ROCHESTER TELEPHONE CORP
S-3/A, 1994-01-20
TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS (NO RADIOTELEPHONE)
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<PAGE>
   
   AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON JANUARY 20, 1994.
    
                                                       REGISTRATION NO. 33-51601
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                            ------------------------
   
                                AMENDMENT NO. 1
                                       TO
                                    FORM S-3
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
    
                            ------------------------
                        ROCHESTER TELEPHONE CORPORATION
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

<TABLE>
<S>                          <C>
         NEW YORK                 16-0613330
      (STATE OR OTHER          (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
      JURISDICTION OF           IDENTIFICATION
     INCORPORATION OR               NUMBER)
       ORGANIZATION)
</TABLE>

                            ------------------------
   
                              ROCHESTER TEL CENTER
                            180 SOUTH CLINTON AVENUE
                         ROCHESTER, NEW YORK 14646-0700
                                 (716) 777-1000
         (ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING
            AREA CODE, OF REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
    
                         ------------------------------
                           JOSEPHINE S. TRUBEK, ESQ.
                              CORPORATE SECRETARY
                        ROCHESTER TELEPHONE CORPORATION
                              ROCHESTER TEL CENTER
                            180 SOUTH CLINTON AVENUE
                         ROCHESTER, NEW YORK 14646-0700
                                 (716) 777-6713
           (NAME, ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER,
                   INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)
                         ------------------------------
                                   COPIES TO:

<TABLE>
<S>                                      <C>
       VINCENT PAGANO, JR., ESQ.                  PETER H. DARROW, ESQ.
      SIMPSON THACHER & BARTLETT           CLEARY, GOTTLIEB, STEEN & HAMILTON
         425 LEXINGTON AVENUE                       ONE LIBERTY PLAZA
     NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10017-3909              NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10006
            (212) 455-2000                           (212) 225-2000
</TABLE>

                            ------------------------
        APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC:
  As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.

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

   
    If  any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to  Rule 415 under the Securities Act  of
1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest
reinvestment plans, 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,  AS AMENDED,  OR UNTIL  THE REGISTRATION  STATEMENT
SHALL  BECOME EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS  THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID
SECTION 8(A), MAY DETERMINE.  PURSUANT TO RULE 429  UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT  OF
1933,  THE  PROSPECTUS INCLUDED  IN THIS  REGISTRATION  STATEMENT IS  A COMBINED
PROSPECTUS AND ALSO  RELATES TO REGISTRATION  STATEMENT NO. 33-40824  PREVIOUSLY
FILED  BY THE COMPANY AND DECLARED EFFECTIVE ON JUNE 27, 1991. THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT CONSTITUTES POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT  NO. 1 TO REGISTRATION  STATEMENT
NO.  33-40824 AND SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE IN  ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(C) OF THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<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.
<PAGE>
   
                             SUBJECT TO COMPLETION
                                JANUARY 20, 1994
    
PROSPECTUS

5,000,000 SHARES

ROCHESTER TELEPHONE CORPORATION

COMMON STOCK
($1.00 PAR VALUE)

   
Of the 5,000,000 shares of Common Stock of Rochester Telephone Corporation  (the
"Company"),  $1.00 par value per share (the "Common Stock"), offered hereby (the
"Offering"), 2,885,000  Shares are  being sold  by the  Selling Stockholder  and
2,115,000  Shares are being issued and sold by the Company. None of the proceeds
of the  sale of  Shares  by the  Selling Stockholder  will  be received  by  the
Company. See "Selling Stockholder."
    

   
The  Common Stock  is listed on  the New  York Stock Exchange  under the trading
symbol "RTC." On January 19,  1994, the last reported  sale price of the  Common
Stock  as reported on the New York  Stock Exchange was $42.375. See "Price Range
of Common Stock and Dividends."
    

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>
                                                                                               PROCEEDS TO
                                   PRICE TO            UNDERWRITING        PROCEEDS TO         SELLING
                                   PUBLIC              DISCOUNT            COMPANY (1)(2)      STOCKHOLDER
<S>                                <C>                 <C>                 <C>                 <C>
Per Share........................  $                   $                   $                   $
Total............................  $                   $                   $                   $
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<FN>
(1) Before deducting expenses payable by the Company estimated at $371,000.
(2) The  Company has granted the Underwriters a  30-day option to purchase up to
    750,000 additional shares of Common Stock  at the Price to Public, less  the
    Underwriting  Discount,  solely to  cover over-allotments,  if any.  If such
    option is  exercised  in  full,  the total  Price  to  Public,  Underwriting
    Discount  and Proceeds to  Company will be $        , $        and $       ,
    respectively. See "Underwriting."
</TABLE>

   
The Shares are offered subject to receipt and acceptance by the Underwriters, to
prior sale and to the right of the Underwriters to reject any order in whole  or
in  part  and to  withdraw, cancel  or modify  the offer  without notice.  It is
expected that delivery  of the  Shares will  be made  at the  office of  Salomon
Brothers  Inc, Seven  World Trade  Center, New  York, New  York, or  through the
facilities of The Depository Trust Company, on or about        , 1994.
    

SALOMON BROTHERS INC

                 LEHMAN BROTHERS

                                                      SMITH BARNEY SHEARSON INC.

   
The date of this Prospectus is          , 1994.
    
<PAGE>
   
           Two maps showing the location of the telephone properties,
          cellular interests and long distance network of the Company.
    

IN CONNECTION  WITH THIS  OFFERING, THE  UNDERWRITERS MAY  OVER-ALLOT OR  EFFECT
TRANSACTIONS  WHICH STABILIZE OR MAINTAIN THE MARKET PRICE OF THE SHARES OFFERED
HEREBY AT A LEVEL ABOVE THAT WHICH  MIGHT OTHERWISE PREVAIL IN THE OPEN  MARKET.
SUCH  TRANSACTIONS MAY BE EFFECTED ON THE  NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE, IN THE OVER-
THE-COUNTER  MARKET  OR  OTHERWISE.  SUCH  STABILIZING,  IF  COMMENCED,  MAY  BE
DISCONTINUED AT ANY TIME.

                                       2
<PAGE>
                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION

    The  Company is subject to the  informational requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of  1934 (the  "Exchange Act")  and in  accordance therewith  files
reports,  proxy  or  information  statements  and  other  information  with  the
Securities  and  Exchange  Commission   (the  "Commission").  The   Registration
Statement  of which  this Prospectus  forms a  part, as  well as  reports, proxy
statements and other  information filed  by the  Company, may  be inspected  and
copied  at  the  public reference  facilities  maintained by  the  Commission at
Judiciary Plaza, Room 1024, 450 Fifth  Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549  and
at  the  Commission's  regional offices  at  Northwest Atrium  Center,  500 West
Madison Street,  Suite  1400, Chicago,  Illinois  60661 and  Seven  World  Trade
Center,  New York, New  York 10048. Copies  of such material  can be obtained at
prescribed rates from  the Public  Reference Section  of the  Commission at  450
Fifth  Street,  N.W.,  Washington,  D.C. 20549.  Reports  and  other information
concerning the Company can also be inspected at the office of the New York Stock
Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.

    The Company has filed with the  Commission a registration statement on  Form
S-3  (herein,  together with  all amendments  and exhibits,  referred to  as the
"Registration Statement")  under the  Securities Act  of 1933  (the  "Securities
Act")  with  respect  to  the  Common  Stock  being  offered  pursuant  to  this
Prospectus. This Prospectus does  not contain all information  set forth in  the
Registration  Statement, certain parts  of which are  omitted in accordance with
the rules and regulations of the  Commission. The Registration Statement may  be
inspected  and  copied  at the  public  reference facilities  maintained  by the
Commission at the  addresses set  forth in the  preceding paragraph.  Statements
contained  herein concerning the provisions of any documents are not necessarily
complete and, in each instance, reference is  made to the copy of such  document
filed  as an exhibit to  the Registration Statement or  otherwise filed with the
Commission. Each such statement is qualified in its entirety by such reference.

               INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

    The following  documents, which  have been  filed with  the Commission,  are
hereby incorporated by reference:

        1.   Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the fiscal year ended
    December 31, 1992 and Amendment No. 1 thereto on Form 10-K/A;

        2.   Quarterly  Reports on  Form  10-Q of  the  Company for  the  fiscal
    quarters  ended March 31, 1993 (as amended), June 30, 1993 and September 30,
    1993; and

   
        3.   Current  Reports  on  Form  8-K, filed  by  the  Company  with  the
    Commission on February 3, 1993, March 19, 1993, July 9, 1993 and January 20,
    1994.
    

    All  documents  filed  by the  Company  after  the date  of  this Prospectus
pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c),  14 and 15(d) of  the Exchange Act, prior  to
the  completion  of  the Offering  being  made  hereby, shall  be  deemed  to be
incorporated herein by reference and to be  a part hereof from the date of  such
documents.  Any statement contained  in a document incorporated  or deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein  shall be deemed to  be modified or  superseded
for  purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein
or in any other  subsequently filed document  which also is or  is deemed to  be
incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such
statements  as modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified
or superseded, to constitute a part of this Prospectus.

    The Company will provide  without charge to  each person to  whom a copy  of
this  Prospectus is delivered,  upon written or  oral request of  such person, a
copy of any or all of the documents referred to above which have been or may  be
incorporated  by reference  in this Prospectus  (other than  certain exhibits to
such documents). Requests for such documents  may be made by writing Kristen  H.
Jenks,  Corporate Manager-Investor  Relations, Rochester  Telephone Corporation,
Rochester Tel Center, 180 South Clinton Avenue, Rochester, New York 14646.

                                       3
<PAGE>
                               PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

    THIS  SUMMARY  DOES NOT  PURPORT  TO BE  COMPLETE  AND IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO  THE DETAILED INFORMATION  APPEARING ELSEWHERE IN  THIS
PROSPECTUS.  TERMS NOT  DEFINED IN  THIS SUMMARY  ARE DEFINED  ELSEWHERE HEREIN.
UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED,  INFORMATION IN  THIS PROSPECTUS  RELATING TO  SHARE
DATA   ASSUMES  NO  EXERCISE  OF  THE   OVER-ALLOTMENT  OPTION  GRANTED  TO  THE
UNDERWRITERS.

