WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS INC
S-3, 1996-06-14
TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS (NO RADIOTELEPHONE)
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     AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON JUNE 14, 1996.
 
                                                      REGISTRATION NO. 333-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                              -------------------
                                    FORM S-3
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                   UNDER THE
                             SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                              -------------------
                          WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                 <C>                                 <C>
             DELAWARE                              4812                             13-3585278
 (State or other jurisdiction of       (Primary standard industrial              (I.R.S. Employer
  incorporation or organization)       classification code number)            Identification Number)
</TABLE>
 
                                230 PARK AVENUE
                            NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10169
                                 (212) 687-7577
  (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of
                    registrant's principal executive office)
                              -------------------
 
                            WILLIAM J. ROUHANA, JR.
               CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
                          WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
                                230 PARK AVENUE
                            NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10169
                                 (212) 687-7577
 (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
                             of agent for service)
                              -------------------
 
                                   COPIES TO:
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                  <C>
              DAVID ALAN MILLER, ESQ.                              JERRY V. ELLIOTT, ESQ.
             GRAUBARD MOLLEN & MILLER                                SHEARMAN & STERLING
                 600 THIRD AVENUE                                   599 LEXINGTON AVENUE
             NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10016                             NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10022
             TELEPHONE: (212) 818-8800                            TELEPHONE: (212) 848-4000
                FAX: (212) 818-8881                                  FAX: (212) 848-7179
</TABLE>
 
    APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: As soon as
practicable after this Registration Statement become 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.  / /
 
    If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering.  / /
 
    If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering.  / /
 
    If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box.  / /
 
                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                          <C>                 <C>                 <C>                      <C>
                                                   PROPOSED MAXIMUM
   TITLE OF SHARES TO BE         AMOUNT TO BE    AGGREGATE PRICE PER     PROPOSED MAXIMUM           AMOUNT OF
          REGISTERED              REGISTERED            SHARE        AGGREGATE OFFERING PRICE    REGISTRATION FEE
Common Stock, par value $.01
per share................... 4,600,000 shares(1)      $26.625(2)          $122,475,000(2)           $42,232.76
</TABLE>
 
(1) Includes 600,000 Shares that the U.S. Underwriters have the option to
    purchase to cover over-allotments, if any.
 
(2) Estimated solely for the purpose of computing the amount of the registration
    fee pursuant to Rule 457 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as
    amended.
 
    THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL
FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(A) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION,
ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(A), MAY DETERMINE.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS (Subject to Completion)
 
Issued June 14, 1996
                                4,000,000 Shares
                          WinStar Communications, Inc.
                                  COMMON STOCK
                              -------------------
 
ALL OF THE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK OFFERED HEREBY ARE BEING SOLD BY THE COMPANY.
OF THE 4,000,000 SHARES BEING OFFERED, 3,200,000 SHARES ARE BEING OFFERED
INITIALLY IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA BY THE U.S. UNDERWRITERS AND 800,000
SHARES ARE BEING OFFERED INITIALLY OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA BY THE
INTERNATIONAL UNDERWRITERS. SEE "UNDERWRITERS." THE COMMON STOCK OF THE COMPANY
IS QUOTED ON THE NASDAQ NATIONAL MARKET UNDER THE SYMBOL "WCII." ON JUNE 12,
1996, THE REPORTED LAST SALE PRICE OF THE COMMON STOCK ON THE NASDAQ NATIONAL
MARKET WAS $27 3/4 PER SHARE.
CONCURRENTLY WITH THE STOCK OFFERING, THE COMPANY WILL MAKE A PUBLIC OFFERING OF
                      $100 MILLION OF  % SENIOR NOTES DUE 2006 AND
                                           $100 MILLION OF
                                            % SENIOR
                                           SUBORDINATED
                                           NOTES DUE 2006.
 
                              -------------------
 
SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE 14 OF THIS PROSPECTUS FOR INFORMATION THAT
SHOULD BE CONSIDERED BY PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS.
                              -------------------
 
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.
 
                              -------------------
 
                            PRICE $         A SHARE
                              -------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                        PROCEEDS
                                           PRICE TO       UNDERWRITING DISCOUNTS           TO
                                            PUBLIC          AND COMMISSIONS(1)         COMPANY(2)
                                           --------       ----------------------       ----------
<S>                                        <C>            <C>                          <C>
Per Share............................             $                        $                   $
Total(3).............................      $                     $                      $
</TABLE>
 
- ------------
   (1) The Company has agreed to indemnify the Underwriters against certain
       liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933. See
       "Underwriters."
   (2) Before deducting estimated expenses of $425,000 payable by the Company.
   (3) The Company has granted to the U.S. Underwriters an option, exercisable
       within 30 days of the date hereof, to purchase up to an aggregate of
       600,000 additional Shares of Common Stock at the price to public less
       underwriting discounts and commissions for the purpose of covering
       over-allotments, if any. If the U.S. Underwriters exercise such option in
       full, the total price to public, underwriting discounts and commissions
       and proceeds to Company will be $         , $         and $         ,
       respectively. See "Underwriters."
 
                              -------------------
 
    The Shares are offered, subject to prior sale, when, as and if accepted by
the Underwriters named herein and subject to approval of certain legal matters
by Shearman & Sterling, counsel for the Underwriters. It is expected that
delivery of the Shares will be made on or about          , 1996 at the office of
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, New York, N.Y., against payment therefor in
immediately available funds.
 
                              -------------------
MORGAN STANLEY & CO.    CS FIRST BOSTON
       Incorporated
 
              , 1996
<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>

[WINSTAR (*) LOGO]
- -------------------------
COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

                 WINSTAR WIRELESS 38 GHZ FOOTPRINT


                 [MAP]


                                                          [ ] 100 MHz License
                                                          [ ] 400 MHz License

[ * Over 100 cities with populations over 100,000    ]
[ * Largest multiple channel holder with 4 channels  ]
[   in the top 30 markets                            ]
[ * Over 400 million channel pops                    ]
[ * FCC freeze in place while moving to possible
    auction                                          ]

                WINSTAR PLANNED SWITCH
          COVERAGE IN NEXT THREE YEARS


                 [MAP]


[ *  10 Planned Switch Sites          ]

[ *  31 Planned Remote Notes          ]

[ ( ) Switch and Remote Node Groupings]
[     Winstar intends to provide      ]
[     telecom series to licensed      ]
[     cities within these circles,    ]
[     including more than 100 cities  ]
[     with populations exceeding      ]
[     100,000.                        ]


<PAGE>

    NO PERSON IS AUTHORIZED IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFERING MADE HEREBY TO GIVE
ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATION NOT CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS
AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATION MUST NOT BE RELIED
UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY OR ANY UNDERWRITER. THIS
PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO
BUY ANY SECURITY OTHER THAN THE COMMON STOCK OFFERED HEREBY, NOR DOES IT
CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY SECURITIES
OFFERED HEREBY, TO ANY PERSON IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH IT IS UNLAWFUL TO 
MAKE ANY SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION TO SUCH PERSON. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS
PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER SHALL UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE IMPLY THAT
THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS CORRECT AS OF ANY DATE SUBSEQUENT TO THE
DATE HEREOF.
                              -------------------
 
    NO ACTION HAS BEEN OR WILL BE TAKEN IN ANY JURISDICTION BY THE COMPANY OR
ANY UNDERWRITER THAT WOULD PERMIT A PUBLIC OFFERING OF THE COMMON STOCK OR
POSSESSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF THIS PROSPECTUS IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE ACTION
FOR THAT PURPOSE IS REQUIRED, OTHER THAN IN THE UNITED STATES. PERSONS INTO
WHOSE POSSESSION THIS PROSPECTUS COMES ARE REQUIRED BY THE COMPANY AND THE
UNDERWRITERS TO INFORM THEMSELVES ABOUT AND TO OBSERVE ANY RESTRICTIONS AS TO
THE OFFERING OF THE COMMON STOCK AND THE DISTRIBUTION OF THIS PROSPECTUS.

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

                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                         PAGE                                                PAGE
                                         ----                                                ----
<S>                                      <C>        <C>                                      <C>
Incorporation of Certain Documents by               Management............................    67
Reference.............................     4        Principal Stockholders................    71
Prospectus Summary....................     5        Description of Certain Indebtedness...    73
Risk Factors..........................    14        Description of Capital Stock..........    76
Price Range of Common Stock...........    28        Shares Eligible for Future Sale.......    78
Dividend Policy.......................    28        Certain Federal Income Tax
Dilution..............................    29        Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders......    79
Use of Proceeds.......................    30        Underwriters..........................    83
Capitalization........................    32        Legal Matters.........................    86
Selected Financial Data...............    33        Experts...............................    86
Management's Discussion and Analysis                Available Information.................    86
  of Financial Condition and Results                Index to Consolidated Financial
  of Operations.......................    35        Statements............................   F-1
Business..............................    43


</TABLE>
 
                              -------------------
 
    IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING, THE UNDERWRITERS MAY OVER-ALLOT OR EFFECT
TRANSACTIONS WHICH STABILIZE OR MAINTAIN THE MARKET PRICE OF THE COMPANY'S
COMMON STOCK AT LEVELS ABOVE THAT WHICH MIGHT OTHERWISE PREVAIL IN THE OPEN
MARKET. SUCH TRANSACTIONS MAY BE EFFECTED ON THE NASDAQ NATIONAL MARKET, IN THE
OVER-THE-COUNTER MARKET OR OTHERWISE. SUCH STABILIZING, IF COMMENCED, MAY BE
DISCONTINUED AT ANY TIME.
 
    IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING, CERTAIN UNDERWRITERS AND SELLING GROUP
MEMBERS MAY ENGAGE IN PASSIVE MARKET MAKING TRANSACTIONS IN THE COMMON STOCK ON
THE NASDAQ NATIONAL MARKET IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 10B-6A UNDER THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934. SEE "UNDERWRITERS."
 
    DURING THIS OFFERING, CERTAIN PERSONS AFFILIATED WITH PERSONS PARTICIPATING
IN THE DISTRIBUTION MAY ENGAGE IN TRANSACTIONS IN THE COMMON STOCK FOR THEIR OWN
ACCOUNTS OR FOR THE ACCOUNTS OF OTHERS PURSUANT TO EXEMPTIONS FROM RULES 10B-6,
10B-7 AND 10B-8 UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.
 
                              -------------------
 
    Concurrently with this offering of Common Stock (the "Stock Offering" or
"Offering"), the Company is making a public offering of certain senior notes and
senior subordinated notes (the "Debt Offering") as described herein under
"Prospectus Summary -- The Company -- Financing Plan." The closings of the Stock
Offering and Debt Offering are conditioned upon each other. The Stock Offering
and the Debt Offering are referred to herein together as the "Offerings."
 
       WIRELESS FIBERSM IS A SERVICE MARK OF WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
                INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
 
    The following documents or information have been filed by the Company with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") pursuant to the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and are
incorporated herein by reference:
 
        (1) Transition Report on Form 10-KSB for the ten months ended December
    31, 1995;
 
        (2) Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1996;
 
        (3) Proxy Statement dated May 3, 1996; and
 
        (4) The description of the Company's Common Stock contained in the
    Company's registration statement on Form 8-A under the Exchange Act (File
    No. 1-10726).
 
    All documents subsequently filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant
to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this
Prospectus and prior to the termination of the offering covered by this
Prospectus shall be deemed incorporated by reference into this Prospectus and to
be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents. Any statement
contained in a document 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 modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement
so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or
superseded, to constitute a part of this Prospectus.
 
    THE COMPANY HEREBY UNDERTAKES TO PROVIDE WITHOUT CHARGE TO EACH PERSON TO
WHOM A COPY OF THIS PROSPECTUS HAS BEEN DELIVERED, UPON THE WRITTEN OR ORAL
REQUEST OF SUCH PERSON TO WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC., 230 PARK AVENUE, NEW
YORK, NEW YORK 10169 (TELEPHONE 212-687-7577), ATTENTION: INVESTOR RELATIONS
(EXTENSION 153), A COPY OF ANY AND ALL OF THE DOCUMENTS REFERRED TO ABOVE (OTHER
THAN EXHIBITS TO SUCH DOCUMENTS) WHICH HAVE BEEN INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN
THIS PROSPECTUS.
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
                               PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
 
    The following summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the more
detailed information and financial statements, including notes thereto,
appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus. Unless otherwise indicated, (i) the
information in this Prospectus, other than the historical financial information,
assumes and gives effect to the Stock Offering and the Debt Offering; (ii) the
information in this Prospectus does not give effect to the exercise of the U.S.
Underwriters' over-allotment option; and (iii) references herein to the
"Company" or "WinStar" refer to WinStar Communications, Inc. and, where
appropriate, its subsidiaries. Certain of the information contained in this
summary and elsewhere in this Prospectus, including under "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and
information with respect to the Company's CAP and CLEC (as defined below)
businesses and related strategy and financing, are forward-looking statements.
For a discussion of important factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from the forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" and
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations." Effective January 1, 1996, the Company changed its fiscal year end
from the last day in February to December 31.
 
                                  THE COMPANY
 
    The Company delivers telecommunications services in the United States as a
competitive access provider ("CAP"), competitive local exchange carrier
("CLEC"), and long distance and private network services provider. Beginning in
the third quarter of 1996, the Company plans to offer Internet access services.
The Company utilizes its Wireless FiberSM services as a key component of its
transmission capabilities.
 
    Wireless Fiber services deliver high quality transmission via digital,
wireless capacity in the 38.6 to 40 gigahertz portion of the radio spectrum ("38
GHz"), where the Company is the holder of the largest aggregate amount of
bandwidth in the United States pursuant to licenses ("Wireless Licenses")
granted by the Federal Communications Commission ("FCC"). The Wireless Licenses
enable the Company to provide Wireless Fiber services in the 31 most populated
Metropolitan Statistical Areas ("MSAs") in the United States, including Atlanta,
Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco, among others, and 41
of the 45 most populated MSAs. The MSAs covered by the Wireless Licenses include
more than 100 cities with populations exceeding 100,000 and encompass an
aggregate population of almost 110 million. By exploiting its Wireless Fiber
capabilities, the Company seeks to become a value-added, economical provider of
local telecommunications services and an attractive alternative to the local
exchange carriers ("LECs"), such as the regional Bell operating companies
("RBOCs"), in substantially all of the metropolitan areas covered by the
Wireless Licenses.
 
    The Company believes that its Wireless Fiber services provide it with
certain critical competitive advantages in the evolving telecommunications
market. The Company's Wireless Fiber services are engineered to provide 99.999%
reliability, with a 10-13 bit error rate (unfaded), performance equivalent to
that provided by fiber optic-based networks and exceeding that generally
provided by copper-based networks. Wireless Fiber services provide a high
capacity, cost-effective solution for voice and broadband applications,
providing data transfer rates equivalent to fiber-optic products and
significantly exceeding those provided by the fastest dial-up modems and
integrated services digital network ("ISDN") lines. The above-ground,
installation-to-meet-demand nature of the Company's Wireless Fiber services
enables the Company to provide services to a customer more quickly and less
expensively than telecommunications providers that rely on the installation of
fiber optic- or copper-based lines for connection to customer locations.
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
    As a CAP, the Company provides local access services that utilize the
Company's Wireless Fiber services on a point-to-point basis, primarily to other
telecommunications providers and large institutional end users. Since late 1994,
the Company has focused primarily on the development and initial marketing of
its Wireless Fiber-based local access services. After an initial
market-education phase, in which the Company demonstrated the efficacy and
reliability of its Wireless Fiber services, principally though the use of field
demonstrations and the installation of trial-basis Wireless Fiber links, the
Company began receiving initial orders for Wireless Fiber service. Since October
1995, the number of customers utilizing the Company's Wireless Fiber-based
services has increased significantly and include such companies as Ackley
Communications, Inc., American Communications Services, Inc., Cellular One, Reed
Elsevier PLC, Siemens Stromberg-Carlson and Western Wireless Corporation. In
addition, the Company has entered into master service agreements with Electric
Lightwave, Inc. (a subsidiary of Citizens Utilities ("Electric Lightwave")),
MCImetro Access Transmission Services, Inc. ("MCImetro," a subsidiary of MCI
Communications Corp. ("MCI")) and Century Telephone Enterprises, Inc. ("Century
Telephone"), under which such companies are expected to utilize the Company's
Wireless Fiber services as a component of their own telecommunications networks.
The Company is in the process of negotiating additional master service
agreements with other telecommunications providers. Although the Company
believes it has made substantial progress in the initial rollout of its CAP
business, the Company currently is generating only nominal revenues from such
business.
 
    In addition to continuing the expansion of its CAP business, the Company is
implementing its CLEC business on an accelerated basis to exploit opportunities
emerging as a result of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (the
"Telecommunications Act"), which was enacted in February 1996. The
Telecommunications Act provides for the removal of legal barriers to entering
the local exchange market on a nationwide basis and will permit CLECs, such as
the Company, to offer a full range of local exchange services, including local
dial tone, custom calling features and toll services within Local Access
Transport Areas ("LATAs"), to both business and residential customers.
 
    The Company recently initiated its CLEC business, offering local exchange
services to end users on a retail basis. An integral part of the Company's CLEC
business strategy is the creation of a Wireless Fiber-based infrastructure on a
city-by-city basis that will allow the Company to provide a broad range of local
exchange services within cities covered by the Wireless Licenses. This
infrastructure will utilize the Company's Wireless Fiber capabilities, together
with switches that will be acquired by the Company and facilities leased or
purchased from other carriers, to originate and terminate local traffic. The
Company believes that its Wireless Fiber capabilities will provide it with a
critical economic advantage over many other service providers because of the
high costs such other service providers encounter in connecting fiber-optic
lines to end users. In building its infrastructure, the Company is following a
building-centric network plan, pursuant to which the Company is identifying
strategically-located buildings in areas covered by its Wireless Licenses that
can serve as hubs for its network in each city. These hub sites will be
connected via Wireless Fiber links to end user customers and fiber optic
facilities leased or purchased from other carriers. The Company believes that
the establishment of a limited number of hub buildings (generally less than a
dozen) in each metropolitan area where it has Wireless Licenses will allow it to
address the vast majority of all commercial buildings targeted by the Company in
that area. The buildings the Company is initially targeting each have more than
100,000 square feet of space and are not served by other CAPs or CLECs. The
Company estimates that there are more than 8,000 buildings in this target group,
populated by approximately 9.7 million people using more than 2.1 million phone
lines, and that these buildings represent an aggregate local exchange service
market exceeding $3.3 billion per annum. These estimates do not include
multi-dwelling residential buildings, universities, hospitals or buildings
occupied by a single tenant, and account only for voice lines and not data
lines. The Company expects to make capital expenditures of $34 million during
the last nine months of 1996 and $212 million during 1997 in connection with the
development of its CLEC business.
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
STRATEGY
 
    By exploiting its Wireless Fiber capabilities, the Company seeks to become a
leading provider of integrated telecommunications services in the United States.
Key elements of the Company's strategy include:
 
    Accelerating Rollout of CLEC Services and Leveraging of Wireless Fiber
Capabilities. The Company has commenced offering local exchange services on a
limited, resale basis in New York City and it is anticipated that the Company
will begin offering such services in at least five additional cities during the
next nine months. As the Company commences its CLEC business in each city, in
order to gain initial market penetration in that city, it intends to initially
resell the local exchange services of other service providers, such as other
CLECs and the incumbent LECs, until such time that it has established the
Wireless Fiber and switch-based infrastructure required to provide its own local
exchange services in that city. The Company currently intends to install 10 main
switches and 31 remote nodes during the next three years and plans to install
its first main switch in New York City by October 1996. The Company is hiring
sales and marketing personnel to commence marketing efforts that will target
businesses located in those buildings in which the Company's Wireless Fiber
services can be utilized for rapid, cost-effective, high-capacity linkage
between such buildings and wired networks. By utilizing its Wireless Fiber
services to originate and terminate customer traffic without connecting to end
users through the extension of costly fiber-optic lines or using the facilities
of the LECs, the Company believes that it will be able to provide many types of
bundled local exchange, long distance, Internet access, enhanced communications
and information services to its target customers at lower cost than many of its
competitors, with equal or better quality.
 
    Continuing to Market CAP Services to Other Telecommunications Providers. The
Company is continuing to target other telecommunications service providers in
the marketing of its Wireless Fiber-based local access services. The Company
believes that its Wireless Fiber services present an attractive, economical
vehicle for other telecommunications service providers to extend their own
networks and service territories, especially as they seek to rapidly penetrate
new markets opening up to them as a result of the Telecommunications Act. By
having its Wireless Fiber services packaged with the service offerings of other
telecommunications providers or utilized as a seamless component of such
providers' own telecommunications networks, the Company also hopes to leverage
the marketing and distribution capabilities of such providers. The Company
currently offers its Wireless Fiber services to long distance carriers; other
CAPs and CLECs; providers of personal communications services ("PCS") and
cellular and specialized mobile radio services (collectively "CMRS providers");
and LECs. The Company also offers its Wireless Fiber services to all types of
telecommunications service providers as viable, cost-efficient alternate routes
for their telecommunications traffic in situations where primary routes are
incapacitated and/or network reliability concerns require alternate
telecommunications paths.
 
    Providing Wireless Internet Access and Private Network Services. The Company
is marketing its Wireless Fiber services to take advantage of the
characteristics that make it an attractive solution for entities seeking
cost-effective, high capacity Internet access and private voice and data network
services. The total amount of bandwidth of each 38 GHz channel is 100 MHz, which
supports high broadband capability. One Wireless Fiber DS-3 link provides
transfer rates which are over 1,500 times the rate of the fastest dial-up modem
currently in use and over 350 times the rate of the fastest ISDN line currently
in use. In addition to accommodating standard voice and data requirements,
Wireless Fiber services can allow end users to receive real time, full motion
video and 3-D graphics and to utilize highly interactive applications on the
Internet and other networks. The Company offers its Wireless Fiber services to
businesses, government agencies and institutions with multiple locations within
an area covered by the Wireless Licenses that seek to establish their own
independent local telecommunications systems for dedicated private line voice
and data networks, including LAN and WAN applications. The Company also recently
established its first major relationship with an Internet service provider (as
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
described below under "-- Recent Developments -- Agreement with Digex") and is
actively pursuing relationships with additional Internet service providers.
 
    Exploiting Position as First to Market and Leading Spectrum Holder. The
Company currently enjoys a "first-to-market" advantage as one of the few holders
of 38 GHz licenses with an established operating and management infrastructure
and the capital necessary to rapidly exploit and roll out its 38 GHz services on
a commercial basis. The Company believes that its competitive advantage is
further strengthened by its position as the holder of the largest aggregate
amount of 38 GHz bandwidth capacity in the United States and by the broad
geographic scope allocated under its Wireless Licenses. The Company holds 43
Wireless Licenses, 30 of which provide for 400 MHz of bandwidth capacity per
licensed area and 13 of which provide for 100 MHz of bandwidth capacity per
licensed area, and which allow the Company to address an aggregate of more than
400 million channel pops (i.e, the aggregate population in the areas covered by
the Wireless Licenses multiplied by the aggregate number of 100 MHz channels
allocated under those licenses). Based on existing and proposed FCC regulations,
the Company believes that it will be difficult, in the near term, for other
entities seeking to provide wireless local telecommunications services similar
to those of the Company to obtain the aggregate bandwidth capacity and
widespread geographic coverage afforded to the Company under its Wireless
Licenses.
 
    Expanding and Improving the Company's Long Distance Operations. The Company
is seeking to expand and improve its long distance operations by (i) bundling
its resale of long distance services with its local telecommunications services,
(ii) broadening its business customer base and increasing customer retention
rates, (iii) improving operating efficiencies by reducing costs associated with
the provision of its long distance services, (iv) differentiating its long
distance services, most notably, in the near term, through the use of less
complicated billing systems, (v) using intelligent network platforms for the
provision of enhanced telecommunications services, and (vi) acquiring and
integrating customer bases from other telecommunications providers. The Company
also anticipates that it will be able to leverage upon the billing systems and
intelligent network platforms developed in connection with its long distance
services to enhance the marketability of its local telecommunications services.
 
    Acquiring Content to Complement Telecommunications Service Offerings. The
Company believes that, over time, participants in the telecommunications market
increasingly will seek to offer "content" -- from information programming,
sports, weather, business and stock market information to music, films and
literature -- to differentiate their services and attract traffic onto their
transmission networks and that the ability to deliver entertainment and
information content to consumers will play an increasingly important role in
consumers' choice of a telecommunications provider. Accordingly, as a complement
to its telecommunications service offerings, the Company produces and
distributes information and entertainment content, focusing on niche programming
such as documentaries, foreign films and multimedia sports programming. The
Company believes that, in the future, it will be able to bundle proprietary
content that it controls with various telecommunications services it offers to
provide higher-margin products and services.
 
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
 
    In furtherance of its strategy, the Company recently has accomplished the
following:
 
    Commencement of Rollout of CLEC Services. In April 1996, the Company hired
David Schmieg, the former president of the Consumer Division of Sprint
Corporation ("Sprint"), to supervise the rollout of the Company's CLEC business,
and commenced providing local exchange services to customers in New York City.
The Company also commenced a program designed to obtain, by the end of 1999,
authorization to operate as a CLEC in substantially all of the states where the
Company has Wireless Licenses. The Company currently is authorized to operate as
a CLEC in California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York,
Tennessee, Texas and Washington; is in the process of seeking authorization to
operate as a CLEC in six additional states; and intends to seek such
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
authorization in nine additional states during 1996. It also is in the process
of negotiating interconnection agreements with various local exchange service
providers, including incumbent LECs, under which the Company will obtain
services on an unbundled basis.
 
    Prequalification of Wireless Fiber Link Sites. In connection with the
development of its Wireless Fiber capacity for both its CAP and CLEC businesses,
the Company has been following a plan pursuant to which it seeks to negotiate,
prior to receipt of actual service orders, roof rights ("Roof Rights") for the
installation of Wireless Fiber links on buildings specifically identified by
existing and potential customers in the metropolitan areas covered by the
Wireless Licenses, including buildings that can provide interconnection access
to long distance carriers' points of presence ("POPs"), switch locations and
local access nodes. As of May 31, 1996, the Company has secured Roof Rights on
more than 280 buildings. Further, the Company, in consultation with existing and
potential customers, has identified more than 2,200 additional buildings in the
metropolitan areas covered by the Wireless Licenses for which it is in the
process of seeking Roof Rights.
 
    Establishment of New Relationships with Other Service Providers and
Customers. In addition to an existing master service agreement with Electric
Lightwave, the Company recently has entered into master service agreements with
each of MCImetro and Century Telephone. The master service agreements
contemplate that the carriers will utilize the Company's Wireless Fiber services
as a component of their own networks and set forth the general terms of the
relationship between the Company and each carrier, including the initial term of
the relationship, basic pricing schedules and service and installation
parameters. The Company also recently began to provide Wireless Fiber services
to the City of New York as a back-up disaster recovery system for certain of its
facilities, providing it with redundancy in the event that the city's land-based
telecommunications service fails for any reason.
 
    Agreement with Digex. In June 1996, the Company entered into a six-year
agreement ("Digex Agreement") with Digex, Inc. ("Digex"), a provider of Internet
access services that primarily serves commercial, governmental and institutional
end users as well as Internet access resellers. Pursuant to the Digex Agreement,
the Company has the right of first refusal to provide all of Digex's local
access and/or customer interconnection requirements through the use of the
Company's Wireless Fiber services or the resale of other facilities, as
appropriate. The Company also will purchase from Digex, during the next six
years, a minimum of $5 million of Internet access services with the right to
purchase additional amounts, in each case on a discounted basis. The Company
intends to resell these Internet access services under the Company's own brand
name, including through the bundling of such services with the Company's other
telecommunications services.
 
    Acquisition of Locate. In April 1996, the Company entered into an agreement
to acquire (the "Locate Acquisition") the assets of Local Area
Telecommunications, Inc. ("Locate") comprising its business as a CAP providing
microwave-based local access services to corporations and long distance and
other common carriers (the "Locate Business"), for a purchase price of $17.5
million. The Locate Acquisition is subject to certain regulatory approvals, but
is expected to be consummated in the last quarter of 1996. Among Locate's key
assets are two 38 GHz licenses, each providing 100 MHz of bandwidth, for the New
York City metropolitan area, including Long Island and Northern New Jersey. In
addition, Locate, together with its existing customers, has access to the roofs
of numerous buildings, including the World Trade Center and other key sites in
New York City, which the Company anticipates using in its CAP and CLEC
operations. As part of the Locate Acquisition, the Company also will acquire
from Locate certain link-specific licenses for the provision of point-to-point
services in the 12-, 16- and 18-GHz portion of the radio spectrum.
 
    Acquisition of Content and Information Providers. In April 1996, the Company
acquired an 80% equity interest in Fox/Lorber Associates, Inc. ("Fox/Lorber"),
an independent distributor of films, entertainment series and documentaries in
the television and home video markets. Also, in April 1996,
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
the Company acquired a 65% equity interest in The Winning Line, Inc. ("TWL"),
which operates the SportsFan Radio Network ("SportsFan"). SportsFan is a
multimedia sports programming and production company which provides live sports
programming to more than 200 sports and talk format radio stations across the
United States, up to 24 hours a day, including to affiliate stations in 90 of
the top 100 United States markets. SportsFan owns and operates The Pete Rose
Show and The Bob Golic Show, among others, and also has interests in television
and on-line distribution channels. In June 1996, the Company entered into an
agreement with Source Media Inc. ("Source Media"), a provider of interactive
technology and programming. Pursuant to this agreement, the Company has the
exclusive right, in the 38 GHz spectrum, to use Source Media's technology and
programming in connection with entertainment and information services the
Company may offer.
 
OTHER BUSINESS
 
    Prior to the Company's entry into the telecommunications industry, it
marketed and distributed consumer products, including personal care and bath and
beauty products, through a subsidiary acquired in 1992. The Company continues to
sell such products, primarily to large retailers, mass merchandisers, discount
stores, department stores, national and regional drug store chains and other
regional chains.
 
FINANCING PLAN
 
    In October 1995, to finance the initial rollout of its CAP business, the
Company raised net proceeds of $214.5 million from a private placement ("1995
Debt Placement") of units, each unit consisting of two 14% Senior Discount Notes
due 2005 ("Old Senior Notes") and one 14% Convertible Senior Subordinated
Discount Note due 2005 ("Old Convertible Notes," and together with the Old
Senior Notes, the "Old Notes").
 
    The passage of the Telecommunications Act has resulted in opportunities that
have caused the Company to accelerate the development and expansion of its
telecommunications businesses. To capitalize on these opportunities, the Company
has undertaken an expanded capital expenditure program. Prior to the enactment
of the Telecommunications Act, the Company's planned capital expenditures for
1996 and 1997 were estimated at $36 million and $52 million, respectively. As a
result of the Company's accelerated strategy, the Company now plans capital
expenditures of $50 million and $280 million for 1996 and 1997, respectively.
 
    Concurrently with this Stock Offering, the Company will consummate the Debt
Offering, consisting of $100 million of    % Senior Notes Due 2006 (the "New
Senior Notes") and $100 million of    % Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2006 (the
"New Senior Subordinated Notes" and, together with the New Senior Notes, the
"New Notes"). See "Description of Certain Indebtedness." The closings of the
Stock Offering and the Debt Offering are conditioned upon each other. Management
anticipates, based on current plans and assumptions relating to its operations,
that the net proceeds from the Stock Offering and Debt Offering, together with
existing financial resources (including proceeds raised in the 1995 Debt
Placement and equipment financing arrangements which the Company intends to
seek), will be sufficient to fund the Company's growth and operations for
approximately 36 to 48 months following consummation of the Offerings. In the
event the Company's plans or assumptions change or prove to be inaccurate, or if
the Company successfully consummates any acquisitions (including additional 38
GHz licenses, by auction or otherwise), or if the Company's operating income
does not significantly increase, the Company may be required to seek additional
sources of capital sooner than currently anticipated. See "Use of Proceeds" and
"Risk Factors -- Significant Capital Requirements" and " -- Risks Related to
CLEC Strategy; Anticipated Initial Negative Operating Margins in CLEC Business."
 
                                       10
<PAGE>
                                  THE OFFERING
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                            <C>
Common Stock offered:
 
  U.S. Offering..............................  3,200,000 shares
 
  International Offering.....................  800,000 shares
 
        Total................................  4,000,000 shares
 
Common Stock to be outstanding immediately
following the Stock Offering.................  31,748,005 shares(1)
 
Use of Proceeds..............................  The Company intends to use the net proceeds
                                               of the Offerings (together with funds raised
                                               in the 1995 Debt Placement) for the expansion
                                               of its telecommunications operations in
                                               multiple markets, including the purchase of
                                               switching equipment, customer site equipment
                                               and related software, the acquisition of Roof
                                               Rights, the hiring of sales, marketing,
                                               engineering and customer service personnel,
                                               the development of operating and management
                                               systems, acquisitions (including additional
                                               38 GHz licenses, by auction or otherwise),
                                               other capital expenditures and for working
                                               capital and general corporate purposes,
                                               including the funding of operating losses. As
                                               a complement to its telecommunications
                                               service offerings, the Company also may use a
                                               portion of the proceeds of the Offerings to
                                               acquire rights to, develop and control
                                               certain information and entertainment content
                                               and services. See "Use of Proceeds."
 
Common Stock Nasdaq National Market
  Symbol.....................................  WCII
</TABLE>
 
- ------------
 
(1) Does not include (i) an aggregate of 1,075,299 shares of Common Stock
    issuable upon exercise of options granted or which may be granted under the
    Company's 1992 Performance Equity Plan (the "1992 Plan"), (ii) an aggregate
    of 3,500,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of options
    granted or which may be granted under the Company's 1995 Performance Equity
    Plan (the "1995 Plan"), (iii) 6,026,250 shares of Common Stock issuable upon
    exercise of other outstanding options and warrants and (iv) 4,699,211 shares
    of Common Stock which may be issued upon conversion of the Old Convertible
    Notes (assuming they are converted on October 23, 1996, the first date on
    which conversion may occur) and certain other convertible debt. See
    "Description of Certain Indebtedness" and notes 17, 18 and 22 to
    Consolidated Financial Statements. The exercise and conversion prices of the
    foregoing outstanding securities are all below the current market price of
    the Common Stock as of the date of this Prospectus.
 
                                       11
<PAGE>
                             SUMMARY FINANCIAL DATA
 
    The summary financial data presented below, as of and for the two years
ended February 28, 1994 and 1995 and for the ten months ended December 31, 1995,
have been derived from the Company's audited financial statements and the
summary financial data presented below as of and for the three months ended
March 31, 1995 and 1996 and the ten months ended December 31, 1994 have been
derived from unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Company included
elsewhere in this Prospectus. In the opinion of management, the unaudited
financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the audited
financial statements and include all adjustments, which consist only of normal
recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of the financial
position and the results of operations for these periods. This data should be
read in conjunction with "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations" and the pro forma and historical
consolidated financial statements, including the notes thereto, appearing
elsewhere in this Prospectus.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 TEN MONTHS ENDED                    THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                                                   DECEMBER 31,                          MARCH 31,
                                                     -----------------------------------------   --------------------------
                                     YEAR ENDED                                         PRO
                                    FEBRUARY 28,          ACTUAL            PRO       FORMA AS        ACTUAL          PRO
                                  ----------------   -----------------     FORMA      ADJUSTED   ----------------    FORMA
                                   1994     1995      1994      1995     1995(1)(2)   1995(2)(3)  1995    1996(4)   1996(1)
                                  ------   -------   -------   -------   ----------   --------   ------   -------   -------
                                                            (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<S>                               <C>      <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>          <C>        <C>      <C>       <C>
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA:
Net sales:
 Telecommunications(5)..........  $8,505   $14,909   $13,420   $13,136    $  19,266   $19,266    $2,219   $10,217   $11,433
 Information services...........    --         474       193     2,648       10,308    10,308       844       771     2,942
 Merchandising..................   7,120    10,182     8,405    13,987       13,987    13,987     3,095     3,521     3,521
                                  ------   -------   -------   -------   ----------   --------   ------   -------   -------
   Total net sales..............  15,625    25,565    22,018    29,771       43,561    43,561     6,158    14,509    17,896
Operating income (loss):
 Telecommunications                 (744)   (3,423)   (2,067)   (6,945)     (10,599)  (10,599 )  (1,381)   (2,917)   (3,626)
 Information services...........    --        (117)     (115)      238       (1,154)   (1,154 )      66       (30)     (452)
 Merchandising..................     223       307       329       756          756       756        79       100       100
 General corporate..............  (1,547)   (2,378)   (1,609)   (3,861)      (3,861)   (3,861 )  (1,033)   (1,771)   (1,771)
                                  ------   -------   -------   -------   ----------   --------   ------   -------   -------
   Total operating loss.........  (2,068)   (5,611)   (3,462)   (9,812)     (14,858)  (14,858 )  (2,269)   (4,618)   (5,749)
Interest expense................     744       637       505     7,630       30,645    54,853       184     8,815     8,966
Interest income.................    (109)     (385)     (297)   (2,890)      (2,581)   (2,581 )    (125)   (3,057)   (2,737)
Other expenses, net.............   5,687     1,367       948     1,305          988       988       599       194       446
Net loss........................  (8,195)   (7,230)   (4,618)  (15,857)     (43,910)  (68,118 )  (2,927)  (10,699)  (12,424)
Net loss per common share.......  $(1.06)  $ (0.42)  $ (0.28)  $ (0.70)   $   (1.88)  $ (2.48 )  $(0.15)  $ (0.39)  $ (0.46)
Weighted average common shares
outstanding.....................   7,719    17,122    16,609    22,770       23,412    27,412    19,935    27,214    27,282
 
OTHER FINANCIAL DATA:
Capital expenditures............  $  307   $ 1,816   $ 1,465   $ 8,652    $  12,310   $12,310    $  555   $ 2,588   $ 2,671
EBITDA(6).......................  (1,845)   (5,179)   (3,116)   (8,952)     (11,554)  (11,554 )  (2,138)   (3,771)   (4,250)
 
<CAPTION>
                                    PRO
                                  FORMA AS
                                  ADJUSTED
                                  1996(3)
                                  --------
<S>                               <C>
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA:
Net sales:
 Telecommunications(5)..........  $11,433
 Information services...........    2,942
 Merchandising..................    3,521
                                  --------
   Total net sales..............   17,896
Operating income (loss):
 Telecommunications                (3,626 )
 Information services...........     (452 )
 Merchandising..................      100
 General corporate..............   (1,771 )
                                  --------
   Total operating loss.........   (5,749 )
Interest expense................   16,039
Interest income.................   (2,737 )
Other expenses, net.............      318
Net loss........................  (19,497 )
Net loss per common share.......  $ (0.62 )
Weighted average common shares
outstanding.....................   31,282
OTHER FINANCIAL DATA:
Capital expenditures............  $ 2,671
EBITDA(6).......................   (4,250 )
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                  AS OF MARCH 31, 1996
                                                                       ------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     PRO FORMA
                                                                        ACTUAL     PRO FORMA(7)    AS ADJUSTED(8)
                                                                       --------    ------------    --------------
                                                                                     (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                                    <C>         <C>             <C>
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Cash, cash equivalents and short term investments...................   $203,503      $203,665         $501,337
Property and equipment, net.........................................     18,089        27,861           27,861
Total assets........................................................    280,473       308,261          613,858
Current portion of long-term debt and capital lease obligations.....     10,314        28,621           28,621
Long-term debt and capital lease obligations, less current portion
and discount........................................................    248,037       248,441          448,441
Stockholders' equity................................................     10,952        12,122          116,870
</TABLE>
 
                                                  (footnotes begin on next page)
 
                                       12
<PAGE>
- ------------
 
(1) Gives effect to the acquisitions of Locate, Fox/Lorber, TWL and Avant-Garde
    Telecommunications, Inc. ("Avant-Garde"), a financing (the "Everest
    Financing") provided to the Company by Everest Capital Limited and certain
    of its affiliates (as described under "Description of Certain Indebtedness")
    and the issuance of the Old Notes as if they occurred as of the beginning of
    the respective periods. See notes 2, 8, 17, 18 and 28 to the Consolidated
    Financial Statements.
 
(2) On a pro forma basis giving effect to the acquisitions and financings
    described in footnote (1) above, pro forma sales, operating loss, interest
    expense, net loss and negative EBITDA for the twelve months ended December
    31, 1995 amounted to $49.4 million, $16.1 million, $37.3 million, $51.5
    million and $12.2 million, respectively. On a pro forma as adjusted basis
    giving effect to the acquisitions and financings described in footnote (1)
    above, and the issuance of the New Notes, interest expense and net loss for
    the twelve months ended December 31, 1995 amounted to approximately $66.5
    million and $80.7 million, respectively.
 
(3) Adjusted to reflect the acquisitions and financings referred to in footnote
    (1) above and the Stock Offering and Debt Offering (collectively, the
    "Transactions") as if they occurred as of the beginning of the respective
    periods. Interest expense has been adjusted to include approximately $24.2
    million and $7.1 million consisting of (i) interest on the New Notes for the
    ten months ended December 31, 1995 and the three months ended March 31,
    1996, respectively, at an assumed interest rate of 13.5% on the New Senior
    Notes and 14% on the New Senior Subordinated Notes and (ii) amortization of
    the $7.9 million of debt offering costs and other related fees using an
    amortization period of ten years, but not to include interest income earned
    on additional available cash. If the interest rate on the New Notes changed
    by 0.5%, interest expense would change by approximately $0.9 million and
    $0.3 million for the ten months ended December 31, 1995 and the three months
    ended March 31, 1996, respectively.
 
(4) In the first quarter of 1996, the Company settled a dispute with another
    carrier regarding the unauthorized switching of the Company's customers to
    the other carrier. The Company recognized revenue of approximately $1.5
    million and cost of sales of approximately $850,000 in connection with this
    settlement, the substantial majority of which related to minutes of use
    during that quarter.
 
(5) The Company has generated nominal revenues from its Wireless Fiber services.
 
(6) EBITDA consists of loss before interest, income taxes, depreciation and
    amortization and other income and expense (see footnote (3) to "Selected
    Financial Data"). EBITDA is provided because it is a measure commonly used
    in the telecommunications industry. It is presented to enhance an
    understanding of the Company's operating results and is not intended to
    represent cash flow or results of operations in accordance with generally
    accepted accounting principles for the periods indicated. See the Company's
    consolidated financial statements contained elsewhere in this Prospectus.
 
(7) Gives effect to the acquisitions of Locate, Fox/Lorber and TWL as if they
    occurred on March 31, 1996.
 
(8) Adjusted to reflect the acquisitions referred to in footnote (7) above, and
    the Stock Offering (at an assumed offering price of $27.75 per share) and
    Debt Offering as if they occurred on March 31, 1996.
 
                                       13
<PAGE>
                                  RISK FACTORS
 
    An investment in the Common Stock involves a significant degree of risk. In
determining whether to make an investment in the Common Stock, prospective
investors should consider carefully all of the information set forth in this
Prospectus and, in particular, the following risk factors.
 
HISTORICAL AND ANTICIPATED FUTURE NET AND OPERATING LOSSES AND NEGATIVE EBITDA
 
    The Company has incurred significant operating and net losses attributable
in substantial part to the development of its telecommunications businesses. The
Company historically has had net losses and negative EBITDA, including a net
loss and negative EBITDA of approximately $15.9 million and $9.0 million,
respectively, for the ten months ended December 31, 1995, and $10.7 million and
$3.8 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 1996. The
Company has been offering local access services as a CAP only since December
1994, and local exchange services as a CLEC only since April 1996, and has made
and is making significant expenditures in the development of its wireless local
telecommunications services operations, including expenditures associated with
establishing an operating infrastructure and introducing and marketing its
telecommunications services. The Company expects to continue to incur
significant and increasing operating and net losses and to generate increasingly
negative EBITDA while it develops and expands its telecommunications businesses
and until such time that it establishes a sufficient revenue-generating customer
base. There can be no assurance that the Company will achieve or sustain
positive EBITDA or profitability or at any time have sufficient financial
resources to make principal and interest payments on its outstanding debt,
including the New Notes. In addition, if the Company does not achieve and
sustain positive EBITDA and profitability, the value of the Common Stock may be
adversely affected. See "Selected Financial Data" and "Management's Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."
 
RISKS RELATED TO CLEC STRATEGY; ANTICIPATED INITIAL NEGATIVE OPERATING MARGINS
IN CLEC BUSINESS
 
    The Company is pursuing an aggressive strategy to enter the local exchange
services market as a CLEC in the metropolitan areas in which it has Wireless
Licenses and to develop and obtain the facilities necessary to provide its own
local exchange services. The Company has virtually no experience providing local
exchange services and there can be no assurance that the Company's CLEC strategy
will be successful. In addition, local exchange service providers have never
utilized 38 GHz wireless-based systems as a significant segment of their local
exchange services facilities and there can be no assurance that the Company will
be successful in implementing its Wireless Fiber-based system. The Company's
CLEC strategy is subject to risks relating to: the receipt of necessary
regulatory approvals; the negotiation of resale agreements with LECs and other
CLECs; the negotiation of interconnection agreements with RBOCs and other
incumbent LECs; the ability of third-party equipment providers and installation
and maintenance contractors to meet the Company's accelerated switch and remote
node rollout schedule; the recruitment of additional personnel in a timely
manner, so as to be able to attract and service new customers but not incur
excessive personnel costs in advance of the rollout; the Company's ability to
attract and retain new customers and to deliver high quality services; the
potential adverse reaction to the Company's services by the Company's carrier
customers, who may view the Company as a competitor; and the Company's ability
to manage the implementation of its plan simultaneously in multiple markets. The
Company currently does not have any local exchange services facilities in place,
but plans to install its first main switch by October 1996. The Company
commenced marketing of its local exchange services in April 1996 and currently
offers such services only in New York City and only on a resale basis. As a new
participant in the CLEC business, without an existing infrastructure or
recognized brand name, the Company may need to offer lower prices than its
competitors to attract customers.
 
    Although the Company's initial implementation of its CLEC strategy often
will entail the resale of the facilities and services of other service
providers, which itself is dependent on the negotiation and availability of
satisfactory resale arrangements, the principal component of the Company's CLEC
strategy will require significant capital investment related to the purchase and
installation of numerous
 
                                       14
<PAGE>
main switches and remote nodes and the interconnection of these facilities to
customers' buildings and leased local networks, including through the
installation of Wireless Fiber links and build out of other facility
infrastructure, in advance of generating material revenues. The Company has
budgeted $34 million for the last nine months of 1996 and $212 million for 1997
for capital expenditures for the development of its CLEC business.
 
