AMERICAN TOWER CORP /MA/
424B3, 2000-08-21
COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES, NEC
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                                                Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
                                                      Registration No. 333-43130


    PROSPECTUS

                                     [LOGO]

                           American Tower Corporation

                                1,000,000 Shares

                              Class A Common Stock
                             ----------------------

     The selling  stockholders may from time to time offer up to an aggregate of
1,000,000 shares of our Class A common stock.

     Our  outstanding  Class A common  stock,  including  shares held by selling
stockholders,  is listed on the New York Stock  Exchange under the symbol "AMT."
On August 3, 2000, the last price for the shares on the NYSE was $43.4375.

     Investing in our securities involves risks. See "Risk Factors" beginning on
page 1.

     Neither the  Securities and Exchange  Commission  nor any state  securities
commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this
prospectus  is truthful or  complete.  Any  representation  to the contrary is a
criminal offense.

     The selling stockholders may offer the securities directly,  through agents
designated  from  time to time by us or them or to or  through  underwriters  or
dealers.  We will show in a supplement  the names of any agents or  underwriters
involved in the sale of any  securities.  We will also  describe any  applicable
purchase  price and fee or commission or discount  arrangement  between or among
us, the selling stockholders or them.

     Our  principal  place  of  business  is  116  Huntington  Avenue,   Boston,
Massachusetts 02116 and our telephone number is (617) 375-7500.


                 The date of this prospectus is August 21, 2000


<PAGE>



                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

American Tower......................................................     1
Risk Factors........................................................     1
Use of Proceeds.....................................................     5
Selling Stockholders................................................     5
Description of Capital Stock........................................     6
Plan of Distribution................................................     9
Validity of the Offered Securities..................................    10
Experts.............................................................    10
About This Prospectus...............................................    11
Where You Can Find More Information.................................    11
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward
     Looking Statements.............................................    11
Documents Incorporated By Reference.................................    12


    You  should  rely  only on the  information  incorporated  by  reference  or
provided  in  this  document.  Neither  we nor  the  selling  stockholders  have
authorized anyone else to provide you with different information. Neither we nor
the  selling  stockholders  are  making  an  offer of  these  securities  in any
jurisdiction where it is unlawful. You should not assume that the information in
this  prospectus  is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of
this document.



<PAGE>
                                 AMERICAN TOWER

     We are a  wireless  communications  and  broadcast  infrastructure  company
operating in three business segments.

o    We operate a leading network of  communications  towers and are the largest
     independent operator of broadcast towers in North America. Giving effect as
     of June 1, 2000 to our pending  transactions,  we have approximately 10,000
     multi-user  sites  in the  United  States,  Mexico  and  Canada,  including
     approximately 300 broadcast tower sites.

o    We provide  comprehensive  network development  services and components for
     wireless service providers and broadcasters.  We offer full turnkey network
     development  solutions  to our  customers,  consisting  of radio  frequency
     engineering,  network design, site acquisition, zoning and other regulatory
     approvals,   construction   management,   tower  construction  and  antenna
     installation.  We also offer a  complete  line of  wireless  infrastructure
     components  and  fabricate  steel  used  for  broadcast  towers  and  other
     structures.

o    We are a leading  provider  of domestic  and  international  satellite  and
     Internet  protocol  network  transmission  services  worldwide.  We own and
     operate more than 160 antennas  accessing most major satellite systems from
     U.S. teleport locations in Arizona, California,  Massachusetts, New Jersey,
     Texas, Washington state and Washington, D.C.

     We estimate that our three  business  segments  accounted for the following
percentages of pro forma 1999 operating revenues:

o    Rental and management--53.0%,

o    Network development services--27.0%, and

o    Satellite and Internet protocol network transmission services--20.0%.



                                  RISK FACTORS

         You  should  consider   carefully  the  following   factors  and  other
information in this prospectus before deciding to invest in our securities.


If we cannot keep raising capital, our growth will be impeded

         Without  additional  capital,  we would need to curtail our acquisition
and  construction  programs  which are essential for our long-term  success.  We
expect to use borrowed funds to satisfy most of our capital needs.  However,  we
must continue to satisfy financial ratios and to comply with financial and other
covenants  in  order  to do so.  If our  revenues  and  cash  flow  do not  meet
expectations,  we may lose our ability to borrow money.  These same factors,  as
well as market  conditions  beyond  our  control,  could  make it  difficult  or
impossible for us to sell securities as an alternative to borrowing.