                                  THE COMPANY

   
    Rochester Telephone Corporation (the "Company") is a major U.S.  diversified
telecommunications  company and the largest independent telephone company in New
York State.  The  Company's principal  lines  of business  are  regulated  local
telephone  operations ("Telephone  Operations") and long  distance, wireless and
other telecommunication services ("Telecommunication Services"). In addition  to
the  local exchange  carrier in  Rochester (the  "Rochester Operating Company"),
Telephone Operations  consists  of  36 other  local  exchange  companies,  which
together  with the Rochester  Operating Company serve, as  of December 31, 1993,
approximately 931,650 access lines in 14 states.
    

   
    In 1988,  the  Company  accelerated  its  strategy  to  diversify  telephone
operations  outside of New York State. Since that time, the Company has acquired
29  local  telephone  companies.  Through  effective  marketing  and   operating
efficiencies,   regional   telephone  operations   have  become   a  significant
contributor to profitability. The Company made the strategic decision in 1984 to
enter the long distance business, which it was free to enter because the Company
is not a Regional Bell Operating Company ("RBOC") and is not subject to the same
restrictions imposed upon  an RBOC. In  1985, the Company  entered the  wireless
communications business. The Company now provides long distance voice, video and
data communications services in New York State, New England and the Mid-Atlantic
and   Midwest  regions,   wireless  communications   serving  a   population  of
approximately 4.3 million in  five states, and  designs, installs and  maintains
integrated business communications systems, primarily in New York State.
    

   
    The  Company had total assets of  approximately $1.5 billion at December 31,
1993. The Company's revenues grew from  approximately $515 million for the  year
ended  December  31,  1988 to  approximately  $906  million for  the  year ended
December 31, 1993.
    

                              COMPETITIVE STRATEGY

    The  Company's  strategy  is  to  be  the  leading  provider  of  integrated
telecommunication  products and services to its customers, combining significant
capabilities in local telephone, long distance and wireless communications. As a
local service provider, the Company has a  direct link to its customer base  and
therefore  an opportunity to market a broad array of telecommunications products
to its customers. The Company has upgraded its networks and information systems,
expanded its long distance business and increased its presence and investment in
the wireless communications  business. The Company  intends to pursue  continued
growth  through expansion of  its existing business,  development of value-added
products and selected acquisitions.

   
    TELEPHONE OPERATIONS.  Since the beginning of 1988, the Company has invested
over $560 million in upgrading its  Telephone Operations business and over  $480
million  for  the  acquisition  of independent  telephone  companies.  Over this
period, the Company substantially digitized its switching networks. As a result,
the Company  has developed  an over  99 percent  digital network  in  Rochester,
making  it one of the largest digital cities  in the United States. In its other
operating  regions,  the  Company  has  on  average  over  91  percent   digital
capability.  In addition, the Company has  been able to achieve substantial cost
reductions through  elimination  of  duplicative  services  and  procedures  and
consolidation  of administrative functions, reducing the number of employees per
ten thousand access lines by over 20 percent since 1988 to 37 as of December 31,
1993.
    

   
    The Company is pursuing  alternatives to provide  broadband services to  its
customers.  To date, the Company has installed  over 10,000 miles of fiber optic
cable in the Rochester area to provide its
    

                                       4
<PAGE>
business customers with enhanced capacity  and product capability. With  respect
to residential customers, the Company is conducting marketing trials and testing
new  technologies as exemplified by  a true video on  demand service utilizing a
hybrid fiber-optic/coaxial cable  network, expected to  be marketed to  selected
customers in its Rochester service area during the second quarter of 1994.

   
    TELECOMMUNICATION   SERVICES.    Telecommunication   Services  is  comprised
primarily of  RCI  Long Distance,  a  regional interexchange  carrier,  and  the
Company's  affiliated  long  distance  businesses  ("RCI"),  and  the  Company's
wireless communications  operations  ("Cellular Operations").  Since  1984,  the
Company has expanded its long distance coverage area and product offerings, both
internally  and through acquisitions.  Today, RCI provides  services through its
owned  and   leased  digital   transmission  system,   primarily  to   small-and
medium-sized  businesses and residential customers in  New York, New England and
the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions. RCI's business is expected to grow through
integration of long distance service  with local exchange customers,  additional
product offerings and geographic expansion.
    

   
    Cellular  Operations provides  cellular and  paging services  in western New
York  and,  upon  implementation  of   a  proposed  50/50  joint  venture   (the
"Supersystem") with NYNEX Mobile Communications Company ("NYNEX") in early 1994,
will  manage  cellular  systems  in  New  York  State  serving  a  population of
approximately 4.3 million. The Supersystem will  allow the Company to provide  a
broad  range of products to an enlarged service area through existing facilities
with a minimal  incremental investment.  The Company  has additional  nonmanaged
cellular  interests in New York State and four other states serving a population
of approximately  2.1  million,  and  is a  founding  member  of  MobiLink,  the
nationwide cellular consortium.
    

    The  Company is  regulated by the  New York State  Public Service Commission
(the  "NYSPSC").  In   February  1993,   the  Company  filed   a  petition   for
reorganization  with the  NYSPSC to establish  two new  companies: a competitive
retail  full-service  telecommunications  company,  and  a  regulated  wholesale
network  company  which would  provide access  to the  Rochester network  to all
telecommunications providers (the "Open Market  Plan"). A holding company  would
be  the parent corporation of the two  new companies. The Company considers this
unique operating structure to be a natural outgrowth of its current  operations,
but cannot predict whether or when it will be approved by the NYSPSC and, if so,
in what form.

                                  THE OFFERING

<TABLE>
<S>                                                    <C>
Common Stock being offered by the Company............  2,115,000 shares
Common Stock being offered by C FON Corporation (the   2,885,000 shares
  "Selling Stockholder").............................
Shares of Common Stock to be outstanding after the     36,083,119 shares (1)
  Offering...........................................
Use of proceeds to the Company.......................  For general corporate purposes,
                                                       principally for the expansion of the
                                                       Company's businesses. See "Use of
                                                       Proceeds".
New York Stock Exchange Symbol.......................  RTC
<FN>
- ------------------------
(1) Excludes  171,360 shares issuable  pursuant to director  and executive stock
    option plans  (of which  options  to purchase  14,806 shares  are  presently
    exercisable)  and up to 84,375  shares which may be  issued as final payment
    for an acquisition.
</TABLE>

                                       5
<PAGE>
                      SUMMARY FINANCIAL AND OPERATING DATA

   
    Set forth below are selected consolidated financial data of the Company  for
each  of the  five years for  the period  ended December 31,  1993, derived from
financial statements  of the  Company which  were audited  by Price  Waterhouse,
independent auditors. The selected financial data for each of the five years for
the  period ended December 31, 1993 should  be read in conjunction with the more
detailed financial information incorporated in this Prospectus by reference.
    

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                    ----------------------------------------------------------
                                                       1993        1992        1991        1990        1989
                                                    ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
                                                             (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
<S>                                                 <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>
FINANCIAL DATA:
TELEPHONE OPERATIONS:
  Total Revenues..................................    $593,871    $567,272    $497,597    $417,520    $386,146
  Operating Income................................     164,271     152,032     131,741     109,703     104,240
  Depreciation....................................      99,995     100,692      86,467      72,588      60,538
  Construction Expenditures.......................      86,479     114,906      98,927      93,816      94,920
TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES:
  Network Systems and Services Sales..............     288,783     217,144     208,236     189,078     195,814
  Wireless Communications Sales...................      29,586      21,113      17,038      13,048      12,039
  Eliminations....................................      (5,790)     (1,480)     (9,312)     (6,652)     (3,654)
                                                    ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
    Total Sales-Telecommunication Services........     312,579     236,777     215,962     195,474     204,199
  Operating Income-Network Systems and Services...      27,344      18,918      13,153       7,551       9,276
  Operating Income-Wireless Communications........       3,256       4,110       3,412       2,000       1,885
  Eliminations....................................          74          74          62          75          76
                                                    ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
    Operating Income-Telecommunication Services...      30,674      23,102      16,627       9,626      11,237
  Depreciation....................................      14,816      13,335      12,081       8,584       8,239
  Construction Expenditures.......................      15,677       8,941       9,657      15,403      17,078
CONSOLIDATED:
  Net Revenues and Sales..........................     906,450     804,049     713,559     612,994     590,345
  Operating Income................................     194,945     175,134     148,368     119,329     115,478
  Income from Continuing Operations...............      82,720      70,503      75,289      51,935      57,386
  Consolidated Net Income.........................      82,720      69,431      79,046      51,935      83,944
  Earnings per Common Share Primary:
  Earnings before Extraordinary Items.............       $2.42       $2.08       $2.31       $1.71       $1.94
  Earnings per Common Share-Primary...............        2.42        2.05        2.43        1.71        2.86
  Dividends Declared per Common Share.............        1.59        1.55        1.51        1.47        1.43
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                         AT DECEMBER 31,
                                                    ----------------------------------------------------------
                                                       1993        1992        1991        1990        1989
                                                    ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
                                                                      (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                 <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
  Total Assets....................................  $1,510,201  $1,513,897  $1,496,737  $1,198,858  $1,122,147
  Long-term Debt..................................     492,555     525,597     591,232     363,020     354,302
  Share Owners' Equity............................     675,099     621,594     604,431     487,491     455,391
OPERATING DATA:
  Access Lines - Business.........................     262,138     238,643     226,668     181,877     167,584
  Access Lines - Residential......................     669,512     657,758     641,236     506,812     477,411
                                                    ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
    Access Lines - Total..........................     931,650     896,401     867,904     688,689     644,995
  Average Daily Carrier Access Minutes of Use (in
   thousands).....................................       9,615       8,907       7,515       5,848       5,269
  Telephone Employees.............................       3,444       3,885       3,915       3,251       3,020
  Telephone Employees per 10,000 Access Lines.....          37          43          45          47          47
  Net Cellular POPs (1)...........................   1,650,518   1,459,229   1,422,477   2,113,904   1,716,736
  Long Distance Billable Minutes (in
   thousands)(2)..................................   1,756,401   1,152,358     848,744     774,296     688,322
<FN>
- ------------------------------
(1) "Net Cellular POPs" means the population of a licensed cellular market based
    on population  estimates  for  such  market,  multiplied  by  the  Company's
    percentage  ownership interest  in the  cellular licensee  operating in such
    market as of the date specified.
(2) Includes Long Distance North after 1991.
</TABLE>

                                       6
<PAGE>
                                USE OF PROCEEDS

   
    At  an assumed public offering price of  $42.375 per share, the net proceeds
to the Company from the sale of the  Shares in the Offering are estimated to  be
approximately  $86.7 million ($117.5 million if the Underwriters' over-allotment
option is exercised  in full).  The Company  will use  the net  proceeds of  the
Offering  for general corporate  purposes, principally for  the expansion of the
Company's businesses  through internal  growth, acquisitions,  or a  combination
thereof.  The proceeds of the Offering may  also be used to reduce indebtedness.
The Offering of  the Shares  by the  Company has  been approved  by the  NYSPSC,
subject  to certain  conditions, including the  condition that  the Company must
apply for NYSPSC approval before using any of the proceeds of the Offering for a
particular purpose. The  Company cannot predict  whether and on  what terms  the
approval for any particular use of proceeds will be obtained.
    