    Given the opportunities arising from recent procompetitive legislative and
regulatory initiatives, numerous other companies are entering the CLEC business.
The Company believes that successful CLECs will need to establish their
infrastructure and commence operations over a limited period of time.
Accordingly, the Company is subject to the risk that its competitors will
establish their CLEC businesses before the Company and will have substantial
"first to market" advantages.
 
    As the Company rolls out its CLEC operations, it anticipates experiencing
negative operating margins while it develops its facilities. After initial
rollout of its CLEC services in a particular city, the Company expects operating
margins for such operations to improve only when and if (i) sales efforts result
in sufficiently increased volumes of traffic originated and terminated over the
Company's Wireless Fiber facilities instead of LEC or other CLEC facilities and
(ii) higher margin-enhanced services are provided to and accepted by customers.
While the Company believes that the unbundling and resale of LEC services and
the implementation of local telephone number portability, which are mandated by
the Telecommunications Act, will reduce the Company's costs of providing local
exchange services and facilitate the marketing of such services, there can be no
assurance that the Company's CLEC operations will become profitable due to,
among other factors, lack of customer demand, competition from other CLECs and
pricing pressure from the LECs. The Company does not expect to generate
significant revenues from its CLEC business during 1996. The Company's failure
to implement its CLEC strategy successfully would have an adverse effect on the
value of the Common Stock. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations," "Business -- Strategy for
Telecommunications Business Growth" and "-- Telecommunications Services
- -- CLEC Services."
 
NEGATIVE OPERATING MARGINS IN THE INITIAL PROVISION OF WIRELESS FIBER-BASED CAP
SERVICES
 
    The Company has experienced negative operating margins in connection with
the development and initial provision of its Wireless Fiber-based CAP services
and expects to continue to experience negative operating margins until such time
that it develops a revenue-generating customer base sufficient to fund operating
expenses attributable to the provision of such services. In order to demonstrate
the efficacy of Wireless Fiber, the Company occasionally has provided
complementary service on a trial basis. The Company expects to improve operating
margins in the provision of its CAP services over time by (i) acquiring
appropriate sites for its operations, (ii) capturing and retaining an adequate
customer base, (iii) placing telecommunications traffic of new customers and
additional telecommunications traffic of existing customers across Wireless
Fiber links previously installed to address such existing customers' initial
requirements, thereby increasing revenues without a significant increase in
related hardware expense and Roof Rights costs, (iv) inducing providers of
telecommunications services to utilize and market the Company's Wireless Fiber
services as part of their own networks, systems and services, thereby reducing
the Company's related marketing costs and (v) taking advantage of recent
procompetitive regulatory initiatives and changes that permit the Company to
provide additional local telecommunications services, thereby facilitating the
marketability of higher-margin enhanced and premium services utilizing the
Company's Wireless Fiber capabilities. If the Company fails to accomplish any of
the foregoing, particularly capturing and retaining an adequate customer base,
it will not be able to improve the operating margins of its CAP business. There
can be no assurance that the Company will be able to achieve or sustain positive
operating margins. Failure to achieve positive operating margins would have an
adverse effect on the value of the Common Stock. For a discussion of factors
that affect results described in the forward-looking statements contained in
this paragraph, see "-- Competition," "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations," "Business
 
                                       15
<PAGE>
- -- Competition in the Telecommunications Industry" and "-- Telecommunications
Services -- CAP Services -- Marketing."
 
LIMITED OPERATING HISTORY IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY
 
    The Company shifted its business focus in 1992 from marketing consumer
products to providing telecommunications services to capitalize on emerging
opportunities in the evolving telecommunications industry. The Company began
reselling long distance telecommunications services in 1993. The Company began
marketing its local access services as a CAP in December 1994 and offering local
exchange services as a CLEC in April 1996 and currently offers such CLEC
services only in New York City and only on a resale basis. To date, the revenues
generated by the Company's CAP and CLEC operations have totaled less than $1
million. Although a number of persons comprising the Company's senior management
team have extensive experience in the telecommunications industry, the Company
has a limited operating history in the telecommunications industry. The
Company's prospects, therefore, must be considered in light of the risks,
expenses, delays, problems and difficulties frequently encountered in the
establishment of a new business in an evolving industry characterized by intense
competition. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations."
 
SUBSTANTIAL INDEBTEDNESS; ABILITY TO SERVICE INDEBTEDNESS
 
    At March 31, 1996, on a pro forma as adjusted basis giving effect to the
Transactions, the Company would have had, on a consolidated basis, approximately
$477.4 million of indebtedness, including capitalized lease obligations. The 
accrual of interest on the New Notes and the accretion of original issue 
discount on the Old Notes will significantly increase the Company's liabilities
(except to the extent that the Old Convertible Notes are converted to Common 
Stock). Although the net proceeds from the Offerings are expected to further 
enhance liquidity and improve the Company's financial flexibility in the near 
term, the Company has significant indebtedness and interest expense as a result
of the 1995 Debt Placement, which will be substantially increased as a result of
the Debt Offering. The Old Note Indentures limit, but do not prohibit, and the 
New Note Indentures will limit, but will not prohibit, the incurrence of 
additional indebtedness by the Company and subsidiaries. Additionally, the Old 
Note Indentures do not, and the New Note Indentures will not, limit the amount 
of indebtedness that may be incurred by the Company's new media and consumer
products subsidiaries.
 
    The level of the Company's indebtedness could have important consequences,
including the following: (i) the combined debt service requirements of the Old
Notes and the New Notes (collectively, the "Notes") could make it more difficult
for the Company to make payments on such Notes; (ii) the ability of the Company
to obtain any necessary financing in the future for working capital, capital
expenditures, debt service requirements or other purposes may be limited; (iii)
a substantial portion of the Company's cash flow from operations, if any, must
be dedicated to the payment of principal and interest on its indebtedness and
other obligations and will not be available for use in the Company's business;
(iv) the Company's level of indebtedness could limit its flexibility in planning
for, or reacting to changes in, its business; (v) the Company is more highly
leveraged than many of its competitors, which may place it at a competitive
disadvantage; and (vi) the Company's high degree of indebtedness could make it
more vulnerable in the event of a downturn in its business or if operating cash
flow does not significantly increase.
 
    The Company had net losses and negative EBITDA during the ten months ended
December 31, 1995 (and prior fiscal years) and the first three months of 1996
and management anticipates that such net losses and negative EBITDA will
continue (and increase) in the foreseeable future. For the same periods, on a
pro forma as adjusted basis after giving effect to the Transactions, the
Company's earnings before fixed charges would have been insufficient to cover
fixed charges by approximately $68.1 million
 
                                       16
<PAGE>
and $19.4 million, respectively. In addition, for the same periods on the same
pro forma as adjusted basis, the Company's EBITDA minus capital expenditures and
interest expense would have been negative $78.7 million and negative $23.0
million, respectively. As the Company expands its operations, it expects to
continue to experience increasing net and operating losses and negative EBITDA.
There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to attain profitability
or positive EBITDA or that the Company will be able to meet its debt service
obligations, including its obligations with respect to the Notes. If the
Company's cash flow is inadequate to meet its obligations or fund its
operations, the Company could face substantial liquidity problems. If the
Company is unable to generate sufficient cash flow or otherwise obtain funds
necessary to make required payments or, if the Company otherwise fails to comply
with the material terms of its indebtedness, it would be in default thereunder,
which would permit the holders of such indebtedness to accelerate the maturity
of such indebtedness and could cause defaults under other indebtedness of the
Company, including the Notes. Such defaults would adversely affect the market
price of the Common Stock. The ability of the Company to meet its obligations
will be dependent upon the future performance of the Company, which will be
affected by prevailing economic conditions and to financial, business and other
factors, including factors beyond the control of the Company. See "Description
of Certain Indebtedness."
 
COMPETITION
 
    The Company is subject to intense competition in each of the areas in which
it operates. Many of the Company's competitors have longer-standing
relationships with customers and suppliers in their respective industries,
greater name recognition and significantly greater financial, technical and
marketing resources than the Company.
 
    Local Telecommunications Market. The local telecommunications market is
intensely competitive and currently is dominated by the RBOCs and LECs. The
Company has been marketing local access services as a CAP only since December
1994 and local exchange services as a CLEC only since April 1996, and the
Company has not obtained a significant market share in any of the areas where it
offers such services, nor does it expect to do so given the size of the local
telecommunications services market, the intense competition and the diversity of
customer requirements. In each area covered by the Wireless Licenses, the
services offered by the Company compete with those offered by the LECs, such as
the RBOCs, which currently dominate the provision of local services in their
markets. The LECs have long-standing relationships with their customers, have
the potential to subsidize competitive services with revenues from a variety of
business services and benefit from existing state and federal regulations that
currently favor the LECs over the Company in certain respects. While legislative
and regulatory changes have provided increased business opportunities for
competitive telecommunications providers such as the Company, these same
decisions have given the LECs increased flexibility in their pricing of
services. This may allow the LECs to offer special discounts to the Company's
(and other CLECs') customers and potential customers. Further, as competition
increases in the local telecommunications market, the Company anticipates that
general pricing competition and pressures will increase significantly. As LECs
lower their rates, other telecommunications providers will be forced by market
conditions to charge less for their services in order to compete, which could
have an adverse effect on the Company and on the value of the Common Stock.
 
    In addition to competition from the LECs, the Company also faces competition
from a growing number of new market entrants, such as other CAPs and CLECs,
competitors offering wireless telecommunications services, including leading
telecommunications companies, such as AT&T Wireless, and other entities that
hold or have applied for 38 GHz licenses or which may acquire such licenses or
other wireless licenses from others or the FCC. There is at least one other CAP
and/or CLEC in each metropolitan area covered by the Company's Wireless
Licenses, including, in many such areas, companies such as IntelCom Group Inc.
("IntelCom"), MCImetro, MFS Communications Company, Inc. ("MFS"), Teleport
Communications Group Inc. ("Teleport") and Time Warner, Inc. ("Time Warner").
Many of these entities (and the LECs) already have existing infrastructure which
allows
 
                                       17
<PAGE>
them to provide local telecommunications services with potentially lower
marginal costs than the Company currently can attain and which could allow them
to exert significant pricing pressure in the markets where the Company provides
or seeks to provide telecommunications services. In addition, many CAPs and
CLECs have acquired or plan to acquire switches in order to offer a broad range
of local telecommunications services.
 
    The Company currently faces competition from other entities which offer, or
are licensed to offer, 38 GHz services, such as Advanced Radio Telecom Corp.
("ART") and BizTel Communications, Inc. ("BizTel"), and could face competition
in certain aspects of its existing and proposed businesses from competitors
providing wireless services in other portions of the radio spectrum, such as CAI
Wireless Systems, Inc. ("CAI"), a provider of wireless Internet access services,
and CellularVision USA, Inc. ("CellularVision"), a provider of wireless
television services which, in the future, also may provide wireless Internet
access and other local telecommunications services. In many instances, these
service providers hold 38 GHz licenses or licenses for other frequencies in
geographic areas which encompass or overlap the Company's market areas.
Additionally, some of these entities enjoy the substantial backing of, or
include among their stockholders, major telecommunications entities, such as
Ameritech Corp. ("Ameritech") with respect to ART, Teleport with respect to
BizTel, and NYNEX and Bell Atlantic with respect to CAI. Due to the relative
ease and speed of deployment of 38 GHz and some other wireless-based
technologies, the Company could face intense price competition from these and
other wireless-based service providers. Furthermore, a notice of proposed
rulemaking ("NPRM") issued by the FCC contemplates an auction of the lower 16
channels in the 38 GHz spectrum band, which have not been previously available
for commercial use. The grant of additional licenses by the FCC in the 38 GHz
band, or other portions of the spectrum with similar characteristics, as well as
the development of new technologies, could result in increased competition. The
Company believes that, assuming the adoption of the NPRM as currently proposed,
additional entities having greater resources than the Company could acquire
licenses to provide 38 GHz services.
 
    The Company also may face competition from cable companies, electric
utilities, LECs operating outside their current local service areas and long
distance carriers in the provision of local telecommunications services. The
great majority of these entities provide transmission services primarily over
fiber optic-, copper-based and/or microwave networks, which, unlike the
Company's Wireless Fiber services, enjoy proven market acceptance for the
carriage of telecommunications traffic. Moreover, the consolidation of
telecommunications companies and the formation of strategic alliances within the
telecommunications industry, which are expected to accelerate as a result of the
passage of the Telecommunications Act, could give rise to significant new or
stronger competitors to the Company. For example, Time Warner recently entered
into a nine-state interconnection agreement with Bell South. There can be no
assurance that the Company will be able to compete effectively in any of its
markets.
 
    The Company's Internet access services also are likely to face competition
from cable television operators deploying cable modems, which provide high speed
data capability over existing coaxial cable television networks. Although cable
modems currently are not widely available and do not provide for two-way data
transfer rates that are as rapid as those which can be provided by Wireless
Fiber services, the Company believes that the cable industry may support the
deployment of cable modems to residential cable customers through methods such
as price subsidies. Notwithstanding the cable industry's interest in rapid
deployment of cable modems, the Company believes that in order to provide
broadband capacity to a significant number of business and government users,
cable operators will be required to spend significant time and capital in order
to upgrade their existing networks to a more advanced hybrid fiber coaxial
network architecture. However, there can be no assurance that cable modems will
not emerge as a source of competition to the Company's Internet access business.
Further, Internet access services based on existing technologies such as ISDN
and, in the future, on such technologies as asymmetrical digital subscriber loop
("ADSL") and high speed digital subscriber loop ("HDSL") will likely provide
additional sources of competition to the Company's Internet access services.
Additionally, the Company believes that many LECs and CLECs already are
promoting other
 
                                       18
<PAGE>
Internet access services. See "Business -- Competition in the Telecommunications
Industry -- Local Telecommunications Market" and "-- Government Regulation of
Telecommunications Operations."
 
    Long Distance Market. The long distance market has relatively insignificant
barriers to entry, numerous entities competing for the same customers and a high
(and increasing) average churn rate (especially among residential customers,
which the Company historically has emphasized in its long distance reselling
business, and customers acquired from other service providers, which
acquisitions are part of the Company's ongoing long distance business strategy),
as customers frequently change long distance providers in response to the
offering of lower rates or promotional incentives by competitors. The Company
competes with major carriers such as AT&T Corp. ("AT&T"), MCI and Sprint, as
well as other national and regional long distance carriers and resellers, many
of whom own substantially all of their own facilities and are able to provide
services at costs lower than the Company's current costs since the Company
generally leases its access facilities. The Company believes that the RBOCs also
will become significant competitors in the long distance telecommunications
industry. The Company believes that the principal competitive factors affecting
its market share are pricing, customer service, accurate billing, clear pricing
policies and, to a lesser extent, variety of services. The ability of the
Company to compete effectively will depend upon its ability to maintain high
quality, market-driven services at prices generally perceived to be equal to or
below those charged by its competitors. In 1995, the FCC announced a decision
pursuant to which AT&T no longer will be regulated as a dominant long distance
carrier. This decision is expected to increase AT&T's flexibility in competing
in the long distance telecommunications services market and, in particular, will
eliminate the longer advance tariff notice requirements previously applicable
only to AT&T. To maintain its competitive posture, the Company believes that it
must be in a position to reduce its prices in order to meet reductions in rates,
if any, by others. Any such reductions could adversely affect the Company. In
addition, LECs have been obtaining additional pricing flexibility. This may
enable LECs to grant volume discounts to larger long distance companies, which
also could put the Company's long distance business at a disadvantage in
competing with larger providers. See "Business -- Competition in the
Telecommunications Industry -- Long Distance Market."
 
    New Media Business. The industry in which the Company's new media subsidiary
competes consists of a very large number of entities producing, owning or
controlling news, sports, entertainment, educational and informational content
and services, including telecommunications companies, television broadcast
companies, sports franchises, film and television studios, record companies,
newspaper and magazine publishing companies, universities and on-line computer
services. Competition is intense for timely and highly marketable or usable
information and entertainment content. Almost all of the entities with which the
Company's new media subsidiary competes have significantly greater presence in
the various media markets and greater resources than the Company, including
existing content libraries, financial resources, personnel and existing
distribution channels. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able
to compete successfully in the emerging new media industry. See "Business -- New
Media Business."
 
    Consumer Products Business. The consumer products industry is subject to
changes in styles and consumer tastes. An unanticipated change in consumer
preferences inconsistent with the Company's merchandise lines could have a
serious and adverse effect upon its operations. The Company's product lines are
subject to intense competition with numerous manufacturers and distributors of
hair, beauty and bath products. Mass merchandisers, drug store chains, and other
mass volume retailers typically utilize freestanding pegboard fixtures or
pegboard wall fixtures, as well as in-line shelving and end-cap displays, to
display their products. Competition for shelf and wall space for product
placement is intense, as many companies seek to have their products
strategically placed within the store. Competition also exists with respect to
product name recognition and pricing, since retailers and consumers often choose
products on the basis of name brand, cost and value. Many of the Company's
competitors have greater product and name recognition than it does, as well as
much larger and more sophisticated sales forces, product development, marketing
and advertising programs and facilities. The Company
 
                                       19
<PAGE>
generally competes by attempting to offer retail customers quality, service and
products at reasonable prices. See "Business -- Consumer Products --
Competition."
 
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH RAPID EXPANSION
 
    The Company intends to pursue a strategy of aggressive and rapid growth,
including the accelerated rollout of its CLEC services, continued aggressive
marketing of its CAP services and the hiring of additional management, technical
and marketing personnel, all of which will result in significantly higher
operating expenses. Rapid expansion of the Company's operations may place a
significant strain on the Company's management, financial and other resources.
The Company's ability to manage future growth, should it occur, will depend upon
its ability to monitor operations, control costs, maintain effective quality
controls and significantly expand the Company's internal management, technical
and accounting systems. Any failure to expand these areas and to implement and
improve such systems, procedures and controls in an efficient manner at a pace
consistent with the growth of the Company's business could have a material
adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of
operations and the value of the Common Stock. As part of its strategy, the
Company may from time to time seek to acquire complementary assets or businesses
and may use a portion of the proceeds from the Offerings for such acquisitions.
There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to successfully
integrate into its operations any business or assets which it may acquire. See
"Use of Proceeds" and "Business -- Strategy for Telecommunications Business
Growth."
 
SIGNIFICANT CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS
 
    The expansion of the Company's telecommunications operations and the
continued funding of operating expenses will require substantial capital
investment. Additionally, as part of its strategy, the Company may seek to
acquire complementary assets or businesses (including additional 38 GHz
licenses, by auction or otherwise), which also could require substantial capital
investment. The Company's decision to accelerate the development of its CLEC
operations in response to the Telecommunications Act has substantially increased
the Company's capital requirements and the Company has undertaken the Stock
Offering and Debt Offering to address these increased requirements. Management
anticipates, based on current plans and assumptions relating to its operations,
that the net proceeds from the Stock Offering and Debt Offering, together with
existing financial resources (including proceeds raised in the 1995 Debt
Placement and equipment financing arrangements which the Company intends to
seek), will be sufficient to fund the Company's growth and operations for
approximately 36 to 48 months following consummation of the Offerings.
Management believes that the Company's capital needs at the end of such period
will continue to be significant and the Company will continue to seek additional
sources of capital. Further, in the event the Company's plans or assumptions
change or prove to be inaccurate, or if the Company successfully consummates any
acquisitions (including additional 38 GHz licenses, by auction or otherwise), or
if the Company's operating income does not significantly increase, the Company
may be required to seek additional sources of capital sooner than currently
anticipated. Sources of additional capital may include public and private equity
and debt financings, sales of nonstrategic assets and other financing
arrangements. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to obtain
additional financing, or, if such financing is available, that the Company will
be able to obtain it on acceptable terms. Failure to obtain additional
financing, if needed, could result in the delay or abandonment of some or all of
the Company's development and expansion plans, which would have a material
adverse effect on the Company's business and could adversely affect the
Company's ability to service its existing debt and make interest and principal
payments on the Notes and the value of the Common Stock. For a discussion of
other factors that could affect the forward-looking statements contained in this
paragraph, see the other risk factors and "Use of Proceeds," "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations --
Company Overview" and "-- Liquidity and Capital Resources."
 
                                       20
<PAGE>
GOVERNMENT REGULATION
 
    The Company's telecommunications services are subject to varying degrees of
federal, state and local regulation. The FCC exercises jurisdiction over all
telecommunications services providers to the extent such services involve the
provision of jurisdictionally interstate or international telecommunications,
including the resale of long distance services, the provision of local access
services necessary to connect callers to long distance carriers, and the use of
electromagnetic spectrum (i.e., wireless services). The state regulatory
commissions retain nonexclusive jurisdiction over the provision of
telecommunications services to the extent such services involve the provision of
jurisdictionally intrastate telecommunications. Municipalities also may regulate
limited aspects of the Company's business by, for example, imposing zoning
requirements or right-of-way permit procedures, certain taxes or franchise fees.
 
    The Telecommunications Act is intended to remove the formal barriers between
the long distance and local telecommunications services markets, allowing
service providers from each market (as well as providers of cable television and
other services) to compete in all communications markets. The Telecommunications
Act will permit the RBOCs to compete in the provision of interLATA long distance
services. Additionally, the FCC must promulgate new regulations over the next
several years to address mandates contained in the Telecommunications Act, which
may change the regulatory environment significantly. The Telecommunications Act
generally requires LECs to provide competitors with interconnection and
nondiscriminatory access to the LEC network on more favorable terms than have
been available in the past. However, such interconnection and the terms thereof
are subject to negotiations with each LEC, which may involve considerable
delays, and may not necessarily be obtained on terms and conditions that are
acceptable to the Company. In such instances, although the Company may petition
the proper regulatory agency to arbitrate disputed issues, there can be no
assurance that the Company will be able to obtain acceptable interconnection
agreements.
 
    The Company is unable to predict what effect the Telecommunications Act will
have on the telecommunications industry in general and on the Company in
particular. No assurance can be given that any regulation will broaden the
opportunities available to the Company or will not have a material adverse
effect on the Company and its operations. Further, there can be no assurance
that the Company will be able to comply with additional applicable laws,
regulations and licensing requirements or have sufficient resources to take
advantage of the opportunities which may arise from this dynamic regulatory
environment.
 
    Although the Company believes that it is in substantial compliance with all
material laws, rules and regulations governing its operations and has obtained,
or is in the process of obtaining, all licenses and approvals necessary and
appropriate to conduct its operations, changes in existing laws and regulations,
including those relating to the provision of wireless local telecommunications
services via 38 GHz and/or the future granting of 38 GHz licenses, or any
failure or significant delay in obtaining necessary regulatory approvals, could
have a material adverse effect on the Company. On November 13, 1995, the FCC
released an order freezing the acceptance for filing of new applications for 38
GHz frequency licenses. On December 15, 1995, the FCC announced the issuance of
an NPRM, pursuant to which it proposed to amend its current rules relating to 38
GHz, including, among other items, the imposition of minimum construction and
usage requirements and an auction procedure for issuance of licenses in the
37-40 GHz band where mutually exclusive applications have been filed. In
addition, the FCC ordered that those applications that are subject to mutual
exclusivity with other applicants or that were placed on public notice by the
FCC after September 13, 1995 would be held in abeyance and not processed by the
FCC pending the outcome of the proceeding initiated by the NPRM. Final rules
with respect to the changes proposed by the NPRM have not been adopted and the
changes proposed by the NPRM have been, and are expected to continue to be, the
subject of numerous comments by members of the telecommunications industry and
others. Consequently, there can be no assurance that the NPRM will result in the
issuance of rules consistent with the rules initially proposed in the NPRM, or
 
                                       21
<PAGE>
that any rules will be adopted. Until final rules are adopted, the rules
currently in existence remain in effect with respect to outstanding licenses.
 
    Additionally, providers of long distance services, including the major
interexchange carriers, as well as resellers, such as the Company, are coming
under intensified scrutiny for marketing activities by them or their agents that
result in alleged unauthorized switching of customers from one long distance
provider to another. The FCC and a number of state authorities are seeking to
introduce more stringent regulations to curtail the intentional or erroneous
switching of customers, which could include the imposition of fines, penalties
and possible operating restrictions on entities which engage in unauthorized
switching activities. In addition, the Telecommunications Act requires the FCC
to prescribe regulations imposing procedures for verifying the switching of
customers and additional remedies on behalf of carriers for unauthorized
switching of their customers. The effect, if any, of the adoption of any such
proposed regulations on the long distance industry and the manner of doing
business therein, cannot be anticipated. Statutes and regulations which are or
may become applicable to the Company as it expands could require the Company to
alter methods of operations, at costs which could be substantial, or otherwise
limit the types of services offered by the Company.
 
    The Company plans to operate as a CLEC in numerous states and to offer a
full range of local exchange services. However, the Company must obtain the
approval of state regulatory authorities prior to offering CLEC services in each
state. The Company currently is authorized to operate as a CLEC in California,
Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Tennessee, Texas and
Washington, and is seeking or intends to seek authorization in numerous other
states. However, there can be no assurance that the Company will obtain or
retain such state authorization. Further, as a CLEC, the Company will be subject
to additional state regulatory and service parameters, including those relating
to quality control and the adequate provision of customer service. See "Business
- -- Telecommunications Industry Overview," "-- Government Regulation of
Telecommunications Operations" and "-- Competition in the Telecommunications
Industry."
 
FINITE INITIAL TERM OF WIRELESS LICENSES; POTENTIAL LICENSE RENEWAL COSTS;
FLUCTUATIONS IN THE VALUE OF WIRELESS LICENSES
 
    The FCC's current policy is to align the expiration dates of all 38 GHz
licenses such that all such licenses mature concurrently and then to renew all
such licenses for a matching ten-year period. The initial term of all currently
outstanding 38 GHz licenses, including the Wireless Licenses, expires in
February 2001. While the Company believes that all of its Wireless Licenses will
be renewed based upon FCC custom and practice establishing a presumption in
favor of licensees that have complied with their regulatory obligations during
the initial license period, there can be no assurance that any Wireless License
will be renewed upon expiration of its initial term.
 
    In the NPRM, the FCC proposed auctioning licenses for currently unallocated
38 GHz channels. Given the current political climate with respect to balancing
the federal budget, there is a risk that the FCC will require significant
payments upon renewal of the Company's Wireless Licenses. The FCC's failure to
renew, or imposition of significant charges for renewal of, one or more Wireless
Licenses could have a material adverse effect on the Company and could adversely
affect the value of the Common Stock.
 
    The Wireless Licenses are a significant asset of the Company, the value of
which will depend significantly upon the success of the Company's wireless
telecommunications operations and the future direction of the wireless
telecommunications segment of the telecommunications industry. Values of
licenses to provide wireless services also may be affected by fluctuations in
the level of supply and demand for such licenses. Any assignment of a license or
transfer of control by an entity holding a license is subject to certain
limitations relating to the identity and status of the transferee and prior FCC
approval (and in some instances state regulatory approval as it relates to the
provision of
 
                                       22
<PAGE>
telecommunications services in that state), thereby possibly diminishing the
value of the Wireless Licenses. See "Business -- Telecommunications Services --
Wireless Fiber -- Wireless Licenses" and "-- Government Regulation of
Telecommunications Operations."
 
CHANGES IN TECHNOLOGY, SERVICES AND INDUSTRY STANDARDS
 
    The telecommunications industry has been characterized by rapid
technological change, changing end-user requirements, frequent new service
introductions and evolving industry standards. The Company believes that its
future success will depend on its ability to anticipate or adapt to such changes
and to offer, on a timely basis, services that meet these evolving industry
standards. The extent to which competitors using existing or currently
undeployed methods of delivery of local telecommunications services will compete
with the Company's Wireless Fiber services cannot be anticipated. There can be
no assurance that existing, proposed or as yet undeveloped technologies will not
become dominant in the future and render 38 GHz-based systems less profitable or
less viable. For example, there are several existing technologies that may be
able to allow the transmission of high bandwidth traffic over existing copper
lines. There can be no assurance that the Company will have sufficient resources
to make the investments necessary to acquire new technologies or to introduce
new services that could compete with future technologies or that equipment held
by the Company in inventory will not be rendered obsolete, which would have an
adverse effect on the value of the Common Stock. See "Business --
Telecommunications Industry Overview."
 
CERTAIN FINANCIAL AND OPERATING RESTRICTIONS
 
    The indebtedness of the Company imposes significant operating and financial
restrictions on the Company, affecting, and in certain cases limiting, among
other things, the ability of the Company to incur additional indebtedness or
create liens on its assets, pay dividends, sell assets, engage in mergers or
acquisitions or make investments. Failure to comply with any such restrictions
could limit the availability of borrowings or result in a default under the
terms of any such indebtedness, and there can be no assurance that the Company
will be able to comply with such restrictions. Moreover, these restrictions
could limit the Company's ability to engage in certain business transactions
which the Company may desire to consummate. The Company's inability to
consummate any such transaction could have an adverse effect on the Company's
operations and the value of the Common Stock. See "Description of Certain
Indebtedness."
 
DEPENDENCE ON THIRD PARTIES FOR SERVICE AND MARKETING; POSSIBLE SERVICE
INTERRUPTIONS AND EQUIPMENT FAILURES
 
    The Company's long distance resale business is dependent on utilizing the
facilities of major long distance carriers to carry its customers' long distance
telephone calls and, in many instances, especially during initial market
penetrations, the Company's CLEC business will be dependent on the facilities of
the LECs and other local exchange service providers to carry its customers'
local telephone calls. The Company has agreements with long distance carriers
that provide it with access to such carriers' networks and has entered or is
entering into interconnect agreements with various LECs, and other CLECs, to
access their local exchange facilities. Although the Company believes that it
currently has sufficient access to long distance networks and will be able to
obtain sufficient access to local exchange facilities, any increase in the rates
or access fees charged by the owners of such facilities or their unwillingness
to provide access to such facilities to the Company, as well as potential
unwillingness of the LECs to honor appropriate provisioning and service
intervals with respect to interconnection arrangements, could materially
adversely affect the Company's operations. Failure to obtain continuing access
to such networks and facilities also would have a material adverse effect on the
Company, including possibly requiring the Company to significantly curtail or
cease its operations. In addition, the Company's operations require that the
networks leased by it, and any facilities which may be developed
 
                                       23
<PAGE>
by the Company, operate on a continuous basis. It is not atypical for networks
and switching facilities to experience periodic service interruptions and
equipment failures. It is therefore possible that the networks and facilities
utilized by the Company may from time to time experience service interruptions
or equipment failures resulting in material delays which would adversely affect
consumer confidence as well as the Company's business operations and reputation
and the value of the Common Stock. See "Business -- Telecommunications Services
- -- Long Distance Services."
 
    The Company utilizes, in certain cases, third parties for marketing its
Wireless Fiber services and maintaining its operational systems. The Company has
entered into master service agreements with each of Electric Lightwave, MCImetro
and Century Telephone, which allow those companies to utilize and resell the
Company's Wireless Fiber services to their own customers. The Company also has a
national agreement with Lucent Technologies, Inc. ("Lucent") to provide field
service for and network monitoring of the Company's Wireless Fiber facilities.
The failure of any of these third parties to perform under their respective
agreements or the loss of any of these agreements could have a material adverse
effect on the Company's results of operations or its ability to service its
customers. The Company plans to enter into master service agreements with other
telecommunications service providers, and the failure to do so could have an
adverse effect on the Company's development and results of operations and the
value of the Common Stock. See "Business -- Telecommunications Services -- CAP
Services -- Marketing."
 
RELIANCE ON EQUIPMENT SUPPLIER
 
    The Company currently purchases substantially all of its wireless
telecommunications equipment, including transceivers and network monitoring
equipment, from a single supplier even though there are other manufacturers of
such equipment. Any reduction or interruption in supply from this supplier could
have a material adverse effect on the Company until sufficient alternative
supply sources are established. The Company does not manufacture, nor does it
have the capability to manufacture, any of its telecommunications equipment.
Although there are other manufacturers who have, or are developing, equipment
that would satisfy the Company's needs, there can be no assurance that the
Company would be able to replace its current primary supplier on commercially
reasonable terms. Although several manufacturers currently produce or are
developing equipment that will meet the Company's current and anticipated
requirements, no industry standard or uniform protocol currently exists for 38
GHz equipment. Consequently, a single manufacturer's equipment must be used in
establishing a link. See "Business -- Telecommunications Services -- Wireless
Fiber -- Wireless Fiber Links."
 
LINE OF SIGHT; POTENTIAL DISTANCE LIMITATIONS IMPOSED BY RAINFALL CONDITIONS IN
CERTAIN GEOGRAPHIC AREAS; ROOF RIGHTS
 
    In order to provide quality transmission, Wireless Fiber services require an
unobstructed line of sight between two transceivers comprising a link, with a
maximum distance between any two corresponding transceivers of five miles (or
shorter distances in certain areas; weather conditions may necessitate distances
as short as 1.1 miles between transceivers to maintain desired transmission
quality). The areas in which such shorter distances are required are those where
rainfall intensity and the size of the raindrops adversely impact transmission
quality at longer distances. Other weather conditions, such as snow, electrical
storms and high winds, have not, in the Company's experience, affected Wireless
Fiber services. The establishment of Wireless Fiber services may require
additional transceivers to triangulate around obstacles (such as buildings).
Similarly, to establish Wireless Fiber services covering a distance in excess of
five miles, additional transceivers are required to establish a chain whose
links are no more than five miles apart at any given point. The cost of
additional transceivers where required by weather, physical obstacles or
distance may render Wireless Fiber uneconomical in certain instances. The
Company must obtain Roof Rights (or rights to access other similar locations
where lines of sight are available) in each building where a transceiver will be
placed.
 
                                       24
<PAGE>
The Company seeks to prequalify and obtain Roof Rights at buildings targeted by
potential customers in its licensed areas in advance of anticipated orders.
There can be no assurance, however, that the Company will be successful in
obtaining Roof Rights necessary to establish its Wireless Fiber services in its
potential markets. The Company's prequalification activities often require the
payment of option fees to the owners of buildings that are being prequalified.
Notwithstanding its prequalification activities, there can be no assurance that
the Company will receive orders for Wireless Fiber services which allow the
Company to utilize Roof Rights it obtains. See "Business -- Telecommunications
Services -- Wireless Fiber -- Wireless Fiber Links."
 
UNCERTAINTY OF MARKET ACCEPTANCE OF WIRELESS FIBER SERVICES
 
    The Company has been marketing its Wireless Fiber services since December
1994 and such services currently are generating revenues that are insignificant.
The Company has not obtained a significant market share in any of the licensed
areas where it offers Wireless Fiber services. The provision of wireless local
telecommunications services over 38 GHz represents an emerging sector of the
telecommunications industry and the demand for and acceptance of Wireless Fiber
services are subject to a high level of uncertainty. Despite the Company's
initial success in attracting customers, there can be no assurance that
substantial markets will develop for wireless local telecommunications services
delivered over 38 GHz, or that, even if such markets develop, the Company will
be able to succeed in positioning itself as a provider of such services or
provide such services profitably. The Company's success in providing wireless
broadband services is subject to a number of factors beyond the Company's
control. These factors include, without limitation, historical perceptions of
the unreliability and lack of security of previous microwave radio technologies,
changes in general and local economic conditions, availability of equipment,
changes in telecommunications service rates charged by other service providers,
changes in the supply and demand for wireless broadband services, competition
from wireline and wireless operators in the same market area, changes in the
federal and state regulatory schemes affecting the operations of
telecommunications service providers in general and wireless broadband systems
in particular (including the enactment of new statutes and the promulgation of
changes in the interpretation or enforcement of existing or new rules and
regulations). In addition, the extent of the potential demand for wireless
broadband services in the Company's market areas cannot be estimated with
certainty. There can be no assurance that one or more of these factors will not
have an adverse effect on the Company's financial condition and results of
operations and the value of the Common Stock. See "Business --
Telecommunications Services."
 
RELIANCE ON KEY PERSONNEL
 
    The efforts of a small number of key management and operating personnel will
largely determine the Company's success. The loss of any of such personnel could
adversely affect the Company. The Company's success also depends in part upon
its ability to hire and retain highly skilled and qualified operating,
marketing, financial and technical personnel. The competition for qualified
personnel in the telecommunications industry is intense and, accordingly, there
can be no assurance that the Company will be able to hire or retain necessary
personnel. See "Management."
 
VOLATILITY OF MARKET PRICE OF COMMON STOCK
 
    Since the Common Stock has been publicly traded, the market price of the
Common Stock has fluctuated over a wide range and may continue to do so in the
future. The market price of the Common Stock could be subject to significant
fluctuations in response to various factors and events, including, among other
things, the depth and liquidity of the trading market of the Common Stock,
variations in the Company's operating results and the difference between actual
results and the results expected by investors and analysts. In addition, the
stock market in recent years has experienced broad price and volume fluctuations
that have often been unrelated to the operating performance of companies,
 
                                       25
<PAGE>
particularly telecommunications companies. These broad market fluctuations also
may adversely affect the market price of the Common Stock. See "Price Range of
Common Stock."
 
SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
 
    As of May 31, 1996, giving effect to the Stock Offering, the Company had
31,748,005 shares of Common Stock outstanding. Although a significant number of
the outstanding shares of Common Stock are "restricted securities," as that term
is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act ("Restricted Shares"), and may
not be sold unless such sale is registered under the Securities Act or is made
pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act, including
the exemption provided by Rule 144, substantially all of such Restricted Shares
either have been registered for resale under the Securities Act or are
currently, or will soon become, available for sale pursuant to Rule 144. Sales
or the expectation of sales of a substantial number of shares of Common Stock in
the public market could adversely affect the prevailing market price of the
Common Stock. The Company's directors and executive officers and certain other
officers of the Company and the Company's subsidiaries have agreed that, except
in certain limited circumstances, they will not sell any of their shares of
Common Stock for a period of 120 days after the date of this Prospectus without
the prior written consent of Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated on behalf of the
Underwriters. See "Shares Eligible for Future Sale" and "Underwriters."
 
EFFECT OF OUTSTANDING OPTIONS, WARRANTS AND OTHER CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES
 
    As of May 31, 1996, there were outstanding options and warrants with respect
to an aggregate of 8,145,699 shares of Common Stock at per-share exercise prices
ranging from $1.06 to $20.42. Additionally, the Old Convertible Notes (assuming
the Old Convertible Notes are converted on October 23, 1996, the first possible
date of conversion) and certain other convertible debt are convertible into an
aggregate of 4,699,211 shares (with no additional cash payment). Moreover,
substantially all of the shares underlying such securities have been or will be
registered for resale under the Securities Act. The Company has two existing
stock option plans under which options to purchase up to an additional 2,455,850
shares of Common Stock may be granted. The exercise of outstanding stock
options, warrants and other convertible securities will dilute the percentage
ownership of the Company's stockholders, and any sales in the public market of
shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of such stock options,
warrants and convertible securities may adversely affect prevailing market
prices for the Common Stock. See "Description of Certain Indebtedness,"
"Description of Capital Stock" and "Shares Eligible for Future Sale."
 
ANTI-TAKEOVER PROVISIONS
 
    The Company's corporate charter provides that directors serve staggered
three-year terms and authorizes the issuance of up to 15,000,000 preferred
shares with such designations, rights and preferences as may be determined from
time to time by the Company's Board of Directors. The affirmative vote of the
holders of at least two-thirds of the capital stock of the Company is required
to amend the provisions of the charter relating to the classification of the
Board. The staggered board provision could increase the likelihood that, in the
event of a possible takeover of the Company, incumbent directors would retain
their positions and, consequently, may have the effect of discouraging, delaying
or preventing a change in control or management of the Company. While the
Company has no present intention to issue Preferred Stock, the authorization of
preferred shares empowers the Board of Directors, without further stockholder
approval, to issue preferred shares with dividend, liquidation, conversion,
voting or other rights which could adversely affect the voting power or other
rights of the holders of the Common Stock. In the event of issuance, the
preferred shares could be utilized, under certain circumstances, as a method of
discouraging, delaying or preventing a change of control of the
 
                                       26
<PAGE>
Company. Additionally, certain of the Company's indebtedness (including the
Notes) contains provisions which would allow holders, at their election, to
require prepayment in the event of a change in control of the Company, which
could also serve to delay or prevent such a change in control from occurring.
Moreover, the Company's By-Laws provide that a stockholder entitled to vote for
the election of directors at a meeting may nominate a person or persons for
election as director only if written notice of such stockholder's intent to make
such nomination is given to the Company's Secretary not later than sixty days in
advance of such meeting, and the Company's stock option plans contain a
provision which accelerates the vesting of outstanding options in the event of
certain changes in control of the Company, both of which could serve to delay or
prevent a change in control from occurring. In addition, the Company is and,
subject to certain conditions, will continue to be, subject to the anti-takeover
provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which could have the effect
of delaying or preventing a change of control of the Company. Furthermore,
transfers of control and/or certain assets of telecommunications entities, such
as the Company, may require the approval of the FCC and/or state regulatory
commissions. With respect to 38 GHz licenses such as the Company's Wireless
Licenses, assignments of such licenses and changes of control involving entities
holding licenses require prior FCC and state regulatory approval and are subject
to restrictions and limitations on the identity and status of the assignee or
successor. See "Description of Capital Stock."
 
IMMEDIATE AND SUBSTANTIAL DILUTION
 
    This Offering involves an immediate and substantial dilution of $25.33 per
share between the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share after
this Offering and the assumed public offering price of $27.75 per share. See
"Dilution."
 
                                       27
<PAGE>
                          PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK
 
    The Company's Common Stock has been quoted on the Nasdaq National Market
since June 27, 1994, under the symbol "WCII" and prior thereto was quoted on the
Nasdaq SmallCap Market under the symbol "WCII" from April 4, 1991 to June 26,
1994.
 
    The following table sets forth, for the fiscal periods indicated, the high
and low last sale prices of the Common Stock as reported on the Nasdaq National
Market or the Nasdaq SmallCap Market, as the case may be. The quotes represent
"inter-dealer" prices without adjustment or mark-ups, mark-downs or commissions
and may not necessarily represent actual transactions.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   COMMON STOCK PRICE
                                                            --------------------------------
PERIOD ENDED                                                     HIGH              LOW
- ---------------------------------------------------------   ---------------   --------------
<S>                                                         <C> <C>           <C> <C>
May 31, 1994.............................................   $ 6 9/16          $ 3 3/4
August 31, 1994..........................................     6 11/16           4
November 30, 1994........................................     9 11/16           6
February 28, 1995........................................     9 1/8             5 1/32
May 31, 1995.............................................     7 1/32            5
August 31, 1995..........................................    13 3/8             5
November 30, 1995........................................    21 13/16          13 1/2
December 31, 1995 (commencing December 1, 1995)..........    17 3/8            14
March 31, 1996...........................................    18 1/2            13 3/8
June 30, 1996 (through June 12, 1996)....................    32 1/4            16
</TABLE>
 
    See the cover page of this Prospectus for a recent reported last sale price
of the Common Stock on the Nasdaq National Market. As of May 31, 1996, there
were 321 holders of record of the Common Stock. The Company believes that there
are more than 1,000 beneficial holders of the Common Stock.
 
                                DIVIDEND POLICY
 
    The Company has not declared or paid any dividends on the Common Stock and
does not intend to pay dividends on the Common Stock in the foreseeable future.
The Company intends to retain future earnings, if any, to finance the
development and expansion of its business. Certain covenants in the Old Note
Indentures and New Note Indentures currently effectively prohibit the Company
from declaring or paying cash dividends. See "Description of Certain
Indebtedness."
 
                                       28
<PAGE>
                                    DILUTION
 
    The net tangible book value deficiency of the Company at March 31, 1996 was
approximately $(15,079,000) or $(0.55) per share of Common Stock. The net
tangible book value deficiency of the Company at March 31, 1996, after giving
effect to the acquisitions of Fox/Lorber and TWL (but not Locate), was
approximately $(21,022,000) or $(0.77) per share of Common Stock. Net tangible
book value per share represents the amount of the Company's total tangible
assets less total liabilities, divided by the total number of outstanding shares
of Common Stock. After giving effect to the sale by the Company of the Common
Stock offered hereby at an assumed public offering price of $27.75 per share
(after deduction of underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated
offering expenses and assuming no exercise of the U.S. Underwriters'
over-allotment option) and the receipt of the net proceeds therefrom, the pro
forma as adjusted net tangible book value of the Company at March 31, 1996 would
have been approximately $75,801,000, or $2.42 per share. This represents an
immediate increase in net tangible book value of $3.19 per share attributable to
new investors purchasing shares of Common Stock in this Offering. The following
table illustrates this per share dilution:
 
Assumed public offering price per share...................             $27.75
  Pro forma net tangible book value deficiency per share
    at March 31, 1996(1)..................................   $(0.77)
  Increase in net tangible book value attributable to new
investors.................................................     3.19
                                                             ------
Pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share
  after this Offering.....................................               2.42
                                                                       ------
Dilution of net tangible book value per share to new
investors.................................................             $25.33
                                                                       ------
                                                                       ------
- ------------
 
(1) The Company's Wireless Licenses, having an aggregate book value of
    $12,443,000 (or $0.46 per share), are treated as intangible assets and
    accordingly, have been excluded from the calculation of tangible book value.
 
                                       29
<PAGE>
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
    The net proceeds to the Company of the Stock Offering are estimated to be
approximately $104.7 million (approximately $120.5 million if the U.S.
Underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised in full) after deducting
estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and other expenses payable by
the Company. The net proceeds to the Company of the Debt Offering are estimated
to be approximately $192.1 million, after deducting estimated underwriting
discounts and commissions and other expenses payable by the Company.
 
    The passage of the Telecommunications Act has resulted in opportunities that
have caused the Company to accelerate the development and expansion of its
telecommunications businesses. To capitalize on these opportunities, the Company
has undertaken an expanded capital expenditure program. Prior to the enactment
of the Telecommunications Act, the Company's planned capital expenditures for
1996 and 1997 were $36 million and $52 million, respectively. As a result of the
Company's accelerated strategy, the Company now plans capital expenditures of
$50 million and $280 million for 1996 and 1997, respectively. In addition to
fueling the growth of the Company's businesses, the Company believes that its
existing capital resources, which will be enhanced substantially by the proceeds
of the Offerings, will allow it to negotiate more effectively with equipment
suppliers and attract talented telecommunications personnel, while also
providing assurance to potential customers.
 
