shares, and such consents, approvals,

                                      19
<PAGE>
 
         authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be required
         under state or foreign securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with
         the purchase and distribution of the Shares by the Underwriters and the
         International Underwriters;

             (x)   None of the Company, the Subsidiaries or the Joint Ventures 
         is in violation of its Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws, or
         certificate of formation or similar document, as the case may be, or in
         default in the performance or observance of any material obligation,
         agreement, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage,
         deed of trust, loan agreement, lease or other agreement or instrument
         to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties may be
         bound;

             (xi)  The statements set forth in the Prospectus under the caption
         "Description of Capital Stock", insofar as they purport to constitute a
         summary of the terms of the Stock, under the caption Certain United
         States Tax Consequences to Non-United States Holders", under the
         caption "Certain Relationships and Transactions," insofar as they
         purport to summarize the terms of documents, and under the caption
         "Underwriting" (insofar as such statements describe this Agreement and
         the International Underwriting Agreement), insofar as they purport to
         describe the provisions of the laws and documents referred to therein,
         are accurate, complete and fair, in all material respects;

             (xii) The Company is not an "investment company" or an entity
         "controlled" by an "investment company", as such terms are defined in
         the Investment Company Act; and

             (xiii) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any 
         further amendments and supplements thereto made by the Company prior to
         such Time of Delivery (other than the financial statements (including
         the notes thereto) and related schedules therein and financial data, as
         to which such counsel need express no opinion) comply as to form in all
         material respects with the requirements of the Act and the rules and
         regulations thereunder; although they do not assume any responsibility
         for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained
         in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, except for those
         referred to in the opinion in subsection (xi) of this Section 7(c), no
         facts have come to their attention which have given them a reason to
         believe that, as of its effective date, the Registration Statement or
         any further amendment thereto made by the Company prior to such Time of
         Delivery (other than the financial statements (including the notes
         thereto) and related schedules therein and financial data, as to which
         such counsel need express no opinion) contained an untrue statement of
         a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be
         stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
         misleading or that, as of its date, the Prospectus or any further
         amendment or supplement thereto made by the Company prior to such Time
         of Delivery (other than the financial statements (including the notes
         thereto) and related schedules therein and financial data, as to which
         such counsel need express no opinion) contained an untrue statement of
         a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary to make
         the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which
         they were made, not misleading or that, as of such Time of Delivery,
         either the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any further
         amendment or supplement thereto made by the Company prior to such Time
         of Delivery (other than the financial statements (including the notes
         thereto) and related schedules therein and financial data, as to which
         such counsel need express no opinion) contains an untrue

                                      20
<PAGE>
 
         statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact
         necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
         circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and they do
         not know of any amendment to the Registration Statement required to be
         filed or of any contracts or other documents of a character required to
         be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or required to be
         incorporated by reference into the Prospectus or required to be
         described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which are not
         filed or incorporated by reference or described as required.

     In rendering such opinion, such counsel may state that they express no
opinion as to (i) any compliance by the Company, the Subsidiaries and the Joint
Ventures with any statute, rule, regulation, order or other requirement dealing
with the regulation of telecommunications or with the terms or provisions of any
Authorization, as to which counsel may state that it is its understanding that
the U.S. Underwriters and International Underwriters are relying upon the
opinions of Local Counsel being delivered pursuant to this Agreement and the
International Underwriting Agreement and (ii) the laws of any jurisdiction
outside the United States;

     (d) Dow Lohnes & Albertson, special regulatory counsel for the Company,
shall have furnished to you their written opinion (a draft of such opinion is
attached as Annex II(c) hereto), dated such Time of Delivery, in form and
substance satisfactory to you, to the effect that:

         (i)   Each of the Company, the Subsidiaries and the Joint Ventures has
     all of the licenses, permits and authorizations, if any, required by the
     FCC and the State Regulatory Agencies for the provision of
     telecommunications services except where the failure to obtain or hold such
     license, permit or authority would not have a material adverse effect on
     the Company, the Subsidiaries and the Joint Ventures, taken as a whole.

         (ii)  Neither the Company, any Subsidiaries nor any Joint Ventures is
     subject to any pending complaint or investigation before the FCC or, to the
     best knowledge of counsel, to any threatened complaint or investigation
     before the FCC, or, any pending or threatened complaint or investigation
     before any State Regulatory Agencies based on any alleged violation by the
     Company, the Subsidiaries or the Joint Ventures in connection with their
     provision of or failure to provide telecommunications services.

         (iii) The statements in the Prospectus under the headings "Risk Factors
     - Regulation" and "Business - Government Regulation" are fair accurate and
     complete summaries of the matters therein described.

         (iv)  The Company, the Subsidiaries and the Joint Ventures have the
     consents, approvals, authorizations, licenses, certificates, permits, or
     orders of the FCC or any State Regulatory Agency, if any, for the
     consummation of the transactions contemplated in the Purchase Agreement
     except where the failure to obtain the consents, approvals, authorizations,
     licenses, certificates, permits or orders would not have a Material Adverse
     Effect on the Company, the Subsidiaries and the Joint Ventures, taken as a
     whole.

         (v)   Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the sale
     of the

                                      21
<PAGE>
 
     Shares contemplated hereby will conflict with or result in a violation of
     any order or regulation of the FCC or any State Regulatory Agency
     applicable to the Company, its Subsidiaries or the Joint Ventures except
     where the conflict with or the violation of which would not have a material
     adverse impact on the Company, the Subsidiaries and the Joint Ventures,
     taken as a whole.

     (e)  Each of Pennington, Culpepper, Moore, Wilkinson, Dunbar & Dunlap, P.A.
(Florida), Roland, Fogel, Koblenz & Carr (New York), Sonneschein, Nath &
Rosenthal (Missouri), Downs Rachlin & Martin (Vermont), and Gullett Sanford
Robinson & Martin (Tennessee), each of whom are special state regulatory counsel
for the Company for their respective states, shall have furnished to you their
written opinion (a draft of each such opinion is attached as Annex II(d)-(h)
hereto), dated as of such Time of Delivery, in form and substance satisfactory
to you, to the effect that, with respect to each of the Company's Subsidiaries
or Joint Ventures, as the case may be, that are located in their respective
states:

         (i)   Each of the Subsidiaries and Joint Ventures, as the case may be, 
     has all of the licenses, permits and authorizations, if any, required by
     the FCC and the State Regulatory Agencies for the provision of
     telecommunications services except where the failure to obtain or hold such
     license, permit or authority would not have a material adverse effect on
     the Company, the Subsidiaries and the Joint Ventures, taken as a whole.

         (ii)  Neither any of the Subsidiaries nor any of the Joint Ventures, as
     the case may be, is subject to any pending complaint or investigation
     before the FCC or, to the best knowledge of counsel, to any threatened
     complaint or investigation before the FCC, or, any pending or threatened
     complaint or investigation before any state regulatory agencies based  on
     any alleged violation by the Company, the Subsidiaries or the Joint
     Ventures in connection with their provision of or failure to provide
     telecommunications services.

         (iii) The statements in the Prospectus under the headings "Risk Factors
     - Regulation" and "Business - Government Regulation" are fair, accurate and
     complete summaries of the matters therein described.

         (iv)  Each of the Subsidiaries and the Joint Ventures, as the case may
     be, have the consents, approvals, authorizations, licenses, certificates,
     permits, or orders of the FCC or any state regulatory agency, if any, for
     the consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement except
     where the failure to obtain the consents, approvals, authorizations,
     licenses, certificates, permits or orders would not have a material adverse
     effect on the Company, the Subsidiaries and the Joint Ventures, taken as a
     whole.

         (v)   Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the sale
     of the Shares contemplated hereby will conflict with or result in a
     violation of any order or regulation of the FCC or any state regulatory
     agency applicable to the Company, its Subsidiaries or the Joint Ventures
     except where the conflict with or the violation of which would not have a
     material adverse impact on the Company, the Subsidiaries and the Joint
     Ventures, taken as a whole.

                                      22
<PAGE>
 
     (f) In the event that the Selling Stockholder sells Optional Shares,
counsel for the Selling Stockholder, shall have furnished to you their written
opinion (a draft of each such opinion is attached as Annex II(i) hereto) with
respect to the Selling Stockholder for whom they are acting as counsel, dated
such Time of Delivery, in form and substance satisfactory to you, to the effect
that:
         (i)   A Power of Attorney and a Custody Agreement have been duly
     executed and delivered by the Selling Stockholder and constitute valid and
     binding agreements of the Selling Stockholder in accordance with their
     terms;

         (ii)  This Agreement and the International Underwriting Agreement
     have been duly executed and delivered by or on behalf of the Selling
     Stockholder; and the sale of the Shares to be sold by the Selling
     Stockholder hereunder and thereunder and the compliance by the Selling
     Stockholder with all of the provisions of this Agreement and the
     International Underwriting Agreement, the Power of Attorney and the Custody
     Agreement and the consummation of the transactions herein and therein
     contemplated will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of
     any terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any statute,
     indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or
     instrument known to such counsel to which the Selling Stockholder is a
     party or by which the Selling Stockholder is bound, or to which any of the
     property or assets of the Selling Stockholder is subject, nor will such
     action result in any violation of the provisions of the Certificate of
     Incorporation or By-laws of the Selling Stockholder if the Selling
     Stockholder is a corporation or any order, rule or regulation known to such
     counsel of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction
     over the Selling Stockholder or the property of the Selling Stockholder;

         (iii) No consent, approval, authorization or order of any court or
     governmental agency or body is required for the consummation of the
     transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the International
     Underwriting Agreement in connection with the Shares to be sold by the
     Selling Stockholder hereunder or thereunder, except which have been duly
     obtained and are in full force and effect, such as have been obtained under
     the Act and such as may be required under state or foreign securities or
     Blue Sky laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of such
     Shares by the Underwriters or the International Underwriters;

         (iv)  Immediately prior to such Time of Delivery the Selling
     Stockholder had good and valid title to the Shares to be sold at such Time
     of Delivery by the Selling Stockholder under this Agreement and the
     International Underwriting Agreement, free and clear of all security
     interests, liens or other encumbrances, and full right, power and authority
     to sell, assign, transfer and deliver the Shares to be sold by the Selling
     Stockholder hereunder and thereunder; and

         (v)   Good and valid title to such Shares, free and clear of all
     security interests, liens or other encumbrances, has been transferred to
     each of the several Underwriters or International Underwriters, as the case
     may be, who have purchased such Shares in good faith and without notice of
     any such lien, encumbrance, equity or claim or any other adverse claim
     within the meaning of the Uniform Commercial Code.

     In rendering such opinion, such counsel may state that they express no
opinion as to the

                                      23
<PAGE>
 
laws of any jurisdiction outside the United States and in rendering the opinion
in subparagraph (iv) such counsel may rely upon a certificate of such Selling
Stockholder in respect of matters of fact as to ownership of, and security
interests, liens or other encumbrances on the Shares sold by such Selling
Stockholder, provided that such counsel shall state that they believe that both
you and they are justified in relying upon such certificate;


     (g) On the date of the Prospectus at a time prior to the execution of
this Agreement, at 9:30 a.m., New York City time, on the effective date of any
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement filed subsequent to the
date of this Agreement and also at such Time of Delivery, Deloitte & Touch, LLP
shall have furnished to you a letter or letters, dated the respective dates of
delivery thereof, in form and substance satisfactory to you, to the effect set
forth in Annex I hereto (the executed copy of the letter delivered prior to the
execution of this Agreement is attached as Annex I(a) hereto and a draft of the
form of letter to be delivered on the effective date of any post effective
amendment to the Registration Statement and as of each Time of Delivery is
attached as Annex I(b) hereto);

     (h) (i) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries shall have
sustained since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in
the Prospectus any loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion,
flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor
dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, otherwise than as set
forth or contemplated in the Prospectus, and (ii) since the respective dates as
of which information is given in the Prospectus there shall not have been any
change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company, any of its
Subsidiaries or any of its Joint Ventures or any change, or any development
involving a prospective change, in or affecting the general affairs, management,
financial position, stockholders' or partners' equity or results of operations
of the Company, its Subsidiaries and the Joint Ventures, otherwise than as set
forth or contemplated in the Prospectus, the effect of which, in any such case
described in Clause (i) or (ii), is in the judgment of the Representatives so
material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with
the public offering or the delivery of the Shares being delivered at such Time
of Delivery on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus;

    (i)  On or after the date hereof (i) no downgrading shall have occurred
in the rating accorded the Company's debt securities or preferred stock by any
"nationally recognized statistical rating organization", as that term is defined
by the Commission for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Act, and (ii) no such
organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or
review, with possible negative implications, its rating of any of the Company's
debt securities or the Company's preferred stock;

     (j) On or after the date hereof there shall not have occurred any of
the following: (i) a suspension or material limitation in trading in securities
generally on the New York Stock Exchange or on the Nasdaq National Market; (ii)
a suspension or material limitation in trading in the Company's securities on
the Nasdaq National Market; (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking
activities declared by either Federal or New York State authorities; (iv) the
outbreak or escalation of hostilities involving the United States or the
declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war, if the effect
of any such event specified in this Clause (iv) in the judgment of the
Representatives makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public
offering or the delivery of the Shares being delivered at such Time of Delivery
on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus; (v) a material
adverse change in general economic, political or financial conditions in the
United States, or the effect

                                      24
<PAGE>
 
of international conditions on the financial markets in the United States, that
in the opinion of the Underwriters, makes it inadvisable or impracticable to
proceed with the delivery of the Stock as contemplated hereby; or (vi) any
domestic or international event or act or occurrence has materially disrupted,
or in the opinion of the Underwriters, will in the immediate future, materially
disrupt, the market for the Company's securities or for securities in general;

     (k) The Shares to be sold by the Company and the Selling Stockholder,
if any, at such Time of Delivery shall have been duly listed, subject to notice
of issuance, on the Nasdaq National Market;

     (l) The Company has obtained and delivered to the Underwriters executed
copies of an agreement from the stockholders of the Company set forth on
Schedule V to the effect set forth in Section 5(e) hereof in form and substance
satisfactory to you;

     (m) The Company and the Selling Stockholder shall have furnished or
caused to be furnished to you at such Time of Delivery certificates of officers
of the Company and of the Selling Stockholder, respectively, satisfactory to you
as to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company and the
Selling Stockholder, respectively, herein at and as of such Time of Delivery, as
to the performance by the Company and the Selling Stockholder of all of their
respective obligations hereunder to be performed at or prior to such Time of
Delivery, and as to such other matters as you may reasonably request, and the
Company shall have furnished or caused to be furnished certificates as to the
matters set forth in subsections (a) and (h) of this Section, and as to such
other matters as you may reasonably request; and

     (n) The Company shall have complied with the provisions of Section 5(c)
hereof with respect to the furnishing of prospectuses on the New York Business
Day next succeeding the date of this Agreement.
 