Failure to meet our large debt payments  could require us to sell  securities or
assets on unfavorable terms

         Our high debt level makes us vulnerable to downturns in our operations.
This high debt level  requires us to use most of our cash flow to make  interest
and principal  payments.  If we do not generate sufficient cash flow through our
operations  to make interest and  principal  payments,  we may be forced to sell
debt or equity  securities  or to sell some of our core  assets.  This  could be
harmful to our business and to our securityholders. Market conditions or our own
financial situation may require us to make these sales on unattractive terms.


                                       1
<PAGE>

Decrease in demand for tower space would  materially  and  adversely  affect our
cash flow and we cannot control that demand

         Many of the factors affecting the demand for tower space, and therefore
our cash flow, are beyond our control. Those factors include:

o    consumer demand for wireless services,

o    the financial  condition of wireless service providers and their preference
     for owning or leasing antenna sites,

o    the growth  rate of wireless  communications  or of a  particular  wireless
     segment,

o    the  number  of  wireless  service  providers  in  a  particular   segment,
     nationally or locally,

o    governmental licensing of broadcast rights,

o    increased use of roaming and resale arrangements by service providers,

o    zoning, environmental and other government regulations, and

o    technological changes.


Build-to-suit  construction projects increase our dependence on a limited number
of customers

         Our  increasing  focus on major  build-to-suit  projects  for  wireless
service providers entails several unique risks.  First is our greater dependence
on a limited number of customers.  In addition,  although we have the benefit of
an  anchor  tenant  in  build-to-suit  projects,  we may  not be  able to find a
sufficient  number of additional  tenants.  In fact, one reason wireless service
providers may prefer build-to-suit  arrangements is to share or escape the costs
of an  undesirable  site.  A  site  may  be  undesirable  because  it  has  high
construction costs or may be considered a poor location by other providers.


Our expanded construction program increases our exposure to uncontrollable risks

         We cannot control the main factors that can prevent,  delay or increase
the cost of construction. These factors include:

o    zoning and local permitting requirements,

o    environmental group opposition,

o    availability of skilled construction personnel and construction equipment,

o    adverse weather conditions, and

o    federal regulations.


Increasing  competition  poses  problems for our  construction  and  acquisition
programs

         Increased competition,  which we believe will continue, has resulted in
substantially  higher acquisition  costs,  particularly for towers being sold by
wireless service providers.  That competition has also raised

                                       2
<PAGE>

construction  site acquisition costs and created shortages for experienced tower
construction  personnel.  Because of personnel  shortages,  we could  experience
failures to meet time schedules. Failures to meet time schedules could result in
our  paying  significant  penalties  to  prospective  tenants,  particularly  in
build-to-suit situations.


Our acquisition strategy involves potential management and integration issues

         The increased size of our acquisitions from wireless service providers,
which often  involve  major  build-to-suit  arrangements,  could create  certain
problems we have not faced in the past. These include:

o    dependence on a limited number of customers,

o    lease  and  control  provisions  more  favorable  to the  wireless  service
     provider than those we give our tenants generally,

o    integration of major national networks into our operational systems,

o    demands on  managerial  personnel  that could divert their  attention  from
     other aspects of our business, and

o    the acquisition of significant  numbers of towers that, because of location
     or age, may have limited marketing potential.


We are dependent on our chief executive officer and would be hurt if he left

         The loss of our chief executive officer, Steven B. Dodge, has a greater
likelihood  of having a material  adverse  effect  upon us than it would on most
other  companies  of our size.  Our growth  strategy is highly  dependent on the
efforts of Mr.  Dodge.  Our  ability to raise  capital  is also  dependent  to a
significant  extent on the reputation of Mr. Dodge.  You should be aware that we
have not entered into employment agreements with Mr. Dodge.


Expanding operations into foreign countries could create certain operational and
financial risks

         Our recent expansion into Canada and Mexico, and other possible foreign
operations in the future,  could result in adverse  financial  consequences  and
operational  problems  not  experienced  in the  United  States.  We have made a
substantial  loan to a Mexican  company and are committed to construct a sizable
number of towers in that  country.  We have also  invested  in a Canadian  joint
venture that intends to acquire and  construct  towers in that  country.  We may
also, in the future, engage in comparable transactions in other countries. Among
the risks of foreign  operations are governmental  expropriation and regulation,
inability  to  repatriate  earnings  or  other  funds,  currency   fluctuations,
difficulty  in  recruiting   trained   personnel,   and  language  and  cultural
differences that could impair management control and operations.