    The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Offerings (together with
funds raised in the 1995 Debt Placement) for the expansion of its
telecommunications operations in multiple markets, including the purchase of
switching equipment, customer site equipment and related software, the
acquisition of Roof Rights, the hiring of sales, marketing, engineering and
customer service personnel, the development of operating and management systems,
acquisitions (including additional 38 GHz licenses, by auction or otherwise),
other capital expenditures, and for working capital and general corporate
purposes, including the funding of operating losses. As a complement to its
telecommunications services, the Company may also use a portion of the proceeds
to acquire rights to, develop and control certain information and entertainment
content and services. A portion of the Company's expansion may occur through
acquisitions (utilizing cash or securities of the Company) as an alternative to
direct investment in the assets required to facilitate the Company's growth
strategy and a portion of the net proceeds of the Offerings may be used in
connection with such acquisitions. The businesses that the Company may acquire
would likely consist of entities that own or control existing telecommunications
facilities or entertainment and information content and services, customers or
licenses to provide telecommunications services. If the Locate Acquisition is
consummated, the Company may use a portion of the proceeds of the Offerings to
pay the $17.5 million promissory note to be issued to the seller (if the Company
does not elect to convert the note into Common Stock). As of the date of this
Prospectus, the Company has no agreement with any person to acquire or effect
any acquisition of a material business or assets, except as relating to the
Locate Acquisition.
 
    Management anticipates, based on current plans and assumptions relating to
its operations, that the net proceeds from the Stock Offering and Debt Offering,
together with existing financial resources (including proceeds raised in the
1995 Debt Placement and equipment financing arrangements which the Company
intends to seek), will be sufficient to fund the Company's growth and operations
for approximately 36 to 48 months following consummation of the Offerings.
Management believes that the Company's capital needs at the end of such period
will continue to be significant and the Company will continue to seek additional
sources of capital. See "Risk Factors -- Significant Capital Requirements,"
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations -- Company Overview" and "-- Liquidity and Capital Resources."
 
                                       30
<PAGE>
    The following table sets forth (in millions) the estimated sources and uses
of funds from the Offerings:
 
SOURCES OF FUNDS:
 
Gross proceeds from the Stock Offering..............................   $111
Gross proceeds from the Debt Offering...............................    200
                                                                       ----
      Total sources of funds........................................   $311
                                                                       ----
                                                                       ----
 
USES OF FUNDS:
 
Expansion of its telecommunications operations in multiple markets,
  acquisitions (including additional 38 GHz licenses, by auction or
  otherwise) other capital expenditures and for working capital and
  general corporate purposes, including the funding of operating
  losses, and, in certain instances, for the acquisition of rights
  to, development and control of certain information and entertainment
content and services................................................   $297
Transaction fees and expenses.......................................     14
                                                                       ----
      Total uses of funds...........................................   $311
                                                                       ----
                                                                       ----

                                       31
<PAGE>
                                 CAPITALIZATION
 
    The following table sets forth the cash and capitalization of the Company as
of March 31, 1996: (i) on a historical basis, (ii) on a pro forma basis that
gives effect to the acquisitions of Fox/Lorber, TWL and Locate as if they
occurred on March 31, 1996 (assuming that the Company does not elect to convert
the $17.5 million note to the sellers of Locate into Common Stock) and (iii) on
a pro forma as adjusted basis that gives effect to the Offerings (assuming no
exercise of the U.S. Underwriters' over-allotment option) as if they occurred on
March 31, 1996 (and assuming an offering price of $27.75 per share of Common
Stock). This table should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial
Statements and related notes thereto included elsewhere in this Prospectus.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                         MARCH 31, 1996
                                                              ------------------------------------
                                                                                        PRO FORMA
                                                               ACTUAL     PRO FORMA    AS ADJUSTED
                                                              --------    ---------    -----------
                                                                         (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                           <C>         <C>          <C>
Cash, cash equivalents and short term investments..........   $203,503    $ 203,665     $ 501,337
                                                              --------    ---------    -----------
                                                              --------    ---------    -----------
Current portion of long-term debt and capital lease
obligations................................................   $ 10,314    $  28,621     $  28,621
                                                              --------    ---------    -----------
                                                              --------    ---------    -----------
Long-term debt and capital lease obligations:
  Old Senior Notes.........................................   $159,194    $ 159,194     $ 159,194
  New Senior Notes ........................................      --          --           100,000
  New Senior Subordinated Notes ...........................      --          --           100,000
  Old Convertible notes....................................     79,597       79,597        79,597
  Other notes..............................................      3,436        3,603         3,603
  Capital lease obligations, net of current portion........      5,810        6,047         6,047
                                                              --------    ---------    -----------
    Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations.....    248,037      248,441       448,441
                                                              --------    ---------    -----------
Stockholders' equity:
  Preferred stock of the Company, 15,000,000 shares
    authorized, 689 shares issued and held in treasury, 0
outstanding................................................        689          689           689
  Common Stock, $.01 par value, 75,000,000 shares
    authorized, 29,740,306 shares issued and 27,233,543
    shares outstanding, 29,807,739 shares issued and
    27,300,976 shares outstanding on a pro forma basis,
    33,807,739 shares issued and 31,300,976 shares
    outstanding on an as adjusted basis (1)................        297          298           338
  Additional paid-in capital...............................    103,989      105,158       209,866
  Accumulated deficit......................................    (52,010)     (52,010)      (52,010)
                                                              --------    ---------    -----------
                                                                52,965       54,135       158,883
  Less: treasury stock.....................................    (39,677)     (39,677)      (39,677)
       Deferred compensation...............................       (997)        (997)         (997)
       Unrealized loss on long term investments............     (1,339)      (1,339)       (1,339)
                                                              --------    ---------    -----------
  Total stockholders' equity...............................     10,952       12,122       116,870
                                                              --------    ---------    -----------
    Total capitalization...................................   $258,989    $ 260,563     $ 565,311
                                                              --------    ---------    -----------
                                                              --------    ---------    -----------
</TABLE>
 
- ------------
 
(1) Does not include (i) an aggregate of 1,075,299 shares of Common Stock
    issuable upon exercise of options granted or which may be granted under the
    1992 Plan, (ii) an aggregate of 3,500,000 shares of Common Stock issuable
    upon exercise of options granted or which may be granted under the 1995
    Plan, (iii) 6,026,250 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of other
    outstanding options and warrants and (iv) 4,699,211 shares of Common Stock
    which may be issued upon conversion of the Old Convertible Notes (assuming
    they are converted on October 23, 1996, the first date on which conversion
    may occur) and certain other convertible debt. See "Description of Certain
    Indebtedness" and notes 17, 18 and 22 to the Consolidated Financial 
    Statements. The exercise and conversion prices of the foregoing securities 
    are all below the current market price of the Common Stock.
 
                                       32
<PAGE>
                            SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
 
    The selected financial data presented below, as of and for the two years
ended February 28, 1994 and 1995 and for the ten months ended December 31, 1995,
have been derived from the Company's consolidated financial statements which
have been audited by Grant Thornton LLP, independent certified public
accountants. The selected financial data presented below as of and for the three
months ended March 31, 1995 and 1996 and the ten months ended December 31, 1994
have been derived from unaudited consolidated financial statements of the
Company. In the opinion of management, the unaudited financial statements have
been prepared on the same basis as the audited financial statements and include
all adjustments, which consist only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary
for a fair presentation of the financial position and the results of operations
for these periods. This data should be read in conjunction with "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and
the pro forma and historical consolidated financial statements, including the
notes thereto, appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                               YEAR ENDED         TEN MONTHS ENDED      THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                              FEBRUARY 28,          DECEMBER 31,             MARCH 31,
                                           ------------------    -------------------    -------------------
                                            1994       1995       1994        1995       1995      1996(1)
                                           -------    -------    -------    --------    -------    --------
                                                        (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<S>                                        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>         <C>        <C>
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA:
Net sales:
 Telecommunications(2)..................   $ 8,505    $14,909    $13,420    $ 13,136    $ 2,219    $ 10,217
 Information services...................     --           474        193       2,648        844         771
 Merchandising..........................     7,120     10,182      8,405      13,987      3,095       3,521
                                           -------    -------    -------    --------    -------    --------
     Total net sales....................    15,625     25,565     22,018      29,771      6,158      14,509
Operating income (loss):
 Telecommunications.....................      (744)    (3,423)    (2,067)     (6,945)    (1,381)     (2,917)
 Information services...................     --          (117)      (115)        238         66         (30)
 Merchandising..........................       223        307        329         756         79         100
 General corporate......................    (1,547)    (2,378)    (1,609)     (3,861)    (1,033)     (1,771)
                                           -------    -------    -------    --------    -------    --------
     Total operating loss...............    (2,068)    (5,611)    (3,462)     (9,812)    (2,269)     (4,618)
Interest expense........................       744        637        505       7,630        184       8,815
Interest income.........................      (109)      (385)      (297)     (2,890)      (125)     (3,057)
Other expenses, net(3)..................     5,687      1,367        948       1,305        599         194
Net loss(4).............................    (8,195)    (7,230)    (4,618)    (15,857)    (2,927)    (10,699)
Net loss per common share(4)............   $ (1.06)   $ (0.42)   $ (0.28)   $  (0.70)   $ (0.15)   $  (0.39)
Weighted average common shares
outstanding.............................     7,719     17,122     16,609      22,770     19,935      27,214
 
OTHER FINANCIAL DATA:
Capital expenditures....................   $   307    $ 1,816    $ 1,465    $  8,652    $   555    $  2,588
EBITDA(5)(6)............................    (1,845)    (5,179)    (3,116)     (8,952)    (2,138)     (3,771)
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(7)...     --         --         --          --         --          --

<CAPTION>
                                                               AS OF
                                                            FEBRUARY 28,          AS OF          AS OF
                                                         ------------------    DECEMBER 31,    MARCH 31,
                                                          1994       1995          1995          1996
                                                         -------    -------    ------------    ---------
                                                                         (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                      <C>        <C>        <C>             <C>
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Cash, cash equivalents and short term investments.....   $   719    $ 3,156      $211,701      $ 203,503
Property and equipment, net...........................     1,301      2,663        15,898         18,089
Total assets..........................................    14,610     29,509       285,363        280,473
Current portion of long-term debt and capital lease
obligations...........................................     2,851        332         9,643         10,314
Long-term debt and capital lease obligations, less
 current portion and discount.........................     3,084      5,165       240,455        248,037
Stockholders' equity..................................     4,719     18,280        21,752         10,952
</TABLE>
 
                                                   (footnotes on following page)
 
                                       33
<PAGE>
- ------------
 
(1) In the first quarter of 1996, the Company settled a dispute with another
    carrier regarding the unauthorized switching of the Company's customers to
    the other carrier. The Company recognized revenue of approximately $1.5
    million and cost of sales of approximately $850,000 in connection with this
    settlement, the substantial majority of which related to minutes of use
    during that quarter.
 
(2) The Company has generated nominal revenues from its Wireless Fiber services.
 
(3) For the year ended February 28, 1994, principally represents noncash expense
    of $5.3 million consisting of the difference between the exercise prices of
    certain options granted in connection with the Company's initial public
    offering in April 1991 and the market value of the underlying shares of
    Common Stock on the date such options became exercisable.
 
(4) For the year ended February 28, 1994, net loss includes an extraordinary
    gain of approximately $0.2 million from the extinguishment of debt ($.03 per
    share).
 
(5) EBITDA consists of loss before interest, income taxes, depreciation and
    amortization and other income and expense (see footnote (3) above). EBITDA
    is provided because it is a measure commonly used in the telecommunications
    industry. It is presented to enhance an understanding of the Company's
    operating results and is not intended to represent cash flow or results of
    operations in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for
    the periods indicated. See the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements
    contained elsewhere in this Prospectus.
 
(6) EBITDA was insufficient to cover interest expense for the years ended
    February 28, 1994 and 1995, the ten months ended December 31, 1994 and 1995
    and the three months ended March 31, 1995 and 1996.
 
(7) For the years ended February 28, 1994 and 1995, the ten months ended
    December 31, 1994 and 1995 and the three months ended March 31, 1995 and
    1996, earnings were insufficient to cover fixed charges by $8.5 million,
    $7.2 million, $4.6 million, $15.9 million, $2.9 million and $10.6 million,
    respectively. On a pro forma basis, giving effect to the acquisitions of
    Locate, Fox/Lorber, TWL and Avant-Garde, the Everest Financing and the
    issuance of the Old Notes, as if they occurred at the beginning of the
    respective periods, earnings were insufficient to cover fixed charges by
    $43.9 million and $12.3 million for the ten months ended December 31, 1995
    and the three months ended March 31, 1996, respectively, and $68.1 million
    and $19.4 million on a pro forma as adjusted basis giving effect to the
    Transactions for the ten months ended December 31, 1995 and the three months
    ended March 31, 1996, respectively. Fixed charges consist of interest
    charges and amortization of debt expense and discount or premium related to
    indebtedness, whether expensed or capitalized, and that portion of rental
    expense (one-third) that the Company believes to be representative of
    interest. For the twelve months ended December 31, 1995 on a pro forma basis
    and a pro forma as adjusted basis giving effect to the Transactions,
    earnings were insufficient to cover fixed charges by $51.5 million and $80.7
    million, respectively.
 
                                       34
<PAGE>
                    MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
                 FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
    The following discussion includes certain forward-looking statements. For a
discussion of important factors, including, but not limited to, continued
development of the Company's businesses, actions of regulatory authorities and
competitors, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from the forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" and the
Company's periodic reports incorporated herein by reference.
 
COMPANY OVERVIEW
 
    The Company provides local and long distance telecommunication services in
the United States. As a complement to its telecommunications operations, the
Company produces and distributes information and entertainment content. The
Company also maintains a consumer products company with distribution through
national retailers in the United States and Canada.
 
    The Company operates its businesses through its wholly-owned subsidiaries as
follows:
 
        . WinStar Wireless, Inc. ("WinStar Wireless") is a CAP that provides
    Wireless Fiber-based local access services in many major metropolitan areas
    via the Company's digital wireless capacity in the 38 GHz portion of the
    radio spectrum. Wireless Fiber services currently are marketed to long
    distance carriers, CAPs, CLECs, CMRS service providers and LECs, as well as
    businesses, government agencies and institutions.
 
        . WinStar Telecommunications, Inc. ("WinStar Telecom") is a CLEC that
    recently commenced providing local exchange services and seeks to become a
    value-added, economical alternative to the LECs, particularly through the
    exploitation of the Company's Wireless Fiber capabilities, in substantially
    all of the metropolitan areas covered by the Company's Wireless Licenses.
    WinStar Telecom markets its services primarily to small- and medium-sized
    businesses.
 
        . WinStar Gateway Network, Inc. ("WinStar Gateway") is a long distance
    telecommunications services reseller that provides service primarily to
    residential customers.
 
        . WinStar New Media Company, Inc. ("WinStar New Media") produces and
    distributes, domestically and abroad, information and entertainment content,
    principally nonfiction and international programming and nationally
    syndicated sports radio programming.
 
        . WinStar Global Products, Inc. ("WinStar Global Products"), which was
    acquired by the Company prior to its entry into the telecommunications
    industry, designs, manufactures, markets and distributes personal care
    products, principally bath and hair care products, and sells primarily
    through large retailers, including mass merchandisers, discount stores,
    department stores and national and regional drug store chains.
 
    Perceiving emerging opportunities in an increasingly procompetitive
telecommunications industry, the Company shifted its focus in 1992 from
marketing consumer products to providing telecommunications services, and
entered the telecommunications business in 1993 with its acquisition of WinStar
Gateway. Substantially all of the Company's revenues have historically been
generated through its long distance telecommunications, information and
entertainment, and consumer products businesses. In 1994, the Company positioned
itself for entrance into the local telecommunications market with the
acquisition of Avant-Garde, the original holder of many of the Wireless
Licenses. Utilizing the Wireless Licenses, the Company (through WinStar
Wireless) entered the local access services market as a CAP in December 1994 and
currently provides Wireless Fiber-based local access services to a limited
number of customers, generating nominal revenues to date. In April 1996, the
Company (through WinStar Telecom) entered the local exchange services market as
a CLEC, and currently provides such services only on a resale basis in New York
City.
 
    The passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 has resulted in
opportunities that have caused the Company to accelerate the development and
expansion of its telecommunications businesses. The
 
                                       35
<PAGE>
Company's entry into the local exchange services market, along with the
continued development and expansion of the Company's local access business, will
require significantly larger amounts of capital expenditures for the
construction of Wireless Fiber and switch-based infrastructure on a city-by-city
basis, for working capital and for funding of operating losses during the next
several years. In connection with its CLEC business, the Company will seek to
install its own switches and remote nodes and utilize its Wireless Fiber
capacity, together with facilities leased or purchased from other carriers, to
originate and terminate local traffic. The faster the Company's rollout of its
CLEC business, the greater the near term operating losses and capital
expenditures will be. In addition, the Company intends to expand its Wireless
Fiber-based CAP business because its CAP business will serve a significant
portion of the local access needs of the Company's CLEC business, including for
backbone interconnections of hub, main switch and local nodes sites to be
created by the Company in connection with its CLEC operations, and for the
origination and termination of local traffic generated by the Company's local
exchange customers.
 
REVENUES
 
    The Company anticipates that the revenues generated by the operations of its
telecommunications businesses will represent an increasingly larger percentage
of the Company's consolidated revenue as the Company expands into the local
telecommunications services market. Factors driving the mix of revenues are as
follows:
 
        . CLEC revenues will be driven primarily by the number of local exchange
    circuits installed and in service. Customers generally are billed a flat
    monthly fee plus a per-minute usage charge or fraction thereof. Revenue
    growth depends on the introduction of local exchange services in new cities,
    the purchase and installation of switches to service those areas, and the
    addition of new customers. Additionally, if bundled services, such as long
    distance and Internet access, are purchased by the Company's customers,
    revenue per circuit will increase. Other anticipated sources of revenue
    include resale agreements for CMRS services, advanced data services,
    broadband data transmission services and video conferencing. The Company
    believes that as its local exchange services business grows, it will become
    the most significant component of the Company's revenues. The Company
    currently is generating revenues from this business that are insignificant.
    The Company does not expect significant revenues from its CLEC business
    during 1996. Local exchange services that are offered by the Company on a
    resale basis can be provided, and revenues generated thereby, shortly after
    receipt of customer orders. Currently, the sales cycle for the resale of
    local exchange services is approximately one to three weeks in duration. The
    Company anticipates that the sales cycle for local exchange services
    provided using its own facilities will be approximately the same duration as
    that experienced in the resale of local exchange services. The Company
    anticipates significant ongoing price reductions for provision of local
    exchange services, including those provided by the Company, in the future.
 
        . CAP revenues are driven primarily by the number of Wireless Fiber
    links in service and the capacity of each link (i.e., T-1s or DS-3s).
    Customers generally are billed at a fixed monthly rate per unit of capacity.
    Since the Company's local access customers have been, and will likely
    continue to be, predominantly telecommunications service providers, the
    addition or loss of several major customers would have a material impact on
    this business. The Company is generating revenues from this business that
    currently are insignificant. The Company's local access services are sold
    through a sales cycle that has averaged 9 to 12 months in duration because
    of the need to (i) demonstrate the efficacy and reliability of Wireless
    Fiber-based services to potential customers, as such services involve
    technology that is relatively new to the United States telecommunications
    industry and (ii) acquire the Roof Rights to install the Wireless Fiber
    links necessary to address the specific requirements of a customer. The
    Company believes that this sales cycle will become shorter going forward as
    (i) the efficacy and reliability of Wireless Fiber services become more
    widely accepted in the industry (thereby shortening or eliminating the
    customer education phase of the sales cycle), (ii) the Company's strategy of
    prequalifying buildings for Roof Rights results in the
 
                                       36
<PAGE>
    acquisition of key locations that will enable the Company to more rapidly
    address the specific requirements of many potential customers and (iii)
    existing customers broaden their use of the Company's Wireless Fiber
    services, especially those which have entered into master service agreements
    with the Company. The Company anticipates significant ongoing price
    reductions for CAP services, including those provided by the Company, in the
    future. See "Risk Factors-- Uncertainty of Market Acceptance of Wireless
    Fiber Services."
 
        . Long distance telecommunications services revenues are driven
    principally by the size and type of the customer base, with the largest
    percentage of the Company's long distance telecommunications services
    revenues currently derived from residential customers. Customers are billed
    on a per-minute basis or fraction thereof. New customers are generated
    through agent programs, affinity group programs and direct marketing. It is
    expected that in the future, larger percentages of the Company's long
    distance telecommunications service revenues will be derived from direct
    sales efforts to smaller- and medium-sized businesses as well as from
    customers which are purchasing local exchange services through the Company's
    CLEC business.
 
        . Information and entertainment content revenues are, or will be, driven
    principally by (i) sales of content, such as documentaries and foreign
    films, to traditional content customers, such as cable networks, (ii) sales
    of content to new media distribution channels, such as on-line services,
    (iii) sales of advertising and (iv) the bundling of content with the
    Company's telecommunications services.
 
        . Consumer products revenues are driven principally by the number of
    national retailers in the Company's customer base. The Company obtains shelf
    space through such large retailers, and the addition or loss of several
    large retailers can have a significant effect on the revenues of the
    Company's consumer products business. Product sell-through and new product
    introductions also play an important role in the Company's relationships
    with its customers.
 
COSTS
 
    Factors relating to costs are as follows:
 
        . Costs associated with the Company's CLEC business will include
    significant up-front capital expenditures for the development of the
    infrastructure required to provide the Company's own local exchange
    services, including expenditures relating to interconnection (i.e., the use
    of LEC facilities to terminate calls), purchases of switching equipment, 38
    GHz radios and site acquisition fees and expenses (including option fees for
    the prequalification of buildings for Roof Rights). In addition, the Company
    will have substantial start-up costs related to its CLEC business that will
    not be capitalized, including costs of engineering, marketing,
    administrative and other personnel, who will be needed in advance of related
    revenues. Prior to such time that the Company has developed and constructed
    the infrastructure required to provide its own local exchange services in a
    particular city, the Company may resell the local exchange services of other
    telecommunications providers. The resale of local exchange services
    typically will result in greater operating costs than the provision of
    services over the Company's own facilities and such costs will therefore
    decrease as the Company begins to provide more services over its own
    facilities. For example, as the Company increases the use of its Wireless
    Fiber capacity and decreases its dependence on the facilities of LECs and
    fiber optic-based carriers, resale costs will decrease proportionately.
    Additionally, site acquisition and switch costs will become a lower
    percentage of cost per minute of service as more buildings are connected and
    as the Company increases the number of customers and lines per building
    thereby improving operating margins. The Company is following a
    city-by-city, building-centric network plan to establish its own local
    exchange services facilities. This strategy allows the Company to manage the
    growth of operating and capital expenditures consistent with the amount of
    available working capital for such plan. The up-front capital costs of
    establishing the initial infrastructure required for the Company to provide
    its own local exchange services are substantial and much greater than those
    relating to the Company's CAP business.
 
                                       37
<PAGE>
        . Costs associated with the Company's CAP business include site
    acquisition (including option fees for the prequalification of buildings for
    Roof Rights) and equipment related fees and expenses, including costs
    incurred in connection with the acquisition of Roof Rights and the purchase
    of 38 GHz radios. In addition, the Company will continue to incur
    substantial start-up costs related to its CAP business that will not be
    capitalized, including costs of engineering, marketing, administrative and
    other personnel who will be needed in advance of related revenues. The cost
    per Wireless Fiber link is reduced as increased traffic is generated in
    buildings in which the Company already has established service. The Company
    also expects that equipment costs will continue to drop as technological
    improvements are made and more vendors begin to offer 38 GHz radios and
    other equipment. The initial costs to complete a Wireless Fiber link and
    initiate services across that link are much less than those required by the
    Company's CLEC business because of the additional costs related to
    establishing CLEC services, such as those related to the purchasing of
    switches and customer-site equipment.
 
        . Costs associated with the Company's long distance business include
    expenses related to resalable minutes purchased from major carriers, and
    accordingly fluctuate with revenue. Typically, reductions of such costs are
    achieved through negotiated volume rebates and competitive contract pricing.
    Generally, the Company is obligated to generate certain minimum monthly
    usage with its long distance carriers and may be required to pay an
    underutilization fee in addition to its monthly bill equal to a certain
    percentage of the difference between such minimum commitments and the
    traffic actually generated by the Company. The Company has never paid or
    been required to pay any underutilization charges.
 
        . The Company's information services businesses have both production and
    distribution costs. Film production costs are capitalized as incurred and
    are expensed as productions are completed. Overhead costs in the production
    division are also capitalized and allocated to films in progress, and are
    subsequently expensed as such films are completed. The distribution
    divisions incur royalty costs payable to third-party producers and selling
    costs, both of which vary directly with sales of acquired product, as well
    as administrative costs, substantially personnel related costs, which are
    primarily fixed in nature and which are expensed as incurred.
 
        . Costs associated with the Company's consumer product business
    fluctuate with material and labor component pricing. A large percentage of
    material components are sourced overseas, and are purchased in United States
    dollars. The Company seeks to lower product costs through improved material
    sourcing. See "-- Liquidity and Capital Resources."
 
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
    THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1996 COMPARED TO THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31,
1995
 
    Net sales for the three months ended March 31, 1996 increased by $8,351,000,
or 136%, to $14,509,000, from $6,158,000 for the three months ended March 31,
1995. This increase was principally attributable to increased revenues generated
by the Company's telecommunications businesses, which had revenues of
approximately $10.2 million during the three months ended March 31, 1996,
compared with $2.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 1995. In the
first quarter of 1996, the Company settled a dispute with another carrier
regarding the unauthorized switching of the Company's customers to the other
carrier. The Company recognized revenue of approximately $1.5 million and cost
of sales of approximately $850,000 in connection with the settlement, the
substantial majority of which related to minutes of use during that quarter.
 
    Cost of sales for the three months ended March 31, 1996 increased by
$3,975,000, or 86%, to $8,573,000, from $4,599,000 for the first three months
ended March 31, 1995. The increase is principally attributable to costs of
purchasing additional long distance minutes from third-party carriers to support
increased telecommunications traffic.
 
                                       38
<PAGE>
    Gross profit for the three months ended March 31, 1996 increased by
$4,376,000, or 280%, to $5,936,000, from $1,559,000 for the three months ended
March 31, 1995. Gross profit as a percentage of net sales increased to 40.9% for
the three months ended March 31, 1996, from 25.3% for the three months ended
March 31, 1995. The increase was primarily attributable to improving margins in
the Company's telecommunications businesses, which was positively impacted
during the first quarter by lower cost of sales for its long distance business
achieved through reduced carrier costs and volume rebates resulting from
renegotiated contracts with long distance service carriers.
 
    Selling, general and administrative expenses increased by $6,422,000 to
$10,192,000 or 70.2% of net sales, for the three months ended March 31, 1996,
from $3,770,000, or 61.2% of net sales, for the comparable period of the prior
year. The increase in personnel employed in the telecommunications businesses,
along with selling costs associated with increased revenues in the long distance
telephone business, accounted for approximately 86% of the increase. Corporate
general and administrative expenses accounted for approximately 11% of the total
increase, reflecting the expense of continued expansion of the Company's
executive, finance, information and human resource personnel and systems. For
the reasons noted above, the operating loss for the three months ended March 31,
1996 was $4,618,000, compared with $2,269,000 for the three months ended March
31, 1995.
 
    Interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 1996 was $8,815,000,
compared with $184,000 for the three months ended March 31, 1995. The increase
was primarily attributable to $7,834,000 in interest accreted on the Old Notes
but not payable in cash during the current quarter.
 
    Interest income for the three months ended March 31, 1996 increased by
$2,932,000, to $3,057,000, from $125,000 for the three months ended March
31, 1995. The increase is attributable to earnings on the proceeds of the 1995
Debt Placement, which raised net proceeds of $214.5 million.
 
    Other expense generally consists of amortization of intangibles, equity in
income (loss) of unconsolidated subsidiaries and various other items. Other
expense, net, for the three months ended March 31, 1996 decreased by $405,000,
to $195,000, from $599,000 for the three months ended March 31, 1995. During the
three months ended March 31, 1995, the Company recorded an expense of $537,000
representing its equity interest in the losses of Avant-Garde. As a result of
the merger of Avant-Garde into a subsidiary of the Company, the Company began to
include all of Avant-Garde's revenues and expenses in its consolidated statement
of operations effective July 17, 1995, and therefore this expense does not
appear in the statement of operations for the quarter ended March 31, 1996. In
addition, the cost of the acquisition of Avant-Garde has been allocated
primarily to licenses, and the amortization of this asset caused an increase in
amortization expense from $63,000 for the three months ended March 31, 1995 to
$195,000 for the three months ended March 31, 1996.
 
    For the reasons noted above, the net loss for the three months ended March
31, 1996 was $10,699,000, compared with a net loss of $2,927,000 for the first
three months of 1995.
 
    TEN MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995 COMPARED TO THE TEN MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER
31, 1994
 
    Net sales for the ten months ended December 31, 1995 increased by
$7,753,366, or 35.2%, to $29,771,472, from $22,018,106 in the comparable period
of the prior year. This increase was attributable to increased revenues in the
Company's information and entertainment services and consumer products
merchandising subsidiaries. During the ten months ended December 31, 1995,
WinStar Wireless had only nominal revenues. WinStar New Media, which reported
nominal revenues in the prior year, had revenues of approximately $2,648,000 for
the ten months ended December 31, 1995, related primarily to the completion of
certain documentary television products. WinStar Global Products also
experienced an increase in revenue of approximately $5,664,000, primarily due to
the growth in sales volume of its bath and body product lines.
 
    Cost of sales for the ten months ended December 31, 1995 increased by
$4,785,000, or 32%, to $19,546,000, from $14,761,000 for the ten months ended
December 31, 1994. The increase was
 
                                       39
<PAGE>
principally attributable to the growth in the Company's information services and
consumer products businesses.
 
    Gross profit for the ten month ended December 31, 1995 increased by
$2,968,000, or 41%, to $10,225,000, from $7,257,000 for the ten months ended
December 31, 1994. Gross profit as a percentage of sales increased to 34.3% for
the ten months ended December 31, 1995, compared to 33.0% in the comparable
period of the prior year. The increase was principally attributable to an
increase in gross margins at WinStar Global Products resulting from sales price
increases and product cost decreases relating to better material pricing and
factory efficiencies.
 
    Selling, general and administrative expenses increased by $9,292,277 to
$19,266,466, or 64.7% of net sales, for the ten months ended December 31, 1995,
from $9,974,189, or 45.3% of net sales, in the comparable period of the prior
year. The acquisition of Avant-Garde and the consolidation of that entity's
results of operations into the Company's financial statements from July 17, 1995
onward, as well as the growth in the administrative infrastructure at WinStar
Wireless, accounted for approximately 36% of the total increase. In particular,
expenses were incurred to develop operating systems, to market services to
targeted customers and to prepare for future growth in the wireless business.
Corporate general and administrative expenses accounted for approximately 23% of
the total increase because of the hiring of additional personnel and the
expansion of the Company's infrastructure to manage future growth in the
wireless business. Selling and marketing expenses incurred by WinStar Global
Products to service increased revenues accounted for approximately 22% of the
total increase.
 
    For the reasons noted above, the operating loss for the ten months ended
December 31, 1995, was $9,811,629, compared to an operating loss of $3,462,037
in the comparable period of the prior year.
 
    Interest expense increased by $7,125,000 to $7,630,000 for the ten months
ended December 31, 1995, from $505,000 for the ten months ended December 31,
1994, reflecting principally the non-cash accretion of interest to the Old
Notes.
 
    Interest income for the ten months ended December 31, 1995 increased by
$2,593,000, to $2,890,000, compared with $297,000 for the same period during the
prior year. The increase was attributable to earnings on the 1995 Debt
Placement, which raised net proceeds of $214.5 million.
 
    Other expense, net, for the ten months ended December 31, 1995 increased by
$357,000, to $1,306,000, compared with $949,000 for the same period of the prior
year. The cost of the acquisition of Avant-Garde has been allocated primarily to
the 38 GHz licenses held by Avant-Garde at the time of the acquisition, and the
amortization of this asset beginning in June 1995, when such licenses were
placed into service, caused an increase in amortization expense of $258,000.
 
    For the reasons noted above, the Company reported a net loss of $15,857,459
for the ten months ended December 31, 1995, compared to a net loss of $4,618,358
in the comparable period of the prior year.
 
    YEAR ENDED FEBRUARY 28, 1995 COMPARED TO YEAR ENDED FEBRUARY 28, 1994
 
    Net sales for the year ended February 28, 1995, were $25,564,760, up 63.6%
from the prior year's sales of $15,625,019. During the year ended February 28,
1995, WinStar Gateway reported net sales of $14,909,225, compared to net sales
of $8,505,282 in the year ended February 28, 1994, an increase of 75.3%. Sales
growth resulted primarily from growth in the customer base at WinStar Gateway.
WinStar Global Products also experienced substantial sales growth, from
$7,119,737 in the year ended February 28, 1994, to $10,182,143 in the year ended
February 28, 1995, an increase of 43%. This increase was attributable to
approximately $3,600,000 in additional sales from the bath and body product line
acquired in the year ended February 28, 1994, as well as growth in the personal
care products line. These sales increases were offset by a reduction of
approximately $1,200,000 in sales from discontinued business lines. WinStar New
Media generated $473,392 in sales in the year ended February 28, 1995, its first
year of operation.
 
                                       40
<PAGE>
    Cost of sales for the year ended February 28, 1995 increased by $6,990,000,
or 65%, to $17,703,000, from $10,712,000 for the year ended February 28, 1994.
The increase is principally attributable to the growth in the Company's long
distance telephone and consumer products businesses.
 
    Gross profit for the year ended February 28, 1995 increased by $2,949,000,
or 60%, to $7,862,000, from $4,913,000 for the year ended February 28, 1994.
Gross profit as a percentage of sales was 30.8% in the year ended February 28,
1995, compared to 31.4% in the prior year. The slight decrease is attributable
to certain one-time charges recorded at WinStar Gateway relating to contractual
payments due to the Company's telecommunications providers.
 
    Selling, general and administrative expenses increased by $5,800,946 to
$12,688,859, or 49.6% of net sales, for the year ended February 28, 1995, from
$6,887,913, or 44.1% of net sales, for the prior year. The increase was
attributable to increased operating expenses related to the growth of WinStar
Gateway and WinStar Global Products, the build up of the corporate
infrastructure to identify, acquire and manage opportunities for the Company's
continued telecommunications growth, and start-up expenses associated with
WinStar Wireless, offset by a reduction of expenses related to discontinued
business lines. The Company also recorded a restructuring charge of $607,609 and
other non-recurring charges of $481,872 in the year ended February 28, 1995,
related to its WinStar Gateway subsidiary. These charges include termination
costs for previous executive, management, and staff personnel as well as other
charges taken in connection with sales programs and other initiatives
implemented by previous management. For the reasons noted above, the operating
loss for the year ended February 28, 1995, was $5,611,436, compared to an
operating loss of $2,067,521 in the prior year.
 
    Interest expense decreased to $637,000 in the year ended February 28, 1995
from $744,000 in the prior year. This improvement was due to the use of
approximately $2,000,000 in promissory notes by the holders thereof for the
payment of the exercise price of certain warrants.
 
    Other expense, net, for the year ended February 28, 1995 decreased by
$4,321,000, to $1,366,000, from $5,687,000 for the year ended February 28, 1994.
In the year ended February 28, 1994, the Company recorded a non-cash expense of
$5,316,667 related to certain stock options issued in connection with the
Company's initial public offering in 1991, and an expense of $292,376 related to
discontinued business lines. The Company also recorded an extraordinary gain of
$194,154 resulting from the settlement of debt at a discount. These situations
did not recur in the year ended February 28, 1995. This decrease in other
expense was offset in part by the Company's proportionate share of expenses
incurred by Avant-Garde, aggregating $1.1 million.
 
    For the reasons noted above, the Company reported a net loss of $7,230,195
for the year ended February 28, 1995, compared to a net loss of $8,195,468 for
the year ended February 28, 1994.
 
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
 
    The Company has incurred significant operating and net losses due in large
part to the development of its telecommunications services business, and
anticipates that such losses will increase as the Company accelerates its growth
strategy. Historically, the Company has funded its operating losses and capital
expenditures through public and private offerings of debt and equity securities
and from credit facilities. Cash used to fund negative EBITDA during the three
months ended March 31, 1996, the ten months ended December 31, 1995 and the
fiscal years ended February 28, 1995 and 1994 was $3.7 million, $9.0 million,
$5.2 million and $1.8 million, respectively. The Company raised net proceeds of
approximately $214.5 million from the 1995 Debt Placement to fund the expansion
of its CAP business. Interest expense on that debt does not require payments of
cash for the first five years. At March 31, 1996 and December 31, 1995, working
capital was $209 million and $215 million, respectively, including cash, cash
equivalents and short term investments of $204 million and $212 million,
respectively.
 
    The passage of the Telecommunications Act has resulted in opportunities that
have caused the Company to accelerate the development and expansion of its
telecommunications businesses. To capitalize on these opportunities, the Company
has undertaken a plan to expand and accelerate its
 
                                       41
<PAGE>
capital expenditure program. Capital expenditures for the three months ended
March 31, 1996, the ten months ended December 31, 1995 and the fiscal years
ended February 28, 1995 and 1994 were $2.6 million, $8.7 million, $1.8 million
and $0.3 million, respectively, and, prior to the enactment of the
Telecommunications Act, the Company's planned capital expenditures for 1996 and
1997 were estimated at $36 million and $52 million, respectively. As a result of
the acceleration of the development and expansion of the Company's
telecommunications businesses, the Company now plans capital expenditures of $50
million and $280 million for 1996 and 1997, respectively.
 
    A significant portion of the Company's increased capital requirements will
result from the rollout of the Company's CLEC business on a nationwide basis.
The Company has begun to build a direct sales force, has opened its first sales
office in New York City and is in the process of expanding into other
metropolitan areas. Additionally, the Company is in the process of ordering
switching and other network equipment to be placed in key markets. Accordingly,
the Company expects that its working capital, capital expenditure needs and
selling, general and administrative expenses will continue to increase as this
expansion takes place, which will accelerate the Company's need for additional
capital.
 
    The Company has two credit facilities and an equipment lease financing
facility, with a total of $14.6 million outstanding thereunder as of March 31,
1996. Management believes that upon expiration in 1996, these facilities will be
either renewed or replaced. In the event that they are not renewed or replaced,
the Company will repay amounts outstanding with cash on hand.
 
    As of March 31, 1996, the Company had commitments (i) to purchase $15.6
million of 38 GHz radios from P-Com (as defined below), (ii) to purchase $5
million of Internet access services from Digex and (iii) to pay $17.5 million
upon consummation of the Locate Acquisition.
 
    The proceeds of the Offerings will be used principally to fund the capital
expenditures and operating losses resulting from the accelerated development and
expansion of the Company's telecommunications businesses. In addition to
enabling the growth of the Company's businesses, the Company believes that its
existing capital resources, which will be enhanced substantially by the proceeds
of the Offerings, will allow it to negotiate more effectively with equipment
suppliers and attract talented telecommunications personnel, while also
providing assurance to potential customers. Management anticipates, based on
current plans and assumptions relating to its operations, that the net proceeds
from the Stock Offering and Debt Offering, together with existing financial
resources (including proceeds raised in the 1995 Debt Placement and equipment
financing arrangements which the Company intends to seek), will be sufficient to
fund the Company's growth and operations for approximately 36 to 48 months
following the consummation of the Offerings. Management believes that the
Company's capital needs at the end of such period will continue to be
significant and the Company will continue to seek additional sources of capital.
The Company anticipates that it will be able to raise sufficient capital to
implement its accelerated plan. Further, in the event the Company's plans or
assumptions change or prove to be inaccurate, or if the Company successfully
consummates any acquisitions (including additional 38 GHz licenses, by auction
or otherwise), or if the Company's operating income does not significantly
increase, the Company may be required to seek additional sources of capital
sooner than currently anticipated. Sources of additional capital may include
public and private equity and debt financings, sales of nonstrategic assets and
other financing arrangements. There can be no assurance that the Company will be
able to obtain financing, or, if such financing is available, that the Company
will be able to obtain it on acceptable terms. Failure to obtain additional
financing, if needed, could result in the delay or abandonment of some or all of
the Company's development and expansion plans, which would have a material
adverse effect on the Company's business and could adversely affect the
Company's ability to service its debt and the value of the Common Stock.
 
                                       42
<PAGE>
                                    BUSINESS
 
GENERAL
 
    The Company delivers telecommunications services in the United States as a
CAP, CLEC, and long distance and private network services provider. Beginning in
the third quarter of 1996, the Company plans to offer Internet access services.
The Company utilizes its Wireless Fiber services as a key component of its
transmission network. As a complement to its telecommunications operations, the
Company produces and distributes information and entertainment content.
 
    Wireless Fiber services deliver high quality transmission via digital,
wireless capacity in the 38 GHz portion of the radio spectrum, where the Company
is the holder of the largest aggregate amount of 38 GHz bandwidth in the United
States pursuant to Wireless Licenses granted by the FCC. The Wireless Licenses
enable the Company to provide Wireless Fiber services in the 31 most populated
MSAs in the United States, including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New
York and San Francisco, among others, and 41 of the 45 most populated MSAs. The
MSAs covered by the Wireless Licenses include more than 100 cities with
populations exceeding 100,000, and encompass an aggregate population of almost
110 million. By exploiting its Wireless Fiber capabilities, the Company seeks to
become a value-added, economical provider of local telecommunications services
and an attractive alternative to the LECs, such as the RBOCs, in substantially
all of the metropolitan areas covered by the Wireless Licenses. 
 
    The Company believes that its Wireless Fiber services provide it with
certain critical competitive advantages in the evolving telecommunications
market. The Company's Wireless Fiber services are engineered to provide 99.999%
reliability, with a 10-13 bit error rate (unfaded), performance equivalent to
that provided by fiber optic-based networks and exceeding that generally
provided by copper-based networks. The Company's Wireless Fiber services provide
a high capacity, cost-effective solution for voice and broadband applications,
providing data transfer rates equivalent to fiber-optic products and
significantly exceeding those provided by the fastest dial-up modems and ISDN
lines. The above-ground, installation-to-meet-demand nature of the Company's
Wireless Fiber services enables the Company to provide services to a customer
more quickly and less expensively than telecommunications providers that rely on
the installation of fiber optic- or copper-based lines for connection to
customer locations.
 
TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
 
    The telecommunications industry is being reshaped by the deregulation of
telecommunications markets, growing demand for high speed, high capacity digital
telecommunications services and rapid advances in wireless technologies,
including 38 GHz-based technology. The long distance market has been opened to
competition for more than a decade and current deregulation is now allowing new
competitors to enter into the local telecommunications markets to compete with
the incumbent LECs in all aspects of local telecommunications services. The
accelerating growth of LANs, WANs, Internet services and video teleconferencing,
and the ongoing revolution in microprocessor power, are significantly increasing
the volume of broadband telecommunications traffic. The convergence of these
factors is creating significant opportunities for competitive telecommunications
service providers such as the Company.
 
    GENERAL
 
    The present structure of the telecommunications marketplace was shaped
principally by the court-directed divestiture ("Divestiture") of the Bell System
in 1984. In connection with the Divestiture, the United States was divided into
194 local regions known as LATAs and the Bell System was separated into a long
distance carrier, AT&T, to provide long distance services between LATAs, and
seven
 
                                       43
<PAGE>
RBOCs, including, for example, Bell Atlantic and NYNEX, to provide local
telecommunications services. Long distance services involve the carriage of
telecommunications traffic between LATAs. Local telecommunications services
involve the provision of switched local traffic (local exchange services) and
short-haul (or intraLATA) toll service and the provision of local network access
to long distance carriers by the LECs, including the RBOCs, and independent long
distance carriers and resellers, thereby allowing long distance traffic to reach
end users in a different LATA (local access).
 
    While the Divestiture facilitated competition in the long distance segment
of the telecommunications market, each LEC initially continued to enjoy a
monopoly in the provision of local telecommunications services in its respective
geographic service area. Beginning in the mid-1980s, however, certain entities
began constructing their own local networks and providing local access and
dedicated services designed to allow users to bypass a portion of a particular
LEC's local network. CAPs were the first alternative providers of these types of
services and the first competitors in the local telecommunications services
market. The demand for alternative local telecommunications services providers
in the past has been driven in large part by the significant charges levied by
the LECs on the long distance carriers for access to such LECs' local networks
(access charges), which have represented approximately 45% of such carriers'
long distance revenues. The CAPs' local networks typically consist of fiber
optic-based facilities connecting long distance carriers' POPs within a
metropolitan area, connecting end users (primarily large businesses and
government agencies) with long distance carriers' POPs and connecting different
locations of a particular customer. CAPs take advantage of the digital
technology employed by fiber optics and the substantial capacity and economies
of scale inherent in their networks to offer customers service that is generally
less expensive and of higher quality than that obtained from the LECs.
 
    The Telecommunications Act opens the local exchange services market to
competition on a nationwide basis. The Telecommunications Act provides for the
removal of legal barriers to competition in the local exchange market and will
permit CLECs, such as the Company, to offer a full range of local exchange
services, including local dial tone, custom calling features and intraLATA toll
services, to both business and residential customers. It requires LECs to allow
alternate carriers, such as the Company, to interconnect with their networks and
establishes additional procompetitive obligations upon the incumbent LECs. These
obligations include allowing unbundled access to the incumbent LECs' networks,
resale of local exchange services, number portability, dialing parity, access to
rights-of-way and mutual compensation for the termination of switched local
traffic. In addition, the legislation codifies the LECs' equal access and
nondiscrimination obligations and preempts inconsistent state regulation. The
Telecommunications Act also contains certain provisions that ultimately will
eliminate the restrictions that currently prohibit the RBOCs from providing
interLATA services.
 