    8.   (a)  The Company, each of the Subsidiaries, and, in the case of the
sale of Optional Shares by the Selling Stockholder and to the extent set forth
in this Section 8, the Selling Stockholder, jointly and severally, will
indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter against any losses, claims, damages
or liabilities, joint or several, to which such Underwriter may become subject,
under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or any
amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission
or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and will
reimburse each Underwriter for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred
by such Underwriter in connection with investigating or defending any such
action or claim as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the
Company, the Subsidiaries, and the Selling Stockholder shall not be liable in
any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability
arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
or omission or alleged omission made in any Preliminary Prospectus, the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any such amendment or supplement in
reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the
Company by any Underwriter through Goldman, Sachs & Co. expressly for use
therein; provided, further that the liability of the Selling Stockholder
pursuant to this subsection (a) shall not exceed the product of the number of
Shares sold by such Selling Stockholder hereunder and the initial public
offering price of the Shares set forth in the Prospectus.

                                      25
<PAGE>
 
         (b) Each Underwriter will indemnify and hold harmless the Company and,
in the case of the sale of Optional Shares by the Selling Stockholder, the
Selling Stockholder against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or
several, to which the Company or such Selling Stockholder may become subject,
under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or any
amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission
or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case
to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in any Preliminary
Prospectus, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any such amendment
or supplement in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
furnished to the Company by such Underwriter through Goldman, Sachs & Co.
expressly for use therein; and will reimburse the Company and the Selling
Stockholder for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company
or such Selling Stockholder in connection with investigating or defending any
such action or claim as such expenses are incurred.

         (c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection (a)
or (b) above of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party
shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party
under such subsection, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the
commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party shall
not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party
otherwise than under such subsection. In case any such action shall be brought
against any indemnified party and it shall notify the indemnifying party of the
commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate
therein and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other
indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with
counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party (which shall not, except with the
consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and,
after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its
election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be
liable to such indemnified party under such subsection for any legal expenses of
other counsel or any other expenses, in each case subsequently incurred by such
indemnified party, in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable
costs of investigation. No indemnifying party shall, without the written consent
of the indemnified party, effect the settlement or compromise of, or consent to
the entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action or
claim in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought
hereunder (whether or not the indemnified party is an actual or potential party
to such action or claim) unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (i)
includes an unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability
arising out of such action or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to
or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of
any indemnified party.

         (d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is
unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under
subsection (a) or (b) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each
indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such
indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or
actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the
relative benefits received by the Company and the Selling Stockholder on the one
hand and the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the

                                      26
<PAGE>
 
Shares. If, however, the allocation provided by the immediately preceding
sentence is not permitted by applicable law or if the indemnified party failed
to give the notice required under subsection (c) above, then each indemnifying
party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such indemnified party
in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits
but also the relative fault of the Company and the Selling Stockholder on the
one hand and the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or
omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or
actions in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company and the Selling
Stockholder on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to
be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering of the
Shares purchased under this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by
the Company and the Selling Stockholder bear to the total underwriting discounts
and commissions received by the Underwriters with respect to the Shares
purchased under this Agreement, in each case as set forth in the table on the
cover page of the Prospectus. The relative fault shall be determined by
reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact
relates to information supplied by the Company or the Selling Stockholder on the
one hand or the Underwriters on the other and the parties' relative intent,
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such
statement or omission. The Company, the Selling Stockholder and the Underwriters
agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this
subsection (d) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters
were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of
allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred
to above in this subsection (d). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified
party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in
respect thereof) referred to above in this subsection (d) shall be deemed to
include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified
party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), no Underwriter shall be
required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total
price at which the Shares underwritten by it and distributed to the public were
offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter
has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission and the Selling Stockholder shall not
be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount equal to the
product of the number of Optional Shares sold by the Selling Stockholder and the
initial public offering price of the Shares set forth in the Prospectus. No
person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section
11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters' obligations in
this subsection (d) to contribute are several in proportion to their respective
underwriting obligations and not joint.

         (e) The obligations of the Company and the Selling Stockholder under
this Section 8 shall be in addition to any liability which the Company and the
respective Selling Stockholder may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the
same terms and conditions, to each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter
within the meaning of the Act; and the obligations of the Underwriters under
this Section 8 shall be in addition to any liability which the respective
Underwriters may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and
conditions, to each officer and director of the Company (including any person
who, with his or her consent, is named in the Registration Statement as about to
become a director of the Company) and to each person, if any, who controls the
Company or any Selling Stockholder within the meaning of the

                                      27
<PAGE>
 
Act.

    9.   (a)  If any Underwriter shall default in its obligation to purchase the
Shares which it has agreed to purchase hereunder at a Time of Delivery, you may
in your discretion arrange for you or another party or other parties to purchase
such Shares on the terms contained herein.  If within thirty-six hours after
such default by any Underwriter you do not arrange for the purchase of such
Shares, then the Company and, in the case of the sale of Optional Shares by the
Selling Stockholder, the Selling Stockholder, shall be entitled to a further
period of thirty-six hours within which to procure another party or other
parties satisfactory to you to purchase such Shares on such terms.  In the event
that, within the respective prescribed periods, you notify the Company and, in
the case of the sale of Optional Shares by the Selling Stockholder, the Selling
Stockholder that you have so arranged for the purchase of such Shares, or the
Company and, in the case of the sale of Optional Shares by the Selling
Stockholder, the Selling Stockholder notify you that they have so arranged for
the purchase of such Shares, you or the Company and, in the case of the sale of
Optional Shares by the Selling Stockholder, the Selling Stockholder shall have
the right to postpone such Time of Delivery for a period of not more than seven
days, in order to effect whatever changes may thereby be made necessary in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or in any other documents or
arrangements, and the Company agrees to file promptly any amendments to the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus which in your opinion may thereby be
made necessary.  The term "Underwriter" as used in this Agreement shall include
any person substituted under this Section with like effect as if such person had
originally been a party to this Agreement with respect to such Shares.

    (b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the
Shares of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by you and the Company and,
in the case of the sale of Optional Shares by the Selling Stockholder, the
Selling Stockholder as provided in subsection (a) above, the aggregate number of
such Shares which remains unpurchased does not exceed one-eleventh of the
aggregate number of all of the Shares to be purchased at such Time of Delivery,
then the Company and, in the case of the sale of Optional Shares by the Selling
Stockholder, the Selling Stockholder shall have the right to require each non-
defaulting Underwriter to purchase the number of Shares which such Underwriter
agreed to purchase hereunder at such Time of Delivery and, in addition, to
require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase its pro rata share (based on
the number of Shares which such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder) of the
Shares of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such
arrangements have not been made; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting
Underwriter from liability for its default.

    (c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the
Shares of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by you and the Company and,
in the case of the sale of Optional Shares by the Selling Stockholder, the
Selling Stockholder as provided in subsection (a) above, the aggregate number of
such Shares which remains unpurchased exceeds one-eleventh of the aggregate
number of all of the Shares to be purchased at such Time of Delivery, or if the
Company and, in the case of the sale of Optional Shares by the Selling
Stockholder, the Selling Stockholder shall not exercise the right described in
subsection (b) above to require non-defaulting Underwriters to purchase Shares
of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters, then this Agreement or, with
respect to the Second Time of Delivery, the obligations of the Underwriters to
purchase and of the Company and the Selling Stockholder to sell the Optional
Shares) shall thereupon terminate, without liability on the part of any non-
defaulting Underwriter or the Company or the Selling Stockholder, except for the
expenses to be borne by the Company

                                      28
<PAGE>
 
and the Selling Stockholder and the Underwriters as provided in Section 6 hereof
and the indemnity and contribution agreements in Section 8 hereof; but nothing
herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.

    10.  The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and
other statements of the Company, the Selling Stockholder and the several
Underwriters, as set forth in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of them,
respectively, pursuant to this Agreement, shall remain in full force and effect,
regardless of any investigation (or any statement as to the results thereof)
made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any controlling person of any
Underwriter, or the Company, or any of the Selling Stockholder, or any officer
or director or controlling person of the Company, or any controlling person of
any Selling Stockholder, and shall survive delivery of and payment for the
Shares.

    11.  If this Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to Section 9 hereof,
neither the Company nor the Selling Stockholder shall then be under any
liability to any Underwriter except as provided in Sections 6 and 8 hereof; but,
if for any other reason any Shares are not delivered by or on behalf of the
Company and the Selling Stockholder, as provided herein, the Company and the
Selling Stockholder, pro rata (based on the number of Shares to be sold by the
Company and the Selling Stockholder hereunder) will reimburse the Underwriters
through you for all out-of-pocket expenses approved in writing by you, including
fees and disbursements of counsel, reasonably incurred by the Underwriters in
making preparations for the purchase, sale and delivery of the Shares not so
delivered, but the Company and the Selling Stockholder, only to the extent that
such Selling Stockholder is selling Shares hereunder, shall then be under no
further liability to any Underwriter in respect of the Shares not so delivered
except as provided in Sections 6 and 8 hereof.

    12.  In all dealings hereunder, you shall act on behalf of each of the
Underwriters, and the parties hereto shall be entitled to act and rely upon any
statement, request, notice or agreement on behalf of any Underwriter made or
given by you jointly or by Goldman, Sachs & Co. on behalf of you as the
representatives; and in all dealings with the Selling Stockholder hereunder, you
and the Company shall be entitled to act and rely upon any statement, request,
notice or agreement on behalf of the Selling Stockholder made or given by any or
all of the Attorneys-in-Fact for the Selling Stockholder.

    All statements, requests, notices and agreements hereunder shall be in
writing, and if to the Underwriters shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or
facsimile transmission to you as the representatives in care of Goldman, Sachs
&. Co., 85 Broad Street, New York, New York 10004, Attention: Registration
Department; if to any Selling Stockholder shall be delivered or sent by mail,
telex or facsimile transmission to counsel for the Selling Stockholder at 5 West
Third Street, Coudersport, PA 16915, Attention: Timothy J. Rigas; and if to the
Company shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to
the address of the Company set forth in the Registration Statement, Attention:
President; provided, however, that any notice to an Underwriter pursuant to
Section 8 (c) hereof shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile
transmission to such Underwriter at its address set forth in its Underwriters'
Questionnaire or telex constituting such Questionnaire, which address will be
supplied to the Company or the Selling Stockholder by you upon request.  Any
such statements, requests, notices or agreements shall take effect upon receipt
thereof.

    13.  This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure solely to the benefit
of, the Underwriters, the Company and the Selling Stockholder and, to the extent
provided in Sections

                                      29
<PAGE>
 
8 and 10 hereof, the officers and directors of the Company and each person who
controls the Company, any Selling Stockholder or any Underwriter, and their
respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, and no
other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this
Agreement. No purchaser of any of the Shares from any Underwriter shall be
deemed a successor or assign by reason merely of such purchase.

    14.  Time shall be of the essence of this Agreement.  As used herein, the
term "business day" shall mean any day when the Commission's office in
Washington, D.C. is open for business.

    15.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
the laws of the State of New York.

    16.  This Agreement may be executed by any one or more of the parties hereto
in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original,
but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

                                      30
<PAGE>
 
     If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and
return to us one for the Company and for each of the Representatives plus one
for each counsel counterparts hereof, and upon the acceptance hereof by you, on
behalf of each of the Underwriters, this letter and such acceptance hereof shall
constitute a binding agreement among each of the Underwriters, the Company and
the Selling Stockholder.  It is understood that your acceptance of this letter
on behalf of each of the Underwriters is pursuant to the authority set forth in
a form of Agreement among Underwriters (U.S. Version), the form of which shall
be submitted to the Company and the Selling Stockholder for examination upon
request, but without warranty on your part as to the authority of the signers
thereof.

                              Very truly yours,
                              Hyperion Telecommunications, Inc.
                              By: .........................................
                                  Name:
                                  Title:


                              Adelphia Communications Corporation
                              (as Selling Stockholder)

                              By: .........................................
                                 Name:
                                 Title:



Accepted as of the date hereof:

Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.
Lazard Freres & Co. LLC
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
              Incorporated


By: ..................................
        (Goldman, Sachs & Co.)