New technologies could make our tower antenna leasing services less desirable to
potential tenants

         Mobile satellite systems and other new technologies  could compete with
land-based  wireless  communications  systems,  thereby  reducing the demand for
tower lease space and other  services  we  provide.  The Federal  Communications
Commission  has granted  license  applications  for several  low-earth  orbiting
satellite systems that are intended to provide mobile voice or data services. In
addition,   the  emergence  of  new  technologies  could  reduce  the  need  for
tower-based  transmission  and  reception  and  have an  adverse  affect  on our
operations.

         The development and  implementation  of signal combining  technologies,
which permit one antenna to service two different transmission  frequencies and,
thereby,  two  customers,   may  reduce  the  need  for  tower-based

                                       3
<PAGE>

broadcast  transmission  and hence demand for our antenna  space.  The growth in
delivery of video services by direct  broadcast  satellites could also adversely
affect demand for our antenna space.


We  could  be  harmed  if  perceived  health  risks  from  radio  emissions  are
substantiated

         If a connection  between radio  emissions and possible  negative health
effects,  including  cancer,  were  established,  we  would  be  materially  and
adversely affected. We do not maintain any significant insurance with respect to
these matters.


Pro forma  financial  information is based on estimates and  assumptions and may
not be indicative of actual future results

         Our actual future  results  could vary  materially  and adversely  from
those reflected in the pro forma financial  information we have  incorporated by
reference  in this  prospectus.  That  information  is based  upon a  number  of
assumptions  we  believe to be  reasonable.  However,  our two most  significant
acquisitions  to date,  the AirTouch and AT&T  transactions,  do not involve the
acquisition  of  businesses.  The towers  involved  in those  acquisitions  were
operated as part of the wireless  service  divisions of AirTouch and AT&T. Those
companies  did not  maintain  extensive  separate  financial  records or prepare
financial  statements  for the  operation  of those  towers.  We have,  however,
compiled  certain  revenue  and  expense  data of those  towers in the pro forma
information. In the case of certain expenses, we have estimated amounts based on
both  the  limited  information  by the  carriers  and our own  experience  with
comparable towers. Neither our auditors, AirTouch's auditors nor AT&T's auditors
have  expressed  any opinion or provided any form of  assurance  with respect to
AirTouch's  or AT&T's  historical  data  presented  in the  unaudited  pro forma
financial information.


Control by our  principal  stockholders  could deter mergers where you could get
more than current market price for your stock

Control by Mr. Dodge and others may have the effect of  discouraging a merger or
other  takeover of our company in which  holders of Class A common  stock may be
paid a premium for their shares over  then-current  market  prices.  Mr.  Dodge,
together with a limited number of our directors, may be able to control or block
the vote on mergers and other matters submitted to the common stockholders.



                                       4
<PAGE>

                                 USE OF PROCEEDS

         We will receive no proceeds  from any sale of the shares by the selling
stockholders.


                              SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

    The selling  stockholders  are offering up to a total of 1,000,000 shares of
our Class A common stock.  The selling  stockholders  will  determine the actual
number of shares they will sell. Because the selling  stockholders may sell all,
some or none of the  shares of common  stock  that they  hold,  we are unable to
estimate  the  number of shares of common  stock  that will be held by them upon
completion  of the offering.  Prior to any use of this  prospectus in connection
with a sale of the common stock by any selling  stockholders,  we may supplement
this prospectus to contain additional terms of the offering of such shares.

    The following table sets forth beneficial ownership information,  as of July
19,  2000,  with respect to the number of shares of our common stock the selling
stockholders  own. The selling  stockholders  named below may offer from time to
time the shares of common stock shown below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>



                                               Percent of                      Percent of    Percentage of
                               Shares Owned      Class A       Percent of     Common Stock    Total Voting     Maximum Number
                                 Prior to       Prior to     Class B Prior      Prior to       Power Prior     of Shares Being
                                 Offering       Offering      to Offering      Offering        to Offering        Offered
                               ------------    ----------    -------------    ------------   -------------     ---------------
<S>                            <C>                 <C>            <C>              <C>             <C>          <C>