    The full extent of the effects of the Telecommunications Act on the Company
and other telecommunications companies is as of yet unknown, particularly
because it contains many provisions that require enabling regulations, the vast
majority of which have not yet been promulgated. However, the Company believes
that both competition and opportunity in the telecommunications industry will be
increased by the Telecommunications Act, as telecommunications providers seek to
enter quickly into newly-opened markets. The Company believes that such
opportunity is amplified by (i) growing consumer interest, especially among
business users, in alternatives to their existing carriers for more capacity in
the form of broader bandwidth channels to customer premises, better pricing
terms and route diversity, (ii) long distance carriers' desire to connect their
long distance networks to local origination and termination points at rates
lower than the incumbent LECs' local access charges, (iii) a monopoly position
and pricing structure in the local exchange services market which historically
has provided little economic incentive for the incumbent LECs to upgrade their
existing networks or to provide specialized services, (iv) technological
advances in data and video services and products requiring greater transmission
capacity and reliability and (v) ongoing regulatory initiatives to allow other
providers of local telecommunications services to interconnect their networks
with those owned by the incumbent LECs.
 
                                       44
<PAGE>
    38 GHZ TECHNOLOGY
 
    An aggregate of fourteen 100 MHz channels in 38 GHz currently are allocated
by the FCC in each 38 GHz licensed area with certain additional 100 MHz channels
available for future licensing. Although FCC rules specify that 38 GHz be used
for point-to-point transmissions, it has not mandated any particular commercial
services for such frequency. Prior to 1993, the 38 GHz portion of the radio
spectrum remained largely unassigned for commercial use in the United States due
to, among other factors, the lack of available technology to efficiently utilize
38 GHz for commercial purposes. In the early 1990s, however, technology became
available which allowed for the provision of non-switched wireless
telecommunications links between two fixed points for the carriage of
telecommunications traffic. 38 GHz technology was first employed in Europe on a
commercial basis by PCS providers for the interconnection of their cell sites.
 
    By early 1994, technological advances combined with growing use in Europe
led to increasing awareness of and interest in the potential uses of 38 GHz in
the United States. After Avant-Garde (which was acquired by the Company in July
1995 and which was the original recipient of many of the Company's Wireless
Licenses) received its initial 30 multiple-channel 38 GHz licenses in September
1993 (each license providing for four channels for an aggregate of 400 MHz of
bandwidth capacity), other entities, including several large telecommunications
companies such as Pacific Telesis, Inc., GTE Telecommunication Services, Inc.
and MCI, sought similar multiple-channel 38 GHz licenses for the provision of
wireless local telecommunications services. However, in September 1994, the FCC
began to follow new procedures with respect to the granting of 38 GHz licenses,
including limiting bandwidth capacity to a single 100 MHz channel per licensee
in a particular licensed geographic area. See "-- Government Regulation of
Telecommunications Operations."
 
    Point-to-point wireless local telecommunications services can be offered in
many portions of the radio spectrum. However, 38 GHz has several characteristics
that make it particularly well suited for the provision of such services,
including:
 
    Efficient Channel Reuse Allowing for Dense and Controlled Network
Designs. Certain characteristics of 38 GHz, including the small amount of
dispersion (i.e., scattering) of the radio beam as compared to the more
dispersed radio beams produced in lower frequencies, allow for the reuse of
bandwidth capacity in a licensed area. The ability to reuse capacity allows the
38 GHz license holder to densely deploy its 38 GHz services in a given
geographic area, providing services to multiple customers over the same 38 GHz
channel and conserving bandwidth capacity, thereby enhancing the types of
services that can be provided and increasing the number of customers to which
such services can be provided. Due to the limited dispersion characteristics of
38 GHz, numerous T-1s can be placed in close proximity without interfering with
each other. The Company believes that the use of multiple 100 MHz channels
allows, and in many instances is required, for dense reuse where multiple DS-3
are being deployed in a given area.
 
    38 GHz licenses have been granted by the FCC on a geographic basis and cover
areas originally defined by the applicant, allowing the license holder to
install and operate as many transmission links as can be engineered in the
entire licensed area without obtaining further approval from the FCC. This is a
significant difference from most other comparable portions of the radio spectrum
(i.e., those that are used for other commercial point-to-point applications),
which are typically licensed on a link-by-link basis following frequency
coordination. Frequency coordination is often time consuming and problematic at
frequencies lower than 38 GHz because such frequencies are widely used and
signals at such frequencies are more dispersed. The exclusive right to use a
particular channel or channels within a broad geographic area gives the licensee
much greater control and flexibility over its network design. A 38 GHz licensee
can save costs, ensure interference-free operations and increase quality and
reliability by designing efficient 38 GHz networks in advance of their
deployment.
 
                                       45
<PAGE>
    Higher Data Transfer Rates. The total amount of bandwidth for each 38 GHz
channel is 100 MHz, which exceeds the bandwidth of any other present terrestrial
wireless channel allotment and supports full broadband capability. For example,
one 38 GHz DS-3 channel at 45 Mbps today can transfer data at a rate which is
over 1,500 times the rate of the fastest dial-up modem currently in use (28.8
Kbps) and over 350 times the rate of the fastest ISDN line currently in use (128
Kbps). Data transfer rates of a 38 GHz DS-3 channel even exceed the data
transfer rates of cable modems (30 Mbps). The broadband capacity of 38 GHz
transmission provides improved speed and quality in transmissions, as compared
to transmissions that are carried over a "last mile" consisting of copper wire.
In addition to accommodating standard voice and data requirements, 45 Mbps data
transmission rates allow end users to receive full motion video and 3-D graphics
and to utilize highly interactive applications on the Internet and other
networks.
 
    Rapid Deployment. 38 GHz technology generally can be deployed considerably
more rapidly than wireline (because of permit procedures and construction time
required for wireline buildout) and many other wireless technologies (because of
the need to follow FCC frequency coordination procedures in connection with the
installation of most wireless facilities).
 
    Ease of Installation. The equipment used for point-to-point applications in
38 GHz (i.e., antennae, transceivers and digital interface units) is typically
smaller, less obtrusive, less expensive and uses less power than equipment used
for similar applications at lower frequencies, making it often relatively easier
to obtain the Roof Rights required to install transceivers and less costly to
initiate 38 GHz-based services.
 
    Additional Advantages Over Other Portions of Radio Spectrum. At frequencies
above 38 GHz, point-to-point applications become less practical because the
maximum distance between transceivers continually decreases as attenuation
increases. Additionally, the FCC has specified the use of many portions of the
spectrum for applications other than point-to-point, such as satellite and
wireless cable services, and, accordingly, these portions of the radio spectrum
often are not available for point-to-point applications. Finally, 38 GHz has
characteristics which provide better signal quality and performance in inclement
weather than those offered in the immediately surrounding portions of the radio
spectrum.
 
STRATEGY FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUSINESS GROWTH
 
    By exploiting its Wireless Fiber capabilities, the Company seeks to become a
leading provider of integrated telecommunications services in the United States.
Key elements of the Company's strategy include:
 
    Accelerating Rollout of CLEC Services and Leveraging of Wireless Fiber
Capabilities. In response to the Telecommunications Act, the Company is
accelerating the rollout of its local exchange CLEC services. The Company has
commenced offering local exchange services on a limited, resale basis in New
York City and it is anticipated that the Company will begin offering such
services in at least five additional cities during the next nine months. As the
Company commences its CLEC business in each city, in order to gain initial
market penetration in that city, it intends to initially resell the local
exchange services of other service providers, such as other CLECs and the
incumbent LECs, until such time that it has established the Wireless Fiber and
switch-based infrastructure required to provide its own local exchange services
in that city. The Company is following a city-by-city, building-centric network
plan to establish its own local exchange services facilities which will utilize
the Company's own switches and Wireless Fiber services to link end user
customers and fiber optic facilities leased or purchased from service providers.
By utilizing its Wireless Fiber services to originate and terminate customer
traffic without connecting to end users through the extension of costly
fiber-optic lines or using the facilities of the LECs, the Company believes that
it will be able to provide many types of bundled local exchange, long distance,
Internet access, enhanced communications and information services to its
 
                                       46
<PAGE>
target customers at lower cost than many of its competitors, with equal or
better quality. See "-- Telecommunications Services -- CLEC Services."
 
    Continuing to Market CAP Services to Other Telecommunications Providers. The
Company is continuing to target other telecommunications service providers in
the marketing of its Wireless Fiber-based local access services. The Company
believes that its Wireless Fiber services present an attractive, economical
vehicle for other telecommunications service providers to extend their own
networks and service territories, especially as they seek to rapidly penetrate
new markets opening up to them as a result of the Telecommunications Act. By
having its Wireless Fiber services packaged with the service offerings of other
telecommunications providers or utilized as a seamless component of such
providers' own telecommunications networks, the Company also hopes to leverage
the marketing and distribution capabilities of such providers. The Company
currently offers its Wireless Fiber services to long distance carriers; other
CAPs and CLECs; CMRS providers; and LECs. The Company also offers its Wireless
Fiber services to all types of telecommunications service providers as viable,
cost-efficient alternate routes for their telecommunications traffic in
situations where primary routes are incapacitated and/or network reliability
concerns require alternate telecommunications paths. See "-- Telecommunications
Services -- CAP Services."
 
    Providing Wireless Internet Access and Private Network Services. The Company
is marketing its Wireless Fiber services to take advantage of the
characteristics that make it an attractive solution for entities seeking
cost-effective, high capacity Internet access and private voice and data network
services. The total amount of bandwidth of each 38 GHz channel is 100 MHz, which
supports high broadband capability. One Wireless Fiber DS-3 link provides
transfer rates which are over 1,500 times the rate of the fastest dial-up modem
currently in use and over 350 times the rate of the fastest ISDN line currently
in use. In addition to accommodating standard voice and data requirements,
Wireless Fiber services can allow end users to receive real time, full motion
video and 3-D graphics and to utilize highly interactive applications on the
Internet and other networks. The Company offers its Wireless Fiber services to
businesses, government agencies and institutions with multiple locations within
an area covered by the Wireless Licenses that seek to establish their own
independent local telecommunications systems for dedicated private line voice
and data networks, including LAN and WAN applications. The Company also recently
established its first major relationship with an Internet service provider and
is actively pursuing relationships with additional Internet service providers.
See "-- Telecommunications Services -- CAP Services."
 
    Exploiting Position as First to Market and Leading Spectrum Holder. The
Company currently enjoys a first-to-market advantage as one of the few holders
of 38 GHz licenses with an established operating and management infrastructure
and the capital necessary to rapidly exploit and roll out its 38 GHz services on
a commercial basis. The Company believes that its competitive advantage is
further strengthened by its position as the holder of the largest aggregate
amount of 38 GHz bandwidth capacity in the United States and by the broad
geographic scope allocated under its Wireless Licenses. The Company holds 43
Wireless Licenses, 30 of which provide for 400 MHz of bandwidth capacity per
licensed area and 13 of which provide for 100 MHz of bandwidth capacity per
licensed area, and which allow the Company to address an aggregate of more than
400 million channel pops. Based on existing and proposed FCC regulations, the
Company believes that it will be difficult, in the near term, for other entities
seeking to provide wireless local telecommunications services similar to those
of the Company to obtain the aggregate bandwidth capacity and widespread
geographic coverage afforded to the Company under its Wireless Licenses. The
Company seeks to acquire other 38 GHz licenses as opportunities arise, which may
include the acquisition of interests in other licensees and participation in any
auction procedure for 38 GHz licenses that the FCC establishes. See "--
Telecommunications Services -- Wireless Fiber -- Wireless Licenses."
 
    Expanding and Improving the Company's Long Distance Operations. The Company
is seeking to expand and improve its long distance operations by (i) bundling
its resale of long distance services with
 
                                       47
<PAGE>
its local telecommunications services, (ii) broadening its business customer
base and increasing customer retention rates, (iii) improving operating
efficiencies by reducing costs associated with the provision of its long
distance services, (iv) differentiating its long distance services, most
notably, in the near term, through the use of less complicated billing systems,
(v) using intelligent network platforms for the provision of enhanced
telecommunications services, and (vi) acquiring and integrating customer bases
from other telecommunications providers. The Company also anticipates that it
will be able to leverage upon the billing systems and intelligent network
platforms developed in connection with its long distance services to enhance the
marketability of its local telecommunications services. See "--
Telecommunications Services -- Long Distance Services."
 
    Acquiring Content to Complement Telecommunications Service Offerings. The
Company believes that, over time, participants in the telecommunications market
increasingly will seek to offer "content" -- from information programming,
sports, weather, business and stock market information to music, films and
literature -- to differentiate their services and attract traffic onto their
transmission networks and that the ability to deliver entertainment and
information content to consumers will play an increasingly important role in
consumers' choice of a telecommunications provider. Accordingly, as a complement
to its telecommunications service offerings, the Company produces and
distributes information and entertainment content, focusing on niche programming
such as documentaries, foreign films and multimedia sports programming. The
Company believes that, in the future, it will be able to bundle proprietary
content that it controls with various telecommunications services it offers to
provide higher-margin products and services. See "-- New Media Business."
 
TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES
 
    Since late 1994, the Company has focused primarily on the development and
initial marketing of its Wireless Fiber-based local access services. After an
initial market-education phase, in which the Company demonstrated the efficacy
and reliability of its Wireless Fiber services, principally though the use of
field demonstrations and the installation of trial-basis Wireless Fiber links,
the Company began receiving initial orders for Wireless Fiber services. In
addition to continuing the expansion of its CAP business, the Company is
implementing its CLEC business on an accelerated basis. The Company seeks to
develop its CLEC business into a value-added, economical alternative to the
LECs, particularly through the exploitation of the Company's Wireless Fiber
capabilities.
 
    WIRELESS FIBER
 
    The Company utilizes its Wireless Fiber capacity in connection with its CAP
business. The Company also will employ its Wireless Fiber capacity as an
integral component of its planned CLEC facilities to originate and terminate
local traffic and to interconnect hub, switch and local node sites constructed
by the Company.
 
    Wireless Fiber Links. Each Wireless Fiber link currently provides up to four
T-1s of capacity (equivalent to 96 voice lines) or one DS-3 of capacity
(equivalent to 672 voice lines). The Company believes that with future
developments in 38 GHz technology there will be substantial increases in the
capacity of each Wireless Fiber link. The Company's Wireless Fiber links meet or
exceed general telephone industry standards, provide transmission quality
equivalent to that produced by fiber optic-based facilities, and address the
growing demand for high speed, high capacity, digital telecommunications
services for voice, data and video applications, including traditional local
access, Internet access and network interconnection services. Accordingly, the
Company believes that its Wireless Fiber capacity meets or exceeds the majority
of potential customers' requirements in the Company's present and future target
markets.
 
    Each Wireless Fiber path consists of transmission links, which are paired
digital millimeter wave radio transceivers placed at a distance of up to five
miles from one another within a direct, unobstructed
 
                                       48
<PAGE>
line of sight. The transceivers currently used by the Company to create its
Wireless Fiber paths are primarily the Tel-Link 38 Radio Systems supplied by
P-Com, Inc. ("P-Com") pursuant to a four-year nonexclusive supply agreement
("Tel-Link Agreement") executed in November 1994, which may be terminated by the
Company upon 90 days' notice to P-Com (subject to certain liquidated damages
provisions if certain purchase minimums are not met). The transceivers are
installed where lines of sight can be established between transceivers, such as
on rooftops or towers or in windows. The Tel-Link Agreement includes provisions
whereby the Company pays a higher price per link at the beginning of the
contract period, with the excess recoverable by the Company in the form of
significantly discounted links once certain volume levels have been achieved.
The contract also stipulates certain minimum annual volume levels which must be
met in order to maintain the agreed upon pricing structure. The Company has
entered into an amendment to the Tel-Link Agreement with P-Com, pursuant to
which the requirements for volume discount pricing were revised. The Company has
not yet qualified for significant volume discounts. The amendment also added
another year to such term, reduced the purchase commitment provisions upon
termination, and revised the type of Tel-Links to be provided by P-Com such that
a greater proportion of higher capacity transceivers (including DS-3 capable
transceivers), will be delivered under the agreement. As of March 31, 1996, the
Company's noncancellable purchase commitment under the Tel-Link Agreement was
approximately $15.6 million.
 
    The Company's Wireless Fiber services are reliable and cost-efficient.
Significant features of the Company's Wireless Fiber services include: (i) 38
GHz digital millimeter wave transmissions having narrow beam width, reducing the
potential of channel interference; (ii) at least 100 MHz bandwidth in each
channel, allowing for high subdivision of voice and data traffic; (iii) a range
of up to five miles between transmission links; (iv) performance engineered to
provide 99.999% reliability, as tested; (v) transmission accuracy engineered to
provide bit error rates of 10-13 (unfaded); (vi) 24-hour network monitoring by
the Company's and Lucent's System Operations Control Centers ("SOCCs"); (vii)
optional safeguards from link outages by installation of hot standbys that
remain powered up and switch "on line" if the primary link fails; (viii)
optional forward error correction ensuring the integrity of transmitted data
over Wireless Fiber paths; and (ix) relatively low cost (installed) for each
pair of transceivers comprising a transmission link.
 
    In August 1995, the Company entered into a three-year service contract with
Lucent, pursuant to which Lucent has agreed to provide site survey,
installation, maintenance and network management services for the Company's
Wireless Fiber services 24-hours a day, 365 days a year, as required. The
Company also is in the process of expanding its own installation, maintenance
and network management capabilities, which expansion includes the development of
management and operating systems and the hiring of qualified personnel.
 
    Transmission links in the Company's Wireless Fiber paths are connected via
dial-up modems to both the Company-maintained SOCC in Virginia and Lucent's SOCC
in Maryland. The SOCCs provide the Company with points of contact for network
monitoring, troubleshooting and dispatching repair personnel in each MSA. The
SOCCs provide a wide range of network surveillance functions for each Wireless
Fiber path, providing the Company with the ability to remotely receive data
regarding the diagnostics, status and performance of its transmission links.
 
    In order to provide quality transmission, Wireless Fiber services require an
unobstructed line of sight between two transceivers comprising a link, with a
maximum distance between any two corresponding transceivers of up to five miles
(or shorter distances in certain areas; as weather conditions may necessitate
distances as short as 1.1 miles between transceivers to maintain desired
transmission quality). The areas in which such shorter distances are required
are those where rainfall intensity and the size of the raindrops adversely
impact transmission quality at longer distances. Other weather conditions, such
as snow, electrical storms and high winds, have not, in the Company's
experience, affected Wireless Fiber services. The establishment of Wireless
Fiber may require additional transceivers to triangulate around obstacles (such
as buildings). Similarly, to establish Wireless Fiber services
 
                                       49
<PAGE>
covering a distance in excess of five miles, additional transceivers are
required to establish a chain whose links are no more than five miles apart at
any given point. The cost of additional transceivers where required by weather,
physical obstacles or distance may render the provision of Wireless Fiber
services uneconomical in certain instances.
 
    The Company must obtain Roof Rights (or rights to access other similar
locations where unobstructed lines of sight are available) on each building
where a transceiver will be placed. The Company's prequalification activities
often require the payment of option fees for the buildings that are being
prequalified. In connection with the development of its Wireless Fiber capacity
for both its CAP and CLEC businesses, the Company has been following a plan
pursuant to which it seeks to negotiate, prior to receipt of actual service
orders, Roof Rights for the installation of Wireless Fiber links on buildings
specifically identified by existing and potential customers in the metropolitan
areas covered by the Wireless Licenses, including buildings that can provide
interconnection access to long distance carriers' points of presence, switch
locations and local access nodes. As of May 31, 1996, the Company has secured
Roof Rights on more than 280 buildings. Further, the Company, in consultation
with existing and potential customers, has identified more than 2,200 additional
buildings in the metropolitan areas covered by the Wireless Licenses for which
it is in the process of seeking Roof Rights. In addition, upon consummation of
the Locate Acquisition, it is anticipated that the Company will gain roof access
to a number of buildings, including the World Trade Center and other key sites
in New York City, which the Company anticipates using in its CAP and CLEC
operations.
 
    Wireless Licenses. The Wireless Licenses allow the Company to provide
Wireless Fiber services in the 31 most populated MSAs in the United States and
41 of the 45 most populated MSAs, which include more than 100 cities with
populations exceeding 100,000 and encompasses an aggregate population of almost
110 million people. The Company has the largest aggregate amount of 38 GHz
bandwidth capacity in the United States, holding 43 Wireless Licenses, 30 of
which provide for 400 MHz of bandwidth capacity per licensed area ("400 MHz
Wireless Licenses"). The 400 MHz Wireless Licenses allow for the provision of
wireless local telecommunications services over four of the fourteen 38 GHz
channels allocated in each of the following metropolitan areas: Atlanta,
Baltimore, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver,
Detroit, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, Milwaukee,
Minneapolis/St.Paul, New York (Long Island), New York City, New York West
(Newark and Northern New Jersey), Oakland, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh,
San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Spokane, St. Louis, Tacoma, Tampa Bay and
Washington, D.C. The Company's remaining 13 Wireless Licenses, providing for 100
MHz of bandwidth capacity per licensed area ("100 MHz Wireless Licenses"), were
issued under FCC procedures adopted in September 1994 which have limited recent
grants of 38 GHz licenses to 100 MHz of bandwidth capacity per licensee in a
particular licensed area. The 100 MHz Wireless Licenses allow for the provision
of wireless local telecommunications services over one of the fourteen 38 GHz
channels in each of the following metropolitan areas: Austin-San Marcos, Boise,
Charlotte, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Memphis, New Orleans, Richmond, Oklahoma
City, Omaha, Portland (Oregon), San Antonio and Stamford. Upon the consummation
of the Locate Acquisition, the Company will acquire two additional 38 GHz
licenses, each providing 100 MHz of bandwidth, for the New York City
metropolitan area, including portions of Long Island and northern New Jersey.
 
                                       50
<PAGE>
    The 400 MHz Wireless Licenses were granted in September 1993. Under each 400
MHz Wireless License, Avant-Garde, the original licensee, was required to
construct a Wireless Fiber link in each geographic area covered by a Wireless
License by March 15, 1995 in order to prevent possible revocation of the
license. On or before March 15, 1995, Avant-Garde was operational in each of the
areas covered by the 400 MHz Licenses and it filed a certificate of completion
(FCC Form 494A) for each 400 MHz Wireless License with the FCC on March 15,
1995. The 100 MHz Wireless Licenses have been granted since June 1995. Under
each 100 MHz Wireless License, WinStar Wireless is required to construct a
Wireless Fiber link in each geographic area covered by a Wireless License within
18 months from its date of grant in order to prevent possible revocation of the
license. This has occurred for all but the most recently granted Wireless
License, which covers an area that includes Boise, Idaho.
 
    The FCC's current policy is to align the expiration dates of all outstanding
38 GHz licenses such that all such licenses mature concurrently and then to
renew all such licenses for a matching ten-year period. The initial term of all
currently outstanding 38 GHz licenses, including the Wireless Licenses, expires
in February 2001. While the Company believes that all of its Wireless Licenses
will be renewed based upon FCC custom and practice establishing a presumption in
favor of licensees that have complied with their regulatory obligations during
the initial license period, there can be no assurance that any Wireless License
will be renewed upon expiration of its initial term. See "Risk Factors -- Finite
Initial Term of Wireless Licenses; Potential License Renewal Costs; Fluctuations
in the Value of Wireless Licenses."
 
    CAP SERVICES
 
    The Company markets and provides wireless local access CAP services.
Utilizing its Wireless Licenses, the Company offers numerous wireless
telecommunications services to support a wide range of local access and
dedicated service needs with a high degree of reliability. The technology and
service applications in this field are evolving rapidly, and the Company
believes that its Wireless Fiber service offerings will expand over time to
include a broad range of voice, data and video applications. The Company
currently offers Wireless Fiber services for the following applications, among
others:
 
    Local By-Pass for Long Distance Carriers. Long distance carriers can utilize
the Company's Wireless Fiber services to connect certain call termination or
origination points in a particular licensed area to such carriers' POPs in the
licensed area (see diagram on next page) at more economical rates than those
generally charged by LECs and to connect two or more of their respective POPs in
a single licensed area. Long distance carriers using Wireless Fiber services may
benefit from both the lower cost afforded by such services and the wide-band
capacity compared to LEC facilities, which, in many instances, are based in part
on copper infrastructure and are, therefore, narrow-band. By utilizing the
Company's Wireless Fiber services, long distance carriers can avoid the capacity
barrier inherent in copper wire connections that typically has prevented them
from providing their customers with end-to-end, full digital service available
under a fiber optic- or wireless-based system. Wireless Fiber services also may
be utilized to provide such carriers with viable, cost-efficient paths to serve
as physically diverse routes (redundant and back-up capacity) for traffic in
situations where primary routes are incapacitated and/or network reliability
concerns demand alternate telecommunications paths.
 
                                       51
<PAGE>
                  LOCAL BYPASS FOR THE LONG DISTANCE INDUSTRY

                                    [ARTWORK]
 
    Wireless Complement to CAP and LEC Networks. Currently, CAPs typically
compete with LECs by utilizing their own fiber optic cable rings and lease the
other facilities necessary to complete their networks from the LECs. Due to the
large capital investment required to construct such networks, CAPs generally
build their networks in limited, densely populated areas and offer services
primarily to large customers such as long distance carriers, medium- to
large-size businesses, government agencies and institutions. CAPs can utilize
Wireless Fiber services to bypass facilities typically leased by them from the
LECs (see diagram on next page). CAPs also can utilize the Company's Wireless
Fiber services to facilitate the build out and enhance the reliability of their
own local telecommunications networks and expand their marketing opportunities.
The Company believes that the relative ease and low cost of installation of
Wireless Fiber services in comparison to fiber optic-based facilities can
provide CAPs with the ability to expand their networks to reach some customers
in areas where demand levels are insufficient to justify the cost and time
involved in constructing fiber optic capacity. CAPs, as well as LECs, also can
utilize the Company's Wireless Fiber services to extend their own networks to
provide services to areas within a licensed area to which it is not
cost-efficient to run fiber optic cable or to which such cable simply has not
yet been run. CAPs and LECs also may utilize the Company's Wireless Fiber
services to provide redundant and back-up capacity to their own existing
networks.
 
                                       52
<PAGE>
                      WIRELESS COMPLEMENT TO FIBER NETWORK

                                    [ARTWORK]

 
    Backbone Interconnection and Redundancy for CMRS Service Providers. Wireless
Fiber services can be utilized by providers of mobile telecommunications
services, such as PCS, cellular and specialized mobile radio carriers, for
interconnecting traffic (backbone network traffic) between and among cell sites,
repeaters, MTSOs and the wired local networks (see diagram on next page). The
Company also anticipates that entities that acquired licenses in the PCS
auctions, or which will acquire licenses in subsequent PCS auctions conducted by
the FCC, also will find Wireless Fiber services attractive to carry their
backbone network traffic. By utilizing Wireless Fiber services for their
backbone network needs, CMRS carriers can maintain greater control over their
systems by monitoring traffic carried over the Wireless Fiber services component
of their systems, reduce costs of construction of their networks, increase the
flexibility of their services and reduce the lead time involved in the provision
of services in their respective licensed areas. Wireless Fiber services also can
be used by CMRS carriers to provide redundant and back-up capacity for the fiber
optic and/or copper wire portions of their backbone networks.
 
                                       53
<PAGE>
                         CELLULAR/PCS SITE INTERCONNECT

                                    [ARTWORK]

 
    Dedicated Private Network Services. The Company also markets its Wireless
Fiber services to businesses, government agencies and institutions with multiple
locations within the Company's licensed areas and which generate heavy
telecommunications traffic between such locations. These entities can utilize
Wireless Fiber services to establish their own independent telecommunications
systems for dedicated private network services (see diagram below). Wireless 
Fiber services present entities with (i) a method for providing 
telecommunications connections between their buildings on a cost-effective 
basis, (ii) a viable alternative to the LECs' networks that frequently use 
low-capacity copper wire for "last mile" delivery, generally allowing for 
faster, more reliable data transmissions, (iii) greater control over their 
local telecommunications traffic and costs and (iv) greater security because 
of the private line nature of the Company's Wireless Fiber services.
 
                            END USER PRIVATE NETWORK

                                    [ARTWORK]

 
                                       54
<PAGE>
    Network and Internet Access. The ability to access and distribute
information quickly has become critical to business and government end users.
Data traffic is becoming an increasing portion of overall telecommunications
traffic because of the proliferation of LANs, WANs, Internet services and video
teleconferencing. The Company's Wireless Fiber capacity enables it to provide
high-speed data transmission services to end users.
 
    The Company recently introduced dedicated WAN services. The Company's
high-speed data telecommunications services permit businesses to transport data
between buildings and between personal computers or workstations. These
dedicated services allow personal computers and workstations on one LAN to
communicate with personal computers and workstations on another LAN at the same
speed at which these LANs operate. The Company's WAN services are offered at a
variety of capacities to allow customers to choose the level which meets their
needs.
 
    The expanding demand for Internet access and the growing importance of
audio, video and graphic Internet applications to both businesses and consumers
also has created a growing market opportunity for the Company. The Company can
offer Internet service providers timely, reliable and affordable access at high
speed data rates. The Company can provide wireless broadband links between
customers and their Internet service providers and between Internet service
providers' POPs and the Internet backbone. In addition to accommodating standard
voice and data requirements, 45 Mbps data transmission rates can allow end users
to receive real time, full motion video and 3-D graphics and to utilize highly
interactive applications on the Internet and other networks. The Company is
actively pursuing relationships with Internet service providers. In June 1996,
the Company entered into an agreement with Digex, a provider of Internet access
services that primarily serves other Internet access providers, as well as
commercial, governmental and institutional end users. Pursuant to the Digex
Agreement, the Company has the right of first refusal to provide all of Digex's
local access and/or customer interconnection requirements through the use of the
Company's Wireless Fiber services or the resale of other facilities, as
appropriate.
 
    Potential Interactive Video Applications. The inherent qualities of 38 GHz
also may offer substantial opportunities for broadband interactive video
applications appropriate for highly customized commercial demands. While the
specific service offerings utilizing 38 GHz for video applications are still in
development, the ability to commercially utilize certain aspects of this
technology appears to be possible. The narrow-beam characteristics of 38 GHz,
allowing for frequency reuse within a small area, coupled with its broadband
capacity and multichannel capabilities may offer a significant market
opportunity in the future as the appropriate technologies emerge, although there
can be no assurance of the consumer acceptance or commercial viability of such
video services. In June 1996, the Company entered into an agreement with Source
Media, a provider of interactive technology and programming. Pursuant to this
agreement, the Company has the exclusive right, in the 38 GHz spectrum, to use
Source Media's technology and programming in connection with entertainment and
information services the Company may offer.
 
    Marketing. The Company began marketing its Wireless Fiber services in
December 1994. Wireless Fiber services currently are marketed by the Company
primarily to long distance carriers, CAPs, CMRS service providers and LECs, as
well as businesses, government agencies and institutions. The Company has
entered into master service agreements with each of Electric Lightwave, MCImetro
and Century Telephone. The master service agreements contemplate that the
carriers will utilize the Company's Wireless Fiber services as a component of
their own networks and set forth the general terms of the relationship between
the Company and each carrier, including the initial term of the relationship,
basic pricing schedules and service and installation parameters. The Company
also recently began to provide Wireless Fiber services to the City of New York
as a back-up disaster recovery system for certain of its facilities, providing
the city with redundancy in the event that its land-based telecommunications
service fails for any reason.
 
                                       55
<PAGE>
    The Company currently markets its CAP services (i) by performing field
demonstrations and testing of Wireless Fiber services, (ii) by providing
potential customers with Wireless Fiber services at reduced rates, in order to
educate such customers about the efficacy and reliability of such services,
(iii) by appearing at trade shows and advertising in trade publications, (iv)
through national sales agents and direct sales and (v) directly to WinStar
Gateway's existing long distance customers.
 
    CLEC SERVICES
 
    An integral part of the Company's CLEC business strategy is the creation of
a Wireless Fiber-based infrastructure on a city-by-city basis that will allow
the Company to provide a broad range of local exchange services within cities
covered by the Wireless Licenses. This infrastructure will utilize the Company's
Wireless Fiber capabilities, together with switches that will be acquired by the
Company and facilities leased or purchased from other carriers, to originate and
terminate local traffic. The Company believes that its Wireless Fiber
capabilities will provide it with a critical economic advantage over many other
service providers because of the high costs such service providers encounter in
connecting fiber-optic lines to end users. In building its infrastructure, the
Company is following a building-centric network plan, pursuant to which the
Company is identifying strategically-located buildings in areas covered by its
Wireless Licenses that can serve as hubs for its network in each city. These hub
sites will be connected via Wireless Fiber links to end user customers and fiber
optic facilities leased or purchased from other carriers. The Company believes
that the establishment of a limited number of hub buildings (generally less than
a dozen) in each metropolitan area where it has Wireless Licenses will allow it
to address the vast majority of all commercial buildings targeted by the Company
in that area.
 
    The Company intends to install 10 main switches and 31 remote nodes during
the next three years and plans to install its first main switch in New York City
by October 1996. The Company intends to have at least five additional major
metropolitan areas serviced by its own switches or remote nodes by the first
quarter of 1997.
 
    The Company has commenced a program designed to obtain, by the end of 1999,
authorization to operate as a CLEC in virtually every state where the Company
has Wireless Licenses, which will allow the Company to file tariffs and provide
local exchange services in such states once authorization is granted. The
Company currently is authorized to operate as a CLEC in California, Connecticut,
Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Tennessee, Texas and Washington, is
in the process of seeking authorization to operate as a CLEC in six additional
states, and intends to seek such authorization in nine additional states during
1996. It also is in the process of negotiating interconnection agreements with
various local exchange providers, including incumbent LECs and certain other
local carriers, which will allow the Company to offer local exchange services on
an unbundled basis to its customers.
 
    Implementation of the Company's CLEC strategy requires significant up-front
capital expenditures to obtain necessary Roof Rights for hub buildings, to
purchase 38 GHz radios and install Wireless Fiber links on hub buildings and to
purchase and install main switches and remote nodes in up to 41 cities through
1999. See "Risk Factors -- Risks Related to CLEC Strategy" and "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations --
Liquidity and Capital Resources."
 
    Marketing. The Company plans to offer a broad range of communications and
information services including local, long distance, enhanced, frame relay,
mobile, Internet access and targeted information services.
 
    The Company has commenced offering local exchange services on a limited,
resale basis in New York City to various customers and it is anticipated that
the Company will begin offering such services
 
                                       56
<PAGE>
in at least five additional cities during the next nine months. As the Company
commences its CLEC business in each city, in order to gain initial market
penetration in that city, it initially intends to resell the local exchange
services of other service providers, such as fiber carriers and the incumbent
LECs, until such time that it has established the Wireless Fiber and
switch-based infrastructure required to provide its own local exchange services
in that city. Over the next three years, the Company intends to commence
marketing its local exchange services in substantially all markets covered by
its Wireless Licenses.
 
    The Company is targeting small and medium-sized businesses, especially those
in buildings in which the Company's Wireless Fiber capacity can be utilized, for
economic competitive advantage, to originate and/or terminate customers local
telecommunications traffic. The buildings the Company is initially targeting
each have more than 100,000 square feet of space and are not currently served by
other CAPs or CLECs. The Company estimates that there are more than 8,000
buildings in this target group, populated by approximately 9.7 million people
using more than 2.1 million phone lines, and that these buildings represent an
aggregate local exchange service market of greater than $3.3 billion per annum.
These estimates do not include multi-dwelling residential buildings,
universities, hospitals or buildings occupied by a single tenant, and account
only for voice lines and not data lines.
 
    The Company also intends to market its services to residences in multiple
dwelling units, such as apartment buildings. The Company intends to enter into
the residential segment of the local exchange services market primarily by
entering into partnerships and agency arrangements with shared tenant services
providers and possibly partnerships or alliances with other telecommunications
services providers.
 
    In coordination with the plan to build its CLEC networks on a city-by-city
basis, the Company is hiring numerous engineering, installation, maintenance,
customer service personnel, and marketing and sales personnel in order to create
a direct sales force which will provide a high level of service to the business
and multi-dwelling residential markets. A sales force has been deployed in New
York and the Company is in the process of developing sales forces in five
additional cities during the next nine months and currently plans to have a
sales force in all metropolitan areas covered by the Wireless Licenses by the
end of 1999. The Company also is developing joint marketing, reselling and
agency relationships. For example, pursuant to the Digex Agreement, the Company
will purchase from Digex, during the next six years, a minimum of $5 million of
Internet access services with the right to purchase additional amounts, in each
case on a discounted basis. The Company will resell these Internet access
services under the Company's own brand name, including through the bundling of
such services with the Company's other telecommunications services.
 
    The Company seeks to make its CLEC business an attractive choice for
potential customers by (i) offering a broad range of telecommunications services
that specifically address its target customers' needs, while providing levels of
customer satisfaction that exceed those provided by larger competitors and (ii)
exploiting the Company's Wireless Fiber service whenever feasible for economical
origination and termination of customer traffic, thereby allowing for attractive
pricing of services.
 
    LONG DISTANCE SERVICES
 
    The Company resells long distance services through its wholly-owned
subsidiary, WinStar Gateway, which has its own tariffs with the FCC and
agreements with major long distance carriers (AT&T, MCI, WorldCom, Inc. and U.S.
Long Distance, Inc.), which allow it to utilize their networks. The Company's
current customer base encompasses primarily residential customers and small- and
medium-sized businesses. The Company has been able to sell Wireless Fiber
services to a limited number of its long distance customers and expects to be
able to sell its Wireless Fiber services to a greater percentage of such
customers in the future. In addition to providing basic long distance services,
 
                                       57
<PAGE>
the Company provides toll-free services, international call-back, prepaid phone
cards and certain enhanced services.
 
    The Company's agreements with certain major long distance carriers are for
between one- and four-year terms and provide the Company with access to long
distance carriers' networks at rates which are typically discounted, varying
with monthly traffic generated by the Company through each carrier. Generally,
the Company is obligated to generate certain minimum monthly usage through each
network and, if such traffic is less than the minimum monthly usage commitment,
may be required to pay an underutilization fee in addition to its monthly bill
equal to a certain percentage of the difference between such minimum commitments
and the traffic actually generated by the Company. The Company has never paid or
been required to pay any underutilization charges. During 1995, the Company
established a reserve for possible underutilization charges.
 
    Marketing. The Company, like many long distance carriers, historically has
experienced high customer turnover rates, primarily because a large portion of
its customer base consists of residential customers who, as a group, are
generally less loyal to telecommunications providers than larger customers, such
as businesses. The Company believes customer turnover rates have recently
increased (and will continue to increase) in the long distance industry
generally, as well as for the Company. In order to reduce customer turnover
rates, the Company is increasing its direct sales force and expanded its
marketing focus, which had been primarily on residential customers, to emphasize
small- to medium-sized businesses through the introduction of products and
services readily marketable to business customers, including prepaid phone card
services and a broad array of toll-free services, including services which allow
toll-free calls to be originated nationwide. The Company also offers business
customers several flexible billing services such as master account billing
(which enables customers to aggregate billing for several locations for
management and accounting purposes and to qualify for volume discounts), project
accounting codes (which reflect accounting codes of the customer on the billing
statement) and computerized call detail reports (which provide call detail to
customers on computer disks or tape for direct input into the customer's
computer for accounting or rebilling). The Company recently has increased its
customer service staff and will be seeking to reduce the turnover rate of its
residential customers through improved customer service and more diverse service
offerings.
 
    The Company markets its telecommunications services primarily through
independent sales representatives and resellers, and to a lesser extent, through
direct marketing to resellers and commercial accounts. Independent sales
representatives typically enter into agreements with the Company providing for
payments of commissions on business generated. The use of independent sales
representatives entails the risk that such representatives will engage in
unauthorized switching of long distance carriers. See "-- Government Regulation
of Telecommunications Operations." The Company also markets its services to end
users through print advertising and direct mail advertising in selected markets.
 
COMPETITION IN THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY
 
    LOCAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS MARKET
 
    The local telecommunications market is intensely competitive and currently
is dominated by the RBOCs and LECs. The Company has been marketing local access
services as a CAP only since December 1994 and local exchange services as a CLEC
only since April 1996, and the Company has not obtained a significant market
share in any of the areas where it offers such services, nor does it expect to
do so given the size of the local telecommunications services market, the
intense competition and the diversity of customer requirements. In each area
covered by the Wireless Licenses, the services offered by the Company compete
with those offered by the LECs, such as the RBOCs, which currently dominate the
provision of local services in their markets. The LECs have long-standing
relationships
 
                                       58
<PAGE>
with their customers, have the potential to subsidize competitive services with
revenues from a variety of business services and benefit from existing state and
federal regulations that currently favor the LECs over the Company in certain
respects. While legislative and regulatory changes have provided increased
business opportunities for competitive telecommunications providers such as the
Company, these same decisions have given the LECs increased flexibility in their
pricing of services. This may allow the LECs to offer special discounts to the
Company's (and other CLECs') customers and potential customers. Further, as
competition increases in the local telecommunications market, general pricing
competition and pressures will increase significantly. As LECs lower their
rates, other telecommunications providers will be forced by market conditions to
charge less for their services in order to compete.
 
    In addition to competition from the LECs, the Company also faces competition
from a growing number of new market entrants, such as other CAPs and CLECs,
competitors offering wireless telecommunications services, including leading
telecommunications companies, such as AT&T Wireless, and other entities that
hold or have applied for 38 GHz licenses or which may acquire such licenses or
other wireless licenses from others or the FCC. There is at least one other CAP
and/or CLEC in each metropolitan area covered by the Company's Wireless
Licenses, including, in many such areas, companies such as IntelCom, MCImetro,
MFS, Teleport and Time Warner. Many of these entities (and the LECs) already
have existing infrastructure which allows them to provide local
telecommunications services at potentially lower marginal costs than the Company
currently can attain and which could allow them to exert significant pricing
pressure in the markets where the Company provides or seeks to provide
telecommunications services. In addition, many CAPs and CLECs have acquired or
plan to acquire switches so that they can offer a broad range of local
telecommunications services.
 
    The Company currently faces competition from other entities which offer, or
are licensed to offer, 38 GHz services, such as ART and BizTel, and could face
competition in certain aspects of its existing and proposed businesses from
competitors providing wireless services in other portions of the radio spectrum,
such as CAI, a provider of wireless Internet access services, and
CellularVision, a provider of wireless television services which, in the future,
also may provide wireless Internet access and other local telecommunications
services. In many instances, these service providers hold 38 GHz licenses or
licenses for other frequencies in geographic areas which encompass or overlap
the Company's market areas. Additionally, some of these entities enjoy the
substantial backing of, or include among their stockholders, major
telecommunications entities, such as Ameritech with respect to ART, Teleport
with respect to BizTel, and NYNEX and Bell Atlantic with respect to CAI. Due to
the relative ease and speed of deployment of 38 GHz and some other
wireless-based technologies, the Company could face intense price competition
from these and other wireless-based service providers. Furthermore, a NPRM
issued by the FCC contemplates an auction of the lower 16 channels in the 38 GHz
spectrum band, which have not been previously available for commercial use. The
grant of additional licenses by the FCC in the 38 GHz band, or other portions of
the spectrum with similar characteristics, as well as the development of new
technologies, could result in increased competition. The Company believes that,
assuming the adoption of the NPRM as currently proposed, additional entities
having greater resources than the Company could acquire licenses to provide 38
GHz services.
 
    The Company also may face competition from cable companies, electric
utilities, LECs operating outside their current local service areas and long
distance carriers in the provision of local telecommunications services. The
great majority of these entities provide transmission services primarily over
fiber optic-, copper-based and/or microwave networks, which, unlike the
Company's Wireless Fiber services, enjoy proven market acceptance for the
carriage of telecommunications traffic. Moreover, the consolidation of
telecommunications companies and the formation of strategic alliances within the
telecommunications industry, which are expected to accelerate as a result of the
passage of the Telecommunications Act, could give rise to significant new or
stronger competitors to the Company. For example, Time Warner recently entered
into a nine-state interconnection agreement with Bell South. There can be no
assurance that the Company will be able to compete effectively in any of its
markets.
 
                                       59
<PAGE>
    The Company's Internet access services also are likely to face competition
from cable television operators deploying cable modems, which provide high speed
data capability over installed coaxial cable television networks. Although cable
modems currently are not widely available and do not provide for data transfer
rates that are as rapid as those which can be provided by Wireless Fiber
services, the Company believes that the cable industry may support the
deployment of cable modems to residential cable customers through methods such
as price subsidies. Notwithstanding the cable industry's interest in rapid
deployment of cable modems, the Company believes that in order to provide
broadband capacity to a significant number of business and government users,
cable operators will be required to spend significant time and capital in order
to upgrade their existing networks to a more advanced hybrid fiber coaxial
network architecture. However, there can be no assurance that cable modems will
not emerge as a source of competition to the Company's Internet access business.
Further, Internet access services based on existing technologies such as ISDN
and, in the future, on such technologies as ADSL and HDSL will likely provide
additional sources of competition to the Company's Internet access services.
Additionally, the Company believes that many LECs and CLECs already are
promoting other Internet access services.
 
    LONG DISTANCE MARKET
 
    The long distance market has relatively insignificant barriers to entry,
numerous entities competing for the same customers and a high (and increasing)
average churn rate (especially among residential customers, which the Company
historically has emphasized in its long distance reselling business, and
customers acquired from other service providers, which acquisitions are part of
the Company's ongoing long distance business strategy), as customers frequently
change long distance providers in response to the offering of lower rates or
promotional incentives by competitors. The Company competes with major carriers
such as AT&T, MCI and Sprint, as well as other national and regional long
distance carriers and resellers, many of whom own substantially all of their own
facilities and are able to provide services at costs lower than the Company's
current costs since the Company generally leases its access facilities. The
Company believes that the RBOCs also will become significant competitors in the
long distance telecommunications industry. The Company believes that the
principal competitive factors affecting its market share are pricing, customer
service, accurate billing, clear pricing policies and, to a lesser extent,
variety of services. The ability of the Company to compete effectively will
depend upon its ability to maintain high quality, market-driven services at
prices generally perceived to be equal to or below those charged by its
competitors. In 1995, the FCC announced a decision pursuant to which AT&T no
longer will be regulated as a dominant long distance carrier. This decision is
expected to increase AT&T's flexibility in competing in the long distance
telecommunications services market and, in particular, will eliminate the longer
advance tariff notice requirements previously applicable only to AT&T. To
maintain its competitive posture, the Company believes that it must be in a
position to reduce its prices in order to meet reductions in rates, if any, by
others. Any such reductions could adversely affect the Company. In addition,
LECs have been obtaining additional pricing flexibility. This may enable LECs to
grant volume discounts to larger long distance companies, which also would put
the Company's long distance business at a disadvantage in competing with larger
providers.
 