    None  of the proceeds of the sale  of Shares by the Selling Stockholder will
be received by the Company.

                                       7
<PAGE>
                PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK AND DIVIDEND POLICY

   
    The Common Stock is listed  and traded on the  New York Stock Exchange  (the
"NYSE")  under the symbol "RTC". The number of holders of record of Common Stock
at December 31, 1993 was 20,759. In November 1993, the Board of Directors of the
Company announced an increase in the quarterly dividend to be paid on the Common
Stock to $.405 per share,  payable on February 1, 1994  to holders of record  on
January  14, 1994. The future payment of  dividends is subject to the discretion
of  the  Board  of  Directors  and  dependent  upon  the  Company's  results  of
operations, financial condition, cash requirements and other relevant factors.
    

    The  following table sets forth the high  and low sale prices for the Common
Stock for the  calendar quarters  indicated as  reported by  the NYSE  Composite
Tape,  and the dividends declared per share on the Common Stock during each such
period.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                         QUARTERLY
                                                                                       PRICE RANGE       DIVIDENDS
                                                                                   --------------------   DECLARED
                                                                                     HIGH        LOW     PER SHARE
                                                                                   ---------  ---------  ----------
<S>                                                                                <C>        <C>        <C>
1994:
First Quarter (through January 19, 1994).........................................  $   44.88  $   40.50   $  --
1993:
Fourth Quarter...................................................................       50.25      43.38     .405
Third Quarter....................................................................       48.75      41.00     .395
Second Quarter...................................................................       43.50      36.50     .395
First Quarter....................................................................       38.88      34.63     .395
1992:
Fourth Quarter...................................................................       35.75      30.63     .395
Third Quarter....................................................................       32.88      30.25     .385
Second Quarter...................................................................       33.75      29.13     .385
First Quarter....................................................................       34.00      30.13     .385
1991:
Fourth Quarter...................................................................       34.00      29.75     .385
Third Quarter....................................................................       31.38      28.25     .375
Second Quarter...................................................................       31.50      29.00     .375
First Quarter....................................................................       30.38      26.00     .375
</TABLE>

    The last reported sale price of the Common Stock on the NYSE as of a  recent
date is set forth on the cover page of this Prospectus.

    On  November 15,  1993, the  Board of  Directors of  the Company  approved a
2-for-1  split  of  the  Company's  Common  Stock  effective  upon  approval  by
regulatory agencies, including the NYSPSC. The record and distribution dates for
the  split, which will be effected in the  form of a 100 percent stock dividend,
will be established after  such regulatory approvals  have been obtained,  which
will not occur until after the completion of the Offering.

                                       8
<PAGE>
                                 CAPITALIZATION

   
    The  following  table sets  forth the  capitalization of  the Company  as of
December 31, 1993 and  as adjusted to  give effect to the  issuance and sale  of
2,115,000  shares  of  Common  Stock  offered  by  the  Company  hereby  and the
application of the net proceeds therefrom.
    

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                         ACTUAL       AS ADJUSTED
                                                                                      -------------  -------------
                                                                                             (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                                                   <C>            <C>
Long-Term Debt......................................................................  $     492,555  $
Share Owners' Equity:
  Common stock......................................................................         34,025
  Capital in excess of par value....................................................        201,591
  Retained earnings.................................................................        418,889
                                                                                      -------------  -------------
                                                                                            654,505
Less-Treasury stock, at cost........................................................          2,191
                                                                                      -------------  -------------
Common Share Owners' Equity.........................................................        652,314
Preferred stock.....................................................................         22,785
                                                                                      -------------  -------------
    Total Share Owners' Equity......................................................        675,099
                                                                                      -------------  -------------
      Total capitalization..........................................................  $   1,167,654  $
                                                                                      -------------  -------------
                                                                                      -------------  -------------
</TABLE>

                                       9
<PAGE>
                               FINANCIAL OVERVIEW

   
CONSOLIDATED OPERATIONS
    
   
    Historically, the Company's Telephone Operations have provided a majority of
the Company's  overall revenues  and income.  Telephone Operations  provided  66
percent  of total revenues and 84 percent of operating income for the year ended
December 31, 1993. Telephone Operations revenues are derived from local  service
and toll access fees, directory advertising, billing services and other services
such as sales of telephone equipment and voice mail. An increasing percentage of
the  Company's revenues and  income is being  generated by its Telecommunication
Services businesses. Telecommunication Services' revenues include long  distance
revenues  based on billable minutes of  long distance usage, and wireless access
and usage charges. Operating income  for these deregulated businesses has  grown
to  16 percent of the Company's total  operating income in 1993, compared with 8
percent five years ago.
    
   
    The Company's Telephone  Operations expenses  are primarily  related to  the
development and maintenance of its local exchange networks. Additional Telephone
Operations  expenses include costs associated with customer service and billing.
The Company's principal Telecommunication Services  expenses are related to  the
leasing  of transmission facilities and the  payment of local access charges for
its long  distance business;  and charges  for interconnection  of cellular  and
paging   operations  with  wireless  telephone   companies,  costs  of  cellular
telephones and paging units sold and other wireless network-related expenses.
    
   
    Revenues and  expenses derived  from the  Company's majority-owned  cellular
operations  are currently, and  will continue to be,  reflected in the Company's
consolidated  financial  statements.  The   Company's  minority  interests   are
accounted  for using the equity  method, as will be  the proposed 50/50 cellular
joint venture with NYNEX. The Company  will recognize its proportional share  of
the  net income (loss) of the  cellular operations following commencement of the
proposed joint  venture with  NYNEX in  the line  item entitled  "Equity in  net
income (loss) of unconsolidated partnerships and corporations."
    

   
    Consolidated  revenues and sales were $906  million in 1993, a $102 million,
or 12.7 percent,  increase over  1992. This followed  a 12.7  percent, or  $90.5
million,  increase in 1992 over 1991. Of  the $102 million increase in 1993, $15
million  related   to  additional   revenues  associated   with  1993   purchase
acquisitions.  Of the $90.5 million increase  in 1992, $56.7 million was related
to additional revenues associated with 1991 purchase acquisitions (see Note 2 to
the consolidated financial  statements incorporated herein  by reference to  the
Company's  Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 20, 1994 for further details
about the purchase  acquisitions). Excluding the  impact of these  acquisitions,
revenues and sales rose 10.9 percent in 1993 and 5.2 percent in 1992.
    
   
    Consolidated  costs  and expenses  were $711.5  million, $628.9  million and
$565.2 million in 1993, 1992 and 1991, respectively, reflecting 13.1 percent and
11.3 percent increases  in 1993  and 1992,  respectively. Purchase  acquisitions
accounted  for $16.9 million of the increase  in 1993 and $43.7 million in 1992.
Consolidated costs and expenses, excluding the impact of purchase  acquisitions,
increased  10.4 percent  in 1993  and 3.9 percent  in 1992.  As a  result of the
Company's  continuing   focus  on   cost  controls   and  operating   synergies,
consolidated operating margins improved steadily over the past three years, from
20.8  percent in 1991, to  21.8 percent in 1992 and  21.9 percent in 1993 (after
excluding  the  impact  of  the   software  writeoff  described  in   "Telephone
Operations", below).
    
   
    The  Company  has  elected  to adopt  Financial  Accounting  Standards Board
Statement No.  106, "Employers'  Accounting for  Post-retirement Benefits  Other
Than  Pensions" ("FAS  106"), using  the delayed  recognition of  the transition
obligation method and will  amortize this cost  over a period  of 20 years.  The
adoption  of  this  new  standard resulted  in  approximately  $11.9  million in
additional operating expenses in  the year ended December  31, 1993. However,  a
substantial  portion of the  increase was offset  by a change  in accounting for
pensions required for rate making  purposes at the Rochester Operating  Company.
The  net  impact of  both accounting  changes  resulted in  additional operating
expenses of $3.8 million for the year.
    

                                       10
<PAGE>
   
    The financial  results  for the  three  years  include the  impact  of  five
extraordinary and unusual items:
    

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                   1993       1992       1991
                                                                                 ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                                    (IN THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS,
                                                                                    EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
<S>                                                                              <C>        <C>        <C>
Income, as stated..............................................................  $  82,720  $  69,431  $  79,046
Adjustments, net of taxes
1.Tax law change...............................................................        400     --         --
2.Software write-off...........................................................      2,145     --         --
3.Gain on sale of assets.......................................................     (3,293)    --         --
4.Early retirement of debt.....................................................     --          1,072     --
5.Cellular gain................................................................     --         --        (19,500)
                                                                                 ---------  ---------  ---------
Income, after adjustment.......................................................  $  81,972  $  70,503  $  59,546
                                                                                 ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                                 ---------  ---------  ---------
Earnings per share, as stated..................................................  $    2.42  $    2.05  $    2.43
Adjustments
1.Tax law change...............................................................        .06     --         --
2.Software write-off...........................................................        .06     --         --
3.Gain on sale of assets.......................................................       (.10)    --         --
4.Early retirement of debt.....................................................     --            .03     --
5.Cellular gain................................................................     --         --           (.61)
                                                                                 ---------  ---------  ---------
Earnings per share, after adjustments..........................................  $    2.39  $    2.08  $    1.82
                                                                                 ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                                 ---------  ---------  ---------
</TABLE>

   
TELEPHONE OPERATIONS
    

   
    Telephone Operations revenues increased 4.7 percent in 1993 and 14.0 percent
in 1992. Excluding purchase acquisitions, revenue increased 4.2 percent in 1992.
Revenue  growth was partly driven by increases in access lines of 3.9 percent in
1993 and 3.3  percent in 1992.  Growth in long  distance usage also  contributed
substantially  to revenue growth, with minutes  of use increasing by 7.7 percent
in 1993 and 18.8  percent in 1992.  In general, long  distance access rates  per
minute  of use declined  slightly to address  the telephone operating companies'
need to be competitive in this market sector and are expected to decline further
in 1994.
    
   
    Local service revenue increased due to  rate increases received in 1993  and
1992  at a selected number of non-New  York State telephone companies, offset in
part by reduced revenue  at the Rochester Operating  Company in 1993.  Increased
market  penetration of  enhanced services  such as  custom calling  features and
advanced number  identification  products like  Caller  ID also  contributed  to
revenue growth in 1993 and 1992.
    