Selling Stockholders(1)         1,000,000           *              --               *               *            1,000,000

---------------------
<FN>

    * Less than 1%

(1)      Includes shares held by employees or officers of some of our divisions or subsidiaries, as well as other of our
         stockholders.
</FN>
</TABLE>


                                       5
<PAGE>
                          DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

    The  description  below  summarizes the more important  terms of our capital
stock.  Because this section is a summary,  it does not describe every aspect of
the capital  stock.  This summary is subject to and qualified in its entirety by
reference to the  provisions of our Restated  Certificate of  Incorporation,  as
amended, including by any applicable certificates of designation. We refer to it
as the restated  certificate.  We have  incorporated  by reference a copy of the
restated  certificate as an exhibit to the registration  statement of which this
prospectus  is a part.  This summary is subject to and qualified by reference to
the  description  of the  particular  terms of your  series of  preferred  stock
described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

General

    Our  authorized  capital stock  consists of  20,000,000  shares of preferred
stock,  $.0l par value per share,  500,000,000  shares of Class A common  stock,
$.0l par value per share,  50,000,000  shares of Class B common stock,  $.0l par
value per share, and 10,000,000  shares of Class C common stock,  $.0l par value
per share.

Preferred Stock

    Our  board  of  directors  will  determine  the  designations,  preferences,
limitations and relative rights of the 20,000,000 authorized and unissued shares
of preferred stock. These include:

o    the  distinctive  designation  of each series and the number of shares that
     will constitute the series,

o    the voting rights, if any, of shares of the series,

o    the dividend rate on the shares of the series, any restriction,  limitation
     or condition upon the payment of the dividends,  whether  dividends will be
     cumulative, and the dates on which dividends are payable,

o    the prices at which,  and the terms and conditions on which,  the shares of
     the series may be redeemed, if the shares are redeemable,

o    the  purchase  or sinking  fund  provisions,  if any,  for the  purchase or
     redemption of shares of the series,

o    any  preferential  amount  payable  upon  shares  of the  series  upon  our
     liquidation or the distribution of our assets,

o    the price or rates of conversion at which,  and the terms and conditions on
     which the shares of the series may be converted into other  securities,  if
     the shares are convertible, and

o    whether the series can be exchanged,  at our option,  into debt securities,
     and the terms and conditions of any permitted exchange.

    The  issuance  of  preferred  stock,  or the  issuance of rights to purchase
preferred stock, could discourage an unsolicited acquisition proposal.

Common Stock

    Dividends.  Holders of record of shares of common  stock on the record  date
fixed by our board of directors are entitled to receive dividends as declared by
our board of  directors  out of funds  legally  available  for the  purpose.  No
dividends  may be declared or paid in cash or property on any share of any class
of common stock, however, unless simultaneously the same dividend is declared or
paid on each share of the other classes of common  stock.  Dividends in the form
of  shares  of  stock  of  any  company,  including  our  company  or any of our
subsidiaries,  are excepted from that requirement.  In that case, the shares may
differ as to voting rights to the extent that voting rights now differ among the
different classes of common stock. In the case of any dividend payable in shares
of common  stock,  holders of each class of common stock are entitled to receive
the same percentage dividend, payable in shares of that class, as the holders of
each other class.  Dividends  and other  distributions  on common stock are also
subject

                                       6
<PAGE>

to the rights of holders  of any series of  preferred  stock or debt that may be
outstanding  from time to time.  See  "Dividend  Restrictions"  on the following
page.

    Voting Rights.  Holders of shares of Class A common stock and Class B common
stock have the  exclusive  voting  rights and will vote as a single class on all
matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders. The foregoing is subject to the
requirements of Delaware corporate law, special provisions governing election of
directors and the rights of holders of any series of preferred stock that may be
outstanding from time to time. Each share of Class A common stock is entitled to
one vote and each share of Class B common  stock is entitled  to ten votes.  The
holders of the Class A common stock,  voting as a separate class, have the right
to elect two independent directors. The Class C common stock is nonvoting except
as otherwise required by Delaware corporate law.

    Delaware  corporate  law requires the  affirmative  vote of the holders of a
majority  of the  outstanding  shares of any class or series of common  stock to
approve,  among other  things,  a change in the  designations,  preferences  and
limitations  of the shares of that class or series.  The  restated  certificate,
however,  requires the affirmative  vote of the holders of not less than 66 2/3%
of the Class A common stock and Class B common stock,  voting as a single class,
to amend most of the  provisions of the restated  certificate,  including  those
relating  to  the   provisions   of  the  various   classes  of  common   stock,
indemnification of directors,  exoneration of directors for certain acts and the
super-majority provision.

