<PAGE>
Exhibit 23.1
Consent of Independent Auditors
We consent to the references to our firm under the caption "Experts" in the
Registration Statement (Form S-4 No. 333-36804) and related Prospectus of
Madison River Capital, LLC, and Madison River Finance Corp. for the offer to
exchange its 13 1/4% Senior Notes due 2010 and to the inclusion herein of (i)
our report dated February 11, 2000 with respect to the consolidated financial
statements and schedule of Madison River Capital, LLC, for the years ended
December 31, 1997, 1998 and 1999, (ii) our report dated January 23, 1998 with
respect to the consolidated financial statements of the Company's predecessor,
MEBCOM Communications, Inc., for the year ended December 31, 1997 and (iii) our
report dated January 7, 2000 with respect to the consolidated statements of
operations and cash flows of Gulf Coast Services, Inc. for the years ended
December 31, 1997 and 1998 and the period from January 1, 1999 to September 29,
1999.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Raleigh, North Carolina
June 20, 2000