   
    Costs  and expenses for Telephone Operations  rose $14.4 million in 1993 and
$49.4 million in 1992.  In 1992, $35.4  million of the  increase was related  to
incremental  costs and expenses associated with the telephone companies acquired
in 1991.  Adjusting  for these  acquisition-related  expenses, total  costs  and
expenses  increased  3.8  percent  in  1992.  The  primary  reasons  for expense
increases in 1993 were: the $3.3 million write-off of deferred software expenses
at the Rochester Operating Company; an increase in wages and benefits due to the
addition of employees in key functional  areas; increase in severance and  other
expenses  associated with  streamlining operations to  arrive at  a reduced cost
structure; and increase  in right-to-use fees  associated with network  software
upgrades.  In 1992, expenses  increased due to  higher depreciation expenses and
amortization of costs associated with the March 1991 ice storm in Rochester, New
York.
    
   
    Operating margins for Telephone Operations  were 27.7 percent in 1993,  26.8
percent  in  1992 and  26.5  percent in  1991.  Excluding the  write-off  of the
deferred software expense, the operating margin in
    

                                       11
<PAGE>
   
1993 was 28.2 percent. The composite depreciation rate for Telephone  Operations
was  6.2 percent in 1993,  compared with 6.4 percent in  1992 and 6.3 percent in
1991. The Company continues to pursue  alignment of depreciation rates with  the
economic lives of depreciable property.
    

   
TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES
    
   
    Telecommunication  Services sales increased $75.8 million, or 32 percent, in
1993 and  $20.8  million, or  9.6  percent, in  1992.  Excluding the  impact  of
purchase  acquisitions,  sales  rose 25.7  percent,  or $60.9  million,  and 7.6
percent, or $15.1 million, in 1993 and 1992, respectively. The increases in both
years resulted primarily from the growth in Network Systems and Services,  where
sales  in the  long distance  business were  $262.5 million  in 1993  and $187.3
million in 1992 due to increased  usage and market penetration, price  increases
and  new products. Sales  from wireless services increased  $8.5 million in 1993
and $4.1 million in 1992  and continue to improve as  a result of the  Company's
acquisition of the Utica-Rome partnership in 1993, price increases and a growing
customer base.
    
   
    Costs and expenses in 1993 for Telecommunication Services amounted to $281.9
million, increasing $68.2 million, or 31.9 percent, over 1992. Adjusting for the
impact  of the 1993  acquisitions, expenses increased by  $51.3 million, or 24.0
percent, primarily due to the increased volume of long distance traffic  carried
by  the Company and the associated costs  to originate and terminate the traffic
on local telephone company facilities.
    
   
    The increase  in  expenses in  1992  over 1991  was  $14.3 million,  or  7.2
percent. Normalizing for the impact of the 1991 acquisitions, costs and expenses
rose 4.5 percent, driven primarily by access costs. These results, which compare
favorably  to  the  increases  in  sales,  produced  operating  margins  for the
three-year period of 9.8 percent, 9.8 percent and 7.7 percent in 1993, 1992  and
1991,   respectively.  This  positive  trend   was  achieved  through  operating
synergies, new product offerings and a growing customer base.
    

INTEREST EXPENSE

   
    Interest expense decreased $3.5 million, or  7 percent, in 1993 as a  result
of  both lower debt levels and interest rates relative to 1992. During 1993, the
Company recalled $115.4  million of  debt. In 1992,  interest expense  increased
$5.5 million, or 12.2 percent, primarily due to the issuance of new debt in 1991
which  was  used to  finance  acquisitions. The  average  cost of  debt  was 8.3
percent, 8.6 percent and 8.6 percent, in 1993, 1992 and 1991, respectively.
    
GAIN ON SALE OF ASSETS

   
    In 1993, the company recognized gains on sales of S&A Telephone Company  and
a  portion  of the  company's minority  investment in  a Canadian  long distance
company. In 1991,  the gain  represents the ordinary  gain on  sale of  cellular
interests as part of the purchase of the Vista Minnesota properties from Centel.
    
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE), NET

   
    In  1993, net  other expense increased  $6.9 million, or  47.9 percent, over
1992. This increase is primarily the result of additional administrative expense
associated with the reorganization petition  filed with the NYSPSC,  refinancing
expenses and acquisition expenses.
    
   
    In  1992, the  net change was  an increase  in expense of  $3.8 million over
1991, primarily  due  to lower  equity  earnings in  cellular  partnerships  and
increased goodwill amortization relating to purchase acquisitions.
    

   
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
    
   
    One  of the most  important items in evaluating  management's success is its
use of  the Company's  capital  resources. While  increasing  net income  is  an
important  component of the process, management believes that the primary source
of value  over  the long  term  is cash  generation  over and  above  investment
requirements.  The Company's liquidity is a  function of its internal generation
of funds and access to securities  markets, as well as its construction  program
and debt service requirements.
    

   
    The  Company's primary source of funds is its net cash provided by operating
activities, which increased $12.2 million in 1993 and $52.9 million in 1992. The
increase in both years is attributable to
    

                                       12
<PAGE>
   
increases  in  net  income,  after   excluding  the  1991  cellular  gains   and
depreciation  and amortization;  and in  1992, an  increase of  $26.5 million in
accounts payable which is directly related to the timing of purchases associated
with the Company's construction program.  In addition to funds from  operations,
the  Company  accesses  the securities  markets  to  fund the  expansion  of its
business. The Company recently  filed a debt shelf  registration for up to  $100
million  of debt securities, none  of which has been  utilized at this time. The
Company has funded acquisitions primarily with newly issued stock.
    

   
    The Company uses funds for  its construction expenditures, acquisitions  and
debt service requirements. Net cash used in investing activities decreased $12.4
million  in 1993 and $148.8 million in 1992. The decline in 1993 was caused by a
reduction in construction expenditures offset in part by an increase in purchase
acquisitions. The decline in 1992 was due primarily to a $164.6 million decrease
in purchase acquisitions,  offset in  part by an  increase of  $15.3 million  in
construction expenditures.The funding requirements associated with the telephone
acquisitions  and network  modernization programs  have stabilized.  Total gross
expenditures for property,  plant and equipment  in 1994 are  anticipated to  be
$58.3  million for Telephone Operations  and $15.4 million for Telecommunication
Services.
    
   
    The net cash used  in financing activities increased  $87.3 million in  1993
and  $199.1  million in  1992. The  changes  in both  years are  attributable to
repayment/retirement of long term debt and the issuance of $239 million of  long
term debt in 1991 associated with the Company's acquisition program. At December
31, 1993, aggregate debt maturities were $3.96 million in 1994, $3.66 million in
1995  and  $3.75 million  in 1996.  (See  Note 7  to the  consolidated financial
statements incorporated herein by reference  to the Company's Current Report  on
Form 8-K dated January 20, 1994.)
    
   
    The  Company believes that internally generated  funds will be sufficient to
fund its planned construction expenditures and to service its debt requirements.
Unless used to refinance outstanding  debt, funds raised through the  securities
markets,  including the proceeds  of the Offering, will  be used principally for
expansion of the Company's business.
    

                                       13
<PAGE>
                               BUSINESS OVERVIEW

GENERAL

   
    The Company is a major  U.S. diversified telecommunications company and  the
largest  independent  telephone  company  in New  York  State.  The  Company was
incorporated in 1920 under the laws of New York State to take over and unify the
properties of a predecessor company and properties of New York Telephone Company
located in the same general territory. The Company's principal lines of business
are Telephone  Operations and  Telecommunication Services.  In addition  to  the
Rochester  Operating Company,  Telephone Operations  consists of  36 other local
exchange companies, which together with  the Rochester Operating Company  serve,
as of December 31, 1993, approximately 931,650 access lines in 14 states.
    

   
    In  1988,  the  Company  accelerated  its  strategy  to  diversify telephone
operations outside of New York State. Since that time, the Company has  acquired
29   local  telephone  companies.  Through  effective  marketing  and  operating
efficiencies,  regional   telephone  operations   have  become   a   significant
contributor to profitability. The Company made the strategic decision in 1984 to
enter the long distance business, which it was free to enter because the Company
is not an RBOC and is not subject to the same restrictions imposed upon an RBOC.
In  1985, the Company entered the  wireless communications business. The Company
now provides long distance voice, video and data communications services in  New
York  State,  New England  and the  Mid-Atlantic  and Midwest  regions, wireless
communications serving a population of approximately 4.3 million in five states,
and designs, installs and maintains integrated business communications  systems,
primarily in New York State.
    

    The  Company seeks to  maximize the integration of  its local exchange, long
distance, wireless and other services within targeted geographic locations. As a
local service provider, the Company has a  direct link to its customer base  and
therefore  a unique  opportunity to market  a broad  array of telecommunications
products to  its  customers. The  Company  intends to  pursue  continued  growth
through  expansion  of  its  existing  businesses,  development  of  value-added
products and selected acquisitions.

   
    On November 3, 1993, the Company announced that it had initiated a corporate
restructuring to become more competitive,  address the needs of specific  market
segments  and operate more cost-effectively.  The restructuring will be achieved
in part  through the  coordination  and consolidation  of redundant  systems,  a
reduction  in the  number of customer  service centers, and  the streamlining of
management.  In  order  to  better   serve  its  customers,  the  Company   also
consolidated  marketing  functions in  its  Rochester market.  In  addition, the
Company reduced  its work  force by  7  percent during  1993, and  continues  to
evaluate further reductions in work force levels.
    

   
    On  December  20,  1993,  the Company  announced  a  series  of transactions
designed to optimize its resources for  future growth and profitability. In  New
York  State, the Company and NYNEX have agreed to contribute additional cellular
properties to the Supersystem which the Company will manage, including interests
in the Binghamton  and Elmira  markets. In  Alabama, the  Company increased  its
ownership  interest in the South Alabama  Cellular Partnership from 50.6 percent
to 69.6 percent. In addition, the Company has reached a definitive agreement  to
sell  the Minot  Telephone Company  of North  Dakota, representing approximately
26,000 access lines. All of the  transactions are subject to various  regulatory
approvals.
    

   
    The  principal executive  offices of  the Company  are located  at 180 South
Clinton Avenue, Rochester, New  York 14646-0700. The  telephone number is  (716)
777-1000.
    