On behalf of each of the Underwriters

                                      31
<PAGE>
 
                                   SCHEDULE I
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          Number of Optional
                                                             Shares to be
                                         Total Number of     Purchased if
                                           Firm Shares      Maximum Option
              Underwriter                to be Purchased      Exercised
              -----------
<S>                                      <C>              <C>
Goldman, Sachs & Co. ...................
Bear, Stearns & Co.
 
Lazard Freres & Co. LLC ................
 
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
         Incorporated ..................

Names of other Underwriters ............
              Total ....................
</TABLE>

                                      32
<PAGE>
 
                                  SCHEDULE II

                                  Subsidiaries

Hyperion Enhanced Networks of Virginia, Inc.

Hyperion Telecommunications of Florida, Inc.

Hyperion Telecommunications of Kansas, Inc.

Hyperion Telecommunications of Kentucky, Inc.

Hyperion Telecommunications of Massachusetts, Inc.

Hyperion Telecommunications of Michigan, Inc.

Hyperion Telecommunications of New Jersey, Inc.

Hyperion Telecommunications of New York, Inc.

Hyperion Telecommunications of North Carolina, Inc.

Hyperion Telecommunications of Ohio, Inc.

Hyperion Telecommunications of Pennsylvania, Inc.

Hyperion Telecommunications of South Carolina, Inc.

Hyperion Telecommunications of Tennessee, Inc.

Hyperion Telecommunications of Vermont, Inc.

Hyperion Telecommunications of Virginia, Inc.


                                      33
<PAGE>
 
                                  SCHEDULE III

                                 Joint Ventures

Alternet of Virginia

AVR of Tennessee, L.P., d/b/a Hyperion of Tennessee, L.P.

Continental Fiber Technologies, Inc.

Hyperion Telecommunications of Harrisburg

Louisville Lightwave

Multimedia Hyperion Telecommunications

NewChannels Hyperion Telecommunications of New York

New Jersey Fiber Technologies

NHT Partnership

PECO Hyperion Telecommunications

Susquehanna Hyperion Telecommunications

                                      34
<PAGE>
 
                                  SCHEDULE IV

                   List of Employee Pension and Benefit Plans
                      of Hyperion Telecommunications, Inc.
                               and its Affiliates


Adelphia Communications Corporation Employee Benefit Plan

Adelphia Communications Corporation 401(k) Savings and Protection 
Profit Sharing Plan

Hyperion Telecommunications, Inc. 1996 Long Term Compensation Plan

                                      35
<PAGE>
 
                                   SCHEDULE V

               List of stockholders subject to Lock-Up Agreements

Adelphia Communications Corporation
Charles R. Drenning
Paul D. Fajerski
Randolph S. Fowler

                                      36
<PAGE>
 
                                                                         ANNEX I
                         DESCRIPTION OF COMFORT LETTER
                    FOR REGISTRATION STATEMENTS ON FORM S-1

  Pursuant to Section 7(g) of the Underwriting Agreement, the accountants shall
furnish letters to the Underwriters to the effect that:

       (i) They are independent certified public accountants with respect to the
     Company and its subsidiaries within the meaning of the Act and the
     applicable published rules and regulations thereunder;

       (ii) In their opinion, the financial statements and any supplementary
     financial information and schedules (and, if applicable, financial
     forecasts and/or pro forma financial information) examined by them and
     included in the Prospectus or the Registration Statement comply as to form
     in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the
     Act and the related published rules and regulations thereunder; and, if
     applicable, they have made a review in accordance with standards
     established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants of
     the unaudited consolidated interim financial statements, selected financial
     data, pro forma financial information, financial forecasts and/or condensed
     financial statements derived from audited financial statements of the
     Company for the periods specified in such letter, as indicated in their
     reports thereon, copies of which have been separately furnished to the
     representatives of the Underwriters (the "Representatives");

       (iii)  They have made a review in accordance with standards established
     by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants of the unaudited
     condensed consolidated statements of income, consolidated balance sheets
     and consolidated statements of cash flows included in the Prospectus; and
     on the basis of specified procedures including inquiries of officials of
     the Company who have responsibility for financial and accounting matters
     regarding whether the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements
     referred to in paragraph (vi)(A)(i) below comply as to form in all material
     respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the
     related published rules and regulations, nothing came to their attention
     that caused them to believe that the unaudited condensed consolidated
     financial statements do not comply as to form in all material respects with
     the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the related published
     rules and regulations;

       (iv) The unaudited selected financial information with respect to the
     consolidated results of operations and financial position of the Company
     for the three most recent fiscal years included in the Prospectus agrees
     with the corresponding amounts (after restatements where applicable) in the
     audited consolidated financial statements for such three fiscal years which
     were included or incorporated by reference in the Company's Annual Reports
     on Form 10-K for such fiscal years;

                                       1
<PAGE>
 
       (v) They have compared the information in the Prospectus under selected
     captions with the disclosure requirements of Regulation S-K and on the
     basis of limited procedures specified in such letter nothing came to their
     attention as a result of the foregoing procedures that caused them to
     believe that this information does not conform in all material respects
     with the disclosure requirements of Items 301, 302, 402 and 503(d),
     respectively, of Regulation S-K;

       (vi) On the basis of limited procedures, not constituting an examination
     in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, consisting of a
     reading of the unaudited financial statements and other information
     referred to below, a reading of the latest available interim financial
     statements of the Company and its subsidiaries, inspection of the minute
     books of the Company and its subsidiaries since the date of the latest
     audited financial statements included in the Prospectus, inquiries of
     officials of the Company and its subsidiaries responsible for financial and
     accounting matters and such other inquiries and procedures as may be
     specified in such letter, nothing came to their attention that caused them
     to believe that:

           (A) (i) the unaudited consolidated statements of income, consolidated
         balance sheets and consolidated statements of cash flows included in
         the Prospectus do not comply as to form in all material respects with
         the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the related
         published rules and regulations, or (ii) any material modifications
         should be made to the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of
         income, consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of cash
         flows included in the Prospectus for them to be in conformity with
         generally accepted accounting principles;

           (B) any other unaudited income statement data and balance sheet items
         included in the Prospectus do not agree with the corresponding items in
         the unaudited consolidated financial statements from which such data
         and items were derived, and any such unaudited data and items were not
         determined on a basis substantially consistent with the basis for the
         corresponding amounts in the audited consolidated financial statements
         included in the Prospectus;

           (C) the unaudited financial statements which were not included in the
         Prospectus but from which were derived any unaudited condensed
         financial statements referred to in Clause (A) and any unaudited income
         statement data and balance sheet items included in the Prospectus and
         referred to in Clause (B) were not determined on a basis substantially
         consistent with the basis for the audited consolidated financial
         statements included in the Prospectus;

           (D) any unaudited pro forma consolidated condensed financial
         statements included in the Prospectus do not comply as to form in all
         material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the
         Act and

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
         the published rules and regulations thereunder or the pro forma
         adjustments have not been properly applied to the historical amounts in
         the compilation of those statements;
         
         (E) as of a specified date not more than five days prior to the date
         of such letter, there have been any changes in the consolidated capital
         stock (other than issuances of capital stock upon exercise of options
         and stock appreciation rights, upon earn-outs of performance shares and
         upon conversions of convertible securities, in each case which were
         outstanding on the date of the latest financial statements included in
         the Prospectus) or any increase in the consolidated long-term debt of
         the Company and its subsidiaries, or any decreases in consolidated net
         current assets or stockholders' equity or other items specified by the
         Representatives, or any increases in any items specified by the
         Representatives, in each case as compared with amounts shown in the
         latest balance sheet included in the Prospectus, except in each case
         for changes, increases or decreases which the Prospectus discloses have
         occurred or may occur or which are described in such letter; and

           (F) for the period from the date of the latest financial statements
         included in the Prospectus to the specified date referred to in Clause
         (E) there were any increases or decreases in consolidated net revenues
         or operating profit or the total or per share amounts of consolidated
         net income or other items specified by the Representatives, or any
         increases in any items specified by the Representatives, in each case
         as compared with the comparable period of the preceding year and with
         any other period of corresponding length specified by the
         Representatives, except in each case for decreases or increases which
         the Prospectus discloses have occurred or may occur or which are
         described in such letter; and

       (vii)  In addition to the examination referred to in their report(s)
     included in the Prospectus and the limited procedures, inspection of minute
     books, inquiries and other procedures referred to in paragraphs (iii) and
     (vi) above, they have carried out certain specified procedures, not
     constituting an examination in accordance with generally accepted auditing
     standards, with respect to certain amounts, percentages and financial
     information specified by the Representatives, which are derived from the
     general accounting records of the Company and its subsidiaries, which
     appear in the Prospectus, or in Part II of, or in exhibits and schedules
     to, the Registration Statement specified by the Representatives, and have
     compared certain of such amounts, percentages and financial information
     with the accounting records of the Company and its subsidiaries and have
     found them to be in agreement.

                                       3

<PAGE>
 
                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1

          [Letterhead of Buchanan Ingersoll Professional Corporation]

                               One Oxford Centre
                         301 Grant Street, 20th Floor
                           Pittsburgh, PA 15219-1410
                            Telephone: 412-562-8800
                               Fax: 412-562-1041

                                October 29, 1996



Hyperion Telecommunications, Inc.
5 West Third Street, P.O. Box 472
Coudersport, PA  16915

     Re:  Hyperion Telecommunications, Inc. Initial Public Offering of
          ------------------------------------------------------------
          18,975,000 Shares of Class A Common Stock
          -----------------------------------------

Dear Sirs:
- ----------

     We have acted as counsel to Hyperion Telecommunications, Inc., a Delaware
Corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the initial public offering of
up to 18,975,000 shares of the Company's Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01
per share (the "Class A Common Stock"), including up to 2,475,000 shares of
Class A Common Stock which may be issued by the Company solely to cover over-
allotments, pursuant to the terms of a U.S. Underwriting Agreement (the "U.S.
Underwriting Agreement") proposed to be entered into by and among the Company
and Goldman, Sachs & Co., Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., Lazard Freres & Co. LLC and
Merrill Lynch & Co., as representatives of the underwriters, and an
International Underwriting Agreement (the "International Underwriting
Agreement") proposed to be entered into by and among the Company and Goldman
Sachs International, Bear, Stearns International Limited, Lazard Capital Markets
and Merrill Lynch International, as representatives of the underwriters;  the
U.S. Underwriting Agreement and the International Underwriting Agreement,
together shall be known as the "Underwriting Agreements")

     In connection with the proposed public offering, we have examined the
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, the Bylaws of
the Company, as amended, the relevant corporate proceedings of the Company, the
Registration Statement on Form S-1 covering the proposed public offering (the
"Registration Statement"), the Underwriting Agreements (including the U.S.
Underwriting Agreement in the form filed as Exhibit 1.1 to the Registration
Statement), and such other documents, records, certificates of public officials,
statutes and decisions as we considered necessary to express the opinions
contained herein.  In the examination of such documents, we have assumed the
genuiness of all signatures and the authenticity of all documents submitted to
us as originals and the conformity to the original documents of all documents
submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies.

        Pittsburgh [ ] Harrisburg [ ] Philadelphia [ ] Miami [ ] Tampa

                      Lexington [ ] Princeton [ ] Buffalo
<PAGE>
 
October 29, 1996
Page -2-

     We understand that the shares of Class A Common Stock are to offered and
sold in the manner described in the Prospectus which is a part of the
Registration Statement.

     Based on the foregoing and assuming the due execution and delivery of the
Underwriting Agreements, we are of the opinion that when the Registration
Statement shall have been declared effective by order of the Securities and
Exchange Commission, and when the shares of Class A Common Stock have been duly
executed, issued and delivered pursuant to the terms of the Underwriting
Agreements, the shares of Class A Common Stock will be validly issued, fully-
paid and non-assessable.

     We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the reference to us in the Prospectus under the
heading "Legal Matters."

                                           Very truly yours,

                                           BUCHANAN INGERSOLL
                                           PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION


                                           By: /s/ Carl E. Rothenberger, Jr.

<PAGE>
 
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.17
                       Hyperion Telecommunications, Inc.


                   1996 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN

Section 1.    Establishment.  There is hereby established the Hyperion
Telecommunications, Inc. 1996 Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan (hereinafter
called the "Plan") pursuant to which directors, officers, employees and
consultants of Hyperion Telecommunications, Inc. ("Hyperion"), or any parent or
subsidiary of Hyperion (hereinafter collectively called the "Company") who are
mainly responsible for its continued growth and development and future financial
success may be granted options to purchase shares of Common Stock of the
Hyperion (as defined in Section 5 below), stock appreciation rights ("SARs")
and/or may receive awards of shares of Common Stock or stock equivalent units in
order to secure to the Company the advantage of the incentive and sense of
proprietorship inherent in stock ownership by such persons, to reward such
persons for services previously performed and/or as an added inducement to
continue to provide service to the Company.

Section 2.    Duration.  Incentive Stock Options (as hereinafter defined) under
this Plan may be granted only within the ten-year period beginning on the date
on which the Plan is adopted by the stockholders.  Any Incentive Stock Options
outstanding after the expiration of such ten-year period may be exercised within
the periods prescribed by Section 8.

Section 3.    Administration.  The Plan shall be administered by the full Board
of Directors of Hyperion or one or more committees of such Board of Directors
(the "Plan Administrator"). Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Plan
Administrator is authorized to construe the Plan and any award under the Plan,
to amend awards and to adopt such rules and regulations and to take such action
in the administration of the Plan as it shall deem proper.  The determination of
the Plan Administrator or any and all such matters shall be conclusive.