    The restated certificate:

o    limits the  aggregate  voting  power of Steven B. Dodge and his  controlled
     entities to 49.99% of the  aggregate  voting power of all shares of capital
     stock  entitled to vote  generally for the election of directors,  less the
     voting power  represented by the shares of Class B common stock acquired by
     Thomas H. Stoner,  a director,  and purchasers  affiliated  with him in the
     January 1998 private offering and owned by them or certain affiliates,

o    prohibits future issuances of Class B common stock, except upon exercise of
     then outstanding options and pursuant to stock dividends or stock splits,

o    limits transfers of Class B common stock to permitted transferees,

o    provides for  automatic  conversion  of the Class B common stock to Class A
     common stock if the  aggregate  voting power of Mr.  Dodge,  Mr. Stoner and
     their respective controlled entities falls below 21.3%, and

o    requires  the  holders  of a  majority  of Class A common  stock to approve
     amendments adversely affecting the Class A common stock.

    On July 19, 2000, our directors and executive officers,  together with their
affiliates,   owned   beneficially,   within  the  meaning  of  applicable   SEC
regulations,  approximately  39.61% of the  combined  voting power of the common
stock. On that date, Mr. Dodge, together with his affiliates, owned beneficially
approximately 26.72% of the combined voting power.

    Conversion  Provisions.  Shares  of Class B common  stock and Class C common
stock are convertible,  at any time at the option of the holder,  on a share for
share basis into shares of Class A common  stock.  The present  owner of Class C
common  stock can convert  that stock only upon the  occurrence  of a conversion
event or with the  consent of our board of  directors.  Shares of Class B common
stock  automatically  convert into shares of Class A common stock upon any sale,
transfer,   assignment  or  other   disposition  other  than  (a)  to  permitted
transferees, or (b) pursuant to pledges but not to the pledgee upon foreclosure.
Permitted transferees includes certain family members and other holders of Class
B common stock.

    Liquidation  Rights.  Upon our  liquidation,  dissolution  or winding up the
holders  of each  class of common  stock are  entitled  to share  ratably in all
assets available for distribution after payment in full of creditors and payment
in full to holders of preferred stock then outstanding of any amount required to
be paid to them.

                                       7
<PAGE>

    Other Provisions. The holders of common stock are not entitled to preemptive
or subscription  rights.  The shares of common stock  presently  outstanding are
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

    In any merger,  consolidation or business  combination,  the holders of each
class of common stock must receive the identical  consideration to that received
by holders of each other class of common stock, except if shares of common stock
or common stock of any other company are  distributed,  the shares may differ as
to voting  rights to the same extent that  voting  rights then differ  among the
different classes of common stock.

    No class of common stock may be subdivided,  consolidated,  reclassified  or
otherwise  changed unless,  concurrently,  the other classes of common stock are
subdivided,  consolidated,   reclassified  or  otherwise  changed  in  the  same
proportion and in the same manner.

Dividend Restrictions

    Our borrower  subsidiaries  are  prohibited  under the terms of their credit
facilities  from paying cash  dividends  or making  other  distributions  on, or
making  redemptions,  purchases or other acquisitions of, their capital stock or
other equity interests,  including  preferred stock,  except that,  beginning on
April 15,  2004,  if no  default  exists or would be created  thereby  under the
credit  facilities,  our borrower  subsidiaries  may pay cash  dividends or make
other  distributions to the extent that restricted  payments,  as defined in the
credit facilities,  do not exceed (a) 50% of excess cash flow, as defined in the
credit  facilities,  for  the  preceding  calendar  year  or (b)  50% of the net
proceeds of any debt or equity offering after June 16, 1998.

Delaware Business Combination Provisions

    Under Delaware corporate law, certain "business combinations," including the
issuance  of  equity  securities,   between  a  Delaware   corporation  and  any
"interested  stockholder"  must be approved by the holders of at least 66 2/3 of
the voting stock not owned by the  interested  stockholder  if it occurs  within
three years of the date the person became an interested stockholder.  The voting
requirement  does  not  apply,   however,   if,  before  the  acquisition,   the
corporation's board of directors approved either the business combination or the
transaction  which  resulted in the person  becoming an interested  stockholder.
"Interested stockholder" means any person who owns, directly or indirectly,  15%
or more of the voting power of the  corporation's  shares of capital stock.  The
provision  does not apply to Mr. Dodge  because our board of directors  approved
the transaction pursuant to which he became an interested stockholder.