TELEPHONE OPERATIONS

GENERAL

   
    Through  its Telephone  Operations, the  Rochester Operating  Company and 36
wholly-owned  local  exchange  companies  serve,   as  of  December  31,   1993,
approximately  931,650 access  lines in 14  states. The  local exchange carriers
provide local  service,  toll access  and  resale, the  sale,  installation  and
maintenance  of premises equipment, and  directory services. Since the beginning
of 1988, the Company
    

                                       14
<PAGE>
   
has invested over $560  million in upgrading  its Telephone Operations  business
and  over $480 million  for the acquisition  of independent telephone companies.
Over this period, the Company substantially digitized its switching networks. As
a result,  the Company  has developed  an  over 99  percent digital  network  in
Rochester,  making it one of the largest digital cities in the United States. In
its other operating regions, the Company has on average over 91 percent  digital
capability.  In addition, the Company has  been able to achieve substantial cost
reductions through  elimination  of  duplicative  services  and  procedures  and
consolidation  of administrative functions, reducing the number of employees per
ten thousand access lines by over 20 percent since 1988 to 37 as of December 31,
1993.
    

   
    The table below sets forth certain information with respect to access  lines
as of December 31, 1993:
    

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                              PERCENT OF ACCESS
                  TELEPHONE PROPERTIES AT                                         LINES AT
                     DECEMBER 31, 1993                        ACCESS LINES    DECEMBER 31, 1993   PERCENT DIGITAL
- ------------------------------------------------------------  -------------  -------------------  ---------------
<S>                                                           <C>            <C>                  <C>
Rochester, NY...............................................       506,522           54.4%                 99%
Other NY Companies..........................................        82,942            8.9%                100%
  TOTAL NEW YORK............................................       589,464           63.3%                100%
Alabama (1).................................................        26,809            2.9%                100%
Georgia.....................................................        20,693            2.2%                100%
Illinois (1)................................................        18,187            2.0%                 96%
Indiana.....................................................         4,506            0.5%                100%
Iowa........................................................        50,582            5.4%                 54%
Michigan (1)................................................        25,635            2.8%                 89%
Minnesota...................................................        96,680           10.4%                 89%
Mississippi.................................................         5,064            0.5%                100%
North Dakota................................................        26,292            2.8%                100%
Pennsylvania................................................        33,197            3.6%                100%
Wisconsin...................................................        34,541            3.7%                100%
    TOTAL OTHER STATES......................................       342,186           36.7%                 91%
    CONSOLIDATED ACCESS LINES...............................       931,650          100.0%                 96%
                                                              -------------     -------                 ------
                                                              -------------     -------                 ------
<FN>
- ------------------------
(1)  These companies also have properties in  one or more other states (Florida,
Iowa and Ohio).
</TABLE>

   
    The Company  operates 71  central  office and  remote switching  centers  in
Rochester, and a total of 275 central office and remote switching centers in its
other  telephone territories. Of the 931,650 access lines in service on December
31, 1993, 669,512  were residence lines  and 262,138 were  business lines.  Long
distance  network service  to and from  points outside  the telephone companies'
operating  territories  is  provided  by  interconnection  with  the  lines   of
interexchange  carriers. As part of the  Company's ongoing strategy to provide a
greater selection of value-added products, it introduced advanced services  such
as  caller ID, distinctive ringing, directory-assisted call completion and voice
mail during 1992 and 1993.
    

   
    The Company is pursuing  alternatives to provide  broadband services to  its
customers.  To date, the Company has installed  over 10,000 miles of fiber optic
cable in the  Rochester area  to provide  its business  customers with  enhanced
capacity  and  product capability.  With respect  to residential  customers, the
Company  is  conducting  marketing  trials  and  testing  new  technologies   as
exemplified   by   a  true   video  on   demand   service  utilizing   a  hybrid
fiber-optic/coaxial cable network, expected to be marketed to selected customers
in its Rochester service area during the second quarter of 1994.
    

    Pursuant to  its  integration strategy,  the  Company has  developed  a  new
program  known as "Visions Long Distance",  whereby its local exchange companies
resell RCI's  long  distance services  under  the local  companies'  names.  The
Company  believes that customers prefer the  convenience of obtaining their long
distance service through their local company  and receiving a unified bill.  The
Company

                                       15
<PAGE>
introduced  Visions Long Distance  at nine local exchange  companies in 1993 and
intends to roll out the program to additional subsidiaries in 1994. The  results
of   Visions   Long   Distance  operations   are   included  as   part   of  the
Telecommunication Services segment.

    The Company can  be considered  the only  provider of  basic local  exchange
service  in the various  geographic areas in which  it has telephone properties,
including its largest holding  in Rochester. Competition  in local exchange  and
toll  services is  being facilitated by  changing technology  and regulation; as
such, there are currently entities which  have the ability to provide dial  tone
and  basic service in limited areas,  including Rochester. To benefit from these
technological advances and broaden the scope and quality of its own  competitive
offerings,  the Company has increased its  digital, fiber and switching capacity
throughout its networks and is pursuing regulatory alternatives such as the Open
Market Plan.

OPEN MARKET PLAN

    On February 3, 1993, the Company filed the Open Market Plan with the NYSPSC,
which would open the Rochester local exchange market to competition. The Company
was the first telephone company  in the nation to propose  such a plan for  full
open  local competition. The  Open Market Plan would  enable customers to choose
their local telephone company and have  a broad selection of products,  services
and  prices. It would also give the Company flexibility to broaden the scope and
quality of its own competitive offerings.

   
    Under the Open Market Plan, the Company's local exchange operations would be
divided into two  companies -- a  wholesale provider of  basic network  services
("R-Net")  and a retail provider  of telecommunications service ("R-Com"). R-Net
and R-Com would  be subsidiaries of  the Company, which  would become a  holding
company  and  would  continue  to  hold the  remaining  assets  of  the Company,
primarily investments  in  subsidiaries.  The holding  company  structure  would
provide  financial flexibility for  the Company to  continue the acquisition and
diversification efforts necessary for its long-term growth.
    

    R-Net would  be a  fully  regulated company  and  would sell  basic  network
services  such as access to the network, transport between offices and switching
to  R-Com  and  all  other  local  telecommunications  companies.  These  retail
companies  would then  package the services  for resale to  local customers. The
proposed wholesale rates unbundle network services into functional elements  for
purchase  by the  retailers. As proposed,  R-Net would offer  discounts based on
usage per line and term commitment and a short-term cap on residential flat rate
service.

    R-Com would  be a  full service  provider  of a  broad array  of  integrated
telecommunications  services,  including  local,  long  distance,  cellular and,
potentially, video and other value-added offerings. R-Com would also be able  to
package  the network elements  purchased from R-Net  and other network providers
into services such  as flat  rate service,  measured rate  service, Centrex  and
ISDN.  The Company  intends that R-Com  would eventually offer  its products and
services outside of its existing markets.

    The Open  Market Plan  must be  approved by  NYSPSC, which  approval is  not
expected  until the second  half of 1994.  If the Open  Market Plan is approved,
retail providers  of  local telephone  services  may be  selected  by  consumers
through  a ballot process. The Company  will aggressively pursue approval of the
Open Market Plan but cannot predict whether  or when it will be approved by  the
NYSPSC, and, if so, in what form.

                                       16
<PAGE>
TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES

GENERAL

   
    Telecommunication  Services is  comprised of  network systems  and services,
which  includes  long  distance  services  and  a  customer  premises  equipment
business,  and Cellular Operations, which  provides wireless communications. The
Telecommunication Services  contribution to  the  Company's total  revenues  has
increased,  accounting  for 34  percent  of total  revenues  for the  year ended
December 31, 1993. The Company seeks  to expand through increasing its  existing
commercial   and  residential  customer  base,   developing  new  products,  and
acquisitions.
    

LONG DISTANCE

    The Company provides  long distance  services through RCI.  RCI routes  long
distance  traffic  over its  100 percent  digital state-of-the-art  network. The
Company owns and operates seven switching sites, located in Rochester, New  York
City,   Washington,  D.C.,  Philadelphia,  Cleveland,  Burlington,  Vermont  and
Manchester, New  Hampshire, and  is currently  installing a  switch in  Chicago.
RCI's  switched services include  basic long distance  or measured toll service,
accessible via "1+ dialing", 800 services,  a variety of long distance  products
targeted  at specific consumer  and business segments,  and value-added services
such as travel cards, prepaid cards  and information services. In addition,  RCI
provides  flexible billing  services such as  multi-location billing, customized
accounting codes and electronic billing features.

   
    RCI  serves  primarily  small-to  medium-sized  businesses  and  residential
customers  in New York, New England and the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions.The
majority of  RCI's  revenues are  derived  from small-to  medium-sized  business
customers,  whose calling volume consists primarily of calls made during regular
business hours.
    

   
    Within the past year RCI  has implemented marketing and service  development
efforts  intended to expand  its share of the  residential long distance market.
RCI now offers residential customers  low, simplified rates, direct dialing  for
nationwide  and  international  calls,  24-hour  customer  service,  and unified
billing from the local  exchange carrier. As part  of its residential  strategy,
RCI  has  significantly increased  residential usage  through its  "Visions Long
Distance" program (as described in "Telephone Operations-General") whereby RCI's
long  distance  services   are  marketed  through   Company-owned  as  well   as
nonaffiliated  local  exchange  service  providers.  Through  the  Visions  Long
Distance program, the Company has achieved  penetration in excess of 50  percent
in  initial markets as a  result of customer preference  for unified billing and
local exchange  company  customer  service. Because  residential  long  distance
traffic  peaks in  the evenings,  on weekends  and on  holidays, when commercial
traffic tends to  be lowest, expanding  residential business increases  revenues
with   virtually  no  need  to  increase  existing  switching  and  transmission
facilities.
    

   
    RCI focuses its marketing efforts in  five key regions: Rochester, New  York
State,  New England and the Mid-Atlantic  and Midwest regions. In these regions,
RCI markets  its products  through  its affiliated  local exchange  carriers,  a
direct  sales force and direct marketing  campaigns. RCI has introduced a number
of programs designed to attract new  long distance customers. The "Budget  Call"
feature  enables any telephone user  to dial an access  code and complete a call
through RCI's long distance network, with the  cost of the call to be billed  on
the  customer's local telephone company statement.  The rates for such calls are
typically 10 percent  lower than the  rates charged by  the major long  distance
carriers. Budget Call will be available in six to ten states in 1994.
    