Section 4.    Eligibility.  Directors, officers, employees and consultants of
the Company who, in the opinion of the Plan Administrator, are mainly
responsible for the continued growth and development and future financial
success of the business shall be eligible to participate in the Plan.  The Plan
Administrator shall, in its sole discretion, from time to time, select from such
eligible persons those to whom options or SARs shall be granted or shares or
stock equivalent units awarded and determine the number of shares to be included
in such option, SAR or award.  No participant shall have any right to receive an
option, SAR, share award or stock equivalent unit except as the Plan
Administrator in its discretion shall determine.  The terms "subsidiary" and
"parent" where used in the Plan or in any stock option agreement entered into
under the Plan means a "subsidiary corporation" and a "parent corporation,"
respectively, as such terms are defined in Section 424 of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as it may be amended from time to time (the "Code").

Section 5.    Shares Subject to the Plan.  The initial number of shares of stock
which may be issued pursuant to the Plan shall be 1,750,000 shares of the common
stock, par value $.01 per
 
                                    -2- 
<PAGE>
 
share, of the Hyperion (the "Common Stock"). The number of shares of Common
Stock which may be issued under the Plan shall be increased on the last day of
each fiscal year by a number of shares equal to one percent (1%) of the number
of outstanding shares of common stock (all classes) on such date; provided,
however, that: (a) in the event that the Hyperion effects a recapitalization of
its Common Stock into two or more classes in connection with Hyperion's initial
public offering of equity (the "IPO"), then, notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained in this Plan (including Section 13 herein) or in any
outstanding option, SAR, share award or stock equivalent agreement, the Common
Stock subject to and to be issued pursuant to this Plan and pursuant to any
outstanding option, SAR, share award or stock equivalent unit issued under this
Plan shall be the same class of common stock that is offered to the public in
the IPO and listed for trading on an exchange or on the Nasdaq Stock Market; (b)
the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued pursuant to the Plan is
subject to adjustment as provided in Section 13; (c) to the extent that (i)
options or SARs granted under the Plan shall expire or terminate without being
exercised, (ii) shares are returned to the Plan in payment of the exercise price
of an option or for any tax obligation as permitted by this Plan and any
relevant option agreement, or (iii) shares or stock equivalent units awarded
under the Plan shall be forfeited, such shares shall remain available or again
become eligible for purposes of the Plan and (d) the maximum number of shares of
Common Stock which may be issued under the Plan shall be 2,500,000 (subject to
adjustment as provided in Section 13). To the extent that an SAR is granted in
conjunction with an option, the shares covered by such SAR and option shall be
counted only once. Common Stock to be issued under the Plan may be either
authorized and unissued shares or shares held in treasury by Hyperion.

Section 6.    Types of Options.  Options granted pursuant to the Plan may be
either options which are incentive stock options under Section 422 of the Code
(hereinafter called "Incentive Stock Options") or other options (hereinafter
called "Nonstatutory Stock Options").  Incentive Stock Options and Nonstatutory
Stock Options shall be granted separately hereunder.  The Plan Administrator, in
its discretion, shall determine whether and to what extent options shall be
granted under the Plan and whether such options granted shall be Incentive Stock
Options or Nonstatutory Stock Options.  The provisions of the Plan and any stock
option agreement pursuant to which Incentive Stock Options shall be issued shall
be construed in a manner consistent with Section 422 of the Code (or any
successor provision) and rules and regulations promulgated or proposed
thereunder.

Section 7.    Stock Appreciation Rights.  The Plan Administrator may, from time
to time, subject to the provisions of the Plan, grant SARs to eligible
participants.  Such SARs may be granted (i) alone, (ii) simultaneously with the
grant of an option (either an Incentive Stock Option or Nonstatutory Stock
Option) and in conjunction therewith or in the alternative thereto or (iii)
subsequent to the grant of a Nonstatutory Stock Option and in conjunction
therewith or in the alternative thereto.
 
(a)  An SAR shall entitle the holder upon exercise thereof to receive from
     Hyperion, upon a written request filed with the Secretary of Hyperion at
     its principal offices (the "Request"), (i) a number of shares of Common
     Stock (with or without restrictions as to substantial risk of forfeiture
     and transferability, as determined by the
 
                                    -3- 
<PAGE>
 
     Plan Administrator in its sole discretion), (ii) an amount of cash, or
     (iii) any combination of shares of Common Stock and cash, as specified in
     the Request (but subject to the approval of the Plan Administrator in its
     sole discretion, at any time up to and including the time of payment, as to
     the making of any cash payment), having an aggregate fair market value
     equal to the product of (i) the excess of the fair market value, on the day
     of such Request, of one share of Common Stock over the exercise price per
     share specified in such SAR or its related option, multiplied by (ii) the
     number of shares of Common Stock for which such SAR shall be exercised.
 
(b)  The exercise price of an SAR granted alone shall be determined by the Plan
     Administrator.  An SAR granted simultaneously with or subsequent to the
     grant of an option and in conjunction therewith or in the alternative
     thereto shall have the same exercise price as the related option, shall be
     transferable only upon the same terms and conditions as the related option,
     and shall be exercisable only to the same extent as the related Option;
     provided, however, that an SAR, by its terms, shall be exercisable only
     -----------------
     when the fair market value of the Common Stock subject to the SAR and
     related option exceeds the exercise price thereof.
 
(c)  Upon exercise of an SAR granted simultaneously with or subsequent to an
     option and in the alternative thereto, the number of shares of Common Stock
     for which the related option shall be exercisable shall be reduced by the
     number of shares of Common Stock for which the SAR shall have been
     exercised.  The number of shares of Common Stock for which an SAR shall be
     exercisable shall be reduced upon any exercise of a related option by the
     number of shares of Common Stock for which such option shall have been
     exercised.
 
(d)  Any SAR shall be exercisable upon such additional terms and conditions as
     may be prescribed by the Plan Administrator.
 
(e)  Any election by a holder of an SAR to receive cash in full or partial
     settlement of such SAR, and any exercise of such SAR for cash, may be made
     only by a Request filed with the Secretary.  Within thirty (30) days of the
     receipt by the Secretary of a Request to receive cash in full or partial
     settlement of an SAR or to exercise such SAR for cash, the Plan
     Administrator shall, in its sole discretion, either consent to or
     disapprove, in whole or in part, such Request.  A Request to receive cash
     in full or partial settlement of an SAR may provide that, in the event the
     Plan Administrator shall disapprove such Request, such Request shall be
     deemed to be an exercise of such SAR for shares of Common Stock.
 
(f)  If the Committee disapproves in whole or in part any election by a holder
     to receive cash in full or partial settlement of an SAR or to exercise such
     SAR for cash, such disapproval shall not affect such holder's right to
     exercise such SAR at a later date, to the extent that such SAR shall be
     otherwise exercisable, or to elect the form of payment at a later date,
     provided that an election to receive cash upon such later exercise shall be
     subject to the approval of the Plan Administrator.  Additionally, such
     disapproval
 
                                     -4- 
<PAGE>
 
     shall not affect such holder's right to exercise any related option or
     options granted to such holder under the Plan.

Section 8.    Terms of Options and SARs.  Each option or SAR granted under the
Plan shall be evidenced by an agreement between Hyperion and the person to whom
such option or SAR is granted and shall be subject to the following terms and
conditions:
 
(a)  Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 13 of this Plan, the price at
     which each share covered by an option may be purchased shall be determined
     in each case by the Plan Administrator; provided, however, that such price
     shall not, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, be less than the fair
     market value thereof at the time the option is granted.  If an optionee
     owns (or is deemed to own under applicable provisions of the Code and rules
     and regulations promulgated thereunder) more than ten percent (10%) of the
     combined voting power of all classes of the stock of the Company and an
     option granted to such optionee is intended to qualify as an Incentive
     Stock Option, the option price shall be no less than 110% of the fair
     market value of the Common Stock covered by the option on the date the
     option is granted.
 
(b)  The aggregate fair market value of shares of Common Stock with respect to
     which Incentive Stock Options are first exercisable by the optionee in any
     calendar year (under all plans of the Company) shall not exceed the
     limitations, if any, imposed by Section 422(d) of the Code (or any
     successor provision).  If any option designated as an Incentive Stock
     Option, either alone or in conjunction with any other option or options,
     exceeds the foregoing limitation, the portion of such option in excess of
     such limitation shall automatically be reclassified (in whole share
     increments and without fractional share portions) as a Nonstatutory Stock
     Option, with later granted options being so reclassified first.
 
(c)  Neither an option nor an SAR shall be transferable by the participant
     otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or
     pursuant to a domestic relations order.  After the death of the
     participant, the option or SAR may be transferred to Hyperion upon such
     terms and conditions, if any, as the Plan Administrator and the personal
     representative or other person entitled to the option or SAR may agree
     within the period specified in subsection 8(d)(iii) hereof.
 
(d)  An option or SAR may be exercised in whole at any time, or in part from
     time to time, within such period or periods (not to exceed ten years from
     the granting of the option in the case of an Incentive Stock Option) as may
     be determined by the Plan Administrator and set forth in the agreement
     (such period or periods being hereinafter referred to as the "option
     period"), provided that, unless the agreement provides otherwise:
 
     (i)  If a participant who is an employee of the Company shall cease to be
          employed by the Company, all options and SARs may be exercised only
          within three months after the termination of employment and within
          the option period or, if such termination was due to disability or
          retirement (as hereinafter defined),
 
                                      -5-
<PAGE>
 
          within one year after termination of employment and within the option
          period, unless such termination of employment shall be for Cause (as
          defined herein) or the participant becomes an officer or director of,
          a consultant to or employed by a Competing Business (as defined
          herein), in which case all options and SARs shall forthwith terminate;
          provided, however, that the Plan Administrator may in its sole
          discretion extend the option period of any option or SAR for up to
          three years from the date of termination of employment regardless of
          the original option period. For purposes of the Plan, retirement shall
          mean the termination of employment with the Company, other than for
          Cause, at any time after the age 65.

          For purposes of this Plan, the term "Cause" shall mean (a) with
          respect to an individual who is party to a written agreement with the
          Company which contains a definition of "cause" or "for cause" or words
          of similar import for purposes of termination of employment thereunder
          by the Company, "cause" or "for cause" as in defined in such
          agreement; (b) in all other cases (I) the willful commission by an
          employee of a criminal or other act that causes substantial economic
          damage to the Company or substantial injury to the business reputation
          of the Company; (II) the commission of an act of fraud in the
          performance of such person's duties to or on behalf of the Company;
          (III) the continuing willful failure of a person to perform the duties
          of such person to the Company (other than a failure to perform duties
          resulting from such person's incapacity due to illness) after written
          notice thereof (specifying the particulars thereof in reasonable
          detail) and a reasonable opportunity to be heard and cure such failure
          are given to the person by the Board of Directors of Hyperion or the
          Plan Administrator. For purposes of the Plan, no act, or failure to
          act, on the part of any person shall be considered "willful" unless
          done or omitted to be done by the person in good faith and without
          reasonable belief that the person's action or omission was in the best
          interest of the Company.
     
          For purposes of this Plan, the term "Competing Business" shall mean:
          any person, corporation or other entity engaged in the business of (a)
          providing telecommunications alternate access network systems or (b)
          selling or attempting to sell any product or service which is the same
          as or similar to products or services sold by the Company within the
          last three (3) years prior to termination of person's employment,
          consultant relationship or directorship, as the case may be,
          hereunder.
     
     (ii) If a participant who is a director of the Company shall cease to serve
          as a director of the Company, the option or SAR may be exercised only
          within three months after the cessation of service and within the
          option period or, if such cessation was due to disability, within one
          year after cessation of service and within the option period; unless
          such cessation of service as a director was the result of removal for
          Cause or the participant becomes an officer or director of, a
          consultant to or employed by a Competing Business, in which case any
          options and SARs shall forthwith terminate; provided, however, that
          the Plan

 
                                      -6-
<PAGE>
 
          Administrator may in its sole discretion extend the option period of
          any option or SAR for up to three years from the date of cessation of
          service regardless of the original option period;

     (iii) If the optionee shall die, the option or SAR may be exercised only
          within one year after the participant's death and within the option
          period and only by the participant's personal representative or
          persons entitled thereto under the participant's will or the laws of
          descent and distribution;
 
     (iv) The option or SAR may not be exercised for more shares (subject to
          adjustment as provided in Section 13) after the termination of the
          participant's employment, cessation of service as a director or the
          participant's death, as the case may be, than the participant was
          entitled to purchase thereunder at the time of the termination of the
          participant's employment or the participant's death; and
 
     (v)  If a participant owns (or is deemed to own under applicable provisions
          of the Code and rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) more
          than 10% of the combined voting power of all classes of stock of the
          Company (or any parent or subsidiary corporation of the Company) and
          an option granted to such participant is intended to qualify as an
          Incentive Stock Option, the option by its terms may not be exercisable
          after the expiration of five years from the date such option is
          granted.
 
(e)  The option exercise price of each share purchased pursuant to an option
     shall be paid in full at the time of each exercise (the "Payment Date") of
     the option (i) in cash;  (ii) by delivering to Hyperion a notice of
     exercise with an irrevocable direction to a broker-dealer registered under
     the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, to sell a sufficient
     portion of the shares and deliver the sale proceeds directly to Hyperion to
     pay the exercise price;  (iii) in the discretion of the Plan Administrator,
     through the delivery to Hyperion of previously-owned shares of Common Stock
     having an aggregate fair market value equal to the option price of the
     shares being purchased pursuant to the exercise of the option;  provided,
     however, that shares of Common Stock delivered in payment of the option
     price must have been held by the participant for at least six (6) months in
     order to be utilized to pay the option price;  (iv) through an election
     pursuant to Section 9 hereof to have shares of Common Stock otherwise
     issuable to the optionee withheld to pay the exercise price of such option;
     or (v) in the discretion of the Plan Administrator, through any combination
     of the payment procedures set forth in subsections (i)-(iv) of this Section
     8(e).
 