Listing of Class A Common Stock

    Our Class A common stock is traded on the NYSE under the symbol "AMT."

Transfer Agent and Registrar

    The  transfer  agent and  registrar  for the common  stock is  Computershare
Investor Services L.L.C., 2 North La Salle, 3rd Floor,  Chicago,  Illinois 60602
(telephone number (312) 588-4991).


                                       8
<PAGE>

                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

    The selling  stockholders may sell shares of our Class A common stock to one
or more  underwriters  for public offering and sale by them. One or more of them
may also sell those shares to investors  directly or through  broker-dealers  or
others which may act as agents or principals.

    Sales may be effected by the selling  stockholders  from time to time in one
or more transactions at a fixed price or prices,  which may be changed, at fixed
prices,  at prevailing  market prices at the time of sale, at prices  related to
the prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. Sales may be effected from
time to time in one or more transactions on the New York Stock Exchange,  in the
over-the-counter  market,  in negotiated  transactions  or a combination of such
methods of sale.  Selling  stockholders may also sell their Class A common stock
in private  transactions  or under Rule 144 of the  Securities  Act rather  than
pursuant to this prospectus or any prospectus supplement.

    For the purposes of this prospectus and any prospectus supplement,  the term
selling  stockholder will include donees,  pledgees and other assignees  selling
shares received from the selling stockholder named herein as well as any donees,
pledgees and other assignees selling shares received from those donees, pledgees
or assignees.

    In  connection  with  the  sale of the  securities  offered  by the  selling
stockholders,  underwriters  or agents may receive or be deemed to have received
compensation  from the selling  stockholders  or from  purchasers in the form of
underwriting  discounts,  concessions or commissions.  Underwriters may sell the
securities  offered  by the  selling  stockholders  to or through  dealers,  and
dealers  may  receive  compensation  in the form of  discounts,  concessions  or
commissions from the underwriters or from purchasers.

    We will name any  underwriter or agent involved in the offer and sale of the
securities  offered,  to the extent we know,  by the selling  stockholders  in a
prospectus supplement.  We will show any underwriting  compensation paid, to the
extent  we know,  by the  selling  stockholders  to  underwriters  or  agents in
connection  with  the  offering  of  the  securities   offered  by  the  selling
stockholders,   and  any  discounts,   concessions  or  commissions  allowed  by
underwriters to participating dealers, in the applicable prospectus supplement.

    If so indicated in a prospectus  supplement,  we will authorize underwriters
or other persons acting as the selling stockholders' agents to solicit offers by
certain   institutions  to  purchase  the  securities  offered  by  the  selling
stockholders  at the public  offering price shown in the  applicable  prospectus
supplement  pursuant to contracts providing for payment and delivery on a future
date or dates.  Institutions with whom contracts may be made include  commercial
and savings banks,  insurance companies,  pension funds,  investment  companies,
educational and charitable institutions, and other institutions. We are required
to approve any contracts and the  institutions  that may become parties to them.
Any  contracts  will  be  subject  to the  condition  that  the  purchase  by an
institution of the securities  offered by the selling  stockholders  will not at
the time of  delivery be  prohibited  under the law of any  jurisdiction  in the
United  States  to  which  the  institution  is  subject.  If a  portion  of the
securities  offered by the selling  stockholders is being sold to  underwriters,
the contract may also be subject to the condition that the selling  stockholders
will  have  sold to the  underwriters  the  securities  offered  by the  selling
stockholders  not sold for  delayed  delivery.  The  underwriters  and the other
persons  will  not  have  any  responsibility  in  respect  of the  validity  or
performance of the contracts.

    Underwriters,  dealers and agents  participating  in the distribution of the
securities offered by any selling stockholder may, under certain  circumstances,
be  deemed  to be  underwriters  within  the  meaning  of  Section  2(11) of the
Securities Act. Any discounts,  concessions and commissions received by them and
any profit  realized by them on resale of the securities  offered by any selling
stockholder may be deemed to be underwriting  discounts and  commissions,  under
the  Securities  Act of 1933.  To the extent  any  selling  stockholder  and any
brokers, dealers or agents may be deemed to be underwriters, each of them may be
subject to certain statutory  liabilities,  including  Sections 11, 12 and 17 of
the Securities Act and Rule 10b-5 under the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 and
will be subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.