GOVERNMENT REGULATION OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS OPERATIONS
 
    The Company's telecommunications services are subject to varying degrees of
federal, state and local regulation. The FCC exercises jurisdiction over all
telecommunications services providers to the extent such services involve the
provision of jurisdictionally interstate or international telecommunications,
including the resale of long distance services, the provision of local access
services necessary to connect callers to long distance carriers, and the use of
electromagnetic spectrum (i.e., wireless services). The state regulatory
commissions retain nonexclusive jurisdiction over the provision of
telecommunications services to the extent such services involve the provision of
jurisdictionally intrastate telecommunications. Municipalities also may regulate
limited aspects of the Company's business
 
                                       60
<PAGE>
by, for example, imposing zoning requirements or permit right-of-way procedures,
and certain taxes or franchise fees.
 
    The Telecommunications Act is intended to remove the formal barriers between
the long distance and local telecommunications services markets, allowing
service providers from each market (as well as providers of cable television and
other services) to compete in all communications markets. The Telecommunications
Act will permit the RBOCs to compete in the provision of interLATA long distance
services. Additionally, the FCC must promulgate new regulations over the next
several years to address mandates contained in the Telecommunications Act, which
may change the regulatory environment significantly. The Telecommunications Act
generally requires LECs to provide competitors with interconnection and
nondiscriminatory access to the LEC network on more favorable terms than have
been available in the past. However, such interconnection and the terms thereof
are subject to negotiations with each LEC, which may involve considerable
delays, and may not necessarily be obtained on terms and conditions that are
acceptable to the Company. In such instances, although the Company may petition
the proper regulatory agency to arbitrate disputed issues, there can be no
assurance that the Company will be able to obtain acceptable interconnection
agreements.
 
    The Company is unable to predict what effect the Telecommunications Act will
have on the telecommunications industry in general and on the Company in
particular. No assurance can be given that any regulation will broaden the
opportunities available to the Company or will not have a material adverse
effect on the Company and its operations. Further, there can be no assurance
that the Company will be able to comply with additional applicable laws,
regulations and licensing requirements or have sufficient resources to take
advantage of the opportunities which may arise from this dynamic regulatory
environment.
 
    The allocation of jurisdiction between federal and state regulators over
dedicated circuits that carry both interstate and intrastate traffic (including
private line and special access services) poses jurisdictional questions.
Although the FCC does not generally rule on the jurisdictional nature of a
carrier's traffic, under current FCC practice, non-switched telecommunications
services are considered jurisdictionally interstate (subject to FCC
jurisdiction) unless more than 90% of the traffic is intrastate in nature.
Currently, the Company's dedicated service offerings are primarily
jurisdictionally interstate in nature. The Company believes that these services
include virtually all service between a long distance carrier's POP and a POP of
that long distance carrier or another long distance carrier, and between an end
user and a long distance carrier's POP.
 
    Under the FCC's streamlined regulation of non-dominant carriers, the Company
must file tariffs with the FCC for certain interstate services on an ongoing
basis, although the Telecommunications Act provides the FCC with the statutory
authority to forbear from filing tariffs and the FCC is considering whether to
do so. The Company currently is not subject to price-cap or rate-of-return
regulation and it may install and operate non-radio facilities for the
transmission of interstate communications without prior FCC authorization.
 
    The Company, as an operator of millimeter wave radio facilities, also is
subject to ongoing semi-annual reporting requirements to the FCC with respect to
the deployment of its wireless local telecommunications services in its licensed
areas during the license period. In addition, the Company has filed tariffs with
the FCC as required with respect to its provision of interstate service and
recently has filed for certification (or similar authority for purposes of
providing intrastate service) in a number of the states where it is licensed by
the FCC. The Company has received certification or other appropriate regulatory
authority to provide intrastate non-switched service in 22 states and has
applied for authority in nine additional states.
 
    Certain decisions by the FCC (the "Local Network Interconnect Decisions")
restructured the interstate competitive access services market. The FCC ordered
the RBOCs and all but one of the LECs having in excess of $100 million in gross
annual revenue for regulated services to provide expanded
 
                                       61
<PAGE>
interconnection and collocation with, or virtual collocation to, their central
offices and serving wire centers to any CAP, long distance carrier or end user
seeking such interconnection for the provision of interstate access services.
Subject to few exceptions, LECs must offer interconnection in their central
offices at cost-based rates. Consequently, the Company can reach most business
customers in its MSAs via LEC facilities, and thereby significantly expand its
customer base.
 
    In conjunction with its decision to require interconnection, the FCC
provided LECs with a degree of increased pricing flexibility for special access
and switched access services. Some forms of pricing flexibility apply on a
geographic-specific basis or on a central office-by-central office basis. The
Company anticipates that this pricing flexibility will result in LECs lowering
their prices in high density zones, the probable arena of competition with the
Company. To the extent that LECs are provided increased flexibility to lower
their rates, the Company's ability to compete for certain services and its
operating results may be adversely affected.
 
    In a concurrent proceeding on transport rate structure and pricing, the FCC
adopted interim pricing rules that restructure local telephone company switched
transport rates in order to facilitate competition for switched services. No
assurance can be given that any benefits expected to be realized by the Company
as a result of the Local Network Interconnect Decisions will in fact be
realized, nor may the timing of any such benefits be predicted.
 
    Some of the Company's services may be classified as intrastate and therefore
subject to state regulation. In all states where the Company is offering CAP or
CLEC service, the Company (through its state-specific operating subsidiaries) is
certified or otherwise operating with appropriate state authorization. The
Company, through WinStar Gateway, provides intrastate long distance service
pursuant to certification, registration or (where appropriate) on a deregulated
basis in 43 states and is currently seeking intrastate authority in the
remaining continental states. The Company expects that as its business and
product lines expand and as more procompetitive regulation of the local
telecommunications industry is implemented, it will offer additional intrastate
service. The Company is seeking to expand the scope of its intrastate service in
various jurisdictions, a process which depends upon regulatory action and, in
some cases, legislative action in the individual states. Interstate and
intrastate regulatory requirements are changing rapidly and will continue to
change.
 
    Under current regulatory schemes, entities can compete with LECs in almost
all states for the provision of (i) local access services, (ii) dedicated access
services, (iii) private network services, including WAN services, for businesses
and other entities and (iv) long distance toll services. The remaining local
telecommunications services are either not currently subject to competition or
only recently have been opened to competition in most states. Accordingly, the
widespread provision of basic local exchange services to customers by entities
other than the incumbent LECs generally will require significant regulatory
changes.
 
    Many states already have instituted regulatory changes encouraging increased
competition in various aspects of the local exchange services market, while
other states are considering such changes. A number of state legislatures and
regulatory bodies recently have enacted legislation and regulations to enhance
competition in the local exchange markets. The Company anticipates that this
trend will continue and will provide opportunities for broader entrance into the
local exchange markets for the Company and others. The Company currently is
authorized to operate as a CLEC in California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois,
Massachusetts, New York, Tennessee, Texas and Washington; is in the process of
seeking authorization to operate as a CLEC in six additional states; and intends
to seek such authorization in nine additional states during 1996. It also is in
the process of negotiating interconnection agreements with various local
exchange service providers, including incumbent LECs, under which the Company
will be able to obtain services on an unbundled basis.
 
    Although the Company believes that it is in substantial compliance with all
material laws, rules and regulations governing its operations and has obtained,
or is in the process of obtaining, all licenses
 
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and approvals necessary and appropriate to conduct its operations, changes in
existing laws and regulations, including those relating to the provision of
wireless local telecommunications services via 38 GHz and/or the future granting
of 38 GHz licenses, or any failure or significant delay in obtaining necessary
regulatory approvals, could have a material adverse effect on the Company. On
November 13, 1995, the FCC released an order freezing the acceptance for filing
of new applications for 38 GHz frequency licenses. On December 15, 1995, the FCC
announced the issuance of an NPRM, pursuant to which it proposed to amend its
current rules relating to 38 GHz, including, among other items, the imposition
of minimum construction and usage requirements and an auction procedure for
issuance of licenses in the 37-40 GHz band where mutually exclusive applications
have been filed. In addition, the FCC ordered that those applications that are
subject to mutual exclusivity with other applicants or that were placed on
public notice by the FCC after September 13, 1995 would be held in abeyance and
not processed by the FCC pending the outcome of the proceeding initiated by the
NPRM.
 
    Pursuant to an international treaty to which the United States is a
signatory, the 38.6-40.0 GHz band is allocated on a co-primary basis to the
Fixed Satellite Services ("FSS") and the 37.5-40.5 GHz band is allocated on a
co-primary basis to the Mobile Satellite Services ("MSS"). The FCC has not
proposed rules to implement the treaty provisions, although comments and a
petition for rule making recently have been filed with the FCC by Motorola
Satellite Communications Inc. ("Motorola") requesting that such rules be
considered and, in particular, power flux density limits. On May 21, 1996, the
FCC placed on public notice for comment the petition to allocate the 37.5-38.6
GHz bands to the FSS and to establish Technical Rules for the 37.5-38.6 GHz
band. In addition, Motorola requested the FCC to adopt the power flux density
limitations of the ITU Radio Regulations for the 37.5 to 40.5 GHz band in order
to allow FSS systems and terrestrial microwave operators to co-exist on a
co-primary basis. There can be no assurance that any proposed or final rules
will not have a material adverse effect on the Company.
 
    Additionally, providers of long distance services, including the major
interexchange carriers as well as resellers, such as the Company, are coming
under intensified regulatory scrutiny for marketing activities by them or their
agents that result in alleged unauthorized switching of customers from one long
distance service provider to another. The FCC and several state authorities are
seeking to introduce more stringent regulations to curtail the intentional or
erroneous switching of customers, which could include the imposition of fines,
penalties and possible operating restrictions on entities which engage in
unauthorized switching activities. In addition, the Telecommunications Act
requires the FCC to prescribe regulations imposing procedures for verifying the
switching of customers and additional remedies on behalf of carriers for
unauthorized switching of their customers. The effect, if any, of the adoption
of any such proposed regulations on the long distance industry and the manner of
doing business therein, cannot be anticipated. Statutes and regulations which
are or may become applicable to the Company as it expands could require the
Company to alter methods of operations, at costs which could be substantial, or
otherwise limit the types of services offered by the Company.
 
NEW MEDIA BUSINESS
 
    The Company formed WinStar New Media based on its belief that the ability to
deliver entertainment and information content to consumers will play an
increasingly important role in consumers' choice of a telecommunications
provider. The Company actively seeks opportunities to acquire the rights or
means to market and distribute information and entertainment content and
services that are marketable to traditional markets and which also can enhance
the marketability of the Company's telecommunications services. The Company
believes that in the future, it will be able to bundle content that it controls
with various telecommunications services its offers to provide higher-margin
products and services.
 
    In December 1994, the Company consummated the acquisition of Non Fiction
Films, Inc. ("NFF"), a producer of documentary programming. NFF's productions to
date include ten hours of
 
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programming for the Arts and Entertainment Network's award winning Biography(R)
series and "Divine MagicTM: The World of the Supernatural," a ten-part series
that traces ancient beliefs, miracles and mysticism from their early beginnings.
 
    In April 1996, NFF acquired an 80% equity interest in Fox/Lorber, an
independent distributor of films, entertainment series and documentaries.
Fox/Lorber distributes its content to television and home video markets
domestically and abroad. Its home video division emphasizes the distribution of
foreign and art films and has a home video library of over 100 titles. Its
television division emphasizes the distribution of educational and entertainment
program series, sports-related programs and documentaries to broadcast and cable
stations abroad and in the United States and Canada. Under the terms of an
agreement between NFF and the holder of the remaining 20% equity interest in
Fox/Lorber, NFF has the right to require such holder to sell, and such holder
has the right to require NFF to purchase, the remaining 20% equity interest
based upon certain criteria.
 
    In April 1996, WinStar New Media acquired a 65% equity interest in TWL.
Under the agreement, WinStar New Media has the right to require the stockholders
of TWL who own the remaining 35% equity interest in TWL to sell, and such
stockholders have the right to require WinStar New Media to purchase, the
remaining 35 percent equity interest based upon certain criteria. TWL operates
the SportsFan. SportsFan is a multimedia sports programming and production
company which provides live sports programming to more than 200 sports and talk
format radio stations across the United States, up to 24 hours a day, including
to stations in 90 of the top 100 United States markets. SportsFan owns and
operates The Pete Rose Show and the Bob Golic Show, among others, and also has
developing interests in television and on-line distribution channels.
 
    The industry in which the Company's new media subsidiary competes consists
of a very large number of entities producing, owning or controlling news,
sports, entertainment, educational and informational content and services,
including telecommunications companies, television broadcast companies, sports
franchises, film and television studios, record companies, newspaper and
magazine publishing companies, universities and on-line computer services.
Competition is intense for timely and highly marketable or usable information
and entertainment content. Almost all of the entities with which the Company's
new media subsidiary competes have significantly greater presence in the various
media markets and greater resources than the Company, including existing content
libraries, financial resources, personnel and existing distribution channels.
There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to successfully compete
in the emerging new media industry.
 
CONSUMER PRODUCTS
 
    The Company's consumer products business is operated through its subsidiary,
WinStar Global Products. WinStar Global Products designs, markets and
distributes personal care products, including hair brushes and certain hair
accessories, and bath products, including gels, lotions, bath oils and home
fragrance products including potpourri and candles.
 
    MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION
 
    WinStar Global Products' customers are primarily large retailers, including
mass merchandisers, discount stores, department stores, national and regional
drug store chains and other regional chains. WinStar Global Products' customers
sell through more than 20,000 individual retail outlets. Its current customer
list includes the following national and regional chain stores: Walmart, Revco
Drug Stores, CVS, Mervyn's, Target, Ames, Marshalls, Eckerd Drug, Family Dollar
Stores, Sally Beauty Supply, Fay Drug, Arbor Drug and American Drug Stores.
 
    A significant portion of WinStar Global Products' sales is made by its
in-house sales force. The remainder of WinStar Global Products' sales typically
are made by independent sales representatives who receive a commission from
WinStar Global Products on all orders generated by them. Independent
 
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<PAGE>
sales representatives generally carry the product lines of several noncompeting
manufacturers and distributors, many of whom are much larger than WinStar Global
Products.
 
    SOURCING
 
    WinStar Global Products currently utilizes a combination of domestic and
foreign suppliers and contract manufacturers and internal assembling for its
consumer product lines. WinStar Global Products generally purchases its hair
brushes and combs from foreign manufacturers, and packages these products in its
Fairfield, New Jersey facility. WinStar Global Products purchases components for
its bath and body product line from both foreign and domestic sources, and
assembles and packages products in its Fairfield, New Jersey facility. WinStar
Global Products does not have any binding agreements with any of its
manufacturers or suppliers. Therefore, any of such entities can terminate their
relationship with WinStar Global Products at any time. WinStar Global Products
does not believe that the termination of any such relationship or relationships
would have a material adverse impact on its operations since management believes
it would have alternative sources for its products and components at comparable
prices. There can be no assurance of this, however, or that, in the event that
WinStar Global Products were to experience difficulties with its present
manufacturers, suppliers and subassemblers, it would not experience a temporary
delay in obtaining the products or components it needs elsewhere.
 
    COMPETITION
 
    The consumer products industry is subject to changes in styles and consumer
tastes. An unanticipated change in consumer preferences inconsistent with
WinStar Global Products' merchandise lines could have a serious and adverse
effect upon its operations. WinStar Global Products' product lines are subject
to intense competition with numerous manufacturers and distributors of hair,
beauty and bath products. Mass merchandisers, drug store chains, and other mass
volume retailers typically utilize freestanding pegboard fixtures or pegboard
wall fixtures, as well as in-line shelving and end-cap displays, to display
their products. Competition for shelf and wall space for product placement is
intense, as many companies seek to have their products strategically placed
within the store. Competition also exists with respect to product name
recognition and pricing, since retailers and consumers often choose products on
the basis of name brand, cost and value. Many of WinStar Global Products'
competitors have greater product and name recognition than it does, as well as
much larger and more sophisticated sales forces, product development, marketing
and advertising programs and facilities. WinStar Global Products generally
competes by attempting to offer quality, service and products to its customers
at reasonable prices.
 
EMPLOYEES
 
    As of May 31, 1996 the Company had approximately 390 full-time and 130
part-time employees. The Company is not a party to any collective bargaining
agreements and never has experienced a strike or work stoppage. The Company
considers its relations with its employees to be good.
 
PROPERTIES
 
    The Company's corporate headquarters are located at 230 Park Avenue, Suite
3126, New York, New York 10169. These headquarters are situated in approximately
11,500 square feet of space which the Company subleases for an average rent of
approximately $304,000 per annum under a sublease which expires in April 2000.
The Company has executed a lease for additional space of approximately 6,000
square feet at 230 Park Avenue for a rent of $188,176 per annum, which lease
becomes effective June 1, 1996 and expires in April 2000. The Company maintains
leases on other properties used in the operations of its subsidiaries. The
Company believes that its insurance coverage on its properties is
 
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<PAGE>
adequate and that the Company, and each of its subsidiaries, as the case may be,
is in compliance with the related leases.
 
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
 
    In January 1995, the Company's directors, certain other persons and the
Company (as a nominal defendant) were named in one or more of four actions
brought by various stockholders of the Company in the Court of Chancery of the
State of Delaware in and for New Castle County. These actions subsequently were
consolidated into a single lawsuit. The complaint alleges that certain
transactions including (i) the payment of consideration to certain directors and
others in connection with the Company's acquisition of WinStar Gateway and (ii)
the payment of compensation (including the granting of options and the issuance
of warrants) to certain directors and others involved self dealing, waste of
corporate assets, or otherwise were unfair to the Company and, in each case,
were in violation of the fiduciary obligations of the directors to the Company.
The Company believes that the allegations set forth in the complaints are based
on misstatements of fact and misunderstandings of relevant facts, and further
believes that there are meritorious defenses to all of the allegations. In order
to halt the expense, inconvenience and distraction of continued litigation
regarding this action, the Company recently entered into a settlement agreement
with the plaintiffs pursuant to which the Company has agreed to amend its bylaws
to formalize certain corporate governance changes and to pay certain legal fees
of plaintiffs' counsel. The final settlement agreement is subject to approval of
the Delaware Chancery Court.
 
    In April 1996, an action was commenced against WinStar Gateway in the
Circuit Court of Jefferson County, Alabama (Civil Action No. CV9602367). The
plaintiffs, James Schaffer and Linda Kelly, on behalf of themselves and other
Alabama residents similarly situated, allege that their long distance service
was switched to WinStar Gateway and away from their previous providers without
their consent and through misleading practices. The plaintiffs seek monetary
relief, the exact amount of which cannot be determined. WinStar Gateway has
moved to have the action removed to federal court in Alabama and also to have
the complaint dismissed. In the event the action is not disposed of by motion,
the Company intends to resolve the action as expeditiously and economically as
possible, which may include the diligent defense of the action or settlement.
The Company believes that it has meritorious defenses to the allegations raised
in the action. In the event the Company is not successful in the defense of the
action, or if the Company elects to settle the action, the Company believes that
any judgment against it, or settlement entered into by it, will not have a
material adverse effect on the Company, its financial condition or its results
of operations.
 
    The Company occasionally receives inquiries from state authorities arising
with respect to consumer complaints concerning the provision of
telecommunications services, including allegations of unauthorized switching of
long distance carriers and misleading marketing. The Company believes such
inquiries are common in the long distance industry and addresses such inquiries
in the ordinary course of business.
 
CORPORATE INFORMATION
 
    The Company was incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware in
September 1990 and its principal offices are located at 230 Park Avenue, New
York, New York 10169. The Company's phone number is (212) 687-7577. The Company
is a holding company and provides its products and services through its
wholly-owned subsidiaries WinStar Wireless (incorporated in Delaware in February
1994), WinStar Wireless Fiber Corp. ("Wireless Fiber Corp.") (incorporated in
Delaware in March 1995), WinStar Telecom (incorporated in Delaware in February
1996), WinStar Gateway (incorporated in Delaware in May 1992), WinStar New Media
(incorporated in Delaware in March 1994), NFF (incorporated in Delaware in July
1994) and WinStar Global Products (incorporated in Delaware in February 1987).
 
                                       66
<PAGE>
                                   MANAGEMENT
 
    The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the
executive officers and directors of the Company.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                 NAME                      AGE
                                                 ---                       ---
<S>                                              <C>    <C>
William J. Rouhana, Jr.(1)(2)(3)(4)...........   44     Chairman of the Board of Directors and
                                                          Chief Executive Officer
Nathan Kantor(5)..............................   53     President, Chief Operating Officer and
                                                          Director
Steven G. Chrust(6)...........................   46     Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors
Fredric E. von Stange(6)......................   41     Executive Vice President, Chief Financial
                                                          Officer and Director
Bert Wasserman(2)(5)..........................   62     Director
William J. vanden Heuvel(1)(3)(4).............   65     Director
William Harvey(3)(6)..........................   53     Director
Steven B. Magyar(1)(2)(3)(4)..................   46     Director
Timothy R. Graham.............................   46     Executive Vice President and Secretary
</TABLE>
 
- ------------
 
(1) Term expires at annual meeting of stockholders in 1997
 
(2) Member of Audit Committee
 
(3) Member of Compensation Committee
 
(4) Member of Nominating Committee
 
(5) Term expires at annual meeting of stockholders in 1996
 
(6) Term expires at annual meeting of stockholders in 1998
 
    Mr. Rouhana has been a director of the Company since its inception, its
Chairman of the Board since February 1991, and its Chief Executive Officer since
May 1994. Mr. Rouhana was President and Chief Executive Officer of WinStar
Companies, Inc. ("WinStar Companies") from 1983 until November 1995. Through
WinStar Companies, he served, from August 1987 to February 1989, as Vice
Chairman of the Board and Chief Operating Officer of Management Company
Entertainment Group, Inc., a diversified distributor of entertainment products
and, thereafter, as its Vice Chairman of the Board until May 1990. Since August
1992, Mr. Rouhana has been a director of TII Industries, Inc. ("TII
Industries"), a telecommunications equipment manufacturing company. From May
1991 through September 1994, he was director of Lancit Media Productions, Ltd.,
a creator of children's television programming. Mr. Rouhana was in private legal
practice from 1977 to 1984, specializing in the financing of entities involved
in the development of entertainment products and information services. Mr.
Rouhana is Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors of the United Nations
Association and is a member of certain other associations, including Business
Executives for National Security. He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Colby
College, a Thomas J. Watson Fellow (1972-1973) and a graduate of Georgetown
University School of Law. Mr. Rouhana is the brother-in-law of Fredric E. von
Stange.
 
    Mr. Kantor has been a director of the Company since October 1994 and
President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company since September 1995. Since
its formation in November 1990, Mr. Kantor had been the President of ITC Group,
Inc. ("ITC"), a company which specializes in the development of emerging
competitive telecommunications companies. Mr. Kantor, through ITC, coordinated
all of the Company's telecommunications operations from June 1994 to September
1995 when he became President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company, at
which time services provided by ITC to the Company ceased. Mr. Kantor also is
currently the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Image
Telecommunications Corp. ("Image Telecom"), a company involved
 
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<PAGE>
in the development of information and video servers. From January 1985 to
December 1990, he was President of MCI Telecommunications Corporation (Northeast
Division). Mr. Kantor was a founder of MCI International, Inc., and served as
its President and Chief Operating Officer from its founding in July 1982 to
December 1984. Mr. Kantor is a graduate of Florida State University and the
United States Military Academy at West Point.
 
    Mr. Chrust has been a director of the Company since January 1994 and has
been employed by the Company as its Vice Chairman of the Board since January
1995, in which capacity he is responsible for strategic planning, financing and
corporate development. He has been the President of SGC Advisory Services, Inc.
("SGC"), a discretionary money-management services firm specializing in the
telecommunications and technology sector, since he founded it in October 1992.
From August 1987 to September 1992, Mr. Chrust was a director of AMNEX, Inc., an
operator services long distance company, and served as its Chairman of the
Board, Chief Executive Officer and President between October 1990 and October
1992. From August 1985 through December 1989, Mr. Chrust was the Executive Vice
President of Executone Information Systems, Inc., a telecommunications equipment
company. Mr. Chrust was Director of Technology Research and a stockholder of
Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., Inc., a Wall Street investment firm, where he was
ranked in the top tier of telecommunications analysts for more than ten years
and as the first-ranked analyst in that sector for five consecutive years. He
was associated with Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., Inc., from 1970 through 1985.
From November 1993 until February 1996, Mr. Chrust was a director of American
Communications Services, Inc., a fiber optic-based competitive access provider.
Mr. Chrust is a graduate of Baruch College.
 
    Mr. von Stange has been a director of the Company since its inception, its
Executive Vice President since January 1993, and its Chief Financial Officer
since March 1994. Mr. von Stange was Executive Vice President of WinStar
Companies, a merchant bank and a principal stockholder of the Company from 1983
until November 1995. From December 1988 to October 1989, Mr. von Stange was
Chairman of the Board of Yankee Bargain Stores, Inc. ("Yankee"), and resumed
that position from July 1991 to December 1991. Mr. von Stange was a director of
Yankee from December 1988 until December 1991. Mr. von Stange is a graduate of
The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. He is the brother-in-law of
William J. Rouhana, Jr.
 
    Mr. Wasserman has been a director of the Company since June 1995. Mr.
Wasserman was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Time
Warner from January 1990 to December 1994 and was also a director of Time Warner
from January 1990 to March 1993. Mr. Wasserman was a member of the Office of the
President and was also a director of Warner Communications, Inc. ("Warner
Communications"), from 1981 to 1990, when that company merged with Time Warner,
and had served Warner Communications in various capacities beginning in 1966.
Mr. Wasserman serves as a member of various boards, including: several
investment companies in the Dreyfus Family of Funds; Lillian Vernon Corp., a
catalog seller of home products; Mountasia Entertainment International, Inc., an
operator of family recreation centers; The New German Fund, a New York Stock
Exchange listed mutual fund operated by Deutsche Bank AG; and IDT Corp., a
provider of telecommunications services, including Internet access and long
distance services. Mr. Wasserman also served as a director on the Chemical Bank
National Advisory Board until Chemical Bank merged with Chase Manhattan Bank in
March 1996. He is a graduate of Baruch College and Brooklyn Law School.
 
    Mr. vanden Heuvel has been a director of the Company since June 1995. Since
1984, Ambassador vanden Heuvel has served as Senior Advisor to Allen & Co., an
investment banking firm, as well as counsel to the law firm Stroock & Stroock &
Lavan. He served as a director of Time Warner from 1981 to 1993 and currently is
a director of Zemex Corp., a New York Stock Exchange listed company engaged in
the mining and exploitation of industrial minerals. Ambassador vanden Heuvel
also has been a member of the IRC Group, a Washington D.C. based consulting
group comprised of former United States ambassadors, since 1981. He has been
Chairman of the Board of Governors of the United Nations Association since 1993.
From 1979 to 1981, Ambassador vanden Heuvel served as United
 
                                       68
<PAGE>
States Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations. From 1977 to 1979,
he served as United States Ambassador to the European Office of the United
Nations and various other international organizations. He was Special Assistant
to United States Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy from 1961 to 1964.
Ambassador vanden Heuvel is a graduate of Deep Springs College, Cornell
University and Cornell Law School.
 
    Mr. Harvey has been a director of the Company since June 1994. In 1972 and
1991, respectively, Mr. Harvey founded New Electronic Media Science, Inc.
("NEMS"), and Next Century Media, Inc. ("Next Century"), marketing, media and
research consulting companies specializing in the marketing, entertainment and
interactive media industries. Mr. Harvey has served as Chief Executive Officer
and President of both NEMS and Next Century since their respective inceptions.
Through NEMS and Next Century, Mr. Harvey has worked with major television and
cable networks, several RBOCs, major film studios, IBM, AT&T, advertising
agencies, videotex companies and advertisers on the integration of advertising
into various new media. Mr. Harvey invented the marketing tool known as the Area
Dominant Influence ("ADI") for Arbitron and co-founded International Ratings
Services, Inc., the first company to provide United States movie studios,
including Warner Brothers, Columbia and CBS International, with ratings for
their television programs broadcast in foreign countries. Since 1979, Mr. Harvey
has also been the publisher of "The Marketing Pulse," a monthly advertising and
media trade newsletter.
 
    Mr. Magyar has been a director of the Company since June 1993. Since May
1994, Mr. Magyar has been operating a private business he owns which specializes
in financial services for high net worth individuals and business owners. From
1989 to May 1994, Mr. Magyar was a regional vice president of CIGNA and during
the preceding fifteen years held various sales and sales management positions
with CIGNA. Mr. Magyar has served on CIGNA's strategic business development
committee and has been a guest lecturer at New York University. Mr. Magyar also
is a Certified Life Underwriter and Chartered Financial Consultant with the
American College of Insurance. Mr. Magyar is a member of the General Agents and
Managers Association, the National Association of Underwriters and the American
Society of CLU and ChFC. Mr. Magyar is a graduate of Colby College.
 
    Mr. Graham has served as Executive Vice President of the Company since
October 1994. From October 1990 through September 1994, Mr. Graham was engaged
in the private practice of law and served in various capacities with National
Capital Management Corporation, a company engaged through its subsidiaries in
various businesses, such as the ownership of real estate rental properties,
industrial manufacturing and insurance matters, including as Corporate Secretary
and as President of its primary real estate and insurance subsidiaries. During
that period, Mr. Graham also acted in various capacities for WinStar Services,
Inc. ("WinStar Services"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of WinStar Companies. Prior
to 1990, Mr. Graham was a partner in the law firm of Nixon, Hargrave, Devans &
Doyle, specializing in corporate finance, regulatory and business law. Mr.
Graham was a Securities Law Editor of Barrister Magazine, an American Bar
Association publication, from 1985 to 1986 and has authored a number of
publications, including "Public Offerings in the United States by Foreign
Companies" and "Financing of Foreign Companies through United States Securities
Markets." Mr. Graham is a director of TII Industries and National Capital
Management Corporation. Mr. Graham also is a member of the Board of Advisors of
the Instructional Television Station of the Archdiocese of New York. Mr. Graham
is a graduate of Fordham Law School and the Georgetown University School of
Foreign Service.
 
    The Board of Directors of the Company is divided into three classes, each of
which generally serves for a term of three years, with only one class of
directors being elected in each year. The term of office of the first class of
directors (Class I), currently consisting of Steven G. Chrust, Fredric E. von
Stange and William Harvey, will expire in 1998, the term of office of the second
class of directors (Class II), currently consisting of Bert W. Wasserman and
Nathan Kantor, will expire at the meeting of stockholders scheduled for June 27,
1996, and the term of office of the third class of directors (Class
 
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<PAGE>
III), currently consisting of William J. Rouhana, Jr., William J. vanden Heuvel
and Steven B. Magyar, will expire in 1997. In each case, each director will hold
office until the next annual meeting of stockholders at which his class of
directors is to be elected, or until his successor is duly qualified and
appointed. David Banker, who was a Class II director, resigned from the Board of
Directors for personal reasons effective April 22, 1996. On April 26, 1996, the
Board of Directors approved a reduction of the size of the Board of Directors
from nine directors to eight directors.
 
    The responsibilities of the Audit Committee, which currently is composed of
William J. Rouhana, Jr., Bert Wasserman and Steven B. Magyar, include, in
addition to such other duties as the Board may specify, (i) recommending to the
Board the appointment of independent accountants; (ii) reviewing the timing,
scope and results of the independent accountant's audit examination and the
related fees; (iii) reviewing periodic comments and recommendations by the
Company's independent accountants and the Company's response thereto;
(iv) reviewing the scope and adequacy of internal accounting controls and
internal auditing activities; and (v) making recommendations to the Board with
respect to significant changes in accounting policies and procedures.
 
    The responsibilities of the Compensation Committee, which currently is
composed of William J. Rouhana, Jr., Steven B. Magyar, William Harvey and
William J. vanden Heuvel, include, in addition to such other duties as the Board
may specify, (i) reviewing and recommending to the Board the salaries,
compensation and benefits of the executive officers and key employees of the
Company, (ii) reviewing any related party transactions on an ongoing basis for
potential conflicts of interest and (iii) administering the Company's stock
option plans.
 
    The responsibilities of the Nominating Committee, which currently is
composed of William J. Rouhana, Jr., William J. vanden Heuvel and Steven B.
Magyar, include, in addition to such other duties as the Board may specify,
considering and recommending to the Board nominees for directors.
 
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
 
    The Company pays each outside director $500 for attendance at each meeting
of a committee of which such director is a member and $1,000 for attendance at
each meeting of the Board of Directors. On January 13th of each year, persons
who are directors at such date are granted options to purchase 10,000 shares of
Common Stock at a per-share exercise price equal to the last sale price of a
share of Common Stock on the last trading day prior to such grant.
 
                                       70
<PAGE>
                             PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS
 
    The table and accompanying footnotes set forth certain information as of
June 12, 1996 with respect to the stock ownership of (i) those persons or groups
who beneficially own more than 5% of the Company's Common Stock, (ii) each
director of the Company, (iii) the Company's Chief Executive Officer and each of
the Company's next four most highly compensated executive officers and (iv) all
directors and executive officers of the Company as a group (based upon
information furnished by such persons). Shares of Common Stock issuable upon
exercise of options which currently are exercisable or exercisable within 60
days of the date of this Prospectus are considered outstanding for the purpose
of calculating the percentage of Common Stock owned by such person, but not for
the purpose of calculating the percentage of Common Stock owned by any other
person. Unless otherwise indicated, the address for the persons listed below is
c/o WinStar Communications, Inc., 230 Park Avenue, Suite 3126, New York, New
York 10169.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                          PERCENT
                                                                                     BENEFICIALLY OWNED
                                                                                    --------------------
                                                               NUMBER OF SHARES      BEFORE      AFTER
NAME AND ADDRESS OF BENEFICIAL OWNER                          BENEFICIALLY OWNED    OFFERING    OFFERING
- ------------------------------------                          ------------------    --------    --------
<S>                                                           <C>                   <C>         <C>
William J. Rouhana, Jr.....................................        2,064,669(1)        7.3%        6.4%
Nathan Kantor..............................................          765,600(2)        2.7         2.4 
Steven G. Chrust...........................................          419,000(3)        1.5         1.3 
Fredric E. von Stange......................................          905,833(4)        3.2         2.8 
Steven B. Magyar...........................................           50,706(5)       *           *
  Two Pine Point
  Lloyd Harbor, New York 11742
William J. vanden Heuvel...................................           60,000(6)       *           *
  812 Park Avenue
  New York, New York 10021
Bert W. Wasserman..........................................           60,000(7)       *           *
  126 East 56th Street
  New York, New York 10022
William Harvey.............................................           20,000(8)       *           *
  c/o Next Century Media, Inc.
  11 North Chestnut Street
  New Paltz, New York 12561
Timothy R. Graham..........................................          385,852(9)        1.4         1.2 
Keystone Investment Management Company.....................        2,166,800           7.9         6.9 
  200 Berkeley Street
  Boston, Massachusetts 02116
All Directors and Executive Officers as a Group (9                 4,731,660(10)      16.1        14.2 
persons)...................................................
</TABLE>
 
- ------------
 
* Less than 1%.
 
 (1) Includes 350,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of certain
     options. Does not include 150,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon
     exercise of other options which become exercisable in March 1997. Mr.
     Rouhana has agreed that, during the term of Nathan Kantor's employment
     agreement with the Company, he would vote all shares of Common Stock he
     controls in favor of Mr. Kantor as a director of the Company.
 
 (2) Includes (i) 447,396 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of
     certain options. Does not include 350,000 shares of Common Stock issuable
     upon exercise of other options which become exercisable in three equal
     annual installments commencing in September 1996 and 78,000 shares of
     Common Stock issuable upon exercise of options which become exercisable in
     December 1996.
 
                                         (footnotes continued on following page)
 
                                       71
<PAGE>
 (3) Includes (i) 12,000 shares of Common Stock owned by the pension plan for
     SGC Advisory Services, Inc., a telecommunications consulting firm of which
     Mr. Chrust is President and owner, and (ii) 325,000 shares issuable upon
     exercise of certain options owned by Mr. Chrust or members of his family.
     Does not include 480,000 shares issuable upon exercise of other options
     which become exercisable in four equal annual installments commencing in
     January 1997.
 
 (4) Includes 200,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of certain
     options. Does not include 75,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon
     exercise of other options which become exercisable in March 1997.
 
 (5) Includes (i) 1,000 shares of Common Stock owned by Mr. Magyar's spouse,
     over which Mr. Magyar disclaims beneficial ownership, and (ii) 30,000
     shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of certain options.
 
 (6) Includes 50,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of certain
     options. Does not include 20,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon
     exercise of other options which become exercisable in June 1997. Also
     includes 500 shares owned by Mr. vanden Heuvel's spouse, as to which he
     disclaims beneficial ownership.
 
 (7) Includes 50,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of certain
     options. Does not include 20,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon
     exercise of other options which become exercisable in June 1997.
 
 (8) Represents 20,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of options.
 
 (9) Includes 210,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of certain
     options. Does not include 50,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon
     exercise of other options which become exercisable in October 1997.
 
(10) Includes shares referred to as being included in notes (1) through (9).
     Excludes shares referred to in such notes as being excluded.
 
                                       72
<PAGE>
                      DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN INDEBTEDNESS
 
DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW NOTES
 
    Concurrently with the Stock Offering, the Company is offering an aggregate
of $100 million of New Senior Notes and an aggregate of $100 million of New
Senior Subordinated Notes in the Debt Offering. Until July 2001, interest on the
New Notes will accrue but not be payable in cash. From and after July 2001, the
New Notes will pay interest in cash.
 
    The New Senior Notes will be unsecured, unsubordinated obligations of the
Company, will rank pari passu in right of payment with all existing and future
unsecured, unsubordinated indebtedness (including the Old Senior Notes) and will
be senior in right of payment to all existing and future subordinated
indebtedness of the Company, including the New Senior Subordinated Notes and the
Old Convertible Notes. The New Senior Subordinated Notes will be unsecured,
senior subordinated obligations of the Company, will rank pari passu in right of
payment with the Old Convertible Notes and will be subordinated in right of
payment to the Company's obligations under the New Senior Notes, the Old Senior
Notes and its guarantees under the Equipment Lease Financing, the Everest Notes,
the Century Credit Facility and the CIT Credit Facility (each as defined below).
 
    The New Notes may be redeemed at any time on or after July 2001, at the
option of the Company, in whole or in part, at premiums declining to 100% of the
sum of their principal amount plus interest accrued prior to July 2001, plus
accrued interest after July 2001.
 
    The New Note Indentures contain certain covenants which, among other things,
restrict the ability of the Company and certain of its subsidiaries to: incur
additional indebtedness; create liens; engage in sale-leaseback transactions;
pay dividends or make distributions in respect of their capital stock; make
investments or make certain other restricted payments; sell assets; issue or
sell stock of such subsidiaries; enter into transactions with stockholders or
affiliates; acquire assets or businesses not constituting "telecommunications
assets" (as defined in such Indentures); or consolidate, merge or sell all or
substantially all of their assets. The covenants contained in the New Note
Indentures are subject to exceptions and the Company's new media and consumer
products subsidiary will not be subject to the covenants contained therein,
although the Company's ability to invest in such subsidiaries is limited.
 
DESCRIPTION OF OTHER INDEBTEDNESS
 
    In October 1995, the Company raised net proceeds of $214.5 million from the
1995 Debt Placement. There will not be any accrual of cash interest on the Old
Notes prior to October 15, 2000 or payment of cash interest on the Old Notes
prior to April 15, 2001. From and after October 15, 2000, the Old Notes will
bear interest at the rate of 14% per annum, payable semi-annually in cash
commencing April 15, 2001. The Old Notes mature on October 15, 2005. At
maturity, the Old Senior Notes will have an aggregate principal amount of $294.2
million and the Old Convertible Notes will have an aggregate principal amount of
$147.1 million.
 
    The Old Convertible Notes are convertible, at the option of the holder, into
Common Stock ("Conversion Shares") at any time on or after October 23, 1996. The
number of Conversion Shares issuable by the Company upon conversion is equal to
the accreted value of the Old Convertible Notes being converted (on the date of
conversion) divided by $20.625, subject to adjustment in certain events
("Conversion Price"). In addition, if the closing sale price of the Common Stock
on the Nasdaq National Market during the twelve-month periods from October 15,
1995 through October 15, 1999 has exceeded certain closing sale prices during
such periods ranging from $37.50 to $44.00 for at least 30 consecutive trading
days ("Market Criteria") and a registration statement with respect to the
Conversion Shares is effective and available, all of the Old Convertible Notes
automatically will be converted into Conversion Shares at the close of business
on the last day of the 30-day period; provided, however, that if the Market
Criteria is satisfied prior to October 15, 1996, the conversion will not occur
until
 
                                       73
<PAGE>
October 23, 1996 and will occur only if the closing sale price of the Common
Stock is at least $37.50 on such date. The Company is obligated to cause to be
declared effective a registration statement registering the issuance or resale
of the Conversion Shares on or prior to October 23, 1996. If such registration
statement is not declared effective on or prior to October 23, 1996, the
Conversion Price will be decreased to $20.06.
 
    The Old Note Indentures contain certain covenants which are substantially
similar to the covenants contained in the New Note Indentures.
 
    In September 1995, WinStar Wireless entered into an equipment lease
financing (the "Equipment Lease Financing") with ML Investors Services, Inc.
("ML") pursuant to which ML has agreed to make up to $10.0 million of equipment
financing available to WinStar Wireless until September 1996. As of the date of
this Prospectus, ML has made available only $7.0 million under the Equipment
Lease Financing. The balance of $3.0 million may be drawn by WinStar Wireless
only if ML agrees to make such funds available, which it is not obligated to do.
As of March 31, 1996, WinStar Wireless leased equipment having a value of
approximately $7.0 million under the Equipment Lease Financing. Pursuant to a
master lease agreement between WinStar Wireless and ML (the "Lease") entered
into in connection with the Equipment Lease Financing. WinStar Wireless may
lease transceivers and related network equipment from ML or its assignee for
payments at the rate of 2.2753% per month of the equipment value (a return of
approximately 13% per annum to the lessor) and are non-cancelable for sixty
months. After twelve months, Winstar Wireless may purchase the equipment at
scheduled rates which decline over the term of the Lease and which provide for a
return of approximately 15% per annum to the lessor. WinStar Wireless'
obligations under the Lease are guaranteed by the Company. As additional
consideration for providing the Equipment Lease Financing, the Company has
agreed to issue ML five-year options to purchase shares of Common Stock at the
rate of one share of Common Stock for each $100 of the Equipment Lease Financing
amount made available at a price equal to the market price on the day prior to
the date of grant. Pursuant to such agreement, the Company has issued to ML
options to purchase 55,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of
$17.125 per share and options to purchase 15,000 shares of Common Stock at an
exercise price of $18.0625 per share.
 
    In May 1995, the Company, WinStar Wireless and Everest Capital Fund L.P.
("Fund"), Everest Capital International Ltd. ("Capital" and, along with Fund the
"Purchasers") and Everest Capital Limited, agent for the Purchasers ("Agent"),
entered into a note and warrant purchase agreement, pursuant to which WinStar
Wireless issued $7.5 million of notes (the "Everest Notes"), which are
convertible into shares of the Company's Common Stock, and warrants to purchase
up to 550,000 shares of Common Stock. The Everest Notes bear interest at the
rate of 7% per annum, payable in cash on a semi-annual basis, and are payable in
May 2000. The Everest Notes are secured by a lien on all of the assets of
WinStar Wireless and Wireless Fiber Corp. and are guaranteed by the Company and
Wireless Fiber Corp. To secure its guaranty, the Company pledged all of the
outstanding shares of common stock of WinStar Wireless and Wireless Fiber Corp.
Under the Everest Notes, WinStar Wireless may not pay any dividends to the
Company and may not issue any capital stock. The Purchasers agreed to
subordinate their liens to any liens granted by the Company to secure up to
$30.0 million of equipment-related financing prior to February 29, 1996 and up
to an additional $20.0 million of such financing prior to February 28, 1997. Any
liens securing indebtedness above such amounts, and any liens granted after
February 28, 1997, require the consent of the Purchasers.
 
    At any time, the unpaid principal amount of and accrued interest on the
Everest Notes are convertible, at the option of the Purchasers, into shares of
Common Stock at a conversion price of $7.00 per share. On December 28, 1995, the
Purchasers exercised their option to convert $3.75 million of principal and
approximately $25,000 of interest due under the Everest Notes into 539,255
shares of Common Stock. After December 15, 1996, WinStar Wireless may force
conversion of the Everest Notes if the last sale price of the Common Stock is
above 175% of the then conversion price (currently $12.25) for 20 consecutive
trading days. The warrants issued to the Purchasers were divided into three
 
                                       74
<PAGE>
classes: EC-A Warrants, EC-B Warrants and EC-C Warrants. The 300,000 aggregate
amount of EC-A Warrants are exercisable through May 24, 2000 at an exercise
price of $12.00 per share. The 100,000 EC-B Warrants are exercisable through May
24, 2000 at an exercise price of $13.00 per share. The 150,000 EC-C Warrants
were exercised in July 1995 by Everest at an exercise price of $.01 per share.
 
    In November 1994, WinStar Gateway entered into a Loan and Security Agreement
("CIT Loan Agreement") with The CIT Group/Credit Finance, Inc. ("The CIT
Group"), pursuant to which The CIT Group agreed to make a $5.0 million (less
$100,000 until WinStar Gateway has maintained three consecutive calendar months
with positive net income from operations) revolving credit facility (the "CIT
Credit Facility") available to WinStar Gateway until November 1996. Pursuant to
the terms of the CIT Loan Agreement, borrowings are limited to 90% of most
eligible accounts receivable, with availability of certain types of accounts
receivable limited to 80% and 50% (less appropriate reserves as determined by
The CIT Group). In addition, WinStar Gateway is prohibited from paying dividends
to the Company. The Company also is party to a keepwell agreement requiring the
Company to make a monthly contribution to WinStar Gateway in an amount equal to
WinStar Gateway's net income (loss), plus its depreciation and amortization,
minus its capital expenditures, if such amount is less than zero for a
particular month. Borrowings bear interest at a rate of 3.0% in excess of the
prime commercial lending rate of The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A. ("Chase
Manhattan") and are secured by a lien on all of WinStar Gateway's assets as well
as a guarantee from the Company as to the first $2.2 million in borrowings. The
CIT Loan Agreement also provides for an annual fee of $50,000 as well as certain
underutilization fees. As additional consideration for providing the CIT Credit
Facility, the Company issued to The CIT Group warrants to purchase 50,000 shares
of Common Stock until November 3, 1998 at an exercise price of $6.975 per share,
which warrants have been exercised.
 