    RCI  completed two acquisitions in 1993. In June 1993, the Company completed
the purchase of Budget Call Long Distance Inc. ("Budget Call"), a long  distance
reseller  in  Pennsylvania,  and  began  to  utilize  the  Budget  Call program,
described above, throughout its  long distance markets.  On September 30,  1993,
the  Company  completed  the  purchase  of  Mid  Atlantic  Telecom,  Inc., ("Mid
Atlantic"), a

                                       17
<PAGE>
   
facilities-based interexchange  carrier headquartered  in Washington  D.C.  with
operations  in New  England and the  Mid-Atlantic region. Mid  Atlantic has more
than tripled its revenue in the past  five years, to $21 million for the  twelve
months  ended  September  30, 1992.  Both  purchases served  to  implement RCI's
strategy to expand  its markets  and to  broaden product  offerings in  existing
territories.
    

   
    The  long distance industry is  dominated on a volume  basis by the nation's
three largest long distance providers, AT&T,  MCI and Sprint, which generate  an
aggregate  of approximately 86 percent of  the nation's long distance revenue of
approximately $59 billion. In  each of its markets  RCI competes with AT&T,  MCI
and  Sprint, as well as other national and regional long distance companies, for
intercity communications transmission services such as 1+, dedicated access, 800
service and private line service. The primary bases for competition in the  long
distance  business are pricing, product  offering and service, including billing
and customer information.
    

WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS

   
    Since 1985, the Company  has been providing cellular  and paging service  in
the  Rochester Metropolitan Statistical Area ("MSA"),  which has a population of
approximately one million,  in a  partnership with ALLTEL  Corporation in  which
Cellular  Operations has an  85 percent interest.  Cellular Operations currently
operates and maintains 25 cell sites in the Rochester MSA. In addition, in April
1993 Cellular Operations  acquired a 70  percent interest in  a cellular  system
serving  the Utica-Rome  MSA, and  also has  investments in  wireless properties
elsewhere in  New York  and in  Alabama, Georgia,  Illinois and  Iowa.  Cellular
Operations  is also  a member of  the MobiLink marketing  alliance, a nationwide
consortium of wireless  operators. The  objective of Cellular  Operations is  to
invest  in cellular properties adjacent  to existing Company-owned properties or
when a controlling interest can be obtained.
    

   
    Cellular Operations has been profitable since its first full year of service
in the Rochester market, its  largest market, despite intense price  competition
during  the buildout  of its  network. As  prices per  minute have approximately
doubled from  their  lowest level  in  1989,  Cellular Operations  was  able  to
increase margins by maintaining its efficient cost structure.
    

   
    On  March 12, 1993, the  Company and NYNEX signed  a definitive agreement to
launch the  Supersystem  in  upstate  New York,  which  is  scheduled  to  begin
operations  in  early 1994.  The  Company will  serve  as the  initial operating
partner of  the 50/50  joint venture.The  Company will  contribute its  cellular
properties in Rochester and Utica-Rome and its Rochester area paging operations,
and  NYNEX  will  contribute  its  cellular  properties  in  Buffalo,  Syracuse,
Utica-Rome and New York State Rural Statistical Area ("RSA") No. 1. The  parties
propose  to amend the definitive agreement  to include the Binghamton and Elmira
MSAs. By  combining  marketing and  service  efforts and  integrating  networks,
Cellular  Operations and NYNEX will be able to provide seamless cellular service
to a population of more  than 4.5 million in  upstate New York. The  Supersystem
has  been  approved by  the NYSPSC  and is  subject to  approval of  the Federal
Communications Commission (the "FCC"), and the receipt of waivers by NYNEX  from
the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
    

    Cellular  systems  compete  principally  on the  basis  of  network quality,
customer service, price and  coverage area. The  Company's chief competition  in
each  market is  from the  other cellular licensee  in such  market. The Company
believes that  its technological  expertise, emphasis  on customer  service  and
development of new products and services make it a strong competitor.

    Several  recent FCC initiatives indicate that  the Company is likely to face
greater wireless competition  in the  future. The FCC  has licensed  specialized
mobile radio ("SMR") system operators to construct digital mobile communications
systems  on existing SMR  frequencies in many  metropolitan areas throughout the
United States.  Also, in  September  1993, the  FCC  announced its  decision  to
allocate  radio frequency spectrum for personal communications services ("PCS").
Pursuant to the FCC's decision, seven new  licenses will be granted: two 30  MHz
blocks,  one  20 MHz  block  and four  10 MHz  blocks.  (By comparison,  the two
cellular carriers in each  market currently have 25  MHz of spectrum each.)  The
Company  has  committed  resources  to  evaluating  the  expansion  of  wireless
communications to include PCS offerings.

                                       18
<PAGE>
   
    The Company owned the following cellular properties as of December 31, 1993:
    

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                     1993          CURRENT                       PENDING        PENDING
                                                   ESTIMATED      OWNERSHIP      ADJUSTED       OWNERSHIP      ADJUSTED
MARKET                                            POPULATION      INTEREST      POPULATION      INTEREST      POPULATION
- ------------------------------------------------  -----------  ---------------  -----------  ---------------  -----------
<S>                                               <C>          <C>              <C>          <C>              <C>
NEW YORK
  Rochester*....................................   1,012,000          85.0%        860,200          42.5%        430,100
  Orange-Poughkeepsie...........................     600,000          15.0%         90,000          15.0%         90,000
  Binghamton**..................................     305,000          24.0%         73,200          32.5%         99,125
  Utica-Rome*...................................     313,000          70.0%        219,100          50.0%        156,500
  RSA #2**......................................     231,000          12.5%         28,875          12.5%         28,875
  RSA #3*.......................................     477,000          22.5%        107,325          22.5%        107,325
  Buffalo**.....................................   1,180,000           0.0%              0          50.0%        590,000
  Syracuse**....................................     665,000           0.0%              0          27.5%        182,875
  Elmira**......................................      96,000           0.0%              0          50.0%         48,000
  RSA #1**......................................     264,000           0.0%              0          20.0%         52,800
ALABAMA.........................................
  RSA #4                                             134,000          69.6%         93,264          69.6%         93,264
  RSA #6........................................     118,000          69.6%         82,128          69.6%         82,128
GEORGIA
  RSA #3........................................     202,000          25.0%         50,500          25.0%         50,500
ILLINOIS
  RSA #2........................................     250,000           6.7%         16,750           6.7%         16,750
  RSA #3........................................     199,000           6.4%         12,736           6.4%         12,736
IOWA
  Des Moines....................................     411,000           4.0%         16,440           4.0%         16,440
TOTAL...........................................   6,457,000                     1,650,518                     2,057,418
RTC Total.......................................   4,252,000                     1,650,518                     2,057,418
Total Managed Including Supersystem.............   4,312,000                     1,288,700                     1,695,600
<FN>
- ------------------------------
*   Company managed systems.
**  Additional  Company managed systems pending completion of the Supersystem in
    1994.
</TABLE>

OTHER

    Rotelcom Network  Systems  ("Rotelcom"),  which  was  established  in  1978,
markets  and services a wide range  of telecommunications and data equipment for
mid-to  large-size  business  customers,   and  competes  directly  with   other
interconnect  vendors that  offer for sale  telephone systems  to businesses and
other enterprises. Rotelcom's  product line includes:  private branch  exchanges
("PBXs")  from Siemens/ROLM and Northern  Telecom; data communications equipment
from leading manufacturers including Dowty and Newbridge; and  videoconferencing
equipment  from PictureTel. The majority of Rotelcom's customers are in New York
State.  Rotelcom  is  also  a  partner  in  Anixter-Rotelcom,  a  joint  venture
telecommunications supply venture with Anixter Bros., Inc.

REGULATION

    The  Company's telephone operating companies are subject to the jurisdiction
of the various state regulatory authorities in each of the respective states  in
which  they  operate, with  respect to  intrastate rates,  facilities, services,
reports and issuance of securities and other matters.

   
    The Rochester  Operating Company's  local exchange  operations in  Rochester
over  the last few  years have generally  functioned under incentive regulation;
that is, rate payers share in earnings  above a certain percentage, in the  form
of  rebates.  While  such plans  generally  lock  in rates  at  specified levels
(subject to annual adjustment), there is  some relief if the NYSPSC changes  its
rules  or if  other mandatory  changes affect  earnings. Under  a September 1993
proposal currently  being  considered  by the  NYSPSC  the  Rochester  Operating
Company  would defer 50 percent of its earnings beginning January 1, 1994 to the
extent such earnings  are above the  allowed rate  of return on  equity of  10.9
percent,  subject to a number of adjustments. The disposition of any earnings in
excess of the threshold will be  determined in the Open Market Plan  proceeding.
If  the Company earns less than the allowed  rate of return in 1994, it would be
permitted to  recover certain  cost increases  up to  the level  of the  allowed
return.
    

                                       19
<PAGE>
    The  other New  York local  exchange companies  and the  Company's telephone
companies outside of New York  State predominantly operate under  rate-of-return
regulation,  although some  jurisdictions have  moved or  may move  to incentive
regulation.

   
    The  Company  and  the  NYSPSC  entered  into  a  financing  agreement,   or
Stipulation, in 1986 to allow the Company flexibility to pursue acquisitions and
to  fulfill financing requirements of existing subsidiaries. The Stipulation was
amended in 1988  to accommodate  additional acquisitions  and again  in 1991  in
conjunction with the acquisition of the Centel telephone properties. Portions of
the 1991 amendment to the agreement expired on June 17, 1993. On April 27, 1993,
the  Company petitioned  the NYSPSC  to extend  the June  17 expiration  date to
December 31, 1993. On August 4, 1993 the NYSPSC granted the extension.  Starting
in  1994, the  Company will look  to the Open  Market Plan and,  in its absence,
case-by-case applications  to the  NYSPSC to  provide the  needed financing  and
acquisition flexibility.
    

   
    The  NYSPSC issued an order  on July 6, 1993 which  imposed a royalty on the
Company in the amount of 2 percent of the total capitalization of the  Company's
unregulated  operations,  on the  theory  that the  Company's  ratepayers should
benefit from competitive advantages accrued by the non-regulated operations' use
of the name and reputation of the Company  and in order to make up for  possible
inaccuracies  in  the  reimbursement  of  regulated  operations  by  unregulated
affiliates. Based  upon an  initial  interpretation of  the order,  the  Company
estimates  that its effect is in the range of $2.0 million per year. The Company
disputes the justification for the royalty proposal which would be treated as an
offset to the Rochester Operating  Company's regulated revenue requirement  from
regulated  intrastate telephone  operations. The  Company intends  to vigorously
defend against the royalty imposition and has filed an appeal with the New  York
State Supreme Court. The Company cannot predict the outcome of the appeal.
    