    Underwriters,  dealers and agents may be entitled,  under agreements entered
into  with us and the  selling  stockholders,  to  indemnification  against  and
contribution toward certain civil liabilities,  including  liabilities under the
Securities Act. Pursuant to a registration  right agreement,  we and each of the
selling   stockholders   will  be

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<PAGE>

indemnified  by  the  other  against  certain  liabilities,   including  certain
liabilities  under the Securities  Act, or will be entitled to  contribution  in
connection with these matters.  We have agreed to pay  substantially  all of the
expenses  incidental  to the  registration,  offering  and resale by the selling
stockholders  of our Class A common  stock,  other  than  commissions,  fees and
discounts of underwriters, brokers, dealers and agents.

    Any  underwriters to whom  securities  offered are sold may make a market in
those offered securities. Underwriters will not be obligated to make any market,
however, and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice.

    The  selling   stockholders   and  any  other  person   participating  in  a
distribution  will be subject to  applicable  provisions of the Exchange Act and
the rules and regulations under that act,  including  Regulation M. Regulation M
may limit the timing of  purchases  and sales of the Class A common stock by the
selling stockholders and any other participating person. Furthermore, Regulation
M may restrict the ability of any person engaged in the  distribution  to engage
in  market-making  activities  with  respect to the  particular  securities,  or
securities  into which they may be  converted or exchanged or for which they may
be exercised, for a period of up to five business days prior to the commencement
of the  distribution.  All of the foregoing may affect the  marketability of the
offered  securities  and the  ability of any  person to engage in  market-making
activities with respect to the offered securities,  or the securities into which
they may be converted or exchanged or for which they may be exercised.

    Certain of the  underwriters and their affiliates may engage in transactions
with and perform  services for us in the  ordinary  course of business for which
they receive compensation.


                       VALIDITY OF THE OFFERED SECURITIES

     Sullivan  &  Worcester  LLP,  Boston,  Massachusetts,  will  pass  upon the
validity of the offered securities for the selling stockholders.  As of July 31,
2000, Norman A. Bikales, a member of the firm of Sullivan & Worcester LLP, owned
11,000  shares of our Class A common  stock and 41,490  shares of Class B common
stock and had  options  to  purchase  20,000  shares of Class A common  stock at
$10.00 per share and 25,000 shares of Class A common stock at $23.813 per share.
Mr. Bikales and other partners and associates of that firm serve as secretary or
assistant secretaries of us and certain of our subsidiaries.


                                     EXPERTS

     The  consolidated   financial  statements  of  American  Tower  Corporation
incorporated in this  prospectus by reference from American Tower  Corporation's
Annual  Report  on Form  10-K for the year  ended  December  31,  1999 have been
audited  by  Deloitte & Touche  LLP,  independent  auditors,  as stated in their
report, which is incorporated herein by reference,  and has been so incorporated
in reliance  upon the report of such firm given upon their  authority as experts
in accounting and auditing.

    We are incorporating the following financial statements by reference in this
prospectus from our Form 8-K dated March 30, 2000:

o    The consolidated  financial statements of UNIsite, Inc. and subsidiaries as
     of December  31, 1999 and 1998 and for the three years ended  December  31,
     1999 have been  incorporated  by reference  herein and in the  registration
     statement in reliance  upon the report of KPMG LLP,  independent  certified
     public  accountants,   incorporated  by  reference  herein,  and  upon  the
     authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

o    The consolidated  financial statements of ICG Satellite Services,  Inc. and
     subsidiary as of November 30, 1999 and for the eleven months ended November
     30, 1999 have been incorporated by reference herein and in the registration
     statement in reliance  upon the report of KPMG LLP,  independent  certified
     public  accountants,   incorporated  by  reference  herein,  and  upon  the
     authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.