(f)  The Plan Administrator, in its discretion, may authorize "stock retention
     options" which provide, upon the exercise of an option previously granted
     under this Plan (a "prior option"), using previously owned shares, for the
     automatic issuance of a new option under this Plan with an exercise price
     equal to the current fair market value and for up to the number of shares
     equal to the number of previously-owned shares delivered in
 
                                     -7- 
<PAGE>
 
     payment of the exercise price of the prior option. Such stock retention
     option shall have the same option period as the prior option.
 
(g)  Nothing contained in the Plan nor in any stock option, SAR, share award or
     stock equivalent agreement shall confer upon any participant any right with
     respect to the continuance of employment by the Company nor interfere in
     any way with the right of the Company to terminate his employment or change
     his compensation at any time.
 
(h)  The Plan Administrator may include such other terms and conditions not
     inconsistent with the foregoing as the Plan Administrator shall approve.
     Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, the Plan
     Administrator shall be authorized to determine that options or SARs shall
     be exercisable in one or more installments during the term of the option
     and the right to exercise may be cumulative as determined by the Plan
     Administrator.

Section 9.    Share Withholding.
 
(a)  An optionee may, in the sole discretion of the Plan Administrator, pay the
     exercise price of an option, in whole or in part, by requesting that
     Hyperion withhold shares of stock otherwise issuable to the optionee having
     a fair market value equal to the portion of the exercise price of the
     option being paid pursuant to such election (a "Share Withholding
     Election").
 
(b)  A Share Withholding Election must be in writing and must be delivered to
     Hyperion no later than with the delivery of the notice of exercise of the
     option.
 
Section 10.    Share Awards;  Phantom Stock.
 
(a)  The Plan Administrator may, from time to time, subject to the provisions of
     the Plan, award shares of Common Stock or stock equivalent units with a
     value equal to the Common Stock ("Phantom Stock") to participants.
 
(b)  The award of shares or Phantom Stock shall be evidenced by an agreement
     executed by Hyperion and the grantee setting forth the number of shares of
     Common Stock or Phantom Stock awarded, the vesting period, the vesting
     schedule or criteria and such other terms and conditions as the Plan
     Administrator may determine.
 
(c)  The grantee of a share award shall receive shares of Common Stock without
     payment to Hyperion immediately upon grant; provided, however, that the
     grantee's ownership of such shares shall be subject to the following terms
     and conditions:
 
     (i)  Any award of shares to a participant shall vest in installments upon
          achievement by the Company or grantee of specified performance goals
          as determined by the Plan Administrator and as provided in the share
          award agreement;
 
                                     -8- 
<PAGE>
 
     (ii)  If the grantee or the Company, as the case may be, fails to achieve
           the designated goals or the grantee ceases to be employed by the
           Company for any reason (including death, permanent disability or
           retirement) prior to the expiration of the vesting period, the
           grantee shall forfeit all shares so awarded which have not then
           vested;

     (iii) A grantee who has received a share award pursuant to the Plan shall
           have all rights of a stockholder in such Common Stock, including but
           not limited to the right to vote and receive dividends with respect
           thereto; provided, however, that shares awarded pursuant to the Plan
           which have not vested may not be sold or otherwise transferred by the
           grantee and stock certificates representing such shares shall bear a
           restrictive legend to that effect; and
 
     (iv)  Hyperion may, in the discretion of the Plan Administrator, retain
           possession of the stock certificate for the shares awarded under any
           share award until all restrictions on such ownership have vested or
           lapsed.
 
(d)  A vested Phantom Stock award shall entitle the holder thereof to receive
     from Hyperion an amount of cash equal to the number of units of Phantom
     Stock covered by the award multiplied by the fair market value of the
     Common Stock on the date of exercise of the Phantom Stock.  A holder of
     Phantom Stock shall have no rights of a stockholder.

Section 11.    Limitation on Options and Awards.  The aggregate number of shares
covered by any options, SARs, share awards or Phantom Stock awards granted to
one person shall not exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of the aggregate number of
shares subject to the Plan as provided in Section 5 hereof.

Section 12.    Tax Withholding.
 
(a)  Whenever shares are to be issued or cash is to be paid under the Plan,
     Hyperion shall have the right to require the participant to remit to
     Hyperion an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state and local tax
     withholding requirements prior to the delivery of any certificate for
     shares or any proceeds; provided, however, that in the case of a
     participant who receives an award of shares under the Plan which is not
     fully vested, the participant shall remit such amount on the first business
     day following the Tax Date.  The "Tax Date" for purposes of this Section 12
     shall be the date on which the amount of tax to be withheld is determined.
     If a participant makes a disposition of shares acquired upon the exercise
     of an Incentive Stock Option within either two years after the option was
     granted or one year after the receipt of stock by the participant, the
     participant shall promptly notify Hyperion and Hyperion shall have the
     right to require the participant to pay to Hyperion an amount sufficient to
     satisfy federal, state and local tax withholding requirements.
 
(b)  A participant who is obligated to pay Hyperion an amount required to be
     withheld under applicable tax withholding requirements may pay such amount
     (i) in cash;
 
                                     -9- 
<PAGE>
 
     (ii) in the discretion of the Plan Administrator, through the delivery to
          Hyperion of previously-owned shares of Common Stock having an
          aggregate fair market value on the Tax Date equal to the tax
          obligation provided that the previously owned shares delivered in
          satisfaction of the withholding obligations must have been held by the
          participant for at least six (6) months; or (iii) in the discretion of
          the Plan Administrator, through a combination of the procedures set
          forth in subsections (i) an (ii) of this Section 12(b).
 
(c)  A participant who is obligated to pay to Hyperion an amount required to be
     withheld under applicable tax withholding requirements in connection with
     either the exercise of a Nonstatutory Stock Option or a share award under
     the Plan may, in the discretion of the Plan Administrator, elect to satisfy
     this withholding obligation, in whole or in part, by requesting that
     Hyperion withhold shares of stock otherwise issuable to the participant
     having a fair market value on the Tax Date equal to the amount of the tax
     required to be withheld; provided, however, that shares may be withheld by
     Hyperion only if such withheld shares have vested.  Any fractional amount
     shall be paid to Hyperion by the optionee in cash or shall be withheld from
     the participant's next regular paycheck.
 
(d)  An election by a participant to have shares of stock withheld to satisfy
     federal, state and local tax withholding requirements pursuant to Section
     12(c) (a "Tax Withholding Election") must be in writing and delivered to
     Hyperion prior to the Tax Date.

Section 13.    Adjustment of Number and Price of Shares.
 
          The following shall be subject to the provisions of Section 5(a) of
this Plan.

(a)  In the event that a dividend shall be declared upon the Common Stock of
     Hyperion payable in shares of said stock, the number of shares of Common
     Stock covered by each outstanding option and the number of shares which may
     be issued pursuant to the Plan but are not yet covered by outstanding
     options shall be adjusted by adding thereto the number of shares of Common
     Stock which would have been distributable thereon if such shares had been
     outstanding on the date fixed for determining the stockholders entitled to
     receive such stock dividend.
 
(b)  In the event that the outstanding shares of Common Stock of Hyperion shall
     be changed into or exchanged for a different number or kind of shares of
     stock or other securities of Hyperion or of another corporation, whether
     through reorganization, recapitalization, stock split-up, combination of
     shares, merger or consolidation, then there shall be substituted for the
     shares of Common Stock covered by each outstanding option, and the shares
     which may be issued pursuant to the Plan but are not yet covered by
     outstanding options, the number and kind of shares of stock or other
     securities which would have been substituted therefor if such shares had
     been outstanding on the date fixed for determining the stockholders
     entitled to receive such changed or substituted stock or other securities.
 
 
                                     -10-
<PAGE>
 
(c)  In the event there shall be any change, other than specified in this
     Section 13, in the number or kind of outstanding shares of Common Stock of
     Hyperion or of any stock or other securities into which such Common Stock
     shall be changed or for which it shall have been exchanged, then, if the
     Board of Directors shall determine, in its discretion, that such change
     equitably requires an adjustment in the number or kind of shares covered by
     outstanding options and the shares which may be issued pursuant to the Plan
     but are not yet covered by outstanding options, such adjustment shall be
     made by the Board of Directors and shall be effective and binding for all
     purposes of the Plan and on each outstanding stock option agreement.
 
(d)  In the event that, by reason of a corporate merger, consolidation,
     acquisition of property or stock, separation, reorganization or
     liquidation, the Board of Directors shall authorize the issuance or
     assumption of a stock option or stock options in a transaction to which
     Section 424(a) of the Code applies, then, notwithstanding any other
     provision of the Plan, the Plan Administrator may grant an option or
     options upon such terms and conditions as it may deem appropriate for the
     purpose of assumption of the old option, or substitution of a new option
     for the old option, in conformity with the provisions of Code Section
     424(a) and the rules and regulations thereunder, as they may be amended
     from time to time.
 
(e)  No adjustment or substitution provided for in this Section 13 shall require
     Hyperion to issue or to sell a fractional share under any stock option
     agreement or share award agreement and the total adjustment or substitution
     with respect to each stock option and share award agreement shall be
     limited accordingly.
 
(f)  In the case of any adjustment or substitution provided for in this Section
     13, the option price per share in each stock option agreement shall be
     equitably adjusted by the Board of Directors to reflect the greater or
     lesser number of shares of stock or other securities into which the stock
     covered by the option may have been changed or which may have been
     substituted therefor.

Section 14.    Fair Market Value.  In any determination of fair market value of
the Common Stock hereunder, fair market value, as to any date, shall mean (i)
the closing sale price of the Common Stock on the day before the date in
question (or if no sales were reported on such day, on the next preceding day on
which sales were reported) if the Common Stock is listed for trading on a
national securities exchange, the Nasdaq National Market or other last reported
sale system;  (ii) if last reported sales information is not available for the
Common Stock, the closing bid price on the day before the date in question;  or
(iii) if the Common Stock is not listed for trading or quoted in a quotations
system, a price determined by the Plan Administrator.  In all cases, the
determination by the Plan Administrator of fair market value shall be
conclusive.

Section 15.    Change in Control.
 
(a)  In the event of a Change in Control of Hyperion, as hereinafter defined,
     the following provisions shall apply to options, SARs, share awards and
     Phantom Stock
 
                                     -11-
<PAGE>
 
          previously awarded under the Plan, notwithstanding any provision
          herein or in any agreement to the contrary:
 
     (i)  All options or SARs which provide for exercise in one or more
          installments shall become immediately exercisable in full;
 
     (ii) If any optionee shall cease to be employed by the Company within one
          (1) year following a Change in Control, then the option or SAR, as the
          case may be, may in all events be exercised for a period of three
          months after such termination of employment if otherwise within the
          option period;

     (iii) All awards of shares and Phantom Stock under the Plan which have not
          previously vested shall become vested.
 
(b)  The term "Change in Control" shall mean a change in control of Hyperion of
     a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of
     Schedule 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act as in effect on the date
     thereof or, if Item 6(e) is no longer in effect, any regulations issued by
     the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act which
     serve similar purposes other than any event or series of events the result
     of which is that John J. Rigas and/or members of his family (the "Rigas
     Family") or any affiliate of the Rigas Family obtains or maintains control;
     provided that, without limitation, such a Change in Control shall be deemed
     to have occurred if: (i) Hyperion shall be merged or consolidated with
     another corporation or entity, other than the Rigas Family or a corporation
     or entity which is an "affiliate" of the Rigas Family (as such term is
     defined in Rule 144(a) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933), or
     (ii) Hyperion shall sell all or substantially all of its operating
     properties and assets to another person, group of associated persons or
     corporation, excluding the Rigas Family or any affiliate of the Rigas
     Family, if any, or (iii) any "person" (as such term is used in Sections
     13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) other than the Rigas Family or any
     affiliate of the Rigas Family, is or becomes a beneficial owner, directly
     or indirectly, of securities of Hyperion representing 25% or more of the
     combined voting power of Hyperion's then outstanding securities coupled
     with or followed by the election as directors of Hyperion of persons who
     were not directors at the time of such acquisition if such person shall
     elect a majority of the Board of Directors of Hyperion.

Section 16.    Amendment and Discontinuance.  The Board of Directors may alter,
amend, suspend or discontinue the Plan, provided that no such action shall
deprive any person without such person's consent of any rights theretofore
granted pursuant hereto.

Section 17.    Compliance with Governmental Regulations.  Notwithstanding any
provision of the Plan or the terms of any agreement entered into pursuant to the
Plan, Hyperion shall not be required to issue any shares hereunder prior to
registration of the shares subject to the Plan under the Securities Act of 1933
or the Exchange Act, if such registration shall be necessary, or before
compliance by Hyperion or any participant with any other provisions of either of
those acts or of regulations or rulings of the Securities and Exchange
Commission thereunder, or before compliance with other federal and state laws
and regulations and rulings
 
                                     -12- 
<PAGE>
 
thereunder, including the rules any applicable exchange or of the Nasdaq Stock
Market. Hyperion shall use its best efforts to effect such registrations and to
comply with such laws, regulations and rulings forthwith upon advice by its
counsel that any such registration or compliance is necessary.