    Effective May 25, 1984, the FCC approved an access charge plan which changed
the way local telephone operating companies are compensated for their interstate
toll  investment and related expenses. Access  charges are collected from access
line customers through  monthly end-user  subscriber line charges  and from  all
long  distance carriers through  usage based rates. Effective  July 1, 1991, the
Company elected  to become  subject to  price  cap regulation  by the  FCC  with
respect  to its  interstate access revenue.  This allowed  the Company increased
pricing flexibility among  interstate services while  tying overall price  level
changes to inflation and productivity constraints.

    For   additional  information  on  regulation   matters,  see  "Business  --
Regulation" in the  Company's Annual Report  on Form 10-K,  as amended, for  the
year ended December 31, 1992, incorporated by reference herein.

                              SELLING STOCKHOLDER

    Of  the shares  of Common Stock  being offered hereby,  2,885,000 shares are
being sold by  C FON Corporation  (the "Selling Stockholder"),  a direct  wholly
owned subsidiary of Centel Corporation, which is, in turn, a direct wholly owned
subsidiary of Sprint Corporation. Prior to the Offering, the Selling Stockholder
is  the owner of  record of 2,885,000  shares, or 8.5  percent, of the Company's
Common Stock,  all  of  which  is  being  sold  in  the  Offering.  The  Selling
Stockholder  received the Shares being sold by it from Centel Corporation, which
received such Shares  in 1991 in  exchange for certain  telephone properties  in
Minnesota and Iowa.

                          DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

    The  authorized capital stock of the  Company consists of 100,000,000 shares
of Common Stock,  $1.00 par value,  and 850,000 shares  of cumulative  preferred
stock,  $100 par  value (the "Cumulative  Preferred Stock")  issuable in series.
Common Stock of  the same  class as  the Common  Stock being  offered hereby  is
registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act.

                                       20
<PAGE>
    The  following summary  description of capital  stock is not  intended to be
complete and  is qualified  by  reference to  the  provisions of  the  Company's
Restated   Certificate  of  Incorporation,  as  amended,  (the  "Certificate  of
Incorporation") and By-laws and by New York law.

   
    As of December  31, 1993 there  were 33,968,119 shares  of Common Stock  and
200,000  shares of  Cumulative Preferred  Stock, constituting  three series (the
5.00% Series,  5.65% Series  and 4.60%  Series), outstanding.  Dividends may  be
declared and paid on the Common Stock out of legally available surplus. However,
no  dividends may be paid on the Common Stock until accrued and unpaid dividends
on the Company's outstanding series of Cumulative Preferred Stock have been paid
or declared and funds  set aside for  their payment. On  any liquidation of  the
Company,  the holders of the Cumulative Preferred Stock are entitled to $100 per
share plus accumulated dividends. After satisfaction of outstanding  liabilities
and  of the preferential  liquidation rights of  the Cumulative Preferred Stock,
the  holders  of  the  Common  Stock  are  entitled  to  share  ratably  in  the
distribution of all remaining assets.
    

    The  holders of the  Company's Common Stock have  exclusive voting rights of
one vote for each share  held, subject to the  voting rights of the  outstanding
Cumulative  Preferred Stock described below. The holders of the Company's Common
Stock are not entitled to cumulative  voting in the election of directors.  When
four  or  more quarterly  dividends  on the  Cumulative  Preferred Stock  are in
arrears, and  until such  arrearage at  full dividend  rates have  been paid  or
declared  and set  apart for  payment, the  holders of  the Cumulative Preferred
Stock as a class have the right to  elect a majority of the Board of  Directors.
In such event, the holders of the Company's Common Stock have the right to elect
only  the  remaining directors.  In addition,  the  affirmative vote  of various
proportions of the Cumulative  Preferred Stock is required  to (1) increase  the
authorized  amount of the  Cumulative Preferred Stock;  (2) create shares having
preferential rights equal  or superior  to the Cumulative  Preferred Stock;  (3)
issue any shares of Cumulative Preferred Stock or any shares having preferential
rights  equal or superior  to the Cumulative  Preferred Stock without compliance
with certain requirements as to earnings;  and (4) create, alter or abolish  any
voting  rights  or preferential  rights or  redemption provisions  affecting the
Cumulative Preferred Stock adversely.

    Holders of Common  Stock have  no pre-emptive  rights, subscription  rights,
conversion  rights or  redemption rights. All  shares of  Common Stock presently
outstanding are fully paid and non-assessable.

    The Company's Common Stock is listed on the NYSE under the Symbol "RTC". The
transfer agent and registrar for the Common Stock is First Chicago Trust Company
of New York.

                                       21
<PAGE>
                                  UNDERWRITING

   
    Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Underwriting Agreement,
the Company  and  the  Selling  Stockholder  agreed  to  sell  to  each  of  the
Underwriters  named below (the "Underwriters"), and each of the Underwriters for
whom Salomon Brothers  Inc ("Salomon"),  Lehman Brothers Inc.  and Smith  Barney
Shearson  Inc.  are  acting  as  representatives  (the  "Representatives"), have
severally agreed to purchase from the  Company and the Selling Stockholder,  the
respective number of shares of Common Stock set forth opposite its name below:
    

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                    NUMBER OF
UNDERWRITERS                                                                         SHARES
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------  -----------
<S>                                                                                <C>
Salomon Brothers Inc.............................................................
Lehman Brothers Inc..............................................................
Smith Barney Shearson Inc. ......................................................
                                                                                   -----------
    Total........................................................................    5,000,000
                                                                                   -----------
                                                                                   -----------
</TABLE>

    In the Underwriting Agreement, the several Underwriters have agreed, subject
to  the  terms  and  conditions  set  forth  therein,  to  purchase  all  of the
above-listed shares  of Common  Stock  offered hereby  if  any such  shares  are
purchased.  In  the event  of  a default  by  any Underwriter,  the Underwriting
Agreement provides that, in certain  circumstances, purchase commitments of  the
non-defaulting  Underwriters may be increased  or the Underwriting Agreement may
be terminated. The Company and the Selling Stockholder have been advised by  the
Representatives  that the several  Underwriters propose initially  to offer such
shares to the public at the public offering price set forth on the cover page of
this Prospectus, and to certain dealers at  such price less a concession not  in
excess  of $     per share.  The Underwriters  may allow,  and such  dealers may
reallow, a  concession not  in  excess of  $     per  share. After  the  initial
offering, the public offering price and such concessions may be changed.

   
    The  Company and the Selling  Stockholder have agreed not  to offer, sell or
contract to sell, or otherwise dispose  of, directly or indirectly, or  announce
the  offering of,  any other shares  of Common Stock,  or securities convertible
into or exchangeable  for shares of  Common Stock, except  the shares of  Common
Stock  offered  in  the  Offering  for  a  period  of  120  days  following  the
commencement of  the Offering  without  the prior  written consent  of  Salomon;
PROVIDED,  HOWEVER, that the Company may issue and sell Common Stock pursuant to
any director or employee  stock option plan, stock  ownership plan, or  dividend
reinvestment  plan of the Company  in effect at the  time of commencement of the
Offering, the Company  may issue Common  Stock issuable upon  the conversion  of
securities  or the exercise of warrants  outstanding at the time of commencement
of the Offering, and the Company may issue Common Stock as final payment for  an
acquisition.
    

    The  Company has granted  to the Underwriters  an option, exercisable during
the 30-day period after the date of  this Prospectus, to purchase up to  750,000
shares of Common Stock from the Company at

                                       22
<PAGE>
the  same price per share as the initial  5,000,000 shares of Common Stock to be
purchased by the several Underwriters. The Underwriters may exercise such option
only to cover  over-allotments in the  sale of  the shares they  have agreed  to
purchase.  To the extent that the Underwriters exercise such option, each of the
Underwriters will  have a  firm commitment,  subject to  certain conditions,  to
purchase  the same proportion  of the option  shares as the  number of shares of
Common Stock to be purchased and offered by such Underwriter in the above  table
bears  to the total  number of shares  of Common Stock  initially offered by the
Underwriters.

    The Underwriting  Agreement  provides  that  the  Company  and  the  Selling
Stockholder  will  indemnify the  Underwriters  against certain  liabilities and
expenses, including  liabilities  under the  Securities  Act, or  contribute  to
payments that the Underwriters may be required to make in respect thereof.

                                 LEGAL MATTERS

    The  validity of  the shares  of Common  Stock will  be passed  upon for the
Company by Simpson Thacher & Bartlett (a partnership which includes professional
corporations), New York, New York. Certain legal matters relating to the  shares
of  Common Stock  offered hereby  will be  passed upon  for the  Underwriters by
Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton, New York, New York.

                                    EXPERTS

   
    The consolidated  financial statements  of the  Company as  of December  31,
1993, 1992 and 1991 and for each of the three years in the period ended December
31,  1993 incorporated by reference to the  Company's Current Report on Form 8-K
dated January 20, 1994 in this Prospectus have been so incorporated in  reliance
upon  the  report of  Price Waterhouse,  independent  accountants, given  on the
authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
    

                                       23
<PAGE>
NO  DEALER, SALESPERSON  OR ANY  OTHER PERSON  HAS BEEN  AUTHORIZED TO  GIVE ANY
INFORMATION OR TO MAKE  ANY REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN  THOSE CONTAINED IN  THIS
PROSPECTUS IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFER MADE BY THIS PROSPECTUS AND, IF GIVEN OR
MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN
AUTHORIZED  BY THE COMPANY, THE SELLING STOCKHOLDER OR THE UNDERWRITERS. 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 THE DATE HEREOF. THIS PROSPECTUS
DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER  TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION  OF AN OFFER TO BUY  ANY
SECURITY OTHER THAN THOSE TO WHICH IT RELATES NOR DOES IT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO
SELL, OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY, TO ANY PERSON IN ANY JURISDICTION IN
WHICH  SUCH OFFER  OR SOLICITATION  IS NOT  AUTHORIZED, OR  IN WHICH  THE PERSON
MAKING SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS NOT QUALIFIED TO DO SO, OR TO ANY PERSON TO
WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION.

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

                               TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    PAGE
                                                    -----
<S>                                              <C>
Available Information..........................           3
Incorporation of Certain Information by
 Reference.....................................           3
Prospectus Summary.............................           4
Use of Proceeds................................           7
Price Range of Common Stock and Dividend
 Policy........................................           8
Capitalization.................................           9
Financial Overview.............................          10
Business Overview..............................          14
Selling Stockholder............................          20
Description of Capital Stock...................          20
Underwriting...................................          22
Legal Matters..................................          23
Experts........................................          23
</TABLE>

5,000,000 SHARES

ROCHESTER TELEPHONE
CORPORATION

   
COMMON STOCK
($1.00 PAR VALUE)
    

   
[LOGO]
    

SALOMON BROTHERS INC
LEHMAN BROTHERS
SMITH BARNEY SHEARSON INC.