                                       10
<PAGE>

                              ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

    This  prospectus  is  under  a  so-called  shelf  registration  for  selling
stockholders  to offer  outstanding  shares of our Class A common stock owned by
them.  Under this shelf  process,  the  selling  stockholders  may sell up to an
aggregate  of  1,000,000  shares of our Class A common  stock.  This  prospectus
provides you with a general  description  of the  securities  we and the selling
stockholders may offer. Each time the selling  stockholders sell securities,  if
the  terms  of the  offering  are  different  than  what  is  described  in this
prospectus,  we or the selling stockholders will provide a prospectus supplement
containing specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus
supplement  may also  add,  update,  or  change  information  contained  in this
prospectus.  You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus  supplement
together with  additional  information  described below under the heading "Where
You Can Find More Information" and under the heading "Documents  Incorporated By
Reference" on page 12.

                               WHERE YOU CAN FIND
                                MORE INFORMATION

    We file annual,  quarterly and current  reports,  proxy statements and other
information with the SEC. You may read and copy any reports, statements or other
information  on file at the SEC's  public  reference  room at 450 Fifth  Street,
N.W.,  Washington,  D.C.  20549.  You can request copies of those documents upon
payment  of a  duplicating  fee to the SEC.  You may  also  review a copy of the
registration  statement at the SEC's regional  offices in Chicago,  Illinois and
New  York,  New  York.  Please  call  the  SEC  at  1-800-SEC-0330  for  further
information on the operation of the public  reference  rooms. You can review our
SEC filings and the registration  statement by accessing the SEC's Internet site
at http://www.sec.gov.

              CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

    We have made and  incorporated  by reference  forward-looking  statements in
this document.  Forward-looking  statements  include those  regarding our goals,
beliefs,  plans or current expectations and other statements contained regarding
matters  that are not  historical  facts.  For  example,  when we use the  words
believe,   expect,   anticipate   or   similar   expressions,   we  are   making
forward-looking   statements.   Forward-looking  statements  include  statements
concerning:

o    the outcome of our growth strategy,

o    future results of operations,

o    liquidity and capital expenditures,

o    construction and acquisition activities,

o    debt levels and the ability to obtain  financing  and make  payments on our
     debt,

o    regulatory  developments and competitive  conditions in the  communications
     site and wireless carrier industries,

o    projected  growth  of the  wireless  communications  and  wireless  carrier
     industries,

o    dependence on demand for satellites for Internet data transmission, and

o    general economic conditions.

    Our forward-looking  statements are subject to risks and uncertainties.  You
should note that many  factors,  some of which are  discussed  elsewhere in this
prospectus or in the documents we have  incorporated by reference,  could affect
us in the future and could  cause our  results to differ  materially  from those
expressed in our forward-looking  statements.  For a discussion of some of these
factors, please read carefully the information under "Risk Factors"

                                       11
<PAGE>

beginning on page 1. We are not required to release  publicly the results of any
revisions  to these  forward-looking  statements  we may make to reflect  future
events or circumstances.

                             DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED
                                  BY REFERENCE

    The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" the information we file with
them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring
you to those documents.  The information incorporated by reference is considered
to be part of this  prospectus.  Statements  in this  prospectus  regarding  the
contents of any contract or other document may not be complete. You should refer
to the  copy of the  contract  or other  document  filed  as an  exhibit  to the
registration  statement.  Later  information  filed with the SEC will update and
supersede  information  we have  included or  incorporated  by reference in this
prospectus.

    We incorporate by reference the documents  listed below and any filings made
after the date of the  original  filing of the  registration  statement of which
this  prospectus is a part made with the SEC under Section 13(a),  13(c),  14 or
15(d) of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 until our offering is completed or
terminated:

o    our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999,

o    our  Quarterly  Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters  ended March 31, 2000
     and June 30, 2000,

o    our Current  Reports on Form 8-K dated January 28, 2000,  January 31, 2000,
     February 9, 2000,  February 24, 2000, March 14, 2000, March 30, 2000, April
     13, 2000, May 15, 2000, May 23, 2000,  June 12, 2000,  June 23, 2000,  June
     29, 2000, July 28, 2000, August 1, 2000 and August 14, 2000, and

o    the description of our Class A common stock  contained in our  registration
     statement on Form 8-A (File No. 001-14195), filed on June 4, 1998.

    We will provide you with a copy of the  information we have  incorporated by
reference,  excluding exhibits other than those to which we specifically  refer.
You may obtain this  information at no cost by writing or telephoning us at: 116
Huntington  Avenue,  Boston,  Massachusetts  02116,  (617) 375-7500,  Attention:
Director of Investor Relations.


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