    In August 1994, WinStar Global Products entered into a Loan and Security
Agreement ("Century Loan Agreement") with Century Business Credit Corporation
("Century"), pursuant to which Century agreed to make a $6.0 million revolving
credit facility (the "Century Credit Facility") available, at its sole
discretion, to WinStar Global Products until September 1996. Pursuant to the
terms of the Century Loan Agreement, borrowings are limited to 80% of eligible
accounts receivable and 45% of eligible inventory. In addition, WinStar Global
Products is prohibited from paying dividends to the Company and may not make
capital expenditures in any fiscal year in an amount in excess of $150,000.
Borrowings bear interest at a rate 3.5% in excess of the prime commercial
lending rate of Chase Manhattan and are secured by a lien on all of WinStar
Global Products' assets as well as a guarantee from the Company as to the first
$3.0 million in borrowings. The Century Loan Agreement also provides for annual
facility fees as well as an overadvance facility of $1.5 million (included in
the $6.0 million of aggregate availability) which bears interest at a rate of
3.5% in excess of the prime commercial lending rate. In May 1995, as additional
consideration for providing the Century Credit Facility, the Company issued to
Century an option to purchase 25,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price
of $5.75 per share until May 30, 1998, which options have been exercised.
 
                                       75
<PAGE>
                          DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
 
COMMON STOCK
 
    The authorized capital stock of the Company includes 75,000,000 shares of
Common Stock, $.01 par value. The holders of Common Stock are entitled to one
vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of
stockholders. Although the Company has no present intention of paying any
dividends, holders of Common Stock are entitled to receive ratably such
dividends as may be declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally
available therefor. In the event of a liquidation or dissolution of the Company,
holders of Common Stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining
after payment of liabilities and liquidation preference of preferred shares.
 
    Holders of Common Stock have no preemptive rights and have no rights to
convert their Common Stock into any other securities. There are no redemption or
sinking fund provisions applicable to the Common Stock. All of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock are fully paid and nonassessable.
 
    The Company's Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, provides for a Board
of Directors divided into three classes, each of which will generally serve for
a term of three years, with only one class of directors being elected in each
year; provides that directors may be removed with or without cause and only by
at least a majority of the capital stock of the Company entitled to vote
thereon; and further requires an affirmative vote of the holders of at least
two-thirds of the capital stock of the Company entitled to vote thereon to
alter, amend or repeal the provisions relating to the classification of, and the
removal of members from, the Board of Directors. Nominations for the Board of
Directors may be made by the Company Board or by any stockholder entitled to
vote for the election of directors. A stockholder entitled to vote for the
election of directors at a meeting may nominate a person or persons for election
as director only if written notice of such stockholder's intent to make such
nomination is given to the Company's Secretary not later than sixty days in
advance of such meeting. The Company's Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws
do not provide for cumulative voting rights which means that holders of more
than one-half of the outstanding voting rights, voting for the election of
directors, can elect all of the directors to be elected, if they so choose and,
in such event, the holders of the remaining shares will not be able to elect any
of the Company's directors. A special meeting of stockholders of the Company may
be called by the request of the holders of at least 10% of the outstanding
capital stock of the Company entitled to vote generally in all matters.
 
    The registrar and the transfer agent for the Common Stock of the Company is
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, 2 Broadway, New York, New York
10004.
 
PREFERRED STOCK
 
    The authorized capital stock of the Company includes 15,000,000 shares of
"blank check" preferred stock, which may be issued from time to time in one or
more series upon authorization by the Company's Board of Directors. There
currently are no shares of preferred stock outstanding. The Board of Directors,
without further approval of the stockholders, is authorized to fix the dividend
rights and terms, conversion rights, voting rights, redemption rights and terms,
liquidation preferences, and any other rights, preferences, privileges and
restrictions applicable to each series of preferred stock. The issuance of
preferred stock (and the ability of the Board of Directors to do so without
stockholder approval), while providing flexibility in connection with possible
acquisitions and other corporate purposes could, among other things, adversely
affect the voting power of the holders of Common Stock and, under certain
circumstances, make it more difficult for a third party to gain control of the
Company, discourage bids for the Company's Common Stock at a premium or
otherwise adversely affect the market price of the Common Stock.
 
                                       76
<PAGE>
STATUTORY PROVISIONS AFFECTING STOCKHOLDERS
 
    The Company is subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware
General Corporation Law. In general, the statute prohibits a publicly held
Delaware corporation from engaging in a "business combination" with an
"interested stockholder" for a period of three years after the date of the
transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder unless prior to
the date the stockholder became an interested stockholder the board approved
either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the
stockholder becoming an interested stockholder or unless one of two exceptions
to the prohibitions are satisfied: (i) upon consummation of the transaction that
resulted in such person becoming an interested stockholder, the interested
stockholder owned at least 85% of the Company's voting stock outstanding at the
time the transaction commenced (excluding, for purposes of determining the
number of shares outstanding, shares owned by certain directors or certain
employee stock plans) or (ii) on or after the date the stockholder became an
interested stockholder, the business combination is approved by the board of
directors and authorized by the affirmative vote (and not by written consent) of
at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock, excluding the stock owned
by the interested stockholder. A "business combination" includes a merger, asset
sale or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested
stockholder. An "interested stockholder" is a person who (other than the
corporation and any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the
corporation), together with affiliates and associates, owns (or, as an affiliate
or associate, within three years prior, did own) 15% or more of the
corporation's outstanding voting stock. It is possible that these provisions may
have the effect of delaying, deterring or preventing a change in control of the
Company.
 
                                       77
<PAGE>
                        SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
 
    After giving effect to the Stock Offering (assuming no exercise of the U.S.
Underwriters' over-allotment option), the Company will have 31,748,005 shares of
Common Stock outstanding. In addition, as of May 31, 1996, there were
outstanding options and warrants with respect to an aggregate of 8,145,699
shares of Common Stock and 4,699,211 shares of Common Stock were issuable upon
conversion of the Old Convertible Notes (assuming the Old Convertible Notes are
converted on October 23, 1996, the first date on which conversion may occur) and
certain other convertible debt. See "Risk Factors -- Effect of Outstanding
Options, Warrants and Other Convertible Securities." Although a significant
number of the outstanding shares of Common Stock are "restricted securities," as
that term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act ("Restricted Shares"),
and may not be sold unless such sale is registered under the Securities Act or
is made pursuant to an exemption from the registration under the Securities Act,
including the exemption provided by Rule 144, substantially all of such
Restricted Shares have been registered for resale under the Securities Act or
are currently, or will soon become, available for sale pursuant to Rule 144.
Sales or the expectation of sales of a substantial number of shares of Common
Stock in the public market could adversely affect the prevailing market price of
the Common Stock. The Company's directors and executive officers and certain
other officers of the Company and the Company's subsidiaries have agreed that,
without the prior written consent of Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated on behalf
of the Underwriters, they will not sell any of their shares of Common Stock,
except in certain limited circumstances, for a period of 120 days after the date
of this Prospectus. See "Underwriters."
 
    In general, under Rule 144 as currently in effect, if two years have elapsed
since the later of the date of acquisition of Restricted Shares from the Company
or any "affiliate" of the Company, as that term is defined under the Securities
Act, the holder is entitled to sell within any three-month period a number of
shares of Common Stock that does not exceed the greater of 1% of the
then-outstanding shares of Common Stock or the average weekly trading volume of
shares of Common Stock on all exchanges and reported through the automated
quotation system of a registered securities association during the four calendar
weeks preceding the date on which notice of the sale is filed with the
Commission. Sales under Rule 144 are also subject to certain restrictions on the
manner of sales, notice requirements and the availability of current public
information about the Company. If three years have elapsed since the date of
acquisition of Restricted Shares from the Company or from any "affiliate" of the
Company, and the holder thereof is deemed not to have been an affiliate of the
Company at any time during the 90 days preceding a sale, such person would be
entitled to sell such Common Stock in the public market under Rule 144(k)
without regard to the volume limitations, manner of sale provisions, public
information requirements or notice requirements.
 
    The Commission recently has proposed amendments to Rule 144 and Rule 144(k)
that would permit resales of restricted securities under Rule 144 after a
one-year, rather than a two-year, holding period, subject to compliance with the
other provisions of Rule 144, and would permit unlimited resales of restricted
securities by non-affiliates under Rule 144(k) after a two-year, rather than a
three-year, holding period. Adoption of such amendments could result in resales
of restricted securities sooner than would be the case under Rule 144 and Rule
144(k) as currently in effect. The Company is unable to determine when or if
such proposed amendments will be adopted.
 
                                       78
<PAGE>
                    CERTAIN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
                              TO NON-U.S. HOLDERS
 
GENERAL
 
    The following is a general discussion of certain United States federal
income and estate tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of Common
Stock by a Non-U.S. Holder. For this purpose, the term "Non-U.S. Holder" is
defined as any person who is, for United States federal income tax purposes, a
foreign corporation, a non-resident alien individual, a foreign partnership or a
foreign estate or trust, as such terms are defined in the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). This discussion does not address all aspects
of United States federal income and estate taxes and does not deal with foreign,
state and local consequences that may be relevant to such Non-U.S. Holders in
light of their personal circumstances, or to certain types of Non-U.S. Holders
which may be subject to special treatment under United States federal income tax
laws (for example, insurance companies, tax-exempt organizations, financial
institutions or broker-dealers). Furthermore, this discussion is based on
provisions of the Code, existing and proposed regulations promulgated thereunder
and administrative and judicial interpretations thereof, as of the date hereof,
all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. Each
prospective purchaser of Common Stock is advised to consult a tax advisor with
respect to current and possible future tax consequences of acquiring, holding
and disposing of Common Stock as well as any tax consequences that may arise
under the laws of any state, local or foreign taxing jurisdiction. PROSPECTIVE
INVESTORS ARE URGED TO CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISERS REGARDING THE UNITED STATES
FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL AND NON-U.S. INCOME AND OTHER TAX CONSEQUENCES OF HOLDING
AND DISPOSING OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK.
 
    An individual may, subject to certain exceptions, be deemed to be a resident
alien (as opposed to a nonresident alien) by virtue of being present in the
United States for at least 31 days in the calendar year and for an aggregate of
at least 183 days during a three-year period ending in the current calendar year
(counting for such purposes all of the days present in the current year,
one-third of the days present in the immediately preceding year, and one-sixth
of the days present in the second preceding year). Resident aliens are subject
to U.S. federal tax as if they were U.S. citizens.
 
DIVIDENDS
 
    The Company does not anticipate paying cash dividends on its capital stock
in the foreseeable future. See "Dividend Policy." In the event, however, that
dividends are paid on shares of Common Stock, dividends paid to a Non-U.S.
Holder of Common Stock will be subject to withholding of United States federal
income tax at a 30% rate or such lower rate as may be provided by an income tax
treaty between the United States and the country of which the Non-U.S. Holder is
a tax resident, unless (i) the dividends are effectively connected with the
conduct of a trade or business of the Non-U.S. Holder within the United States
and the Non-U.S. Holder provides the payor with proper documentation or (ii) if
a tax treaty applies, the dividends are attributable to a U.S. permanent
establishment maintained by the Non-U.S. Holder. In order to claim the benefit
of an applicable tax treaty rate, a Non-U.S. Holder may have to file with the
Company or its dividend paying agent an exemption or reduced treaty rate
certificate or letter in accordance with the terms of such treaty. Dividends
that are effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within
the United States or, if a tax treaty applies, are attributable to such a United
States permanent establishment, are subject to United States federal income tax
on a net income basis (that is, after allowance for applicable deductions) at
applicable graduated individual or corporate rates. Any such effectively
connected dividends received by a foreign corporation may, under certain
circumstances, be subject to an additional "branch profits tax" at a 30% rate or
such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty.
 
    Under current United States Treasury regulations, dividends paid to an
address outside the United States are presumed to be paid to a resident of such
country for purposes of the withholding discussed
 
                                       79
<PAGE>
above (unless the payor has knowledge to the contrary) and, under the current
interpretation of United States Treasury regulations, for purpose of determining
the applicability of a tax treaty rate. However, under proposed United States
Treasury regulations, in the case of dividends paid after December 31, 1997
(December 31, 1999 in the case of dividends paid to accounts in existence on or
before the date that is 60 days after the proposed United States Treasury
regulations are published as final regulations), a Non-U.S. Holder generally
would be subject to United States withholding tax at a 31% rate under the backup
withholding rules described below, rather than at a 30% rate or a reduced rate
under an income tax treaty, unless certain certification procedures (or, in the
case of payments made outside the United States with respect to an offshore
account, certain documentary evidence procedures) are complied with, directly or
through an intermediary. Certain certification and disclosure requirements must
be complied with in order to be exempt from withholding under the effectively
connected income exemption.
 
    A Non-U.S. Holder of Common Stock eligible for a reduced rate of United
States withholding tax pursuant to an income tax treaty may obtain a refund of
any excess amounts withheld by filing an appropriate claim for refund with the
Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS"), provided that the required information is
furnished to the IRS.
 
GAIN ON DISPOSITION OF COMMON STOCK
 
    A Non-U.S.Holder generally will not be subject to United States federal
income tax with respect to gain recognized on a sale or other disposition of
Common Stock unless (i) (a) the gain is effectively connected with a trade or
business conducted by the Non-U.S. Holder within the United States or (b) if a
tax treaty applies, the gain is attributable to a United States permanent
establishment maintained by the Non-U.S. Holder, (ii) in the case of a Non-U.S.
Holder who is an individual and holds the Common Stock as a capital asset, such
holder is present in the United States for 183 or more days in the taxable year
of the sale or other disposition and certain other conditions are met, (iii) the
Non-U.S. Holder is subject to tax pursuant to certain provisions of the Code
applicable to United States expatriates, or (iv) the Company is or has been a
"U.S. real property holding corporation" for United States federal income tax
purposes at any time within the shorter of the five-year period preceding such
disposition or the period such Non-U.S. Holder held the Common Stock. If the
Company were, or to become, a U.S. real property holding corporation, gains
realized upon a disposition of Common Stock by a Non-U.S. Holder which did not
directly or indirectly own more than 5% of the Common Stock during the shorter
of the periods described above generally would not be subject to United States
federal income tax so long as the Common Stock is "regularly traded" on an
established securities market. The Company believes that it has not been, is not
currently, and does not anticipate becoming, a "U.S. real property holding
corporation" for United States federal income tax purposes.
 
    If an individual Non-U.S. Holder falls under clause (i) above, such
individual generally will be taxed on the net gain derived from a sale under
regular graduated United States federal income tax rates. If an individual
Non-U.S. Holder falls under clause (ii) above, such individual generally will be
subject to a flat 30% tax on the gain derived from a sale, which may be offset
by certain United States capital losses (notwithstanding the fact that such
individual is not considered a resident of the United States). Thus, individual
Non-U.S. Holders who have spent (or expect to spend) 183 days or more in the
United States in the taxable year in which they contemplate a sale of Common
Stock are urged to consult their tax advisors as to the tax consequences of such
sale.
 
    If a Non-U.S. Holder that is a foreign corporation falls under clause (i)
above, it generally will be taxed on its net gain under regular graduated United
States federal income tax rates and, in addition, will be subject to the branch
profits tax equal to 30% of its "effectively connected earnings and profits"
within the meaning of the Code for the taxable year, as adjusted for certain
items, unless it qualifies for a lower rate under an applicable income tax
treaty.
 
                                       80
<PAGE>
FEDERAL ESTATE TAX
 
    Common Stock owned or treated as owned by an individual who is neither a
United States citizen nor a United States resident (as defined for United States
federal estate tax purposes) at the time of death will be included in the
individual's gross estate for United States federal estate tax purposes, unless
an applicable estate tax treaty provides otherwise and, therefore, may be
subject to United States federal estate tax.
 
INFORMATION REPORTING AND BACKUP WITHHOLDING TAX
 
    Under United States Treasury regulations, the Company must report annually
to the IRS and to each Non-U.S. Holder the amount of dividends paid to such
holder and the tax withheld with respect to such dividends. These information
reporting requirements apply even if withholding was not required because the
dividends were effectively connected with a trade or business in the United
States of the Non-U.S. Holder or withholding was reduced or eliminated by an
applicable income tax treaty. Copies of the information returns reporting such
dividends and withholding may also be made available to the tax authorities in
the country in which the Non-U.S. Holder is a resident under the provisions of
an applicable income tax treaty or agreement.
 
    United States backup withholding (which generally is a withholding tax
imposed at the rate of 31% on certain payments to persons that fail to furnish
certain information under the United States information reporting requirements)
generally will not apply to (i) dividends paid to Non-U.S. Holders that are
subject to the 30% withholding discussed above (or that are not so subject
because a tax treaty applies that reduces or eliminates such 30% withholding) or
(ii) under current law, dividends paid to a Non-U.S. Holder at an address
outside of the United States. However, under proposed United States Treasury
regulations, in the case of dividends paid after December 31, 1997 (December 31,
1999 in the case of dividends paid to accounts in existence on or before the
date that is 60 days after the proposed United States Treasury regulations are
published as final regulations), a Non-U.S. Holder generally would be subject to
backup withholding at a 31% rate, unless certain certification procedures (or,
in the case of payments made outside the United States with respect to an
offshore account, certain documentary evidence procedures) are complied with,
directly or through an intermediary.
 
    Backup withholding and information reporting generally will apply to
dividends paid to addresses inside the United States on shares of Common Stock
to beneficial owners that are not "exempt recipients" and that fail to provide
in the manner required certain identifying information.
 
    In general, backup withholding and information reporting will not apply to a
payment of the gross proceeds of a sale of Common Stock effected at a foreign
office of a broker. If, however, such broker is, for United States federal
income tax purposes, a U.S. person, a controlled foreign corporation or a
foreign person, 50% or more of whose gross income for certain periods is derived
from activities that are effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or
business in the United States, such payments will not be subject to backup
withholding but will be subject to information reporting, unless (i) such broker
has documentary evidence in its records that the beneficial owner is a Non-U.S.
Holder and certain other conditions are met, or (ii) the beneficial owner
otherwise establishes an exemption. Temporary United States Treasury regulations
provide that the Treasury is considering whether backup withholding should be
required in such circumstances. Under proposed United States Treasury
regulations not currently in effect, backup withholding will not apply to such
payments absent actual knowledge that the payee is a United States person. The
IRS recently proposed regulations addressing certain withholding, certification
and information reporting rules (some of which have been mentioned above) which
could affect treatment of the payment of the proceeds discussed above. Non-U.S.
Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the application of these
rules to their particular situations, the availability of an exemption
therefrom, the procedure for obtaining such an exemption, if available, and
 
                                       81
<PAGE>
the possible application of the proposed United States Treasury regulations
addressing the withholding and the information reporting rules.
 
    Payment by a United States office of a broker of the proceeds of a sale of
Common Stock is subject to both backup withholding and information reporting
unless the beneficial owner certifies under penalties of perjury that it is a
Non-U.S. Holder, or otherwise establishes an exemption. Backup withholding is
not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules
will be allowed as a refund or a credit against such holder's U.S. federal
income tax liability provided the required information is furnished to the IRS.
 
                                       82
<PAGE>
                                  UNDERWRITERS
 
    Under the terms and subject to the conditions in the Underwriting Agreement
dated the date hereof (the "Underwriting Agreement"), the U.S. Underwriters
named below, for whom Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated and CS First Boston
Corporation are acting as U.S. Representatives, have severally agreed to
purchase, and the Company has agreed to sell to them, and the International
Underwriters named below, for whom Morgan Stanley & Co. International Limited
and CS First Boston Limited are acting as International Representatives, have
severally agreed to purchase, and the Company has agreed to sell to them, the
respective number of shares of the Common Stock set forth opposite the names of
such Underwriters below:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                NUMBER
    NAME                                                                       OF SHARES
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------   ---------
<S>                                                                            <C>
U.S. Underwriters:
  Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated.........................................
  CS First Boston Corporation...............................................
 
                                                                               ---------
        ]Subtotal...........................................................   3,200,000
                                                                               ---------
 
International Underwriters:
  Morgan Stanley & Co. International Limited................................
  CS First Boston Limited...................................................
 
                                                                               ---------
        Subtotal............................................................     800,000
                                                                               ---------
               Total........................................................   4,000,000
                                                                               ---------
                                                                               ---------
</TABLE>
 
    The U.S. Underwriters and the International Underwriters, and the U.S.
Representatives and the International Representatives are collectively referred
to as the "Underwriters" and the "Representatives," respectively. The
Underwriting Agreement provides that the obligations of the several Underwriters
to pay for and accept delivery of the shares of Common Stock offered hereby are
subject to the approval of certain legal matters by their counsel and to certain
other conditions. The Underwriters are obligated to take and pay for all of the
shares of Common Stock offered hereby (other than those covered by the U.S.
Underwriters' over-allotment option described below) if any such shares are
taken.
 
    Pursuant to the Agreement Between U.S. and International Underwriters, each
U.S. Underwriter has represented and agreed that, with certain exceptions, (a)
it is not purchasing any U.S. Shares (as defined below) for the account of
anyone other than a United States or Canadian Person (as defined below) and (b)
it has not offered or sold, and will not offer or sell, directly or indirectly,
any U.S. Shares or distribute any prospectus relating to the U.S. Shares outside
the United States or Canada or to anyone other than a United States or Canadian
Person. Pursuant to the Agreement Between U.S. and International Underwriters,
each International Underwriter has represented and agreed that, with certain
exceptions, (a) it is not purchasing any International Shares (as defined below)
for the account of any United States or Canadian Person and (b) it has not
offered or sold, and will not offer or sell, directly or indirectly, any
International Shares or distribute any prospectus relating to the International
Shares in the United States or Canada or to a United States or Canadian Person.
The foregoing limitations do not apply to stabilization transactions or to
certain other transactions specified in the Agreement Between U.S. and
International Underwriters. As used herein, "United States or Canadian Person"
means any national or resident of the United States or Canada, or any
corporation, pension,
 
                                       83
<PAGE>
profit-sharing or other trust or other entity organized under the laws of the
United States or Canada or of any political subdivision thereof (other than a
branch located outside the United States or Canada of any United States or
Canadian Person) and includes any United States or Canadian branch of a person
who is otherwise not a United States or Canadian Person. All shares of Common
Stock to be purchased by the U.S. Underwriters and the International
Underwriters under the Underwriting Agreement are referred to herein as the "U.S
Shares" and the "International Shares," respectively.
 
    Pursuant to the Agreement Between U.S. and International Underwriters, sales
may be made between the U.S. Underwriters and International Underwriters of any
number of shares of Common Stock to be purchased pursuant to the Underwriting
Agreement as may be mutually agreed. The per share price of any shares sold
shall be the Price to Public set forth on the cover page hereof, in United
States dollars, less an amount not greater than the per share amount of the
concession to dealers set forth below.
 
    Pursuant to the Agreement Between U.S. and International Underwriters, each
U.S. Underwriter has represented that it has not offered or sold, and has agreed
not to offer or sell, any shares of Common Stock, directly or indirectly, in
Canada in contravention of the securities laws of Canada or any province or
territory thereof and has represented that any offer of shares of Common Stock
in Canada will be made only pursuant to an exemption from the requirement to
file a prospectus in the province or territory of Canada in which such offer is
made. Each U.S. Underwriter has further agreed to send to any dealer who
purchases from it any shares of Common Stock a notice stating in substance that,
by purchasing such shares of Common Stock, such dealer represents and agrees
that it has not offered or sold, and will not offer of sell, directly or
indirectly, any of such shares of Common Stock in Canada or to, or for the
benefit of, any resident of Canada in contravention of the securities laws of
Canada or any province or territory thereof and that any offer of shares of
Common Stock in Canada will be made only pursuant to an exemption from the
requirement to file a prospectus in the province of Canada in which such offer
is made, and that such dealer will deliver to any other dealer to whom it sells
any of such shares of Common Stock a notice to the foregoing effect.
 
    Pursuant to the Agreement Between U.S. and International Underwriters, each
International Underwriter has represented and agreed that (a) it has not offered
or sold and will not offer or sell any shares of Common Stock to persons in the
United Kingdom, except to persons whose ordinary activities involve them in
acquiring, holding managing or disposing of investments (as principal or agent)
for the purpose of their business or otherwise in circumstances which have not
resulted and will not result in an offer to the public in the United Kingdom
within the meaning of the Public Offers of Securities Regulations 1995 (the
"Regulations"); (b) it has complied and will comply with all applicable
provisions of the Financial Services Act of 1986 and the Regulations with
respect to anything done by it in relation to the shares of Common Stock in,
from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom; and (c) it has only issued or
passed on and will only issue or pass on to any person in the United Kingdom any
document received by it in connection with the issue of the shares of Common
Stock if that person is of a kind described in Article 11(3) of the Financial
Services Act of 1986 (Investment Advertisements) (Exemptions) Order 1995 or is a
person to whom such document may otherwise lawfully be issued or passed on.
 
    The Underwriters propose to offer part of the Common Stock directly to the
public at the Price to Public set forth on the cover page hereof and part to
certain dealers at a price which represents a concession not in excess of
$.      per share under the Price to Public. The Underwriters may allow, and
such dealers may reallow, a concession not in excess of $.      per share to
other Underwriters or to certain dealers. After the initial offering of the
Common Stock, the offering price and other selling terms may from time to time
be varied by the Representatives.
 
    Pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, the Company has granted to the U.S.
Underwriters an option, exercisable for 30 days from the date of this
Prospectus, to purchase up to 600,000 additional shares of Common Stock at the
Price to Public set forth on the cover page hereof, less underwriting discounts
and commissions. To the extent such option is exercised, each U.S. Underwriter
will become
 
                                       84
<PAGE>
obligated, subject to certain conditions, to purchase approximately the same
percentage of such additional shares as the number set forth next to such U.S.
Underwriter's name in the preceding table bears to the total number of shares of
Common Stock offered by the U.S. Underwriters hereby.
 
    The Company's directors and executive officers and certain other officers of
the Company and its subsidiaries have agreed that, without the prior written
consent of Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated on behalf of the Underwriters, they
will not, for a period of 120 days after the date of this Prospectus, (i) offer,
pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase,
purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to
purchase or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares
of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or
exchangeable for Common Stock or (ii) enter into any swap or other agreement
that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of
ownership of the Common Stock, whether any such transaction described in clause
(i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other
securities, in cash or otherwise, other than (a) the Common Stock offered hereby
and other shares of Common Stock acquired in the open market after the date of
this Prospectus, (b) any shares of Common Stock sold by the Company upon the
exercise of an option or warrant or the conversion of a security outstanding on
the date hereof of which the Underwriters have been advised in writing, (c) any
shares of Common Stock sold pursuant to existing benefit plans of the Company,
(d) any shares of Common Stock transferred to immediate family members or trusts
established for their benefit if the transferee agrees in writing to be
similarly bound and (e) involuntary transfers as a result of existing
contractual obligations.
 
    The Company has agreed that, without the prior consent of Morgan Stanley &
Co. Incorporated on behalf of the Underwriters, it will not, for a period of 120
days after the date of this Prospectus, (i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to
sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract
to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase or otherwise transfer or
dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or any securities
convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock or (ii) enter
into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in any part, any of
the economic consequences of ownership of the Common Stock, whether any such
transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery
of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, other than (a)
the Common Stock offered hereby, (b) any shares of Common Stock issued by the
Company upon the exercise of an option or warrant or the conversion of a
security outstanding on the date hereof of which the Underwriters have been
advised in writing, (c) the grant of any options to employees which do not
become exercisable until at least 120 days after the date of this Prospectus,
and (d) up to an aggregate of 1,587,500 shares (adjusted for any stock split) of
Common Stock (or securities convertible into such shares) in connection with
acquisitions, joint ventures, strategic alliances and other similar
transactions, if the holders thereof agree not to sell any such shares until 120
days after the date of this Prospectus.
 
    In connection with the offering of Common Stock hereby, the Underwriters and
selling group members may engage in passive market making transactions in the
Company's Common Stock on the Nasdaq National Market immediately prior to the
commencement of the sale of shares in this offering, in accordance with Rule
10b-6A under the Exchange Act. Passive market making consists of displaying bids
on the Nasdaq National Market limited by the bid prices of market makers not
connected with this offering and purchases limited by such prices and effected
in response to order flow. Net purchases by a passive market maker on each day
are limited in amount to 30% of the passive market maker's average daily trading
volume in the Common Stock during the period of the two full consecutive
calendar months prior to the filing with the Commission of the Registration
Statement of which this Prospectus is a part and must be discontinued when such
limit is reached. Passive market making may stabilize the market price of the
Common Stock at a level above that which might otherwise prevail and, if
commenced, may be discontinued at any time.
 
    The Underwriters have informed the Company that they do not intend sales to
discretionary accounts to exceed 5% of the total number of shares of Common
Stock offered by them.
 
                                       85
<PAGE>
    The Company and the Underwriters have agreed to indemnify each other against
certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
 
                                 LEGAL MATTERS
 
    The legality of the securities offered hereby and certain tax matters are
being passed upon for the Company by Graubard Mollen & Miller, New York, New
York. Certain partners and employees of Graubard Mollen & Miller own shares of
Common Stock. Certain legal matters will be passed upon for the Underwriters by
Shearman & Sterling, New York, New York.
 
                                    EXPERTS
 
    The consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule of
the Company as of December 31, 1995 and February 28, 1995, and for the ten
months ended December 31, 1995 and for the two years in the period ended
February 28, 1995 and the financial statements of Avant-Garde
Telecommunications, Inc. as of February 28, 1995 and for the two years in the
period ended February 28, 1995 included in this Prospectus, have been audited by
Grant Thornton LLP, independent certified public accountants, to the extent and
for the periods indicated in their reports thereon, and are included herein in
reliance upon the authority of such firm as experts in giving such report.
 
    The financial statements of the Microwave Division of Local Area
Telecommunications, Inc. as of December 31, 1995 and 1994, and for each of the
years then ended, appearing in this Prospectus and Registration Statement have
been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, as set forth in their
report thereon (which contains an explanatory paragraph with respect to the
Division's ability to continue as a going concern as discussed in Note 1 to the
financial statements) appearing elsewhere herein, and are included in reliance
upon such report given upon the authority of such firm as experts in accounting
and auditing.
 
                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION
 
    The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange
Act, and, in accordance therewith, is required to file reports, proxy statements
and other information with the Commission. Such reports, proxy statements and
other information can be inspected and copied at the Public Reference Section of
the Commission at Room 1024, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and
at the Commission's regional offices at Citicorp Center, 500 West Madison
Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661 and 7 World Trade Center, Suite
1300, New York, New York 10048. Copies of the reports, proxy statements and
other information can be obtained from the Public Reference Section of the
Commission, Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. In addition, all
reports filed by the Company via the Commission's Electronic Data Gathering and
Retrieval System (EDGAR) can be obtained from the Commission's Internet web site
located at www.sec.gov. The Common Stock of the Company is traded on the Nasdaq
National Market (Symbol: WCII), and such reports, proxy statements and other
information concerning the Company also can be inspected at the offices of the
Nasdaq National Market, 1735 K Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006.
 
    The Company has filed with the Commission a Registration Statement under the
Securities Act with respect to the securities offered by this Prospectus. As
permitted by the rules and regulations of the Commission, this Prospectus does
not contain all of the information set forth in the Registration Statement. For
further information about the Company and the securities offered hereby,
reference is made to the Registration Statement and to the financial statements,
exhibits and schedules filed therewith. The statements contained in this
Prospectus about the contents of any contract or other document referred to are
not necessarily complete, and in each instance, reference is made to the copy of
such contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement, each such statement being qualified in all respects by such
reference. Copies of each such document may be obtained from the Commission at
its principal office in Washington, D.C. upon payment of the charges prescribed
by the Commission.
 
                                       86
<PAGE>
                         INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                        PAGE
                                                                                        ----
<S>                                                                                     <C>
WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES:
  Report of Independent Auditors.....................................................    F-2
  Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 1996 (unaudited), December 31, 1995 and
February 28, 1995....................................................................    F-3
  Consolidated Statements of Operations, Three Months Ended March 31, 1996 and 1995
    (unaudited), Ten Months Ended December 31, 1995 and 1994 (unaudited as to 1994),
and Years Ended February 28, 1995 and 1994,..........................................    F-4
  Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity, Ten Months Ended December 31,
    1995, and Years Ended February 28, 1995 and 1994.................................    F-5
  Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, Three Months Ended March 31, 1996 and 1995
    (unaudited), Ten Months Ended December 31, 1995, and Years Ended February 28,
1995 and 1994........................................................................    F-8
  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.........................................    F-9
 
THE MICROWAVE DIVISION OF LOCAL AREA TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.:
  Report of Independent Auditors.....................................................   F-33
  Balance Sheets as of March 31, 1996 (unaudited), December 31, 1995 and 1994........   F-34
  Statements of Operations, Three Months Ended March 31, 1996 and 1995 (unaudited)
and Years Ended December 31, 1995 and 1994...........................................   F-35
  Statements of Divisional (Deficit) Surplus, Three Months Ended March 31, 1996
(unaudited) and Years Ended December 31, 1995 and 1994...............................   F-36
  Statements of Cash Flows, Three Months Ended March 31, 1996 and 1995 (unaudited)
and Years Ended December 31, 1995 and 1994...........................................   F-37
  Notes to Financial Statements......................................................   F-38
 
AVANT-GARDE TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.:
  Report of Independent Auditors.....................................................   F-42
  Balance Sheet as of February 28, 1995..............................................   F-43
  Statements of Operations, Period March 1, 1995 to July 17, 1995 (unaudited) and
    Years Ended February 28, 1995 and 1994...........................................   F-44
  Statements of Cash Flows, Period March 1, 1995 to July 17, 1995 (unaudited) and
    Years Ended February 28, 1995 and 1994...........................................   F-45
  Notes to Financial Statements......................................................   F-46
 
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS:.....................   F-49
  Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of March 31, 1996......   F-50
  Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations, Three Months
Ended March 31, 1996.................................................................   F-51
  Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations, Ten Months
Ended December 31, 1995..............................................................   F-52
  Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements...........   F-53
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-1
<PAGE>
               REPORT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
 
Board of Directors
  WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
 
    We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of WinStar
Communications, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 1995 and February 28,
1995, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders'
equity, and cash flows for the ten months ended December 31, 1995 and the years
ended February 28, 1995 and 1994. These financial statements are the
responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
 
    We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatements. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
    In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly,
in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of WinStar
Communications, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 1995 and February 28,
1995, and the consolidated results of their operations and their consolidated
cash flows for the ten months ended December 31, 1995 and the years ended
February 28, 1995 and 1994, in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles.
 
GRANT THORNTON LLP
New York, New York
March 8, 1996
 
                                      F-2
<PAGE>
                 WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                          CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      MARCH 31,      DECEMBER 31,    FEBRUARY 28,
                                                         1996            1995            1995
                                                     ------------    ------------    ------------
                                                     (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                  <C>             <C>             <C>
 ASSETS
Current assets
  Cash and cash equivalents.......................   $176,130,544    $138,105,824    $  3,156,354
  Short term investments..........................     27,372,707      73,594,849         --
                                                     ------------    ------------    ------------
    Total cash, cash equivalents and short term
investments.......................................    203,503,251     211,700,673       3,156,354
  Investments in marketable equity securities.....      6,158,250       6,515,250         --
  Accounts receivable, net of allowance for
    doubtful accounts of $878,000, $800,000 and
$824,000..........................................      9,746,373       8,683,860       4,035,007
  Notes receivable................................        374,908         199,635         706,329
  Inventories.....................................      7,895,211       7,391,686       4,232,927
  Prepaid expenses and other current assets.......      2,819,192       3,568,448         983,380
                                                     ------------    ------------    ------------
      Total current assets........................    230,497,185     238,059,552      13,113,997
Property and equipment, net.......................     18,089,226      15,898,005       2,663,068
Notes receivable..................................      4,029,280       3,488,948       2,289,002
Investments and advances..........................        322,733         322,733       7,866,927
Licenses, net.....................................     12,443,408      12,556,281         --
Intangible assets, net............................      3,071,629       3,033,505       3,213,785
Deferred financing costs..........................     10,515,964      10,525,301         --
Other assets......................................      1,503,366       1,478,530         362,673
                                                     ------------    ------------    ------------
      Total assets................................   $280,472,791    $285,362,855    $ 29,509,452
                                                     ------------    ------------    ------------
                                                     ------------    ------------    ------------
  LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities
  Loans payable...................................   $  8,876,316    $  8,287,461    $    --
  Accounts payable and accrued expenses...........     11,169,254      13,513,369       5,732,039
  Capitalized lease obligations...................      1,437,852       1,355,255         332,239
                                                     ------------    ------------    ------------
      Total current liabilities...................     21,483,422      23,156,085       6,064,278
Senior notes payable..............................    159,194,067     153,971,508         --
Convertible notes payable.........................     79,597,033      76,985,754         --
Other notes payable...............................      3,436,314       3,416,288       4,410,753
Capitalized lease obligations.....................      5,809,745       6,081,299         754,525
                                                     ------------    ------------    ------------
      Total liabilities...........................    269,520,581     263,610,934      11,229,556
                                                     ------------    ------------    ------------
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity:
  Preferred stock.................................        688,900         688,900         732,691
  Common stock, $.01 par value; authorized
    75,000,000 shares, issued 29,740,306,
    29,707,792, and 20,146,934 shares; outstanding
    27,233,543, 27,201,029, and 20,146,934
shares............................................        297,404         297,079         201,470
  Additional paid-in capital......................    103,989,159     103,836,510      42,583,679
  Accumulated deficit.............................    (52,009,885)    (41,311,075)    (25,237,944)
                                                     ------------    ------------    ------------
                                                       52,965,578      63,511,414      18,279,896
Less: Treasury stock..............................    (39,677,743)    (39,677,743)        --
     Deferred compensation........................       (996,875)     (1,100,000)        --
     Unrealized loss on investments in marketable
      equity securities...........................     (1,338,750)       (981,750)        --
                                                     ------------    ------------    ------------
      Total stockholders' equity..................     10,952,210      21,751,921      18,279,896
                                                     ------------    ------------    ------------
      Total liabilities and stockholders'
equity............................................   $280,472,791    $285,362,855    $ 29,509,452
                                                     ------------    ------------    ------------
                                                     ------------    ------------    ------------
</TABLE>
 
                 See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
                                      F-3
<PAGE>
                 WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                       FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED    FOR THE TEN MONTHS ENDED       FOR THE YEARS ENDED
                                               MARCH 31,                   DECEMBER 31,                FEBRUARY 28,
                                       --------------------------   --------------------------   -------------------------
                                              (UNAUDITED)                          (UNAUDITED)
                                           1996          1995           1995          1994          1995          1994
                                       ------------   -----------   ------------   -----------   -----------   -----------
<S>                                    <C>            <C>           <C>            <C>           <C>           <C>
Net sales............................  $ 14,509,042   $ 6,157,949   $ 29,771,472   $22,018,106   $25,564,760   $15,625,019
Cost of sales........................     8,573,271     4,598,541     19,546,351    14,761,290    17,702,570    10,712,090
                                       ------------   -----------   ------------   -----------   -----------   -----------
 Gross profit........................     5,935,771     1,559,408     10,225,121     7,256,816     7,862,190     4,912,929
Selling, general and administrative
expenses.............................    10,191,903     3,769,658     19,266,466     9,974,189    12,688,859     6,887,913
Restructuring expense................       --            --             --            607,609       607,609       --
Depreciation.........................       361,510        58,994        770,284       137,055       177,158        92,537
                                       ------------   -----------   ------------   -----------   -----------   -----------
Operating loss.......................    (4,617,642)   (2,269,244)    (9,811,629)   (3,462,037)   (5,611,436)   (2,067,521)
Other (income) expense
 Interest expense....................     8,814,547       183,999      7,630,079       504,857       637,028       744,371
 Interest income.....................    (3,056,656)     (125,107)    (2,889,813)     (297,051)     (384,572)     (109,320)
 Amortization of intangibles.........       194,594        62,734        439,888       181,972       225,176       239,993
 Equity in loss of Avant-Garde.......       --            536,595        865,676       766,543     1,108,962       --
 Loss on discontinuation of product
lines................................       --            --             --            --            --            292,376
 Performance stock option expense....       --            --             --            --            --          5,316,667
 Other...............................       --            --             --            --             32,165      (161,986)
                                       ------------   -----------   ------------   -----------   -----------   -----------
Net loss before extraordinary item
 and income taxes....................   (10,570,127)   (2,927,465)   (15,857,459)   (4,618,358)   (7,230,195)   (8,389,622)
Extraordinary item:
 Gain from extinguishment of debt....       --            --             --            --            --            194,154
                                       ------------   -----------   ------------   -----------   -----------   -----------
Net loss before income taxes.........   (10,570,127)   (2,927,465)   (15,857,459)   (4,618,358)   (7,230,195)   (8,195,468)
Income taxes.........................       128,683       --             --            --            --            --
                                       ------------   -----------   ------------   -----------   -----------   -----------
 Net loss............................  $(10,698,810)  $(2,927,465)  $(15,857,459)  $(4,618,358)  $(7,230,195)  $(8,195,468)
                                       ------------   -----------   ------------   -----------   -----------   -----------
                                       ------------   -----------   ------------   -----------   -----------   -----------
Net loss per share:
 Before extraordinary item...........  $      (0.39)  $     (0.15)  $      (0.70)  $     (0.28)  $     (0.42)  $     (1.09)
 Extraordinary item..................       --            --             --            --            --               0.03
                                       ------------   -----------   ------------   -----------   -----------   -----------
 Net loss............................  $      (0.39)  $     (0.15)  $      (0.70)  $     (0.28)  $     (0.42)  $     (1.06)
                                       ------------   -----------   ------------   -----------   -----------   -----------
                                       ------------   -----------   ------------   -----------   -----------   -----------
 Weighted average shares
outstanding..........................    27,214,281    19,934,710     22,769,770    16,609,305    17,122,318     7,718,988
                                       ------------   -----------   ------------   -----------   -----------   -----------
                                       ------------   -----------   ------------   -----------   -----------   -----------
</TABLE>
 
                 See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
                                      F-4
<PAGE>
                 WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
                   FOR THE TEN MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                    TREASURY
                                                                                                                     STOCK
                             PREFERRED STOCK                                                                       ----------
                ------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                     COMMON
                        B                      E                 COMMON STOCK         ADDITIONAL                     STOCK
                ------------------   ---------------------   ---------------------     PAID-IN      ACCUMULATED    ----------
                SHARES     AMOUNT     SHARES      AMOUNT       SHARES      AMOUNT      CAPITAL        DEFICIT        SHARES
                -------   --------   --------   ----------   ----------   --------   ------------   ------------   ----------
<S>             <C>       <C>        <C>        <C>          <C>          <C>        <C>            <C>            <C>
Balances at
 February 28,
1995..........   732.69   $732,691       0.00   $   --       20,146,934   $201,470   $ 42,583,679   $(25,237,944)      --
Issuances of
 common stock
 for cash
 (exercise of
 options and
otherwise)....                                                3,172,427     31,724      5,552,392
Issuance of
 common stock
 for the
 acquisition
 of
Avant-Garde...                                                1,275,000     12,750      5,087,250
Issuance of
 Preferred
Stock E.......                        932,040    6,000,008                               (360,000)
Warrants and
 common stock
 equivalents
 issued in
 connection
 with
 convertible
notes.........                                                                            804,500
Common stock
 equivalents
 issued in
 connection
 with lease
financing.....                                                                            176,550
Conversion of
preferred
stock.........  (146.16)  (146,160)  (932,040)  (6,000,008)     682,952      6,830      6,139,338
Preferred
 stock
dividends.....   102.37    102,369                                                                      (215,672)
Issuance of
 restricted
stock to
employee......                                                  150,000      1,500      1,236,000
Private
 Exchange
transaction...                                                3,741,224     37,412     39,640,331                  (2,506,763)
Issuance of
 common stock
 in connection
 with the
 converson of
 convertible
 notes
payable.......                                                  539,255      5,393      3,408,928
Amortization
 of deferred
 compensation
expense.......
Change in
 market value
 of
 investments
 in marketable
equity
securities....
Other.........                                                                           (432,458)
Net loss......                                                                                       (15,857,459)
                -------   --------   --------   ----------   ----------   --------   ------------   ------------   ----------
Balances at
 December 31,
1995..........   688.90   $688,900       0.00   $   --       29,707,792   $297,079   $103,836,510   $(41,311,075)  (2,506,763)
                -------   --------   --------   ----------   ----------   --------   ------------   ------------   ----------
                -------   --------   --------   ----------   ----------   --------   ------------   ------------   ----------
 
<CAPTION>
 
                                                                       UNREALIZED LOSS
                                 PREFERRED STOCK B                     ON INVESTMENTS         TOTAL
                               ---------------------     DEFERRED       IN MARKETABLE     STOCKHOLDERS'
                   AMOUNT      SHARES      AMOUNT      COMPENSATION   EQUITY SECURITIES      EQUITY
                ------------   -------   -----------   ------------   -----------------   -------------
<S>             <C>            <C>       <C>           <C>            <C>                 <C>
Balances at
 February 28,
1995..........  $    --          --      $   --        $    --            $--             $  18,279,896
Issuances of
 common stock
 for cash
 (exercise of
 options and
otherwise)....                                                                                5,584,116
Issuance of
 common stock
 for the
 acquisition
 of
Avant-Garde...                                                                                5,100,000
Issuance of
 Preferred
Stock E.......                                                                                5,640,008
Warrants and
 common stock
 equivalents
 issued in
 connection
 with
 convertible
notes.........                                                                                  804,500
Common stock
 equivalents
 issued in
 connection
 with lease
financing.....                                                                                  176,550
Conversion of
preferred
stock.........                                                                                 --
Preferred
 stock
dividends.....                                                                                 (113,303)
Issuance of
 restricted
stock to
employee......                                           (1,237,500)                           --
Private
 Exchange
transaction...   (36,348,065)  (688.90)   (3,329,678)                                          --
Issuance of
 common stock
 in connection
 with the
 converson of
 convertible
 notes
payable.......                                                                                3,414,321
Amortization
 of deferred
 compensation
expense.......                                              137,500                             137,500
Change in
 market value
 of
 investments
 in marketable
equity
securities....                                                             (981,750)           (981,750)
Other.........                                                                                 (432,458)
Net loss......                                                                              (15,857,459)
                ------------   -------   -----------   ------------         -------       -------------
Balances at
 December 31,
1995..........  $(36,348,065)  (688.90)  $(3,329,678)  $ (1,100,000)      $(981,750)      $  21,751,921
                ------------   -------   -----------   ------------         -------       -------------
                ------------   -------   -----------   ------------         -------       -------------
</TABLE>
 