Section 18.    Compliance with Section 16.  With respect to persons subject to
Section 16 of the Exchange Act, transactions under this Plan are intended to
comply with all applicable conditions of Rule 16b-3 (or its successor rule).  To
the extent that any grant of an option, SAR, share award or Phantom Stock award
fails to so comply, it shall be deemed null and void to the extent permitted by
law and to the extent deemed advisable by the Plan Administrator.

Section 19.    Participation by Foreign Nationals.  The Plan Administrator may,
in order to fulfill the purposes of the Plan and without amending the Plan,
modify grants to foreign nationals or United States citizens employed abroad in
order to recognize differences in local law, tax policy or custom.

Section 20.    Effective Date of Plan.  The Plan became effective on October 3,
1996, the date of approval and adoption of the Plan by the holders of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock of Hyperion.

 
                                     -13-

<PAGE>
 
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.18
                       HYPERION TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.

                         REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
                         -----------------------------


         THIS AGREEMENT, made as of this 25th day of October, 1996, between
Charles R. Drenning, Paul D. Fajerski and Randolph S. Fowler (each a "Holder"
and collectively, the "Holders"), Adelphia Communications Corporation
("Adelphia") and Hyperion Telecommunications, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company").

                                 WITNESSETH:

         WHEREAS, the Holders are each the record and beneficial holder of
366,660 shares (collectively, the "Shares") of the Company's Class B Common
Stock, par value $.01 per share ( the "Class B Common Stock"), and Adelphia is
the record and beneficial holder of the remaining 8,900,020 shares of
outstanding Class B Common Stock;

         WHEREAS, the Holders and Adelphia are parties to a Pre-Incorporation
and Shareholder Restrictive Agreement dated as of October 7, 1991, as amended by
that certain Letter Agreement ("Letter Agreement") dated effective March 19,
1996 (as so amended, the "Shareholder Agreement") pursuant to which the Holders
and Adelphia originally acquired their shares of common stock and which
contemplates the execution of this Agreement;

         WHEREAS, the Holder, Adelphia and the Company all contemplate the
consummation of a registered initial public offering (the "IPO") of the
Company's Class A Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Class A Common
Stock") in which IPO the Company will sell and Adelphia may, in the over-
allotment option, also sell shares of Class A Common Stock, following a stock
split and following the charter amendment and recapitalization whereby the
Company's previously outstanding common stock was converted into Class B Common
Stock which is convertible under certain conditions into Class A Common Stock;

         WHEREAS,  thirty days after the signing of the underwriting agreement
for such IPO the Holders will each have the opportunity to sell Class A Common
Stock with an aggregate market value of up to $1,000,000;

         WHEREAS, the Holders, Adelphia and the Company have reached the
agreements set forth herein and desire to have the Shares subject to the rights
described herein.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants
contained herein and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto
agree as follows:
<PAGE>
 
         1.   Definitions.  For purposes of this Agreement:
              -----------                                  

             (a) The term "Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or
any similar federal statute, and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder, all as the same are in effect from time to time;

             (b) The term "Commission" means the Securities and Exchange
Commission or any other federal agency at the time primarily responsible for
administering the Act;

             (c) The term "Registrable Securities" means (1) the Class A Common
Stock into which (i) the Shares or (ii) any additional Class B Common Stock
issued as a dividend or distribution with respect to the Shares shall be
converted pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company,  (2) any
capital stock of the Company or a successor to the Company that is issued as a
dividend or other distribution with respect to, or in exchange for or in
replacement of, such shares of Class A Common Stock and (3) any capital stock
(other than Class A Common Stock) of  the Company or a successor to the Company
that is issued in exchange for or in replacement of the Shares or such
additional Class B Common Stock,  in each case, which are held by Holder.

          2.   Demand Registration.
               ------------------- 

              (a) On and after the date which is six months after the
completion of the IPO of the Company, if the Company shall receive a written
request (specifying that it is being made pursuant to this Paragraph 2) from all
Holders then holding Registrable Securities that the Company file a registration
statement under the Act, or a similar document pursuant to any other statute
then in effect corresponding to the Act, covering the registration of
Registrable Securities then outstanding, then the Company shall use its best
efforts to cause such Registrable Securities included within such request to be
registered under the Act as promptly as practicable and, subject to Section
4(a), keep such registration statement effective for a period of twelve months
(the "Effective Period"). The rights granted by this Paragraph 2(a) shall not be
deemed to have been exercised unless and until the Company has fully complied
with its obligations under this Paragraph 2(a).

              (b) The rights granted by Paragraph 2(a) may be exercised on only
one (1) occasion and may not be exercised during the period commencing fifteen
(15) days before the anticipated effective date and ending one hundred twenty
(120) days after the effective date of any registration statement filed by the
Company with respect to Class A Common Stock being sold solely by the Company
(other than on Form S-8 or other form for the offering of Class A Common Stock
to a particular investor or limited group of investors).

              (c)  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be
obligated to cause a registration statement to be filed and declared effective
pursuant to this Paragraph 2 or, if the registration statement is effective, the
Company may request each Holder not to (and upon

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
such request each Holder hereby agrees not to) make any sales pursuant thereto,
for up to two periods of ninety (90) days each, as the Company shall specify,
provided that the Company shall furnish to each Holder a certificate signed by
the President or a Vice President or a Vice Chairman of the Company stating that
in the good faith judgment of the Company there would be a material adverse
effect on the Company if a registration statement were to be filed or sales were
to occur under an effective registration statement and, if such Holder is a
director and officer of the Company, stating the reason therefor.

              (d) Each Holder shall promptly notify the Company in writing of
any sales or transfers of Registrable Securities made pursuant to any
registration statement filed pursuant to this Agreement.

         3.   Piggyback Registration Duties Discharged; Other Matters.
              ------------------------------------------------------- 

             (a) The Holders, the Company and Adelphia hereby agree that the
registration of the Company's Class A Common Stock in the IPO and the Holders'
opportunity to each sell up to $1 million worth of such Class A Common Stock in
the open market beginning 30 days after the effective date of the registration
statement for the IPO, shall satisfy the piggyback registration requirements of
Section 9(i) of the Letter Agreement and the requirements of Section 20(ii) of
the Shareholder Agreement and shall thereby operate to terminate the Shareholder
Agreement effective as of the time of the first closing of the IPO (without
reference to any closing of any over-allotment option).

              (b) Upon such termination the Shareholder Agreement shall have no
further force or effect, provided that such termination shall not change or
alter the provisions of the Letter Agreement that did not amend the Shareholder
Agreement.

              (c) All parties waive any rights they may have under the
Shareholder Agreement with respect to gifts of Shares or Class A Common Stock to
permitted family member transferees as defined under paragraph 8(c) of the
Shareholder Agreement by any Holder prior to the termination of the Shareholder
Agreement, provided that the aggregate of such gifts for any Holder shall not be
in excess of 70,000 shares of such stock calculated prior to and without taking
into account the stock split referenced in the recitals hereto and provided
further that any such donee of such a gift agrees in writing to be bound by this
Agreement and to provide all voting rights with respect to such gifted shares to
the Holder donor in the event that the IPO has not occurred by January 1, 1997.
With respect to any such gift, the Company agrees to release the Shares or Class
A Common Stock so gifted from the pledge of such shares as collateral for any
loans to such Holder donor by the Company that are outstanding on the date of
this Agreement.


              (d) In connection with the closing of the IPO, the Company and the
Holders hereby agree that each of the Holders will pay in full all amounts owing
under the Term Loan Notes dated May 10, 1996 in the principal amount of
$1,000,000 and the related Term

                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
Loan and Stock Pledge Agreement dated as of May 10, 1996 (the "Term Loans"). It
is contemplated that Goldman Sachs & Co. will provide a $1,000,000 loan to each
of the Holders secured by a portion of the Holder's shares of the Company's
common stock (the "Margin Loan") to provide a portion of the monies needed to
pay off the Term Loans. An amount equal to the interest that accrues on the
Margin Loan for the period from the date the Margin Loan was made until March 1,
1997 shall be paid on March 1, 1997 to each of the Holders as a bonus by the
Company (the "Bonus Payment").

     In addition, the Company shall make an additional payment (the "Gross-Up
Payment") to each of the Holders in an amount equal to the Federal, state and
local income taxes payable by such Holder with respect to the Bonus Payment.  In
computing the Gross-Up Payment, the Bonus Payment shall be reduced by the
amount, if any, of the interest that accrued on the Margin Loan for the period
from the date the Margin Loan was made until March 1, 1997 that is deductible by
such Holder for Federal, state or local tax purposes.  After the Gross-Up
Payment is so determined, such Holder shall also be entitled to receive
additional payments in an amount such that after payment by such Holder of all
Federal, state and local income taxes imposed upon the Gross-Up Payment such
Holder shall retain an amount equal to the Gross-Up Payment.


         4.   Registration Procedures.  Whenever required under Paragraph 2 to
              -----------------------                                         
effect the registration of any Registrable Securities, the Company shall:

              (a) As promptly as practicable,  prepare and file with the
Commission a registration statement with respect to such Registrable Securities
and cause such registration statement to become and remain effective as promptly
as practicable; provided, however, that in connection with any periods of
proposed registration under or in satisfaction of Paragraph 2, the Company shall
in no event be obligated to cause any such registration to remain effective for
more than twelve months, excluding any periods of suspension of sales during
effectiveness pursuant to Paragraph 2(c) or 9 or occurring as a result of an
event described in the next succeeding sentence. In connection therewith, the
Company shall use its best efforts to notify each Holder (the "Notice") of the
happening of any event during the period a registration statement is effective
which makes any statement made in such registration statement or the related
prospectus untrue in any material respect or which requires the making of any
changes in such registration statement or prospectus so that, as of such date,
the statements therein are not misleading and do not omit to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading (which advice shall be accompanied by an instruction to suspend
the use of the prospectus until the requisite changes have been made) and use
its best efforts as promptly as practicable to prepare a supplement or post-
effective amendment to a registration statement or the related prospectus or any
document incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document
so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the Registrable
Securities, such prospectus will not contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading; provided, that the Company, upon written notice
specifying such event or information to each

                                      -4-
<PAGE>
 
Holder that is a director and officer of the Company, shall not be required to
update, pursuant to this Paragraph 4, any such document during a period where
the Company shall, in good faith and using reasonable business judgment, believe
that the premature disclosure of any event or information would have a material
adverse effect on the Company.

          Each Holder agrees that, upon receipt of any such Notice from the
Company of the happening of any event of the kind described herein, such Holder
will forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to
such registration statement until such Holder's receipt of the copies of the
supplemented or amended prospectus, and, if so directed by the Company, such
Holder will deliver to the Company (at the Company's expense) all copies in its
possession, other than permanent file copies then in such Holder's possession,
of the prospectus covering such Registrable Securities current at the time of
receipt of such notice.

          (b) As promptly as practicable, prepare and file with the Commission
such amendments and supplements to such registration statement and the
prospectus used in connection with such registration statement as may be
necessary to comply with the provisions of the Act with respect to the
disposition of all securities covered by such registration statement.

          (c) Furnish to each Holder such numbers of copies of a prospectus,
including a preliminary prospectus, in conformity with the requirements of the
Act, and such other documents as Holder may reasonably request in order to
facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Holder.

          (d) Use its best efforts to register and qualify the securities
covered by such registration statement under such other securities or Blue Sky
laws of such United States jurisdictions as shall be reasonably requested by
Holder for the distribution of the securities covered by the registration
statement, provided that the Company shall not be required in connection
therewith or as a condition thereto to qualify to do business or to file a
general consent to service of process in any such states or jurisdictions, and
further provided that (anything in this Agreement to the contrary
notwithstanding with respect to the bearing of expenses) if any jurisdiction in
which the securities shall be qualified shall require that expenses incurred in
connection with the qualification of the securities in that jurisdiction be
borne by selling shareholders, then such expenses shall be payable by the Holder
pro rata based upon the number of shares registered, to the extent required by
such jurisdiction.

         5.   Obligation to Furnish Information.  It shall be a condition
              ---------------------------------                          
precedent to the obligations of the Company to take any action pursuant to this
Agreement that each Holder shall furnish to the Company such information
regarding such Holder, or the Registrable Securities held by such Holder, and
the intended method of disposition of such securities, as the Company shall
reasonably request or as shall be required to be disclosed in connection with
the action to be taken by the Company hereunder, including but not limited to
information required by Items 507 and 508 of Regulation S-K under the Act.

                                      -5-
<PAGE>
 
         6.   Expenses of Registration.  All expenses incurred in connection
              ------------------------                                      
with a registration effected pursuant to Paragraph 2 (excluding in any case
underwriters' discounts and commissions and counsel, advisory or consultant fees
of a selling Holder), including without limitation all registration and
qualification fees, printers' and accounting fees, and fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Company, shall be borne by the Company.

         7.   Delay of Registration. A Holder shall not have any right to take
              ---------------------                                           
any action to restrain, enjoin, or otherwise delay any registration as the
result of any controversy that might arise with respect to the interpretation or
implementation of this Agreement.