   
PROSPECTUS
DATED _______ __, 1994
    
<PAGE>
                                    PART II
                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

ITEM 14.  OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.

    Set forth below is an estimate (except for the Registration fee) of the fees
and expenses payable by the Company in connection with the Offering:

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                  <C>
Registration fee...................................................  $  46,557
Blue sky fees and expenses.........................................     12,000
Printing and engraving expenses....................................     50,000
Legal fees and expenses............................................    130,000
NYSE listing fees..................................................     35,800
Accounting fees and expenses.......................................     20,000
Transfer Agent and Registrar's fees and expenses...................      1,500
Miscellaneous......................................................     75,143
                                                                     ---------
  Total............................................................    371,000
                                                                     ---------
                                                                     ---------
</TABLE>

ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

    The  Business Corporation Law of the State of New York ("BCL") provides that
if a derivative action is brought against a director or officer, the Company may
indemnify him or her against amounts paid in settlement and reasonable expenses,
including attorneys' fees incurred by him or her in connection with the  defense
or  settlement of such action,  if such director or  officer acted in good faith
for a purpose which he or she reasonably believed to be in the best interests of
the Company, except that no indemnification shall be made without court approval
in respect of  a threatened  action, or a  pending action  settled or  otherwise
disposed  of, or in respect  of any matter as to  which such director or officer
has been found liable  to the Company. In  a nonderivative action or  threatened
action,  the BCL provides that  the Company may indemnify  a director or officer
against judgments, fines,  amounts paid in  settlement and reasonable  expenses,
including  attorneys' fees incurred  by him or  her in defending  such action if
such director or  officer acted  in good  faith for a  purpose which  he or  she
reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the Company.

    Under  the  BCL,  a director  or  officer  who is  successful,  either  in a
derivative or nonderivative action, is  entitled to indemnification as  outlined
above.   Under  any  other  circumstances,  such  director  or  officer  may  be
indemnified only  if  certain conditions  specified  in  the BCL  are  met.  The
indemnification  provisions of the BCL are not  exclusive of any other rights to
which a director or officer seeking indemnification may be entitled pursuant  to
the  provisions  of  the  certificate  of  incorporation  or  the  bylaws  of  a
corporation or, when authorized by such certificate of incorporation or  bylaws,
pursuant  to a shareholders' resolution, a directors' resolution or an agreement
providing for such indemnification.

    The above is  a general  summary of  certain provisions  of the  BCL and  is
subject,  in  all cases,  to the  specific and  detailed provisions  of Sections
721-725 of the BCL.

    Article  II,  Section  12,  of  the  Company's  Bylaws  contains  provisions
authorizing  indemnification by  the Company  of directors  and officers against
certain liabilities and expenses which they may incur as directors and  officers
of the Company or of certain other entities.

    Section  726 of the BCL also  contains provisions authorizing the Company to
obtain insurance on behalf of any such director and officer against liabilities,
whether or  not the  Company would  have  the power  to indemnify  against  such
liabilities.  The  Company maintains  Executive  Liability and  Defense coverage
under which the directors  and officers of the  Company are insured, subject  to
the  limits of  the policy,  against certain losses,  as defined  in the policy,
arising from claims made  against such directors and  officers by reason of  any
wrongful  acts  as defined  in  the policy,  in  their respective  capacities as
directors or officers.

                                      II-1
<PAGE>
ITEM 16.  EXHIBITS

<TABLE>
<C>        <C>        <S>
      1.1         --  Form of Underwriting Agreement (to be filed by amendment).
      1.2         --  Form of Sprint Corporation Letter (to be filed by amendment).
      1.3         --  Form of Centel Corporation Letter (to be filed by amendment).
      3.1         --  Restated Certificate of Incorporation with all Amendments (incorporated by
                       reference to Exhibit 3 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
                       quarter ended September 30, 1980).
      3.2         --  Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated by
                       reference to Exhibit 3-2 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
                       year ended December 31, 1984).
      3.3         --  Certificate of Change to Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated by reference
                       to Exhibit 3-4 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
                       December 31, 1988).
      3.4         --  Certificate of Amendment to Restated Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated
                       by reference to Exhibit 3-5 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
                       year ended December 31, 1990).
      3.5         --  By-laws (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3-3 to the Company's Annual Report
                       on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1992).
      5.1         --  Opinion of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett regarding the legality of the shares of
                       Common Stock being registered (filed herewith).
     23.1         --  Consent of Price Waterhouse (filed herewith).
     23.2         --  Consent of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett (filed previously).
     24.1         --  Power of Attorney (filed previously).
</TABLE>

ITEM 17.  UNDERTAKINGS.

    Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities  Act
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
and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for  indemnification
against  such liability  (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 against
the  registrant by  such director, officer  or controlling  person in connection
with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion
of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a
court of appropriate jurisdiction the  question whether such indemnification  by
it  is against  public policy  as expressed  in the  Securities Act  and will be
governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

    The registrant hereby undertakes:

        1.  For purposes of determining any liability under 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.

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

                                      II-2
<PAGE>
                                   SIGNATURES

   
    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Registrant certifies
it  has reasonable grounds to believe that  it meets all requirements for filing
on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on  its
behalf  by the undersigned, thereunto duly  authorized in the City of Rochester,
State of New York, on January 19, 1994.
    

                                          ROCHESTER TELEPHONE CORPORATION

                                          By         /s/ LOUIS L. MASSARO

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

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

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                      SIGNATURE                                        TITLE                         DATE
- ------------------------------------------------------  ------------------------------------  -------------------
<C>                                                     <S>                                   <C>
                                     *
     -------------------------------------------        Chairman, President and Chief          January 19, 1994
                  Ronald L. Bittner                      Executive Officer
                                                        Corporate Vice President-
                      /s/ LOUIS L. MASSARO               Finance and Treasurer
     -------------------------------------------         (Principal Financial and              January 19, 1994
                   Louis L. Massaro                      Accounting Officer)
                                     *
     -------------------------------------------        Director                               January 19, 1994
                  Patricia C. Barron
                                     *
     -------------------------------------------        Director                               January 19, 1994
                    John R. Block
                                     *
     -------------------------------------------        Director                               January 19, 1994
                  Harlan D. Calkins
     -------------------------------------------        Director
                  Brenda E. Edgerton
                                     *
     -------------------------------------------        Director                               January 19, 1994
                   Jairo A. Estrada
</TABLE>

                                      II-3
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<C>                                                     <S>                                   <C>
                                     *
     -------------------------------------------        Director                               January 19, 1994
                    Daniel E. Gill
                                     *
     -------------------------------------------        Director                               January 19, 1994
                 Alan C. Hasselwander
     -------------------------------------------        Director
               Wolcott J. Humphrey, Jr.
                                     *
     -------------------------------------------        Director                               January 19, 1994
               Douglas H. McCorkindale
     -------------------------------------------        Director
                Richard P. Miller, Jr.
     -------------------------------------------        Director
                  G. Dennis O'Brien
     -------------------------------------------        Director
                 Leo J. Thomas, Ph.D.
     -------------------------------------------        Director                               January 19, 1994
                  Michael T. Tomaino
                  * By: /s/ LOUIS L. MASSARO
     -------------------------------------------
                     Attorney-in-fact
</TABLE>

                                      II-4

<PAGE>
                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1

LETTERHEAD OF:
- -------------
SIMPSON THACHER & BARTLETT
425 LEXINGTON AVENUE
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10017-3909

   
                                                                JANUARY 19, 1994
    

VIA EDGAR TRANSMISSION
- --------------------------
ROCHESTER TELEPHONE CORPORATION
180 SOUTH CLINTON AVENUE
ROCHESTER, NY 14646

DEAR SIRS:

    We  have acted as special counsel  to Rochester Telephone Corporation, a New
York corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the proposed sale of up  to
5,750,000  shares of Common  Stock, par value  $1.00 per share,  of the Company,
2,885,000 of such shares to  be sold by a stockholder  of the Company and up  to
2,865,000 of such shares to be sold by the Company (collectively, the "Shares"),
as  described  in  the Registration  Statement  on Form  S-3  (the "Registration
Statement") to  be  filed  by  the Company  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission  under the Securities Act of 1933.  The Shares are to be purchased by
certain underwriters and offered for sale to the public pursuant to the terms of
an Underwriting Agreement, the form of which will be filed as an exhibit to  the
Registration Statement.

    We  have  examined,  and  have  relied upon  as  to  matters  of  fact, such
documents, corporate records and other  instruments as we have deemed  necessary
for the purposes of this opinion.

   
    Based  upon the foregoing, we are of the  opinion that the Shares to be sold
by such selling stockholder  have been duly authorized  by the Company and  have
been  validly issued  and are  fully paid and  nonassessable and  that, when (i)
appropriate definitive action  has been  taken by  the Board  of Directors,  the
Executive  Committee  or  the  appropriate  officers  of  the  Company  and (ii)
appropriate action  has been  taken by  and  before the  New York  State  Public
Service  Commission, the Shares  to be sold  by the Company  will have been duly
authorized and, upon payment  and delivery in  accordance with the  Underwriting
Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
    

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

                                          Very truly yours,

                                          s/Simpson Thacher & Bartlett

                                          SIMPSON THACHER & BARTLETT

<PAGE>
                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1

                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

   
    We  hereby  consent  to the  incorporation  by reference  in  the Prospectus
constituting part of this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on  Form
S-3  of Rochester Telephone  Corporation of our report,  dated January 18, 1993,
which appears on page 29 of the 1992 Annual Report to Share Owners of  Rochester
Telephone Corporation, which is incorporated by reference in Rochester Telephone
Corporation's  Annual Report on Form 10-K for  the year ended December 31, 1992.
We also consent to the incorporation by reference of our report on the Financial
Statement Schedules, which  appears on  page 24 of  such Annual  Report on  Form
10-K.  We also  consent to  the incorporation by  reference of  our report dated
January 17, 1994 which appears on page 9 of the Current Report on Form 8-K dated
January 20, 1994.  We also  consent to  the reference  to us  under the  heading
"Experts"  in such Prospectus. We also consent  to the reference to us under the
heading "Summary Financial and Operating  Data" in such Prospectus. However,  it
should  be  noted  that Price  Waterhouse  has  not prepared  or  certified such
"Summary Financial and Operating Data."
    

s/Price Waterhouse

   
PRICE WATERHOUSE
    

   
January 19, 1994
Rochester, New York
    


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