                 See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

                                      F-5
<PAGE>
                 WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
                      FOR THE YEAR ENDED FEBRUARY 28, 1995
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    PREFERRED STOCK
                           ------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     B                      C                     D                 COMMON STOCK        ADDITIONAL
                           ---------------------   -------------------   --------------------   ---------------------     PAID-IN
                            SHARES      AMOUNT     SHARES     AMOUNT      SHARES     AMOUNT       SHARES      AMOUNT      CAPITAL
                           --------   ----------   -------   ---------   --------   ---------   ----------   --------   -----------
<S>                        <C>        <C>          <C>       <C>         <C>        <C>         <C>          <C>        <C>
Balances at February 28,
1994.....................  1,203.79   $1,203,791    173.00   $ 173,000    225,000   $ 900,000    9,842,670   $ 98,427   $20,289,677
Exercise of Series A and
Series B Warrants........                                                                        3,291,417     32,914    10,657,038
Exercise of Series D and
Series E Warrants........                                                                        2,814,142     28,141     2,081,137
Conversion of Preferred
 Stock C.................                          (173.00)   (173,000)                             82,381        824       172,176
Conversion of Preferred
 Stock B.................   (533.00)    (533,000)                                                  177,665      1,777       531,223
Conversion of Preferred
 Stock D.................                                                (225,000)   (900,000)     225,000      2,250       897,750
Issuances of common stock
 for cash (exercise of
 options and
otherwise)...............                                                                        3,685,087     36,852     7,767,569
Issuance of Prefered B
 stock dividend..........     61.90       61,900
Issuance of common stock
 for the acquisition of
NFF, Inc.................                                                                           28,572        285       199,715
Other....................                                                                                                   (12,606)
Net loss.................
                           --------   ----------   -------   ---------   --------   ---------   ----------   --------   -----------
Balances at February 28,
1995.....................    732.69   $  732,691     --      $  --          --      $  --       20,146,934   $201,470   $42,583,679
                           --------   ----------   -------   ---------   --------   ---------   ----------   --------   -----------
                           --------   ----------   -------   ---------   --------   ---------   ----------   --------   -----------
 
<CAPTION>
 
                                              TOTAL
                           ACCUMULATED    STOCKHOLDERS'
                             DEFICIT         EQUITY
                           ------------   -------------
<S>                        <C>            <C>
Balances at February 28,
1994.....................  $(17,945,849)   $  4,719,046
Exercise of Series A and
Series B Warrants........                    10,689,952
Exercise of Series D and
Series E Warrants........                     2,109,278
Conversion of Preferred
 Stock C.................                      --
Conversion of Preferred
 Stock B.................                      --
Conversion of Preferred
 Stock D.................                      --
Issuances of common stock
 for cash (exercise of
 options and
otherwise)...............                     7,804,421
Issuance of Prefered B
 stock dividend..........       (61,900)       --
Issuance of common stock
 for the acquisition of
NFF, Inc.................                       200,000
Other....................                       (12,606)
Net loss.................    (7,230,195)     (7,230,195)
                           ------------   -------------
Balances at February 28,
1995.....................  $(25,237,944)   $ 18,279,896
                           ------------   -------------
                           ------------   -------------
</TABLE>
 
                 See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

                                      F-6

<PAGE>
                 WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
                      FOR THE YEAR ENDED FEBRUARY 28, 1994
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       PREFERRED STOCK
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------
                                            B                   C                  D             COMMON STOCK     ADDITIONAL
                                  ---------------------  ----------------  -----------------  ------------------    PAID-IN
                                   SHARES      AMOUNT    SHARES   AMOUNT   SHARES    AMOUNT    SHARES    AMOUNT     CAPITAL
                                  ---------  ----------  ------  --------  -------  --------  ---------  -------  -----------
<S>                               <C>        <C>         <C>     <C>       <C>      <C>       <C>        <C>      <C>
Balances at February 28, 1993....  1,135.66  $1,135,662  222.60  $222,600        0  $  --     6,539,475  $65,394  $ 9,986,348
Issuances of common stock for
cash.............................                                                             1,687,436   16,875    3,197,684
Issuance of common stock for
 acquisition of WGN, Inc.........                                                             1,271,351   12,714    1,457,286
Issuance of common stock for
 acquisition of Inne
Dispensibles, Inc................                                                                39,506      395       99,605
Issuance of Preferred Stock D for
acquisition of Avant-Garde.......                                          225,000   900,000
Conversion of Preferred Stock
C................................                        (50.00)  (50,000)                       23,810      238       49,762
Conversion of Series D
Warrants.........................                                                               205,000    2,050      135,300
Issuance of common stock for
 services rendered...............                                                                63,406      634       48,096
Issuance of common stock to
retire debt......................                                                                50,000      500       56,531
Issuance of Preferred B stock
dividend.........................     68.13      68,129
Issuance of Preferred C stock
dividends........................                                                                10,789      108       19,272
Purchase and retirement of
 treasury stock..................                                                               (48,103)    (481)     (76,474)
Performance stock options........                                                                                   5,316,667
Net loss.........................
Adjustments......................                          0.40       400                                                (400)
                                  ---------  ----------  ------  --------  -------  --------  ---------  -------  -----------
Balances at February 28, 1994....  1,203.79  $1,203,791  173.00  $173,000  225,000  $900,000  9,842,670  $98,427  $20,289,677
                                  ---------  ----------  ------  --------  -------  --------  ---------  -------  -----------
                                  ---------  ----------  ------  --------  -------  --------  ---------  -------  -----------
 
<CAPTION>
 
                                                      TOTAL
                                   ACCUMULATED    STOCKHOLDERS'
                                     DEFICIT         EQUITY
                                   ------------   -------------
<S>                               <C>             <C>
Balances at February 28, 1993....  $ (9,662,872)   $  1,747,132
Issuances of common stock for
cash.............................                     3,214,559
Issuance of common stock for
 acquisition of WGN, Inc.........                     1,470,000
Issuance of common stock for
 acquisition of Inne
Dispensibles, Inc................                       100,000
Issuance of Preferred Stock D for
acquisition of Avant-Garde.......                       900,000
Conversion of Preferred Stock
C................................                      --
Conversion of Series D
Warrants.........................                       137,350
Issuance of common stock for
 services rendered...............                        48,730
Issuance of common stock to
retire debt......................                        57,031
Issuance of Preferred B stock
dividend.........................       (68,129)       --
Issuance of Preferred C stock
dividends........................       (19,380)       --
Purchase and retirement of
 treasury stock..................                       (76,955)
Performance stock options........                     5,316,667
Net loss.........................    (8,195,468)     (8,195,468)
Adjustments......................                      --
                                   ------------   -------------
Balances at February 28, 1994....  $(17,945,849)   $  4,719,046
                                   ------------   -------------
                                   ------------   -------------
</TABLE>
 
                 See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

                                      F-7
<PAGE>
                 WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC, AND SUBSIDIARIES
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             THREE MONTHS
                                                                ENDED               TEN MONTHS           YEAR ENDED
                                                              MARCH 31,               ENDED             FEBRUARY 28,
                                                      --------------------------   DECEMBER 31,   -------------------------
                                                          1996          1995           1995          1995          1994
                                                      ------------   -----------   ------------   -----------   -----------
                                                             (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                   <C>            <C>           <C>            <C>           <C>
Cash flows from operating activities, net of the
 effects of the purchases of Avant-Garde in the ten
 months ended December 31, 1995, and of WGN in the
 year ended February 28, 1994
   Net loss.........................................  $(10,698,810)  $(2,927,465)  $(15,857,459)  $(7,230,195)  $(8,195,468)
   Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash
    used in operating activities:
      Depreciation and amortization.................       846,205       131,271        860,103       432,502       223,088
      Amortization of licenses and intangibles......       192,413        62,985        439,888       225,176       239,993
      Provision for doubtful accounts...............       380,758       204,384        887,425       893,857       343,694
      Equity in unconsolidated results of
Avant-Garde.........................................       --            520,560        865,676     1,108,962       --
      Non cash interest expense.....................     7,853,864       --           6,151,090       --            --
      Extraordinary gain from extinguishment of
debt................................................       --            --             --            --           (194,154)
      Performance stock option expense..............       --            --             --            --          5,316,667
      Non cash loss on discontinuation of product
lines...............................................       --            --             --            --            292,376
      Other.........................................       --             32,952        177,735        78,374      (155,086)
      (Increase) decrease in operating assets:
         Accounts receivable........................    (1,443,271)    1,542,678     (5,526,618)   (1,409,862)   (1,438,263)
         Inventories................................      (503,525)   (1,116,507)    (3,158,759)   (1,729,395)     (337,781)
         Prepaid expenses and other current
assets..............................................       749,256       306,392     (2,478,501)     (440,188)     (249,496)
         Other assets...............................      (116,667)        4,552       (268,650)      (90,637)      (12,049)
      (Decrease) increase in accounts payable and
accrued expenses....................................    (2,146,939)      396,591      6,306,466     1,635,189     1,531,892
                                                      ------------   -----------   ------------   -----------   -----------
Net cash used in operating activities...............    (4,886,716)     (841,607)   (11,601,604)   (6,526,217)   (2,634,587)
                                                      ------------   -----------   ------------   -----------   -----------
Cash flows from investing activities:
   Investments in and advances to Avant-Garde.......       --         (2,213,961)    (5,703,608)   (7,128,947)     (632,000)
   Acquisitions.....................................       --            --             --           (678,566)       27,679
   Decrease (increase) in short-term investments,
net.................................................    46,222,142       --         (73,593,849)      --            --
   Increase in other investments....................       --            --          (7,497,000)      --            --
   Collections of notes receivable..................        34,331       180,000      1,003,859       360,000       600,000
   Increase in notes receivable.....................      (749,936)     (806,158)    (1,370,974)   (2,234,636)      --
   Purchase of property and equipment, net..........    (2,576,983)     (541,325)    (8,607,794)   (1,055,167)     (227,787)
   Cash proceeds from sale of skiwear brands........       --            --             --            --            276,695
   License acquisition costs........................      (118,729)      --            (129,413)      --            --
   Other............................................       --            294,736         (3,251)      (50,140)      --
                                                      ------------   -----------   ------------   -----------   -----------
Net cash provided by (used in) investing
activities..........................................    42,810,825    (3,086,708)   (95,902,030)  (10,787,456)       44,587
                                                      ------------   -----------   ------------   -----------   -----------
Cash flows from financing activities:
   Proceeds from (repayment of) loans payable.......       588,855    (1,549,673)     3,849,233     1,695,447    (1,772,550)
   Proceeds from notes payable......................       --            --         221,946,330       --          1,966,498
   Repayment of notes payable.......................       --            --             --           (431,793)     (300,625)
   Payment of dividends.............................       --            --            (113,303)      --            --
   Debt financing costs.............................      (303,744)      --            (784,791)     (329,483)      --
   Proceeds from equipment lease financing..........       --            --           6,997,600       --            --
   Proceeds of cash collateral......................       --            --             --            --            100,000
   Payment of capital lease obligations.............      (308,572)      (60,779)      (700,828)     (250,871)     (115,249)
   Net proceeds from equity transactions............       124,072     2,533,832     11,258,863    19,067,386     2,800,739
                                                      ------------   -----------   ------------   -----------   -----------
Net cash provided by financing activities...........       100,611       923,380    242,453,104    19,750,686     2,678,813
                                                      ------------   -----------   ------------   -----------   -----------
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash
equivalents.........................................    38,024,720    (3,004,935)   134,949,470     2,437,013        88,813
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period....   138,105,824     5,287,188      3,156,354       719,341       630,528
                                                      ------------   -----------   ------------   -----------   -----------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period..........   176,130,544     2,282,253    138,105,824     3,156,354       719,341
Short-term investments at end of period.............    27,372,707       --          73,594,849       --            --
                                                      ------------   -----------   ------------   -----------   -----------
Cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments
at end of period....................................  $203,503,251   $ 2,282,253   $211,700,673   $ 3,156,354   $   719,341
                                                      ------------   -----------   ------------   -----------   -----------
                                                      ------------   -----------   ------------   -----------   -----------
</TABLE>
 
                 See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
                                      F-8
<PAGE>
                 WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 (INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1996 AND 1995 IS
                                   UNAUDITED)
 
NOTE 1--SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
CONSOLIDATION:
 
    The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of WinStar
Communications, Inc. ("WCI") and its wholly owned subsidiaries, WinStar
Wireless, Inc. ("WWI"); WinStar Wireless Fiber Corp. ("WWFC"); WinStar Gateway
Network, Inc. (formerly Communications Gateway Network, Inc., "WGN"); WinStar
Global Products, Inc. (formerly Beauty Labs, Inc., "WGP"); WinStar New Media
Company, Inc. ("WNM"); and Non Fiction Films, Inc. ("NFF") (collectively
referred to as the "Company"). All material intercompany transactions and
accounts have been eliminated in consolidation.
 
NATURE OF BUSINESS:
 
    The Company provides local and long distance telecommunications services in
the United States. The Company offers its Wireless FiberSM local
telecommunications services on a point-to-point basis in many major metropolitan
areas via its digital wireless capacity in the 38.6 to 40 gigahertz portion of
the radio spectrum, where it has licenses granted by the Federal Communications
Commission("FCC"). The Company's Wireless FiberSM services deliver high quality
voice and data transmissions which meet or exceed telephone industry standards
and provide transmission quality equivalent to that produced by fiber
optic-based facilities. The Company also offers resale- and facilities-based
long distance services and has authority in several states to provide local
switched telecommunications services. As regulatory and competitive conditions
permit, the Company intends to offer its customers integrated local and long
distance telecommunications services, thereby participating in both the $90
billion local exchange market and the $60 billion long distance market in the
United States. As a complement to its telecommunications operations, the Company
acquires rights to distribute and otherwise control certain information and
entertainment content and services. The Company also markets consumer products
nationwide through a subsidiary acquired prior to the Company's entry into the
telecommunications industry. The Company's telecommunications services are
subject to varying degrees of federal, state and local regulation.
 
FISCAL YEAR:
 
    The Company changed its fiscal year end from February 28 to December 31,
effective January 1, 1996. Accordingly, these financial statements present a
transition period of the ten months ended December 31, 1995.
 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS:
 
    The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an
original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash
equivalents consist of money market fund investments, short-term certificates of
deposit, and commercial paper. Exclusive of cash in banks, cash equivalents were
approximately $137,370,000 at December 31, 1995, and approximate fair value.
 
                                      F-9
<PAGE>
                 WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 1--SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES--(CONTINUED)
SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS:
 
    Short term investments are widely diversified and principally consist of
certificates of deposit and money market deposits, U.S. government or government
agency securities, commercial paper rated "A-1/P-1" or higher, and municipal
securities rated "A" or higher with an original maturity of greater than three
months and less than six months. Short term investments are considered
held-to-maturity and are stated at amortized cost which approximates fair value.
As of December 31, 1995, cash, cash equivalents and short term investments
totaled $211,700,673.
 
INVENTORIES:
 
    Inventories in the merchandising division are valued at the lower of cost or
market, principally using the first-in, first-out method.
 
    Film inventories include direct and indirect production costs, which are
amortized to expense in the proportion that revenue recognized during the year
for each film bears to the estimated total revenue to be received from all
sources under the individual film forecast method. Management's estimate of
forecasted revenues exceeds the unamortized costs on an individual program
basis. Such forecasted revenue is subject to revision in future periods if
warranted by changing market conditions.
 
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT:
 
    Property and equipment is stated at cost. Depreciation and amortization are
computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the
related assets.
 
INTANGIBLE ASSETS:
 
    Intangible assets are being amortized by the straight-line method over their
estimated useful lives.
 
    The Company's policy is to measure goodwill impairment by considering a
number of factors as of each balance sheet date including: (i) current operating
results of the applicable business, (ii) projected future operating results of
the applicable business, (iii) the occurrence of any significant regulatory
changes which may have an impact on the continuity of the business, and (iv) any
other material factors that affect the continuity of the applicable business.
The amortization period for goodwill is determined on a case-by-case basis for
each acquisition from which goodwill arises based on a review of the nature of
the business acquired as well as the factors cited above (Note 14).
 
INCOME TAXES:
 
    The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes" ("SFAS
109"). Pursuant to SFAS 109, deferred income taxes are recognized for temporary
differences between financial statement and income tax bases of assets and
liabilities and loss carryforwards and tax credit carryforwards for which income
tax benefits are expected to be realized in future years. A valuation allowance
is to be established to reduce deferred tax assets if it is more likely than not
that all, or some portion, of such deferred tax assets will not be realized. The
effect on deferred taxes of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the
period that includes the enactment date.
 
                                      F-10
<PAGE>
                 WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 1--SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES--(CONTINUED)
REVENUE RECOGNITION:
 
    In the telecommunications division, sales are recorded upon placing of calls
or rendering of other related services. In the merchandising division, sales are
recorded upon shipment of merchandise and are presented in the accompanying
consolidated statement of operations net of merchandise returns. The Company
provides for future estimated returns of merchandise at the time of sale.
Revenues from film productions are recognized when a program is accepted by the
licensee and is available for broadcast.
 
NET LOSS PER COMMON SHARE:
 
    Net loss per common share is calculated by dividing the net loss by the
weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding. Stock options and
warrants have not been included in the calculation as their inclusion would be
antidilutive.
 
CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK:
 
    Financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to concentration
of credit risk consist principally of trade receivables. Concentration of credit
risk with respect to these receivables is generally diversified due to the large
number of entities comprising the Company's customer base and their dispersion
across geographic areas. The Company routinely addresses the financial strength
of its customers and, as a consequence, believes that its receivable credit risk
exposure is limited.
 
FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS:
 
    The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, short term investments,
accounts and notes receivable, and accounts payable and accrued expenses
approximate fair value, principally because of the short maturity of these
items. Marketable equity securities are stated at quoted market value.
 
    The carrying amounts of the loans payable to financial institutions issued
pursuant to the Company's subsidiaries' asset-based lending agreements
approximate fair value because the interest rates on these investments change
with market interest rates and the carrying amounts of the senior notes payable,
convertible notes payable and capitalized lease obligations approximate fair
value since the obligations were entered into principally in September and
October, 1995.
 
USE OF ESTIMATES IN PREPARING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS:
 
    In preparing financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles, management is required to make estimates and assumptions
that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of
contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and
revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ
from those estimates.
 
UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS:
 
    The unaudited consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 1996 and the
unaudited consolidated statements of operations and statements of cash flows for
the three months ended March 31, 1996 and 1995 are condensed financial
statements in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities
 
                                      F-11
<PAGE>
                 WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 1--SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES--(CONTINUED)
and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, they omit certain information included in
complete financial statements and should be read in connection with the
information for the ten months ended December 31, 1995 and the years ended
February 28, 1995 and 1994. In the opinion of the Company, the accompanying
unaudited consolidated financial statements include all adjustments (consisting
only of normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the financial
position as of March 31, 1996 and results of operations and the cash flows for
the three months ended March 31, 1996 and 1995.
 
NOTE 2--ACQUISITION OF AVANT-GARDE
 
    Avant-Garde Telecommunications, Inc. ("Avant-Garde") was a privately held
company which held 30 millimeter wave radio licenses granted by the FCC in
September 1993. These licenses cover many of the largest metropolitan areas in
the United States, as well as other markets, and allow the licensee to deliver
voice, data and video via the 38 GHz band. Avant-Garde was required to begin the
provision of services authorized under such licenses by March 15, 1995, and on
that date, Avant-Garde filed a certificate of completion for each license with
the FCC.
 
    Through July 17, 1995, the Company owned 49% of Avant-Garde, which it
acquired for $4,900,000, and accounted for its investment in Avant-Garde under
the equity method. For the periods from March 1, 1995 to July 17, 1995, and the
year ended February 28, 1995, Avant-Garde had net losses of approximately
$1,778,000 and $2,302,000 respectively.
 
    In April 1995, the Company entered into a merger agreement with the holders
of the remaining 51% of Avant-Garde, subject to FCC approval. In June 1995, the
FCC granted Avant-Garde permission to transfer control of its licenses to the
Company. On July 17, 1995, pursuant to the terms of the merger agreement, the
Company exchanged 1,275,000 restricted shares of its common stock valued at
$5,100,000 for the 51% of Avant-Garde that it did not already own. Avant-Garde
was then merged into WinStar Wireless Fiber Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of
the Company which is the sole surviving corporation.
 
    The acquisition of Avant-Garde has been treated as a "purchase" for purposes
of generally accepted accounting principles, with the purchase allocated based
on fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, including
approximately $12,600,000 allocated to the licenses acquired. The amount
allocated to licenses is being amortized over 40 years in accordance with
industry practice. The accounts of Avant-Garde have been consolidated into the
Company's financial statements as of the date of the acquisition.
 
    Unaudited pro-forma results of operations, which reflect the merger of
Avant-Garde into the Company as if the merger occurred as of the beginning of
each period, are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                        FOR THE
                                                         THREE        FOR THE TEN     FOR THE TWELVE
                                                      MONTHS ENDED    MONTHS ENDED     MONTHS ENDED
                                                       MARCH 31,      DECEMBER 31,     FEBRUARY 28,
                                                          1995            1995             1995
                                                      ------------    ------------    --------------
<S>                                                   <C>             <C>             <C>
Net sales..........................................   $  6,161,027    $ 29,744,251     $ 25,572,218
Net loss...........................................     (3,488,205)    (16,769,516)      (8,422,780)
Net loss per share.................................   $      (0.16)   $      (0.72)    $      (0.46)
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-12
<PAGE>
                 WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 3--WGN ACQUISITION
 
    On March 10, 1993, the Company completed the exercise of an option to
purchase an aggregate of 10,408 (51%) shares of the common stock of WGN for
approximately $1,045,000, paid in cash and through the assumption of notes. WGN
provides long-distance telephone service to businesses and residences. The
option was exercised by the Company in portions, commencing in December 1992.
The exercise of the option was financed primarily by a private placement of
units which was also completed on March 10, 1993. The transaction was treated as
a "purchase" for purposes of generally accepted accounting principles, with the
purchase price allocated based on the fair value of the Company's proportionate
ownership of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The excess of the
purchase price over the fair value of the net assets acquired, aggregating
approximately $828,000, has been recorded as goodwill.
 
    The assets purchased and liabilities assumed have been valued as follows:
 
                                                                   MARCH 10,
                                                                     1993
                                                                  ACQUISITION
                                                                  -----------
Current assets:
Cash...........................................................   $   451,490
Accounts receivable............................................       148,834
Other current assets...........................................         5,334
                                                                  -----------
Total current assets...........................................       605,658
 
Property and equipment.........................................       733,675
Intangible assets..............................................        18,386
Other assets...................................................         4,754
                                                                  -----------
Total assets...................................................     1,362,473
                                                                  -----------
Current liabilities:
Capitalized lease obligations..................................        97,517
Accounts payable and accrued expenses..........................       310,388
                                                                  -----------
Total current liabilities......................................       407,905
 
Capitalized lease obligations..................................       528,674
Minority interest..............................................       208,688
                                                                  -----------
Total liabilities..............................................     1,145,267
                                                                  -----------
Net assets at acquisition date.................................   $   217,206
                                                                  -----------
                                                                  -----------

    Through a stock exchange offer, the Company acquired the remaining 49%
interest in WGN on August 6, 1993, and paid approximately $1,470,000 through an
exchange of 127.135 shares of the Company's common stock for each WGN share
outstanding. The exchange ratio was based on the closing price of the Company's
common stock on July 16, 1993 of $1 5/32, as reported by NASDAQ. The purchase
price was determined as a multiple of revenues. This transaction impacted the
Company's financial statements as follows: (1) the elimination of the minority
interest of WGN of $53,602, which was originally $208,688 on March 10, 1993, and
was subsequently reduced by $155,086, the 49% minority interest in WGN's losses
during the period March 10, 1993 through August 6, 1993, (2) the recording of
the unallocated purchase price as goodwill aggregating $1,468,037, (3) the
increase in equity of $1,470,000 resulting from the issuance of 1,271,351 shares
of the Company's common stock, and (4) the increase in accounts payable of
$51,639 for fees incurred in connection with this transaction.
 
                                      F-13
<PAGE>
                 WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 3--WGN ACQUISITION--(CONTINUED)
    Certain former stockholders of WGN (the "Affiliated Shareholders") were and
are affiliated with WCI. At the formation of WGN in May 1992, the Affiliated
Shareholders individually invested a combined total of approximately $82,000 in
a WGN private placement in which they received a combination of promissory notes
and an approximate 14% equity interest. One Affiliated Shareholder also received
a 5% equity interest in return for services rendered in connection with the
formation of WGN. As a result of the aforementioned acquisitions and subsequent
exchange of notes and stock of WGN for securities of the Company, the Affiliated
Shareholders received shares of the Company's common stock with an aggregate
market value of approximately $283,000 and approximately $82,000 in notes from
the aforementioned March 1993 private placement, all on the same basis as the
other WGN shareholders.
 
    Unaudited pro forma results of operations, which reflect the combined
operations of the Company and WGN as if the merger occurred as of the beginning
of fiscal 1994, are as follows:
 
                                                             FOR THE YEAR ENDED
                                                             FEBRUARY 28, 1994
                                                             ------------------
Net sales.................................................      $ 15,651,885
Net loss before extraordinary item........................        (8,622,407)
Net loss per share before extraordinary item..............             (1.04)

NOTE 4--NFF ACQUISITION

    On July 8, 1994, WinStar NFF Inc. ("WNFF"), a newly incorporated and
wholly-owned subsidiary of WCI, entered into an agreement with Non Fiction
Films, Inc. ("NFF") pursuant to which WNFF purchased 95 shares, or 19%, of the
common stock of NFF for a purchase price of $200,000 in cash. NFF is a producer
of non-fiction programming for cable television and for other media.
Additionally, the principal of NFF granted to WNFF an option to purchase all of
the shares of NFF owned by such principal, thereby making NFF a wholly-owned
subsidiary of WNFF. Effective December 1, 1994, WNFF exercised its option and
purchased the remaining 81% of NFF for 28,572 shares of WCI common stock valued
at $200,000. NFF was merged into WNFF, and the surviving corporation was renamed
Non Fiction Films, Inc. The transaction was treated as a "purchase" for purposes
of generally accepted accounting principles, with the purchase price allocated
based on the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The
total purchase price was $476,000 and the excess of the purchase price over the
fair value of the net assets acquired, aggregating approximately $495,000 has
been recorded as goodwill.
 
    Unaudited pro forma results of operations, which reflect the combined
operations of the Company and NFF as if the merger occurred as of the beginning
of the year ended February 28, 1995 are as follows:
 
                                                             FOR THE YEAR ENDED
                                                             FEBRUARY 28, 1995
                                                             ------------------
Net sales.................................................      $ 26,099,553
Net loss..................................................        (7,470,205)
Net loss per share........................................              (.44)
 
    No pro forma results of operations are shown for the year ended February 28,
1994, as NFF only commenced operations in March 1994.
 
                                      F-14
<PAGE>
                 WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 5--PREFERRED STOCK E
 
    In April 1995, the Company completed a private placement of 932,040 shares
of Series E Convertible Preferred Stock ("Preferred Stock E") at a price of
$6.4375 per share for gross proceeds of $6,000,000. Preferred Stock E holders
were entitled to dividends at the rate of 9% per annum, payable quarterly
beginning on June 30, 1995. During the ten month period ended December 31, 1995,
the entire 932,040 shares of Preferred Stock E were converted into 634,228
shares of common stock.
 
NOTE 6--RESTRUCTURING
 
    During the year ended February 28, 1995, the Company's WGN subsidiary
restructured its operations by reducing its clerical and middle management
staff, replacing senior management personnel, and discontinuing certain
unprofitable programs initiated by previous management. In connection with this
restructuring, the Company recorded an expense of approximately $608,000 during
the year ended February 28, 1995, including $235,000 in benefits related to the
termination of 19 employees. Of the amount recorded at February 28, 1995,
$349,000 related to future cash outflows, with the balance representing charges
related to amounts paid or to write-off of assets purchased prior to February
28, 1995. During the ten month period ended December 31, 1995, the Company
incurred approximately $111,000 of the expected cash outflows, leaving a
remaining liability balance of approximately $238,000 at December 31, 1995 and
March 31, 1996.
 
NOTE 7--INVESTMENTS IN MARKETABLE EQUITY SECURITIES
 
    On December 13, 1995, the Company purchased 714,000 shares of a publicly
traded interactive media and telecommunications services company at $10.50 per
share, for a total cash consideration of $7,497,000. At December 31, 1995, the
investment has been reflected at the market value of the shares held by the
Company, $6,515,250. In accordance with the treatment of the investment as an
available for sale security under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
No. 115, "Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities", the
$981,750 difference between the market value of the investment at December 31,
1995, and the original purchase price has been reflected in unrealized losses on
long term investments, a component of stockholders' equity. At March 31, 1996, a
$1,338,750 difference between the market value of the investment at March 31,
1996 and the original purchase price has been reflected in unrealized losses on
long term investments, a component of stockholders' equity. The Company believes
that this decrease in market value is temporary.
 
NOTE 8--NOTES RECEIVABLE
 
    Notes receivable at December 31, 1995 consist of the following:
 
Notes receivable--TWL(a).......................................   $3,008,948
Notes receivable--Robern Skiwear(b)............................      540,000
Other..........................................................      139,635
                                                                  ----------
Total..........................................................    3,688,583
Less: current portion..........................................      199,635
                                                                  ----------
Long-term notes receivable.....................................   $3,488,948
                                                                  ----------
                                                                  ----------
 
                                      F-15
<PAGE>
                 WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 8--NOTES RECEIVABLE--(CONTINUED)
 
- ------------
 
<TABLE>
<C>   <S>
 (a)  WNM's stated business purpose is to capitalize upon opportunities in the media content
      industry by acquiring distribution and other rights in and from emerging companies in
      this field. On April 8, 1994, WNM entered into an agreement with The Winning Line, Inc.
      ("TWL"), a producer of sports programming. As subsequently amended, the agreement
      provides for WNM to make periodic cash advances to TWL, with such advances being
      collateralized by a first lien on all of the assets of TWL as well as by shares of TWL
      common stock owned by certain individuals. Advances made to date are payable on demand
      and bear interest at a rate of 12% or at a rate 3% in excess of the prime commercial
      lending rate (8.25% at December 31, 1995). WNM had the right, which was exercised in
      April 1996, to convert up to $970,000 of advances made, together with all accrued
      interest thereon, into 65% of TWL's then issued and outstanding shares of common stock
      (Note 28).
 (b)  In connection with the sale of its skiwear brands product line in April 1993 to Robern
      Skiwear, Inc., the Company has a note receivable from the buyer. The note bore interest
      at 8% per annum payable quarterly, through January 31, 1996. Effective February 1,
      1996, the note was modified such that interest now accrues at 9% per annum and is
      payable monthly. The $540,000 of outstanding principal is payable in 22 monthly
      installments of $19,054, inclusive of interest, beginning January 31, 1996, through
      October 31, 1997, with a final payment of $180,000 to be paid in a lump sum on November
      30, 1997. The note is guaranteed by the principals of Robern Skiwear, Inc. as well as
      certain other individuals.
</TABLE>
 
NOTE 9--DISCONTINUATION OF PRODUCTS LINES
 
    As of February 28, 1994, the Company discontinued its remaining apparel and
tennis racquet product lines as a result of lower-than-expected sales and
continuing losses in these lines. Included as a loss on the discontinuation of
product lines for the year ended February 28, 1994, is the writedown of the net
assets of these product lines (primarily intangible assets) as well as the
accrual of certain expenses incurred in the windup of these lines, amounting to
$292,000 in total.
 
NOTE 10--PERFORMANCE STOCK OPTION EXPENSE
 
    In connection with the Company's initial public offering in April 1991,
options to purchase 1,000,000 shares of common stock of the Company at $0.01 per
share were granted to the original shareholders of the company (Note 22).
Subsequent to February 28, 1994, the conditions for exercise of these options
were met, and in connection therewith, the Company recorded a non-cash expense
of $5,316,667 at February 28, 1994, representing the difference between the
option price and the market price on the day the options actually became
exercisable.
 
NOTE 11--GAIN FROM EXTINGUISHMENT OF DEBT
 
    On September 7, 1993, the Company paid the following in full satisfaction of
an obligation of approximately $501,000: (i) $250,000 in cash, and (ii) 50,000
shares of the Company's common stock valued at $57,031. The gain of $194,154 on
the payment of the indebtedness is classified in the statement of operations as
an extraordinary item. No tax provision has been recorded as a result of the
Company's tax loss carryforwards.
 
                                      F-16
<PAGE>
                 WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 12--INVENTORIES
 
    Components of inventories are as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           MARCH 31,     DECEMBER 31,    FEBRUARY 28,
                                                             1996            1995            1995
                                                          -----------    ------------    ------------
                                                          (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                       <C>            <C>             <C>
Finished goods.........................................   $ 1,715,871     $1,432,951      $ 1,190,670
Raw materials..........................................     4,423,420      4,017,655        2,092,101
Film inventories.......................................     1,755,920      1,941,080          950,156
                                                          -----------    ------------    ------------
                                                          $ 7,895,211     $7,391,686      $ 4,232,927
                                                          -----------    ------------    ------------
                                                          -----------    ------------    ------------
</TABLE>
 
NOTE 13--PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
 
    Property and equipment consist of the following:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   DECEMBER 31,    FEBRUARY 28,        ESTIMATED
                                                       1995            1995           USEFUL LIFE
                                                   ------------    ------------    -----------------
<S>                                                <C>             <C>             <C>
Machinery, equipment and software...............   $ 16,072,511     $ 2,963,690    5 to 10 years
Furniture and fixtures..........................        867,963         239,507    4 to 5 years
Leasehold improvements..........................        536,115         185,919    Life of the lease
                                                   ------------    ------------
                                                     17,476,589       3,389,116
Less accumulated depreciation and
amortization....................................     (1,578,584)       (726,048)
                                                   ------------    ------------
                                                   $ 15,898,005     $ 2,663,068
                                                   ------------    ------------
                                                   ------------    ------------
</TABLE>
 
NOTE 14--INTANGIBLE ASSETS
 
    Intangible assets consist of the following:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                        DECEMBER 31,    FEBRUARY 28,      ESTIMATED
                                                            1995            1995         USEFUL LIFE
                                                        ------------    ------------    -------------
<S>                                                     <C>             <C>             <C>
Goodwill.............................................    $2,953,021      $ 2,953,021    20 years
Covenants not to compete.............................       668,397          668,397    5 to 10 years
Other................................................        39,460           39,460    3 to 5 years
                                                        ------------    ------------
                                                          3,660,878        3,660,878
Less accumulated amortization........................      (627,373)        (447,093)
                                                        ------------    ------------
                                                         $3,033,505      $ 3,213,785
                                                        ------------    ------------
                                                        ------------    ------------
</TABLE>
 
    Licenses are amortized over a 40 year period. As of December 31, 1995, the
value of licenses was $12,556,281, net of accumulated amortization of $256,039.
 
                                      F-17
<PAGE>
                 WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 15--LOANS PAYABLE
 
    Loans payable consist of the following:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                      DECEMBER 31,    FEBRUARY 28,
                                                                          1995            1995
                                                                      ------------    ------------
<S>                                                                   <C>             <C>
Loan payable-financial institution(a)..............................    $3,153,821      $ 1,668,743
Loan payable-financial institution(b)..............................     4,338,099        2,742,010
Other(c)...........................................................       795,541          --
                                                                      ------------    ------------
                                                                       $8,287,461      $ 4,410,753(d)
                                                                      ------------    ------------
                                                                      ------------    ------------
</TABLE>
 
- ------------
 
<TABLE>
<C>   <S>
 (a)  In November 1994, WGN entered into a Loan and Security Agreement with a financial
      institution providing for the financing of WGN's receivables. Borrowings under this
      agreement are limited to 90% of most eligible accounts receivable, with availability of
      certain types of accounts receivable limited to 80% and 50%, subject to a maximum
      credit availability of $5,000,000. Borrowings bear interest at a rate ranging from 2.5%
      to 3% in excess of the prime commercial lending rate and are secured by a lien on all
      WGN assets as well as a guarantee from WCI as to the first $2,200,000 in borrowings.
      The agreement also calls for an annual fee of $50,000 as well as certain underutiliza-
      tion fees. This agreement expires November 3, 1996.
 
 (b)  In August 1994, WGP secured an asset based loan from a financial institution to finance
      its receivables and inventory. Borrowings under this loan are limited to 80% of
      eligible accounts receivable and 45% of eligible inventory, with a $1,500,000
      overadvance facility, subject to a maximum credit availability of $6,000,000.
      Borrowings bear interest at a rate 3.5% in excess of the prime commercial lending rate
      and are secured by a lien on all WGP assets as well as a guarantee from WCI as to the
      first $3,000,000 in borrowings. The agreement also provides for annual facility fees.
      This agreement expires September 30, 1996.
 
 (c)  In April 1995, NFF secured a production loan from an Irish limited partnership. NFF
      issued a letter of credit to the creditor in the amount of $807,000 which may be
      presented at any time from March 1996 forward. The letter of credit is secured by an
      equal amount of investments in U.S. Treasury Bills on deposit with the financial
      institution which issued the letter of credit.
 
 (d)  Included in long-term other notes payable at February 28, 1995.
</TABLE>
 
NOTE 16--CAPITAL LEASE OBLIGATIONS
 
    In September 1995, WinStar Wireless entered into a $10,000,000 equipment
lease financing facility, of which $7,000,000 has been made available as of
December 31, 1995. As of December 31, 1995, the Company has utilized
substantially all of the amount available under this facility. Borrowings bear
interest at a rate of 13% per annum and are payable over sixty months. After
twelve months, WinStar Wireless has the option to purchase the equipment at a
price that will provide a return of 15% to the lessor. As additional
consideration, the Company has agreed to issue options to purchase up to 100,000
shares of stock to the lessor, of which options to purchase 70,000 shares of
stock have been issued through December 31, 1995.
 
    The Company leases its transmission equipment utilized by WWI and its switch
equipment utilized by WGN as well as certain computer and other equipment used
by the Company. Such leases have been accounted for as capital leases in
accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 13, "Accounting
for Leases".
 
                                      F-18
<PAGE>
                 WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 16--CAPITAL LEASE OBLIGATIONS--(CONTINUED)
    Future minimum lease payments on these capital leases are as follows:
 

    YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31,
    ----------------------------------------------------------
       1996...................................................   $ 2,364,838
       1997...................................................     2,420,841
       1998...................................................     1,963,914
       1999...................................................     1,910,601
       2000...................................................     1,324,164
                                                                 -----------
                                                                   9,984,358
       Less amount representing interest......................    (2,547,805)
                                                                 -----------
       Present value of minimum lease payments................   $ 7,436,553
                                                                 -----------
                                                                 -----------
 
    The carrying value of assets under capital leases was $8,052,000 at December
31, 1995 and is included in property and equipment. Amortization of these assets
is included in depreciation expense.
 
NOTE 17--SENIOR AND CONVERTIBLE NOTES PAYABLE
 
    In October 1995, the Company completed a $225 million private placement of
debt securities with institutional investors (the "Debt Placement"). The
transaction was structured as a unit offering with two components: $150 million
of Senior Discount Notes due in 2005 (the "Senior Notes"), and $75 million of
Convertible Senior Subordinated Discount Notes due in 2005 (the "Convertible
Notes"), convertible at $20.625, a 10% premium over the closing price on October
18, 1995, the day of pricing. Both securities accrue interest at 14% per annum,
with no interest payable during the first five years, and principal payable only
at maturity in October 2005. After five years, both securities require the
payment of interest only, in cash, until maturity. In addition, the Convertible
Notes, including accretion thereon, will be automatically converted during the
initial five year period if the market price of the Company's common stock
exceeds certain levels for thirty consecutive trading days, ranging from $37.50
per share in the first year to $44.00 per share in the fifth year.
 
    Under the terms of the Debt Placement, the Company was obligated to
consummate an exchange offer with respect to the Senior Notes by April 23, 1996,
whereby these notes would be exchanged for new notes (the "New Notes") which
would be identical in every respect to the original Senior Notes except that the
New Notes would be registered under the Securities Act of 1933. Pursuant to such
obligation, the Company filed an offer to exchange the Senior Notes for the New
Notes on January 31, 1996, upon which all Senior Notes were subsequently
converted. The Company is also obligated to cause to be declared effective a
registration statement registering the issuance or resale of the shares
underlying the convertible Notes (the "Conversion Shares") by October 23, 1996.
If the exchange offer or the registration of the Conversion Shares does not take
place prior to the respective deadlines, the Company will be obligated to pay
additional interest on the Senior Notes and/or lower the conversion price on the
Convertible Notes. The Company intends to file such registration statement in a
timely manner. The terms of the Debt Placement also place certain restrictions
on the ability of the Company to pay dividends, incur additional indebtedness,
issue guarantees, sell assets, or enter into certain other specified
transactions.
 
                                      F-19
<PAGE>
                 WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 18--OTHER NOTES PAYABLE
 
    In May 1995, WinStar Wireless completed a private placement of $7,500,000 of
five year secured convertible notes (the "Notes"). The Notes bear interest at a
rate of 7%, payable semiannually, with all principal due and payable on May 24,
2000. The Notes are guaranteed by the Company and are collateralized by a first
lien on WinStar Wireless' assets and a pledge by the Company of its shares of
WinStar Wireless and WinStar Wireless Fiber Corp. The noteholders' first lien
and rights are subject to subordination to certain future secured equipment
financing for WinStar Wireless. The Notes are convertible into common stock at a
price of $7.00 per share. The noteholders also received 550,000 warrants and
share equivalents, of which 300,000 warrants at an exercise price of $12.00 per
share and 100,000 warrants at an exercise price of $13.00 per share were
outstanding at December 31, 1995.
 
    The portion of the proceeds attributable to the warrants and share
equivalents has been valued at $805,000 and has been accounted for as additional
paid-in capital and as a reduction in convertible notes payable. The resulting
debt discount is being amortized to interest expense over the life of the Notes.
 
    On December 28, 1995, the note holders converted $3,750,000 of the
convertible notes and accrued interest thereon into 539,255 shares of common
stock of the Company. In addition, the note holders have committed that they
will convert all remaining outstanding Notes into common shares of the Company
on or prior to December 15, 1996.
 
NOTE 19--COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
 
  A. OPERATING LEASES
 
    The Company's manufacturing and warehousing facilities and offices, along
with various equipment and roof access rights, are leased under operating leases
expiring in 1996 through 2006.
 
    Future minimum lease payments on noncancellable operating leases are as
follows:
 
       YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31,
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
       1996....................................................   $1,546,000
       1997....................................................    1,316,000
       1998....................................................    1,314,000
       1999....................................................    1,306,000
       2000....................................................      884,000
       Thereafter..............................................    2,749,000
                                                                  ----------
                                                                  $9,115,000
                                                                  ----------
                                                                  ----------
 
    Rent expense for the ten month period ended December 31, 1995 and the years
ended February 28, 1995 and 1994 was $1,044,000, $500,000 and $366,000,
respectively.
 
                                      F-20
<PAGE>
                 WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 19--COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES--(CONTINUED)
  B. EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS
 
    Amounts due under employment contracts are as follows:
 
YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31,
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
       1996....................................................   $2,450,000
       1997....................................................    1,750,000
       1998....................................................      861,000
       1999....................................................      525,000
       2000....................................................       54,000
                                                                  ----------
                                                                  $5,640,000
                                                                  ----------
                                                                  ----------
 
  C. LITIGATION
 
    In January 1995, the Company's directors, certain other persons, and the
Company (as a nominal defendant) were named in one or more of four actions
brought by various stockholders of the Company in the Court of Chancery of the
State of Delaware in and for New Castle County. These actions subsequently were
consolidated into a single lawsuit. The complaint alleges that certain
transactions including (i) the payment of consideration to certain directors and
others in connection with the Company's acquisition of WGN and (ii) the payment
of compensation (including the granting of options and the issuance of warrants)
to certain directors and others involved self dealing, waste of corporate assets
or otherwise were unfair to the Company and, in each case, were in violation of
the fiduciary obligations of certain directors to the Company.
 
    The Company believes that the allegations set forth in the complaint are
based on misstatements of fact and misunderstandings of relevant facts and
further believes that there are meritorious defenses to all of the allegations.
The Company recently has entered into a settlement agreement with the plaintiffs
pursuant to which the Company has agreed to amend its bylaws to formalize
certain corporate governance changes and to payment of legal fees of plaintiffs'
counsel. The settlement agreement is subject to notice to stockholders and
approval of the Delaware Chancery Court. The Company believes that the
resolution of this lawsuit will not have a material adverse impact on the
Company's financial position.
 
    The Company occasionally receives inquiries from state authorities arising
with respect to consumer complaints concerning the provision of
telecommunications services, including allegations of unauthorized switching of
long distance carriers and misleading marketing. The Company believes such
inquiries are common in the long distance industry and addresses such inquiries
in the ordinary course of business. The Company is also involved in
miscellaneous claims, inquiries and litigation arising in the ordinary course of
business. The Company believes that these matters, taken individually or in the
aggregate, would not have a material adverse impact on the Company's financial
position.
 
  D. OTHER
 
    In November 1994, and as subsequently amended in December 1995, the Company
entered into a non-exclusive, four year agreement with P-Com, Inc. ("P-Com"), a
manufacturer and distributor of radio links, providing for the purchase of radio
links from P-Com. The contract pricing structure includes provisions whereby the
Company pays additional amounts above the agreed upon price for links purchased
at the beginning of the contract period. These amounts will be recovered in the
form of
 
                                      F-21
<PAGE>
                 WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 19--COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES--(CONTINUED)
discounted radio links once certain volume levels have been reached. An annual
minimum volume requirement must be met in order to maintain the agreed upon
pricing structure. The contract is cancellable by the Company subject to certain
conditions, primarily the acceptance of a minimum number of links and the
guarantee of the next 90 days' purchases in accordance with an agreed upon
schedule. As of December 31, 1995, the Company's noncancellable purchase
commitment was approximately $15,600,000. These conditions to cancellation
become more favorable to the Company as certain volume levels are reached.
 