         8.   Indemnification.  In the event any Registrable Securities are
              ---------------                                              
included in a registration statement under this Agreement:

          (a) To the extent  not prohibitedby law, the Company will indemnify
and hold harmless each Holder joining in a registration, any underwriter (as
defined in the Act) for it, and each person, if any, who controls such
underwriter within the meaning of the Act, against any losses, claims, damages,
or liabilities, joint or several, to which they may become subject under the Act
or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions
in respect thereof) arise out of or are based on any untrue or alleged untrue
statement of any material fact contained in such registration statement,
including any preliminary prospectus or final prospectus, or any amendments or
supplements thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or arise out of any
violation by the Company of the Act or of any rule or regulation promulgated
under the Act applicable to the Company and relating to action or inaction
required of the Company in connection with any registration; and will reimburse
such Holder, such underwriter, or controlling person for any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or
defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability, or action; provided, however,
that the indemnity agreement contained in this Paragraph 8(a) shall not apply to
amounts paid in settlement of any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expenses
or action if such settlement is effected without the consent of the Company nor
shall the Company be liable in any such case for any such loss, claim, damage,
liability, expenses, or action to the extent that it arises out of or is based
upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission made in connection with such registration statement, preliminary
prospectus, final prospectus, or amendments or supplements thereto, in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information furnished expressly for use in
connection with such registration by any such Holder, underwriter or controlling
person.

          (b) To the extent not prohibited by law, each Holder will indemnify
and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who
have signed the registration statement, each person, if any, who controls the
Company within the meaning of the Act, and each agent and any underwriter for
the Company (within the meaning of the Act) against any losses, claims, damages,
or liabilities, joint or several, to which the Company and/or any such director,
officer, controlling person, agent, or underwriter may become subject, under

                                      -6-
<PAGE>
 
the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, or liabilities
(or actions in respect thereto) arise out of or are based upon any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in such
registration statement, including any preliminary prospectus or final
prospectus, or any amendments or supplements thereto, or arise out of or are
based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made
in such registration statement, preliminary or final prospectus, or amendments
or supplements thereto, in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished by such Holder expressly for use in connection with such
registration; and such Holder will reimburse any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by the Company and/or any such director, officer,
controlling person, agent, or underwriter in connection with investigating or
defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however,
that the indemnity agreement contained in this Paragraph 8(b) shall not apply to
amounts paid in settlement of any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense
or action if such settlement is effected without the consent of such Holder.

          (c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this
paragraph of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party
will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against any indemnifying party
under this paragraph, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the
commencement thereof and the indemnifying party shall have the right to
participate in, and, to the extent the indemnifying party so desires, jointly
with any other indemnifying party similarly noticed, to assume the defense
thereof with counsel mutually satisfactory to the parties.  The failure to
notify an indemnifying party promptly of the commencement of any such action, if
prejudicial to his ability to defend such action, shall relieve such
indemnifying party of any liability to the indemnified party under this
paragraph, but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party will not relieve
him of any liability that he may have to any indemnified party otherwise than
under this paragraph.

         9.   Lockup Agreement.  In consideration for the Company agreeing to
              ----------------                                               
its obligations under this Agreement, each Holder agrees in connection with any
registration of the Company's securities to be sold by the Company, upon the
request of the Company or the underwriters managing any underwritten offering by
the Company of the Company's securities, not to sell, make any short sale of,
loan, grant any option for the purchase of, or otherwise dispose of any
Registrable Securities (other than, subject to the requirements of Paragraph 10,
(a) those included in the registration and (b) sale transactions that are not
otherwise prohibited and that do not involve a public offering, provided that
the transferee of such Holder as a condition thereto and in connection
therewith, agrees to be bound by and joins into this Paragraph 9), without the
prior written consent of the Company or such underwriters, as the case may be,
for such period of time not to exceed 180 days from the effective date of such
registration as the Company or the underwriters may specify, provided however
that each Holder may sell Class A Common Stock with a market value of up to $1.0
million after 30 days following the effective date of the registration statement
for the IPO.

                                      -7-
<PAGE>
 
         10.  Limitations on Assignment.  This Agreement shall be binding upon
              -------------------------                                       
and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their successors and
assigns; provided, that the registration rights granted to the Holders in
Paragraph 2 hereof may not be assigned or transferred in whole or in part to any
transferee other than to another Holder, Adelphia, or a permitted family member
transferee as defined under Paragraph 8(c) of the Shareholder Agreement that
agrees to be bound by and joins in this Agreement as a Holder and thereby agrees
among other things to provide all necessary information to the Company pursuant
to Paragraph 5 in connection with a registration hereunder.

         11.  Termination.  Unless sooner terminated pursuant to the terms of
              -----------                                                    
this Agreement, all obligations of the Company pursuant to Paragraph 2 hereof as
to any Holder's Registrable Securities shall terminate, and the Registrable
Securities shall no longer be Registrable Securities under this Agreement,  upon
the earlier of: (i) the sale or other disposition of such Registrable Securities
by a Holder (other than a sale or disposition which is made together with an
assignment of this Agreement in compliance with Paragraph 10 hereof), (ii)  the
expiration of the Effective Period or (iii) as to any Holder, the date when such
Holder's Registrable Securities then outstanding may be resold during the
succeeding three-month period without such Holder being required to deliver a
prospectus with respect thereto under the Act or the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder.

         12.  Entire Agreement.  This Agreement and the documents referred to
              ----------------                                               
herein constitute the entire agreement among the parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and negotiations
relating thereto.

         13.  Governing Law.  This Agreement, together with the rights and
              -------------                                               
obligations of the parties hereunder shall be governed by and construed and
enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to
any jurisdiction's conflicts of laws provisions.

         14.  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in two or more
              ------------                                                
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

         15.  Titles and Subtitles.  The titles and subtitles used in this
              --------------------                                        
Agreement are for convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or
interpreting this Agreement.

         16.  Notices.  Any notice, request or other communication required or
              -------                                                         
permitted under this Agreement shall be given in writing and shall be deemed to
be effectively given upon (i) personal delivery, (ii) delivery by U.S. Express
Mail or other overnight courier service which provides evidence of delivery,
(iii) legible facsimile transmission, or (iv) the expiration of three (3) days
following deposit with the United States Postal Service, by registered or
certified mail, postage prepaid, addressed, in each case, as follows:

                                      -8-
<PAGE>
 
         If to the Company:

              Hyperion Telecommunications, Inc.
              Attn:  Daniel R. Milliard
              5 West Third Street
              Coudersport, Pennsylvania  16915
              Telephone: (814) 274-9830
              Facsimile: (814) 274-7098

              with a copy to:

              Buchanan Ingersoll Professional Corporation
              One Oxford Centre
              301 Grant Street, 21st Floor
              Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219
              Attn:  Carl E. Rothenberger, Jr., Esq.
              Telephone:  (412) 562-8826
              Facsimile:  (412) 562-1041

         If to Holders:

              Paul D. Fajerski
              331 Alamo Drive
              Upper St. Clair, PA  15241

              Charles R. Drenning
              1443 Old Meadow Road
              Upper St. Clair, PA  15241

              Randolph S. Fowler
              336 Catalina Drive
              Upper St. Clair, PA  15241

              with a copy to:

              Bernard Eisen, Esq.
              Klett Lieber Rooney & Schorling
              40th Floor, One Oxford Centre
              Pittsburgh, PA  15219
              Telephone:(412) 392-2111
              Facsimile:(412) 392-2128

 

                                      -9-
<PAGE>
 
or at such other address as any party may designate by ten (10) days advance
written notice to the other party in accordance with the provisions of this
Paragraph.

         17.  Amendments.  This Agreement may not be amended without the written
              ----------                                                        
consent of the Company, Adelphia and the holders of at least a majority in
interest of the then outstanding Registrable Securities.

                 [remainder of page intentionally left blank]

                                      -10-
<PAGE>
 
         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be
executed by a duly authorized representative  as of the day first above written.


                              HOLDERS:


                              /s/Paul D. Fajerski
                              -------------------
                              PAUL D. FAJERSKI


                              /s/ Charles R. Drenning
                              -----------------------
                              CHARLES R. DRENNING


                              /s/ Randolph S. Fowler
                              ----------------------
                              RANDOLPH S. FOWLER


                              ADELPHIA COMMUNICATIONS
                              CORPORATION

                              By: /s/ Timothy J. Rigas
                                 ---------------------

                              Name: Timothy J. Rigas

                              Title: Executive Vice President


                              COMPANY:

                              HYPERION TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.


                              By: /s/ Daniel R. Milliard
                                  ----------------------

                              Name: Daniel R. Milliard

                              Title: President

                                      -11-

<PAGE>
 
                                                                EXHIBIT 10.19

     
                       HYPERION TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.

                         REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

     THIS AGREEMENT, made as of the 25th day of October, 1996, by and
between ADELPHIA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation ("Adelphia")
and HYPERION TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company").

     WHEREAS, Adelphia is the record and beneficial holder of 8,900,020 shares
of the Company's Class B Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Class B
Common Stock"); and

     WHEREAS, Adelphia and the Company contemplate a stock split whereby the
Company's Class B Common Stock will be divided 2-for-1; and

     WHEREAS, Adelphia and the Company have reached the agreements set forth
herein and desire to provide the Registrable Securities (as defined herein) held
by Adelphia subject to the rights described herein.

     NOW, therefore, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants
contained herein and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto
agree as follows:

     1.  Definitions.  For purposes of this Agreement:
         -----------     

(a)  The term "Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or
any other statute in effect from time to time corresponding to such act.

(b)  The terms "register," "registered," and "registration" refer to a
registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement in
compliance with the Act and the declaration or ordering of effectiveness of
such registration statement.

(c)  The term "Registrable Securities" means (i) the Class B Common Stock, (ii)
the Class A Common Stock of the Company, par value $.01 per share (the "Class A
Common Stock") into which the Class B Common Stock held by the Holder, or such
additional Class B Common Stock which may be issued as a dividend or
distribution on such Class B Common Stock, shall be converted pursuant to the
Certificate of Incorporation, and (iii) any securities of the Company or a
successor to the Company issued as a dividend or other distribution with respect
to, or in exchange or in replacement of, such Class A Common Stock or Class B
Common Stock. Registrable Securities, if transferred pursuant to an exemption
from registration under the Act, will remain Registrable Securities.

(d)  The term "Holder" or "Holders" means (i) Adelphia and (ii) any other
person holding Registrable Securities to whom these registration rights have
been transferred.
<PAGE>
 
2.  Request for Registration.  If at any time the Company shall receive a
    ------------------------
written request (specifying that it is being made pursuant to this paragraph 2)
from the Holders holding more than thirty percent (30%) of the Registrable
Securities held by all Holders at that time outstanding that the Company file a
registration statement or similar document under the Act, covering the
registration of Registrable Securities with a market value of not less than
$10,000,000, then the Company shall promptly notify all other Holders of such
request and shall use its best efforts to cause all Registrable Securities that
Holders have requested by so registered to be registered under the Act.

     The Company shall be obligated to effect two (2) registrations per calendar
year pursuant to this paragraph 2). At the option of a majority-in-interest of
the selling Holders, any registration under this paragraph 2 must be for an
underwriter or underwriters of recognized national standing reasonably
acceptable to the Company.

     Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be obligated to cause
a registration statement to be filed and declared effective pursuant to this
Section 2, or if the registration statement is effective, the Company may
request the Holders not to (and upon such request the Holders hereby agree not
to) make any sales pursuant thereto, for up to two periods of ninety (90) days
each, as the Company shall specify, provided that the Company shall furnish to
each such Holder a certificate signed by the President, the Chief Executive
Officer or a Vice President or a Vice Chairman of the Company stating that in
the good faith judgment of the Company it would be detrimental to the Company or
its shareholders for a registration statement to be filed or for sales to occur
under an effective registration statement.

3.  Piggyback Registration.  Subject to paragraph 7, if at any time or from
    ----------------------
time to time the Company proposes to register any of its equity securities under
the Act in connection with a primary or secondary public offering of such
securities solely for cash on a form that would also permit the registration of
the Registrable Securities, the Company shall, each such time, promptly give
each Holder written notice of such determination.  Upon the written request of
any Holder given within twenty (20) days after mailing of any such notice by the
Company, the Company shall use its best efforts to cause to be registered under
the Act all of the Registrable Securities that each such Holder has requested be
registered.

4.  Obligations of the Company.  Whenever required under paragraphs 2 or 3
    --------------------------
to use its best efforts to effect the registration of any Registrable
Securities, the Company shall, as promptly as practicable:

(a)  Prepare and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") a
registration statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its
best efforts to cause such registration statement to become and remain effective
until all Registrable Securities to be sold under such registration statement
shall have been sold by Holders, either pursuant to such registration statement
or pursuant to an exemption from the Act.

(b)  Prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to such
registration statement and the prospectus used in connection with such
registration statement as

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
may be necessary to comply with the provisions of the Act with respect to the
disposition of all securities covered by such registration statement.

(c)  Furnish to the Holders and deliver as directed such numbers of copies of a
prospectus, including a preliminary prospectus, in conformity with the
requirements of the Act, and such other documents as they may reasonably
request in order to facilitate the disposition of Registrable Securities
owned by them.

(d)  Use its best efforts to register and qualify the securities covered by such
registration statement under such other securities or Blue Sky laws of such
jurisdictions as shall be reasonably appropriate for the distribution of
the securities covered by the registration statement, provided that the
Company shall not be required in connection therewith or as a condition
thereto to qualify to do business or to file a general consent to service
of process in any such states or jurisdictions, and further provided that
(anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding with respect to
the bearing of expenses) if any jurisdiction in which the securities shall
be qualified shall require that expenses incurred in connection with the
qualification of the securities in that jurisdiction be borne by selling
shareholders, then such expenses shall be payable by selling shareholders
pro rata, to the extent required by such jurisdiction.

(e)  In the event that Holders of Registrable Securities propose to sell
Registrable Securities pursuant to an underwritten offering, the Company
shall have the right to approve the managing underwriters proposed by the
Holders for such offering; provided, however, that such approval shall not
                           --------
be unreasonably withheld.

5.  Furnish Information.  It shall be a condition precedent to the obligations
    -------------------
of the Company to take any action pursuant to this Agreement that the Holders
shall furnish to the Company such information regarding them, the Registrable
Securities held by them, and the intended method of disposition of such
securities as the Company shall reasonably request and as shall be required in
connection with the action to be taken by the Company.

6.  Expenses of Demand Registration.  All expenses incurred in connection with a
    -------------------------------
registration pursuant to paragraph 2 (excluding underwriters' discounts and
commissions), including without limitation all registration and qualification
fees, printers' and accounting fees, fees and disbursements of counsel for the
Company, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel for the
selling Holders shall be borne by the Company; provided, however, that the
Company shall not be required to pay for any expenses of any registration
proceeding begun pursuant to paragraph 2 if the registration request is
subsequently withdrawn, unless the Holders agree to forfeit their right to one
demand registration pursuant to paragraph 2; and provided further that the
Holders may withdraw a request if the audited financial statements of the
Company materially and adversely differ from the information previously
disclosed to the Holders at the time of their request, in which event the
Holders shall not be required to pay any of the expenses and shall retain the
right to require the Company to register Registrable Securities pursuant to
paragraph 2.

                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
7.  Company Registration Expenses.  In the case of any registration effected
    -----------------------------
pursuant to paragraph 3, the  Company shall bear all registration and
qualification fees and expenses (excluding underwriters' discounts and
commissions), including any additional cost and disbursements of counsel for the
Company that result from the inclusion of securities held by the Holders in such
registration; provided, however, that each selling Holder shall bear the fees
and costs of its own counsel.

8.  Underwriting Requirements.  In connection with any offering involving an
    -------------------------
underwriting of shares being issued by the Company, such Registrable Securities
as are requested to be included in such offering pursuant to this Agreement
shall be included in such offering on the same terms as other securities of the
same class as the Registrable Securities included in such offering; provided,
                                                                    --------
however, that if in the written opinion of the managing underwriter or
underwriters, the total amount of such securities to be so registered, when
added to such Registrable Securities, will exceed the  maximum amount of the
Company's securities which can be marketed without otherwise materially and
adversely affecting the entire offering, then the Company shall exclude from
such offering (a) first, all securities other than Registrable Securities held
by the Holders, being sold for the account of persons other than the Company,
(b) next, the minimum number of Registrable Securities held by the Holders, pro
rata to the extent practicable on the basis of the number of Registrable
Securities requested to be registered among the selling Holders as is necessary
in the opinion of the managing underwriter or underwriters to reduce the size of
the offering, and (c) last, the minimum number of securities for the account of
the Company which in the opinion of the managing underwriter or underwriters may
be excluded.

9.  Delay of Registration.  No Holder shall have any right to take any action to
    ---------------------
restrain, enjoin, or otherwise delay any registration as the result of any
controversy that might arise with respect to the interpretation or
implementation of this Agreement.

10.  Indemnification and Contribution.  Subject to paragraph 7 in the event
     -------------------------------- 
any Registrable Securities are included in a registration statement under this
Agreement:

(a)  To the extent not prohibited by law the Company will indemnify and hold
harmless each Holder requesting or joining in a registration, any underwriter
(as defined in the Act) for it, and each person, if any, who controls such
Holder or underwriter within the meaning of the Act or the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 (the "1934 Act") against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities,
joint or several, to which they may become subject under the Act, the 1934 Act
or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions
in respect thereof) arise out of or are based on any untrue or alleged untrue
statement of any material fact contained in such registration statement,
including any preliminary prospectus or final prospectus, or any amendments or
supplements thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein, or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or arise out of any
violation by the Company of any rule or regulation promulgated under the Act or
the 1934 Act applicable to the Company and relating to action or inaction
required of the Company in connection with any such

                                      -4-
<PAGE>
 
registration; and will reimburse each such Holder such underwriter, or such
controlling person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them
in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage,
liability or action; provided, however, that the indemnify agreement contained
in this paragraph 10(a) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any
such loss, claim, damage, liability or action to the extent that it arises out
of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission
or alleged omission made in connection with such registration statement,
preliminary prospectus, final prospectus, or amendments or supplements thereto,
in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished expressly
for use in connection with such registration by any such Holder, underwriter or
controlling person.

(b)  To the extent not prohibited by law, each Holder requesting or joining
in a registration will severally indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each
of its directors, each of its officers who have signed the registration
statement, each person, if any, who controls the Company (within the meaning of
the Act or the 1934 Act) against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities,
joint or several, to which the Company or any such director, officer,
controlling person, agent or underwriter may become subject, under the Act or
otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in
respect thereto) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of any material fact contained in such registration statement,
including any preliminary prospectus or final prospectus, or any amendments or
supplements thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the
extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission was made in such registration
statement, preliminary or final prospectus, or amendments or supplements
thereto, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished
by such Holder expressly for use in connection with such registration; and each
such Holder will reimburse any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by
the Company or any such director, officer, controlling person, agent or
underwriter in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim,
damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the indemnity agreement
contained in this paragraph 10(b) shall not apply to amounts paid in
settlement of any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action if such
settlement is affected without the consent of such Holder (which consent shall
not be unreasonably withheld).

(c)  Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this paragraph of
notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a
claim in respect thereof is to be made against any indemnifying party under this
paragraph, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof
and (unless the interest of the indemnifying party conflicts with that of the
indemnified party) the indemnifying party shall have the right to participate
in, and, to the extent the indemnifying party so desires, jointly with any other
indemnifying party similarly noticed, to assume the defense thereof with counsel
mutually satisfactory to the parties.  The failure to notify an indemnifying
party promptly of the commencement of any such action, if prejudicial to his
ability to defend such action, shall relieve such indemnifying party, to the
extent that he is prejudiced thereby, of any liability to the

                                      -5-
<PAGE>
 
indemnified party under this paragraph, to the extent that he is prejudiced
thereby, of any liability to the indemnified party under this paragraph, but the
omission so to notify the indemnifying party will not relieve him of any
liability that he may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under this
paragraph.

(d)  In order to provide for just and equitable contribution to joint liability
under the Act in any case in which either (i) any Holder exercising rights
under this Agreement, or any controlling person of any such Holder, makes a
claim for indemnification pursuant to this paragraph 10 but it is
judicially determined (by the entry of a final judgment or decree by a
court of competent jurisdiction and the expiration of time to appeal or the
denial of the last right of appeal) that such indemnification may not be
enforced in such case notwithstanding the fact that this paragraph 10
provides for indemnification in such case, or (ii) contribution under the
Act may be required on the part of any such selling Holder or any such
controlling person in circumstances for which indemnification is provided
under this paragraph 10; then, and in each such case, the Company and
such Holder will contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages or
liabilities to which they may be subject (after contribution from others)
in such proportion so that such Holder is responsible for the portion
represented by the percentage that the public offering price of all
securities offered by such registration statement, and the Company is
responsible for the remaining portion; provided, however, that, in any such
case, (A) no such Holder will be required to contribute any amount in
excess of the public offering price of all such Registrable Securities
offered by it pursuant to such registration statement; and (B) no person or
entity guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of
Section 11(f) of the Act) will be entitled to contribution from any person
or entity who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

11.  Reports Under Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  With a view to making
     ---------------------------------------------
available to the Holders the benefits of Rule 144 promulgated under the Act and
any other rule or regulation of the SEC that may at any time permit a Company
agrees to use its best efforts to:

(a)  make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood
and defined in Rule 144, at all times subsequent to ninety (90) days after
the effective date of the first registration statement covering an
underwritten public offering filed by the Company;

(b)  file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents
required of the Company under the 1934 Act; and

(c)  furnish to any Holder so long as such Holders own any of the Registrable
Securities forthwith upon request a written statement by the Company that
it has complied with the reporting requirements of Rule 144 (at any time
after ninety (90) days after the effective date of said first registration
statement filed by the Company), and of the Act and the 1934 Act (at any
time after it has become subject to such reporting requirements), a copy of
the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company, and such other
reports and documents so filed by the Company as may be reasonably
requested in availing any Holder of any rule or regulation of the SEC
permitting the selling of any such securities without registration.

                                      -6-
<PAGE>
 
12.  Lockup Agreement.  In consideration for the Company agreeing to its
     ----------------
obligations under this Agreement, each Holder agrees in connection with any
registration of the Company's Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock for
sale by the Company to the general public that, upon the request of the Company
or the underwriters managing any underwritten offering  by the Company of the
Company's securities, not to sell, make short sale of, loan, grant any option
for the purchase of, or otherwise dispose of any Registrable Securities (other
than those included in the registration) without the prior written consent of
the Company or such underwriters, as the case may be, for such period of time
(not to exceed one hundred twenty (120 days) from the effective date of such
registration as the Company or the underwriters may specify; provided, however,
                                                             --------
that the Company may not discriminate among the Holders with respect to any
lockup arrangements pursuant to this Section 12.

13.  Certain Limitations in Connection with Future Grants of Registration
     --------------------------------------------------------------------
Rights.  From an after the date of this Agreement, the Company shall not enter
- ------
into any agreement with any holder or prospective holder of any securities of
the Company providing for the granting to such holder of registration rights
unless:

(a)  such agreement includes the equivalent of paragraph 12 as a term; and


(b)  such registration rights, if more favorable than those
granted herein, are extended to the Holders or their transferees permitted under
paragraph 14.

14.  Transfer of Demand Registration Rights.  The demand registration rights
     --------------------------------------
of the Holders under Sections 2 or 3 may be not transferred except to an
affiliate of Adelphia Communications Corporation (without restriction as to a
minimum amount of Registrable Securities transferred), or to a person who
acquires at least 5% of the Registrable Securities originally issued to Adelphia
Communications Corporation. The Company shall be given written notice by the
Holder at the time of such transfer stating the name and address of the
transferee and identifying the securities with respect to which the rights under
this Agreement are being assigned.

15.  Entire Agreement.  This Agreement and the documents referred to herein
     ----------------
constitute the entire agreement among the parties with respect to the subject
matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and negotiations relating
thereto.

16.  Governing Law.  This Agreement, together with the rights and obligations of
     -------------
the parties hereunder shall be governed by and construed and enforced in
accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to any
jurisdiction's conflicts of laws provisions.

17.  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts,
     ------------
each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall
constitute one and the same instrument.

18.  Titles and Subtitles.  The titles and subtitles used in this Agreement are
     --------------------
for convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting
this Agreement.

                                      -7-
<PAGE>
 
19.  Notices.  Any notice, request or other communication required or permitted
     -------
under this Agreement shall be given in writing and shall be deemed to be
effectively given upon (i) personal delivery, (ii) delivery by U.S. Express Mail
or other overnight courier service which provides evidence of delivery, (iii)
legible facsimile transmission, or (iv) the expiration of three (3) days
following deposit with the United States Postal Service, by registered or
certified mail, postage prepaid, addressed, in each case, as follows:

          If to the Company:

               Hyperion Telecommunications, Inc.
               Attn:  Daniel R. Milliard
               5 West Third Street
               Coudersport, Pennsylvania  16915
               Telephone: (814) 274-9830
               Facsimile: (814) 274-7098

          If to Holder:

               Adelphia Communications Corporation
               Attn:  Timothy J. Rigas
               5 West Third Street
               Coudersport, Pennsylvania  16915
               Telephone:  (814) 274-9830
               Facsimile:  (814) 274-7098

               with a copy to:

               Buchanan Ingersoll Professional Corporation
               One Oxford Centre
               301 Grant Street, 21st Floor
               Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219
               Attn:  Carl E. Rothenberger, Jr., Esq.
               Telephone:  (412) 562-8826
               Facsimile:  (412) 562-1041

or at such other address as any party may designate by ten (10) days advance
written notice to the other party in accordance with the provisions of this
Paragraph.

20.  Amendments.  This Agreement may not be amended without the written consent
     ----------
of the Company and the holders of at least a majority in interest of the then
outstanding Registrable Securities.

                  [remainder of page intentionally left blank]

                                      -8-
<PAGE>
 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be
executed by a duly authorized representative as of the day first above written.

                              ADELPHIA:

                              ADELPHIA COMMUNICATIONS
                              CORPORATION

                              By: /s/ Timothy J. Rigas
                                      -------------------

                              Name: Timothy J. Rigas
                                    -------------------

                              Title: Executive Vice President
                                     ---------------------------

                              COMPANY:

                              HYPERION TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.

                              By: /s/ Daniel R. Milliard
                                 -----------------------------

                              Name: Daniel R. Milliard
                                    ---------------------

                              Title: President
                                     ------------

                                      -9-

<PAGE>
 
                                                               EXHIBIT NO. 23.2
                         
                      INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT     
   
  We consent to the use in this Amendment No. 2 to Registration Statement No.
333-13663 of Hyperion Telecommunications, Inc. of our report dated June 28,
1996 (October 3, 1996 as to Notes 4 and 5, the sixth paragraph of Note 6 and
the last paragraph of Note 7) (which expresses an unqualified opinion and
includes an explanatory paragraph referring to a change in the method of
accounting for income taxes), appearing in the Prospectus, which is a part of
this Registration Statement, and to the reference to us under the heading
"Experts" in such Prospectus.     
   
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP     
   
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania     
   
October 30, 1996     


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