NOTE 20--INCOME TAXES
 
    SFAS 109 requires the use of the liability method in accounting for income
taxes. Temporary differences and carryforwards that give rise to deferred tax
assets and liabilities are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  DECEMBER 31,    FEBRUARY 28,
                                                                      1995            1995
                                                                  ------------    ------------
<S>                                                               <C>             <C>
Deferred tax assets
  Net operating loss carry forward.............................   $ 14,700,000    $  9,230,000
  Allowance for doubtful accounts..............................      1,025,000         440,000
  Other........................................................      2,275,000         380,000
                                                                  ------------    ------------
Gross deferred tax asset.......................................     18,000,000      10,050,000
  Valuation allowance..........................................    (18,000,000)    (10,050,000)
                                                                  ------------    ------------
      Net deferred tax assets..................................   $    --         $    --
                                                                  ------------    ------------
                                                                  ------------    ------------
</TABLE>
 
    If not utilized, the net operating loss carryforwards will expire in various
amounts through the year 2010. The tax loss carryforwards relating to WGP are
limited by the Separate Return Limitation Year rules and Section 382 of the
Internal Revenue Code with respect to the amount utilizable each year. The
Company's remaining net operating loss carryforwards are also subject to
limitation under the Internal Revenue Code. These limitations will reduce the
Company's ability to utilize the net operating loss carryforwards included
above. The amount of the limitation has not been quantified by the Company.
 
    SFAS 109 requires a valuation allowance against deferred tax assets if,
based on the weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not that some
or all of the deferred tax assets may not be realized. The valuation allowances
at February 28, 1995, and December 31, 1995, primarily pertain to uncertainties
with respect to future utilization of net operating loss carry forwards.
 
NOTE 21--STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
  COMMON STOCK:
 
    The authorized capital stock of WCI includes 75,000,000 shares of common
stock, $.01 par value. The holders of common stock are entitled to one vote for
each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders.
Although the Company has no present intention of paying any dividends, holders
of common stock are entitled to receive ratably such dividends as may be
declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available therefor. In
the event of a liquidation or dissolution
 
                                      F-22
<PAGE>
                 WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 21--STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY--(CONTINUED)
of WCI, holders of common stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets
remaining after payment of liabilities and liquidation preference of preferred
shares.
 
    Holders of common stock have no preemptive rights and have no rights to
convert their common stock into any other securities. There are no redemption or
sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock.
 
  PREFERRED STOCK:
 
    The authorized capital stock of the Company includes 15,000,000 shares of
preferred stock, $.01 par value, which may be issued from time to time in one or
more series upon authorization by the Company's Board of Directors. There are
currently no shares of preferred stock outstanding. The Board of Directors,
without further approval of the stockholders, is authorized to fix the rights
and terms, conversion rights, voting rights, redemption rights and terms,
liquidation preferences and any other rights, preferences, privileges and
restrictions applicable to each series of preferred stock. In March 1994, all
173 outstanding shares of Preferred Stock C were converted into an aggregate of
82,381 shares of common stock of the Company. In addition, in accordance with
the terms of the Preferred Stock C, the holders of the Preferred Stock C
received 41,191 Series B Warrants upon conversion, all of which were
subsequently exercised during the year ended February 28, 1995. In December
1994, all 225,000 outstanding shares of Preferred Stock D were automatically
converted into 225,000 shares of common stock as a result of the market value of
the Company's common stock having met certain criteria. In November 1995, all
outstanding shares of Preferred Stock B were acquired in the Private Exchange
transaction (Note 23). As of December 31, 1995, all classes of preferred stock
other than Preferred Stock B have been retired.
 
  TREASURY STOCK:
 
    Included in treasury stock at cost are 2,506,763 shares of common stock and
689 shares of Preferred Stock B which were acquired in the Private Exchange
transaction (Note 23).
 
NOTE 22--STOCK OPTIONS AND STOCK PURCHASE WARRANTS
 
    Options to purchase 1,000,000 shares of common stock of the Company at $.01
per share were issued at the time of the Company's initial public offering in
April 1991 to the original shareholders of the Company. The options were
exercisable at any time after April 3, 1993 and prior to April 3, 1996, or April
3, 1998 for one investor, if the market price of the Company's common stock
exceeded $5.00 per share (the "Market Price") as adjusted, over a period of 40
consecutive business days at any time after April 3, 1992. Pursuant to certain
antidilutive provisions in the option agreements, the number of shares subject
to these options was increased to 1,253,931, and the Market Price was reduced to
$3.99 per share. The Market Price was met and such options became exercisable in
April 1994 (Note 10), and all such options were exercised during the year ended
February 28, 1995. In addition, options to purchase 14,000 shares of common
stock at $.01 per share were granted to an employee on June 30, 1991 in lieu of
compensation.
 
    In 1990, the Board of Directors adopted a non-qualified common stock
incentive plan, as amended, pursuant to which options to purchase an aggregate
of 150,000 shares of common stock may be granted to key employees of the Company
as selected by the Board of Directors. The exercise price for shares covered by
options granted pursuant to this plan will not be less than the fair market
value of the shares
 
                                      F-23
<PAGE>
                 WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 22--STOCK OPTIONS AND STOCK PURCHASE WARRANTS--(CONTINUED)
on the date of the grant. In 1992, the Board of Directors adopted and
stockholders approved the 1992 Performance Equity Plan ("1992 Plan"), which
authorizes the granting of awards up to 1,000,000 shares of common stock to the
Company's key employees, officers, directors and consultants. Awards consist of
stock options (both non-qualified and options intended to qualify as "incentive"
stock options under the Internal Revenue Code), restricted stock awards,
deferred stock awards, stock appreciation rights and other stock-based awards.
The plan provides for automatic issuance of 10,000 stock options annually to
each director on January 13, at the fair market value at that date, subject to
availability. In June 1995, the Board of Directors adopted the 1995 Performance
Equity Plan ("1995 Plan") which was approved by the stockholders of the Company
at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders in September 1995. The 1995 Plan
authorizes the granting of awards of up to 1,500,000 shares of Common Stock to
the Company's key employees, officers, directors and consultants. The 1995 Plan
is similar to the 1992 Plan, except that the 1995 Plan does not allow for annual
automatic annual director grants. In addition to these three plans, the Company
has granted options to certain individuals not under any plan (Note 28).
 
    The Company has granted options to purchase common stock as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     NUMBER      PRICE PER SHARE
                                                                   ----------    ---------------
<S>                                                                <C>           <C>
Balance, March 1, 1993..........................................    3,064,000      $1.63--$ 5.25
Granted.........................................................    2,570,067      $1.06--$ 6.17
Canceled........................................................     (616,500)     $1.69--$ 3.63
                                                                   ----------
Balance, February 28, 1994......................................    5,017,567      $1.06--$ 6.17
Granted.........................................................    2,851,360      $4.22--$ 9.50
Exercised.......................................................   (1,389,547)     $1.50--$ 4.90
Canceled........................................................     (235,050)     $1.69--$ 9.03
                                                                   ----------
Balance, February 28, 1995......................................    6,244,330      $1.06--$ 9.50
 
]Granted........................................................    3,896,000      $5.50--$19.75
Exercised.......................................................   (2,091,572)     $1.06--$ 6.88
Canceled........................................................     (708,133)     $2.13--$ 8.81
                                                                   ----------
Balance, December 31, 1995......................................    7,340,625      $1.06--$19.75
                                                                   ----------
                                                                   ----------
</TABLE>
 
    In addition to the above, in May 1992, the Company granted to WinStar
Venture II, Inc. ("WVII"), an affiliate of a Director of the Company, an option
through August 31, 1998 to purchase shares of Series C preferred stock in the
amount of $2,000,000 in return for WVII's guarantee of certain company debt.
 
    At December 31, 1995, options for 2,848,462 shares were exercisable at
exercise prices ranging from $1.06 to $17.13 per share.
 
                                      F-24
<PAGE>
                 WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 22--STOCK OPTIONS AND STOCK PURCHASE WARRANTS--(CONTINUED)
    Warrants to purchase the Company's common stock were issued as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                     SERIES A      SERIES B     SERIES C     SERIES D      SERIES E
                                    ----------    ----------    --------    ----------    ----------
<S>                                 <C>           <C>           <C>         <C>           <C>
Outstanding at February 28,
1993.............................    1,277,646     1,897,867     250,000        --            --
Issued in connection with private
placement of debt................       --            --           --        2,000,000        --
Other warrants issued............      135,804        79,807       --          200,000       200,000
Warrants exercised...............       --            --           --         (205,000)       --
                                    ----------    ----------    --------    ----------    ----------
Outstanding at February 28,
1994.............................    1,413,450     1,977,674     250,000     1,995,000       200,000
Warrants issued..................       --            41,191       --           --         1,000,000
Warrants exercised...............   (1,397,500)   (1,975,738)      --       (1,995,000)   (1,200,000)
Warrants expired.................      (15,950)      (43,127)   (250,000)       --            --
                                    ----------    ----------    --------    ----------    ----------
Outstanding at February 28,
1995.............................       --            --           --           --            --
                                    ----------    ----------    --------    ----------    ----------
                                    ----------    ----------    --------    ----------    ----------
</TABLE>
 
    Each Series A Warrant entitled the registered holder to purchase one share
of WCI's common stock for an exercise price of $3.00 per share and each Series B
Warrant entitled the registered holder to purchase one share of common stock for
an exercise price of $3.75 per share through April 3, 1994. In March and April
1994, approximately 1,337,000 Series A Warrants and approximately 1,921,000
Series B Warrants were exercised prior to their scheduled expiration. Proceeds
to the Company, net of registration costs and fees to WinStar Services, Inc.,
were approximately $10,700,000. All remaining Series A and Series B Warrants,
which were unregistered and did not expire on April 3, 1994, were exercised in
May 1994.
 
    The Series C Warrants expired without having become exercisable upon
issuance of the fiscal 1994 financial statements for the year ended February 28,
1994, because the conditions for the exercise of these warrants were not met.
 
    In connection with a private placement of debt, the Company on March 10,
1993 issued 2,000,000 Series D Warrants. Each Series D Warrant entitled the
holder to purchase one share of common stock for $.67 during the five year
period commencing March 10, 1993 and ending March 9, 1998. In connection with
the same private placement, the Company in March 1994 issued 1,000,000 Series E
Warrants, each of which entitled the holder to purchase one share of common
stock at an exercise price of $2.24 per share. Series E Warrants were
exercisable from April 1, 1994 through March 10, 1999. In addition to the above,
the Company also issued 200,000 Series D Warrants and 200,000 Series E Warrants
to a separate noteholder in return for an extension of that note payable on
terms more favorable to the Company. In April 1994, the holders of the Series D
and Series E Warrants exercised their warrants. The exercise price on the
warrants was paid primarily by the warrant holders assigning their notes which
they had acquired in the private placement, as well as any accrued interest
thereon. The balance due from the warrant holders was satisfied by the return to
the Company of that number of unexercised Series E Warrants which, when valued
by reference to the fair market value of the common stock on that date, would
satisfy such balance due. The net effect of this conversion was that the Company
satisfied $1,996,650 in notes payable and $59,079 in accrued interest thereon,
and issued approximately 2,814,000 shares of common stock for the exercise of
1,995,000 Series D Warrants and 1,200,000 Series E Warrants. The common shares
which were issued upon exercise of all Series D and Series E Warrants were
restricted shares.
 
                                      F-25
<PAGE>
                 WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 23--RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
 
MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
 
    The Company and WinStar Services, a wholly-owned subsidiary of WinStar
Companies, a corporation of which two of the Company's directors are principal
officers and stockholders, were parties to a five-year management agreement
which provided, as amended, that WinStar Services would render financial,
advisory and management services in connection with the capital, acquisition and
planning needs of the Company. The Company agreed to pay WinStar Services as
compensation for such services $200,000 per year plus certain contingent
performance fees, in addition to reimbursement of all out-of-pocket expenses
incurred by WinStar Services. In August 1993, the terms of the management
agreement were extended to August 31, 1998, and the Company granted to WinStar
Services options to purchase 500,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock at the
then current market price of $2.13 per share which options were exercised in
connection with the transaction between WinStar Companies, WinStar Services and
WinStar Venture II, Inc. The expiration date for these options as well as for
any options or warrants previously granted to WinStar companies and its
subsidiaries was set at August 31, 1998. During the years ended February 28,
1995 and 1994, an aggregate of $254,560 and $254,095, respectively, was paid to
WinStar Services by the Company as management fees and reimbursement of
expenses. Additionally, the Company paid $481,039 and $78,040 in cash and issued
notes amounting to $481,038 and $78,040 in payment of contingent performance
fees to WinStar Services during the years ended February 28, 1995 and 1994,
respectively. These contingent performance fees related to specific debt and
equity financing and investment transactions in excess of $33.6 million. During
the year ended February 28, 1995, all such notes were satisfied when they were
used to pay for the exercise of warrants and stock options held by WinStar
Services and its affiliates. See Private Exchange Transaction.
 
    The management agreement was terminated prospectively as of February 28,
1995.
 
PRIVATE EXCHANGE TRANSACTION
 
    On November 29, 1995, the Company acquired, in exchange for the issuance of
3,741,224 shares of its Common Stock ("Private Exchange"), substantially all of
the assets of WinStar Companies, whose assets consisted of (i) all the
outstanding capital stock of WinStar Services and WinStar Venture, two
wholly-owned subsidiaries of WinStar Companies, and (ii) 389,580 shares of the
Company's Common Stock owned by WinStar Companies. The sole assets of WinStar
Services and WinStar Venture were 2,117,183 shares of the Company's Common Stock
and other securities of the Company that were exercisable or convertible into
1,429,633 shares of the Company's Common Stock. Accordingly, the Company issued
3,741,224 shares of Common Stock and, in exchange, acquired 3,936,396 shares of
Common Stock and Common Stock equivalents. All of the Common Stock and certain
of the Common Stock equivalents received in the Private Exchange are included in
Treasury Stock at December 31, 1995. WinStar Companies, WinStar Services and
WinStar Venture had no liabilities at the time of the closing of the Private
Exchange other than a liability previously assumed by the Company or liabilities
for which the Company is being indemnified.
 
    The new shares of the Company's Common Stock issued in the Private Exchange
represented that number of shares which had an aggregate market value based upon
the average of the last sale price of the Company's Common Stock on the 30
trading days preceding November 15, 1995, the date as of which the exchange
agreement regarding the above-described transaction was executed, equal to the
market value of the Company's Common Stock (i) transferred by WinStar Companies
to the Company,
 
                                      F-26
<PAGE>
                 WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 23--RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS--(CONTINUED)
(ii) owned by WinStar Services and WinStar Venture and (iii) underlying certain
other securities of the Company owned by WinStar Services and WinStar Venture
which were convertible into or exercisable for shares of the Company's Common
Stock, less the aggregate exercise price of such latter securities.
 
    The stockholders of WinStar Companies included several of the Company's
current executive officers and directors. Simultaneously with the Private
Exchange, WinStar Companies was dissolved and the new shares issued in the
Private Exchange were issued directly to the stockholders of WinStar Companies
in proportion to their equity ownership of WinStar Companies.
 
    The Private Exchange was considered and approved by a special committee of
independent and disinterested directors of the Company and an opinion from an
independent investment banking firm that the Private Exchange was fair to the
Company and its stockholders was obtained in connection with the Private
Exchange.
 
SGC CONSULTING AGREEMENT
 
    In November 1993, the Company entered into a consulting agreement with SGC,
pursuant to which SGC received a monthly fee of $5,000 and immediately
exercisable five-year options to purchase 50,000 shares of Common Stock for
$2.75 per share. The President and Director of SGC is currently a Director and
employee of the Company. In April 1994, the Company entered into a restated and
amended consulting agreement with SGC. Pursuant to the new agreement, SGC
provided consulting services to the Company and was paid a monthly fee of
$17,500. SGC also received options to purchase 125,000 shares of Common Stock at
a price of $4.50 per share, which vest in two equal annual installments
beginning in April 1994. The Company granted certain registration rights for all
shares, warrants and options issued to SGC or its President. Under this
consulting agreement, SGC was entitled to receive a cash fee equal to 5% of the
consideration paid in connection with certain transactions introduced to the
Company by SGC. Fees and expenses paid to SGC during the ten months ended
December 31, 1995, and the year ended February 28, 1995 were $0 and $119,000,
respectively.
 
    In connection with investments by the Company in Avant-Garde and TWL, a
producer of sports-related radio programming, both of which businesses were
introduced to the Company by SGC, SGC was paid fees by Avant-Garde and by TWL.
Additionally, in connection with the Company's acquisition of its equity
interest in Avant-Garde, such Director was paid a fee by the principal of
Avant-Garde equal to 4.0% of the total consideration received by such principal
from the Company in connection with the acquisition. The Company paid no fees to
SGC in connection with such transactions, but the fees received by SGC and such
Director from Avant-Garde and TWL were credited against the monthly fees payable
to SGC by the Company.
 
    The consulting agreement was terminated in January 1995 in connection with
the execution of such Director's employment agreement with the Company.
 
AGREEMENT WITH ITC GROUP, INC.
 
    In May 1994, the Company, WWI and ITC entered into a two-year agreement
pursuant to which ITC advised the Company on the operations of WWI, WWFC and
WGN. ITC, together with the management and employees of WWI, developed and
implemented a two-year operating plan ("Operating Plan") for the Company's
wireless telecommunications business. Pursuant to the terms of the consulting
agreement, ITC made its consultants available to the Company and its
subsidiaries. The
 
                                      F-27
<PAGE>
                 WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 23--RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS--(CONTINUED)
Company paid ITC an annual base consulting fee of $700,000 in monthly
installments for the services of a core management team, as well as supplemental
fees at agreed upon rates for additional consulting services rendered by ITC as
necessary from time to time. ITC also was entitled to receive a bonus of up to
$2.0 million per year at such time that certain pretax income targets set forth
in the Operating Plan were attained. No such bonus was paid during the year
ended February 28, 1995. During the year ended February 28, 1995 and through
September 1995, ITC was paid $1,553,249 and $1,046,084, respectively, in fees
and expenses under the terms of the consulting agreement, providing up to 12
consultants at any given time. In connection with the consulting agreement, the
Company granted options to purchase an aggregate of 500,000 shares of Common
Stock for $4.41 per share to certain consultants of ITC. Of such options,
375,000 are presently exercisable. ITC and the Company executed a noncompetition
agreement, pursuant to which ITC, and its key employees and consultants, must
refrain from providing services to any segment of a business which provides
wireless telecommunications services or otherwise competes with the Company;
provided, however, that ITC may provide services to entities in connection with
the provision of cellular and personal communication services. In October 1994,
ITC's President was elected as a director of the Company.
 
    Effective September 5, 1995, ITC's President became President and Chief
Operating Officer of the Company and certain core management personnel
previously provided by ITC also became employees, and ITC ceased providing
services to the Company under the consulting agreement. The Company's obligation
to pay any future compensation to ITC under such agreement was terminated.
 
NOTE 24--SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION
 
    Cash paid for interest during the three months ended March 31, 1996, the ten
months ended December 31, 1995, and the years ended February 28, 1995 and 1994
was $972,000, $1,270,000, $621,000, and $726,000, respectively.
 
    During the ten month period ended December 31, 1995, the Company completed
the following material non-cash transactions: (i) the conversion of $3,750,000
of convertible notes plus accrued interest thereon; (ii) the conversion of
Preferred Stock E; (iii) the acquisition of approximately $7,500,000 in property
and equipment through various capitalized leases; (iv) the Private Exchange
transaction; (v) the settlement of the Company's placement expenses from the
gross proceeds of the Debt Placement; (vi) the acquisition of Avant-Garde.
 
    During the year ended February 28, 1995, the Company completed the following
material non-cash transactions: (i) the conversion of the Series D and Series E
Warrants through the assignment of notes payable and accrued interest (Note 22);
(ii) the satisfaction of approximately $600,000 in notes payable through the
exercise of stock options; (iii) conversions of Preferred Stock B, C, and D;
(iv) the acquisition of approximately $740,000 in property and equipment through
various capitalized leases; and (v) the purchase of Non Fiction Films, Inc.,
wherein the purchase price was satisfied in part through the issuance of 28,572
shares of common stock valued at $200,000.
 
    During the year ended February 28, 1994, the Company completed the following
material non-cash transactions: (i) the sale of the net assets of the skiwear
brands product line, net of cash received, for a $1,500,000 note receivable;
(ii) the private placement of $458,717 in notes for non-cash consideration;
(iii) the purchases, in March and August 1993, of WGN, whose net assets,
including cash acquired, have been valued at $1,470,000 for 1,271,351 shares of
the Company's common stock (Note 3); (iv) the exercise by an investor of 200,000
Series D warrants with a total exercise price of
 
                                      F-28
<PAGE>
                 WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 24--SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION--(CONTINUED)
$134,000 through the releasing of $100,000 owed him by the Company, with the
balance paid in cash; (v) the purchase of certain assets of a bath products
company, valued at $100,000 net of cash paid, for 39,506 shares of the Company's
common stock; (vi) the sale of 287,043 shares of common stock for stock
subscriptions receivable of $758,065, which amount was included in other current
assets at February 28, 1994, and was realized in March 1994; and (vii) the
acquisition of an investment in AGT valued at $1,691,950 for $232,000 in notes
payable, $900,000 in Series D preferred stock and $27,950 in accounts payable,
with the balance paid in cash.
 
NOTE 25--MAJOR CUSTOMERS
 
    No customer individually amounted to more than 10% of net sales for the ten
months ended December 31, 1995 and the years ended February 28, 1995 and 1994.
 
NOTE 26--BUSINESS SEGMENTS
 
    The Company's business segments are telecommunications, information
services, and merchandising. The following table is a summary of these segments
for the ten months ended December 31, 1995 and the years ended February 28, 1995
and 1994. For the year ended February 28, 1994, information related to the
telecommunications business segment relates only to the period from March 10,
1993 (date of acquisition of WGN) to February 28, 1994, and no amounts are shown
for the information services segment, which commenced operations in the year
ended February 28, 1995.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           TOTAL
                                          INFORMATION                    BUSINESS       GENERAL
                     TELECOMMUNICATIONS    SERVICES     MERCHANDISING    SEGMENTS      CORPORATE     CONSOLIDATED
                     ------------------   -----------   -------------   -----------   ------------   ------------
<S>                  <C>                  <C>           <C>             <C>           <C>            <C>
FOR THE TEN MONTHS
 ENDED DECEMBER 31,
 1995:
Net sales..........     $ 13,136,644      $ 2,648,203    $13,986,625    $29,771,472   $    --        $ 29,771,472
Operating income
(loss).............       (6,944,690)         238,129        756,135     (5,950,426)    (3,861,203)    (9,811,629)
Depreciation and
amortization.......          586,114            3,097        166,929        756,140        103,963        860,103
Amortization of
intangibles........          344,228           20,706         74,954        439,888        --             439,888
Capital
expenditures.......        7,457,971           14,478        528,985      8,001,434        650,758      8,652,192
Identifiable assets
 at December 31,
1995...............     $ 36,998,045      $20,194,679    $10,458,663    $67,651,387   $217,711,468   $285,362,855
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-29
<PAGE>
                 WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 26--BUSINESS SEGMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           TOTAL
                                          INFORMATION                    BUSINESS       GENERAL
                     TELECOMMUNICATIONS    SERVICES     MERCHANDISING    SEGMENTS      CORPORATE     CONSOLIDATED
                     ------------------   -----------   -------------   -----------   ------------   ------------
<S>                  <C>                  <C>           <C>             <C>           <C>            <C>
FOR THE YEAR ENDED
 FEBRUARY 28, 1995:
Net sales..........     $ 14,909,225      $   473,392    $10,182,143    $25,564,760   $    --        $ 25,564,760
Operating income
(loss).............       (3,422,937)        (117,605)       307,097     (3,233,445)    (2,377,991)    (5,611,436)
Depreciation and
amortization.......          263,839              744        153,731        418,314         14,188        432,502
Amortization of
intangibles........          128,117            6,165         90,894        225,176        --             225,176
Capital
expenditures.......        1,328,938            4,486        286,583      1,620,007        196,321      1,816,328
Identifiable assets
 at February 28,
1995...............     $ 14,594,048      $ 4,218,579    $ 6,911,270    $25,723,897   $  3,785,555   $ 29,509,452
FOR THE YEAR ENDED
 FEBRUARY 28, 1994:
Net sales..........     $  8,505,282      $   --         $ 7,119,737    $15,625,019   $    --        $ 15,625,019
Operating income
(loss).............         (743,613)         --             222,611       (521,002)    (1,546,519)    (2,067,521)
Depreciation and
amortization.......          116,635          --             102,823        219,458          3,630        223,088
Amortization of
intangibles........           74,944          --             165,049        239,993        --             239,993
Capital
expenditures.......          274,940          --              25,531        300,471          6,591        307,062
Identifiable assets
 at February 28,
1994...............     $  8,013,203      $   --         $ 5,118,512    $13,131,715   $  1,478,220   $ 14,609,935
</TABLE>
 
NOTE 27--NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS NOT YET ADOPTED
 
    In 1995, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 121, "Accounting for the Impairment of
Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to Be Disposed of" ("SFAS No. 121"),
which provides guidance on when to assess and how to measure impairment of
long-lived assets, certain intangibles and goodwill related to those assets to
be held and used, and for long-lived assets and certain identifiable intangibles
to be disposed of. The Financial Accounting Standards Board also issued
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based
Compensation" ("SFAS No. 123"), which gives companies a choice of the method of
accounting used to determine stock-based compensation. Companies may account for
such compensation either by using the intrinsic value-based method provided in
APB Opinion 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees" ("APB No. 25") or the
fair market value-based method provided in SFAS No. 123. These accounting
standards are effective for financial statements for fiscal years beginning
after December 15, 1995. As of January 1, 1996, the Company adopted SFAS No. 121
and SFAS No. 123. The adoption of SFAS No. 121 had no effect on the Company. The
Company intends to continue to use the intrinsic value-based method provided in
APB No. 25 to determine stock-based compensation, and therefore the sole effect
of the adoption of SFAS No. 123 will be the obligation to comply with the new
disclosure requirements provided thereunder.
 
                                      F-30
<PAGE>
                 WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 28--SUBSEQUENT EVENTS TO DECEMBER 31, 1995 (UNAUDITED)
 
AGREEMENT TO ACQUIRE LOCAL AREA TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.:
 
    In April 1996, a subsidiary of the Company entered into an agreement to
acquire certain assets of Local Area Telecommunications, Inc. ("Locate"),
comprising its business as a competitive access provider of local digital
microwave distribution services and facilities to large corporations and to
interexchange and other common carriers. The purchase price for such assets will
be $17,500,000, which will be paid in the form of a promissory note due six
months after closing and bearing interest at the annual rate of eight percent.
The Company may convert the note, in whole but not part, at its election, into
that number of shares of Common Stock equal to (a) the principal amount and all
accrued and unpaid interest on the note divided by (b) the average of the
closing prices of the Common Stock for the five days ending on the date on which
the Company gives written notice of its decision to convert the note. Locate has
no rights of conversion. The Company has granted certain registration rights to
Locate with respect to such shares of Common Stock in the event that the Company
elects such conversion.
 
    Consummation of the purchase is subject to certain closing conditions
including (i) expiration or termination of the waiting period under
Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and (ii)
consent of the Federal Communications Commission and certain state agencies to
the transfer of control of, or the assignment of certain licenses and other
authorizations to conduct business. The purchase is expected to close as soon as
practicable after satisfaction of all closing conditions set forth in the
purchase agreement.
 
    In connection with the purchase, the Company and Locate entered into a
service agreement for a term commencing in April 1996 and terminating upon the
earlier to occur of (i) the closing of the purchase or (ii) termination of the
purchase agreement. Pursuant to the services agreement, the Company performs
certain consulting and related services for Locate. As full compensation for
performance of such services, Locate pays the Company a fee of $125,000 per
month during the term of the agreement, subject to certain adjustments.
 
ACQUISITION OF 80% EQUITY INTEREST IN FOX LORBER ASSOCIATES, INC.:
 
    In April 1996, NFF acquired 80% of the outstanding common stock of
Fox/Lorber Associates, Inc. ("Fox/Lorber"), an independent distributor of films,
entertainment series and documentaries in the television and home video markets.
The purchase price consisted of $150,000 in common stock of the Company and
$300,000 in cash contributed by NFF to the working capital of Fox/Lorber.
 
    NFF also purchased, in a separate, simultaneous transaction, all of the
outstanding shares of Fox/Lorber's preferred stock, together with three
promissory notes in the aggregate principal amount of $136,507 for an aggregate
purchase price of $1,020,000 in the Company's Common Stock.
 
    The 20% minority shareholder has an option subject to certain earnings
levels, to put his interest to the Company and the Company is obligated, under
certain conditions, to provide up to $2,000,000 in working capital to Fox
Lorber.
 
ACQUISITION OF 65% EQUITY INTEREST IN THE WINNING LINE, INC.:
 
    In April 1996, WNM converted $970,000 principal amount of loans (plus
accrued interest) outstanding to The Winning Line, Inc. ("TWL"), into a 65%
equity interest in TWL.
 
                                      F-31
<PAGE>
                 WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 28--SUBSEQUENT EVENTS TO DECEMBER 31, 1995 (UNAUDITED)--(CONTINUED)
    TWL operates the SportsFan Radio Network ("SportsFan"). SportsFan is a
multimedia sports programming and production company which provides live sports
programming to more than 200 sports and talk format radio stations across the
United States, up to 24 hours a day, including to affiliate stations in 90 of
the top 100 United States markets.
 
    WNM has the right to require certain principals of TWL who own the remaining
35% equity interest in TWL to sell, and such principals have the right to
require WNM to purchase the remaining 35% equity interest based upon certain
criteria. At WNM's option, the purchase price in either instance can be paid in
shares of the Company's common stock (Note 8).
 
STOCK OPTION PLAN:
 
    On April 26, 1996, the Board of Directors approved an amendment to the 1992
and 1995 Plans, increasing the number of shares of common stock available for
grant to 1,500,000 and 3,500,000, respectively, subject to stockholder approval.
 
PUBLIC OFFERING:
 
    The Company has filed Registration Statements to offer to the public four
million shares of the Company's common stock and $200 million of Senior Notes
and Senior Subordinated Notes (the "Offering"). There can be no assurance that
the Offering will be completed.
 
AGREEMENT WITH DIGEX, INC.:
 
    In June 1996, the Company entered into a six-year agreement with Digex, Inc.
("Digex"), a national provider of Internet access services. Pursuant to this
agreement, the Company has the right of first refusal to provide all of Digex's
local access and/or customer interconnection requirements through the use of the
Company's Wireless Fiber or other services. The Company also will purchase from
Digex, during the term of the agreement, a minimum of $5 million of Internet
access services on a discounted basis.
 
                                      F-32
<PAGE>
                         REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
 
The Board of Directors and Shareholders
Local Area Telecommunications, Inc.
 
    We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of the Microwave Division of
Local Area Telecommunications, Inc. as of December 31, 1995 and 1994, and the
related statements of operations, divisional (deficit) surplus and cash flows
for the years then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of
the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these
financial statements based on our audits.
 
    We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
    In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly,
in all material respects, the financial position of the Microwave Division of
Local Area Telecommunications, Inc. at December 31, 1995 and 1994, and the
results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended, in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
 
    As discussed in Note 1 to the financial statements, the Microwave Division's
recurring losses from operations and divisional deficit raise substantial doubt
about its ability to continue as a going concern. The financial statements do
not include any adjustment that might result from the outcome of this
uncertainty. As also discussed in Note 1, on April 1, 1996, the Company entered
into an agreement to sell certain of the assets of the Microwave Division to
WinStar Communications, Inc.
 
                                          Ernst & Young LLP
 
MetroPark, New Jersey
April 9, 1996
 
                                      F-33
<PAGE>
                           THE MICROWAVE DIVISION OF
                      LOCAL AREA TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.
                                 BALANCE SHEETS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             DECEMBER 31
                                                          MARCH       --------------------------
                                                        31, 1996         1995           1994
                                                       -----------    -----------    -----------
                                                       (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                    <C>            <C>            <C>
ASSETS
Current assets:
  Cash..............................................   $    71,961    $   441,994    $ 1,772,460
  Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful
    accounts of $75,000, $90,000 and $73,000 at
March 31, 1996 and December 31, 1995 and 1994.......       441,906        538,269        526,391
  Inventories.......................................     3,366,607      3,353,641      2,895,981
  Prepaids and other current assets.................       148,191        171,752        619,885
                                                       -----------    -----------    -----------
Total current assets................................     4,028,665      4,505,656      5,814,717
Property and equipment, net.........................     9,409,962     10,015,056     11,531,900
Security deposits...................................        84,077         83,308         85,164
                                                       -----------    -----------    -----------
Total assets........................................   $13,522,704    $14,604,020    $17,431,781
                                                       -----------    -----------    -----------
                                                       -----------    -----------    -----------
LIABILITIES AND DIVISIONAL (DEFICIT) SURPLUS
Current liabilities:
  Accounts payable and accrued expenses.............   $   528,941    $   874,001    $ 1,945,129
  Obligations under capital leases..................        80,050        107,816         65,535
  Interest payable..................................     2,059,013      1,645,708        641,579
  Notes payable.....................................    17,300,000     17,300,000
                                                       -----------    -----------    -----------
Total current liabilities...........................    19,968,004     19,927,525      2,652,243
Capital lease obligations, less current portion.....       233,862        233,862        210,295
Long-term debt......................................        25,000         25,000     13,050,000
                                                       -----------    -----------    -----------
Total liabilities...................................    20,226,866     20,186,387     15,912,538
Divisional (deficit) surplus........................    (6,704,162)    (5,582,367)     1,519,243
                                                       -----------    -----------    -----------
Total liabilities and divisional (deficit)
surplus.............................................   $13,522,704    $14,604,020    $17,431,781
                                                       -----------    -----------    -----------
                                                       -----------    -----------    -----------
</TABLE>
 
                            See accompanying notes.
 
                                      F-34
<PAGE>
                           THE MICROWAVE DIVISION OF
                      LOCAL AREA TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.
                            STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                              THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                                   MARCH 31               YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31
                                           -------------------------    --------------------------
                                              1996           1995          1995           1994
                                           -----------    ----------    -----------    -----------
                                                  (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                        <C>            <C>           <C>            <C>
Revenues:
  Sales of communication services.......   $   987,007    $1,097,650    $ 4,264,664    $ 4,946,988
  Sales of communications systems.......       225,530       680,729      2,656,718      1,842,828
  Installation charges..................         3,500         4,665        169,165         88,151
                                           -----------    ----------    -----------    -----------
                                             1,216,037     1,783,044      7,090,547      6,877,967
Operating expenses:
  Network services......................       673,540       616,601      2,320,374      2,381,922
  Cost of systems sold..................       158,159       493,243      1,714,429      1,302,601
  Selling, general and administrative...       456,187       530,355      2,582,894      2,780,982
  Depreciation and amortization.........       637,109       686,322      2,784,156      2,608,765
                                           -----------    ----------    -----------    -----------
                                             1,924,995     2,326,521      9,401,853      9,074,270
                                           -----------    ----------    -----------    -----------
Loss from operations....................      (708,958)     (543,477)    (2,311,306)    (2,196,303)
Other income (expense):
  Interest income.......................         2,407         4,974         11,736          7,370
  Interest expense......................      (480,080)     (350,004)    (1,587,851)    (1,012,434)
                                           -----------    ----------    -----------    -----------
                                              (477,673)     (345,030)    (1,576,115)    (1,005,064)
                                           -----------    ----------    -----------    -----------
  Net loss..............................   $(1,186,631)   $ (888,507)   $(3,887,421)   $(3,201,367)
                                           -----------    ----------    -----------    -----------
                                           -----------    ----------    -----------    -----------
</TABLE>
 
                            See accompanying notes.
 
                                      F-35
<PAGE>
                           THE MICROWAVE DIVISION OF
                      LOCAL AREA TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.
                   STATEMENTS OF DIVISIONAL (DEFICIT) SURPLUS
                     THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1996 AND
                     YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995 AND 1994
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                               <C>
Divisional surplus at December 31, 1993........................................   $ 4,692,407
  Net loss.....................................................................    (3,201,367)
  Net activity with Locate.....................................................        28,203
                                                                                  -----------
Divisional surplus at December 31, 1994........................................     1,519,243
  Net loss.....................................................................    (3,887,421)
  Net activity with Locate.....................................................    (3,214,189)
                                                                                  -----------
Divisional deficit at December 31, 1995........................................    (5,582,367)
  Net loss (unaudited).........................................................    (1,186,631)
  Net activity with Locate (unaudited).........................................        64,836
                                                                                  -----------
Divisional deficit at March 31, 1996 (unaudited)...............................   $(6,704,162)
                                                                                  -----------
                                                                                  -----------
</TABLE>
 
                            See accompanying notes.
 
                                      F-36
<PAGE>
                           THE MICROWAVE DIVISION OF
                      LOCAL AREA TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.
                            STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                 THREE MONTHS                   YEAR ENDED
                                               ENDED MARCH 31,                 DECEMBER 31
                                          --------------------------    --------------------------
                                             1996           1995           1995           1994
                                          -----------    -----------    -----------    -----------
                                                 (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                       <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net loss...............................   $(1,186,631)   $  (888,507)   $(3,887,421)   $(3,201,367)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to
  net cash used in operating
  activities:
  Depreciation and amortization........       637,109        683,822      2,784,156      2,608,765
  Changes in assets and liabilities:
    Accounts receivable................        96,363       (216,240)       (11,878)       142,512
    Inventory..........................       (12,966)       (51,785)      (457,660)      (228,059)
    Prepaids and other.................        22,792          9,559        449,989       (291,231)
    Accounts payable and accrued
expenses...............................      (345,060)      (407,414)    (1,071,128)      (223,308)
    Interest payable...................       413,305        (89,422)     1,004,129          2,918
                                          -----------    -----------    -----------    -----------
Net cash used in operating
activities.............................      (375,088)      (959,987)    (1,189,813)    (1,189,770)
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital expenditures...................       (32,015)      (137,719)    (1,164,712)      (432,099)
                                          -----------    -----------    -----------    -----------
Net cash used in investing
activities.............................       (32,015)      (137,719)    (1,164,712)      (432,099)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Cash overdraft.........................                      300,553
Payments made under capital lease
obligation.............................       (27,766)       (15,776)       (36,752)       (20,471)
Payments made on long-term debt........                                     (25,000)    (7,500,000)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term
debt...................................                                   4,300,000     10,500,000
Payments to Locate.....................                   (1,499,988)    (6,073,442)    (3,109,794)
Payments from Locate...................        64,836        540,457      2,859,253      2,952,997
                                          -----------    -----------    -----------    -----------
Net cash provided by (used in)
  financing activities.................        37,070       (674,754)     1,024,059      2,822,732
                                          -----------    -----------    -----------    -----------
Net (decrease) increase in cash........      (370,033)    (1,772,460)    (1,330,466)     1,200,863
Cash at beginning of period............       441,994      1,772,460      1,772,460        571,597
                                          -----------    -----------    -----------    -----------
Cash at end of period..................   $    71,961    $   --         $   441,994    $ 1,772,460
                                          -----------    -----------    -----------    -----------
                                          -----------    -----------    -----------    -----------
NON-CASH FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Acquisition of equipment under capital
leases.................................                                 $   102,600    $   296,300
Issuance of Locate's common stock to
retire debt............................                                                    185,000
</TABLE>
 
                            See accompanying notes.
 
                                      F-37
<PAGE>
                           THE MICROWAVE DIVISION OF
                      LOCAL AREA TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.
                         NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                           DECEMBER 31, 1995 AND 1994
                      MARCH 31, 1996 AND 1995 (UNAUDITED)
 
1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
Organization and Basis of Presentation
 
    Local Area Telecommunications, Inc. (the Company), a subsidiary of
MobileMedia Corporation (MobileMedia), was incorporated on October 21, 1981. The
Company's Microwave Division (the Division) is engaged in operations pertaining
to the installation, servicing and maintenance of digital microwave radio
systems for business use within major metropolitan areas. The Division provides
voice, data and image transmission between dispersed locations through
point-to-point, point-to-multipoint and point-to-point short-haul digital
microwave radio. The Division also designs, installs and sells microwave
infrastructures used in cellular communication systems and other networks.
 
    The accompanying financial statements of the Microwave Division of Local
Area Telecommunications, Inc. include all of the microwave operations of Local
Area Telecommunications, Inc., including an allocated share of common expenses
and specifically identifiable assets, liabilities and long-term debt. These
financial statements have been prepared from the accounting records of Local
Area Telecommunications, Inc. and are presented on a going concern basis which
contemplates the realization of assets and the settlement of liabilities and
commitments in the normal course of business. The Division incurred net losses
of $3,769,387 and $3,201,367 for the years ended December 31, 1995 and 1994,
respectively, and as of December 31, 1995 had a divisional deficit of
$5,432,367. The continued operations of the Division are dependent upon the
receipt of additional funding from MobileMedia and/or other sources. There can
be no assurance that such funding will be received.
 
    In October 1994, following a comprehensive review of the operations of the
Company, the Company's Board of Directors developed a plan to sell substantially
all of the assets of the Company by October 1995, retaining an investment banker
to market the assets. At December 31, 1994, in accordance with Accounting
Principles Board Opinion No. 30, "Reporting the Results of Operations--
Reporting the Effects of Disposal of a Segment of a Business, and Extraordinary,
Unusual and Infrequently Occurring Events and Transactions", the Company accrued
losses in anticipation of disposal prior to December 31, 1995. At December 31,
1995, the Microwave Division remained unsold and the Company accrued additional
losses expected to be incurred due to the delay in consummating the disposal.
The accrued losses at December 31, 1995 and 1994 have been recorded in the
Company's accounts, and the accompanying financial statements do not reflect any
allocation therefrom.
 
    On April 1, 1996, the Company entered into an agreement (the "Sale
Agreement") to sell the assets of the Microwave Division, excluding cash,
accounts receivable and certain security deposits, to WinStar Communications,
Inc. (WinStar) in exchange for the assumption of certain liabilities and $17.5
million in the form of notes bearing interest at 8% (the WinStar Notes). The
WinStar Notes are convertible into common stock of WinStar at the option of
WinStar.
 
    Consummation of the sale noted above is subject to regulatory approval.
There can be no assurance, however, that the sale will be consummated or that,
if consummated, it will be consummated on the terms described above.
 
    In connection with the Sale Agreement, the Company entered into a service
agreement ("Services Agreement") for a term commencing in April 1996 and
terminating upon the earlier to occur of (i) the closing of the Sale Agreement,
or (ii) termination of the Sale Agreement. Pursuant to the Services Agreement,
WinStar performs certain consulting and related services for the Company. As
full
 
                                      F-38
<PAGE>
                           THE MICROWAVE DIVISION OF
                      LOCAL AREA TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES--(CONTINUED)
compensation for WinStar's performance of such services, the Company pays
WinStar a fee of $125,000 per month during the term of the agreement, subject to
certain adjustments.
 
    The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial
statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the
reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
Unaudited Interim Financial Statements
 
    The interim financial information as of March 31, 1996 and the three months
ended March 31, 1996 and 1995 contained herein is unaudited but, in the opinion
of management, includes all adjustments of a normal recurring nature which are
necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, results of
operations, and cash flows for the periods presented. Results of operations for
the periods presented herein are not necessarily indicative of results of
operations for the entire year.
 
Inventories
 
    Inventories consist of the cost of communications equipment not yet placed
in service plus the net book value of equipment previously in service which the
Company anticipates returning to service within one year. All inventory is
recorded at the lower of average cost or market.
 
Property and Equipment
 
    Property and equipment additions, as well as the labor costs associated with
the installation thereof, are capitalized at cost. Depreciation is computed on
the straight-line method based upon estimated useful lives ranging from 5 to 10
years.
 
Revenue Recognition
 
    The Company recognizes revenue for communication services when the services
are provided. Sales of communication systems are recognized upon delivery and
installation.
 
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
 
    In March 1995, the FASB issued Statement No. 121, Accounting for the
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to Be Disposed Of,
which requires impairment losses to be recorded on long-lived assets used in
operations when indicators of impairment are present and the undiscounted cash
flows estimated to be generated by those assets are less than the assets'
carrying amount. Statement No. 121 also addresses the accounting for long-lived
assets that are expected to be disposed of. The Division adopted Statement No.
121 as of January 1, 1996, which had no effect on the Division's financial
position or results of operations.
 
Income Taxes
 
    The Division is included in the consolidated federal income tax return of
MobileMedia. No consolidated federal income tax expense or benefit is allocated
to the Division.
 
                                      F-39
<PAGE>
                           THE MICROWAVE DIVISION OF
                      LOCAL AREA TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
2. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
 
    The components of property and equipment were as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             DECEMBER 31
                                                          MARCH       --------------------------
                                                        31, 1996         1995           1994
                                                       -----------    -----------    -----------
                                                       (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                    <C>            <C>            <C>
Equipment placed in service.........................   $26,504,158    $26,472,594    $26,641,661
Furniture and fixtures..............................     1,691,465      1,715,051      1,452,478
                                                       -----------    -----------    -----------
                                                        28,195,623     28,187,645     28,094,139
Less accumulated depreciation.......................    18,785,661     18,172,589     16,562,239
                                                       -----------    -----------    -----------
                                                       $ 9,409,962    $10,015,056    $11,531,900
                                                       -----------    -----------    -----------
                                                       -----------    -----------    -----------
</TABLE>
 
    Included in equipment placed in service is certain equipment obtained under
capital leases. At March 31, 1996, this equipment has a gross book value of
approximately $429,000 and a net book value of approximately $366,000.
 
3. NOTES PAYABLE
 
    Notes payable, all of which are unsecured, consisted of the following:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          MARCH              DECEMBER 31
                                                        31, 1996         1995           1994
                                                       -----------    -----------    -----------
                                                       (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                    <C>            <C>            <C>
12% super senior note payable.......................   $ 7,300,000    $ 7,300,000    $ 3,000,000
10% senior notes payable, due March 31, 1996........     7,500,000      7,500,000      7,500,000
10% senior note payable, due September 15, 1996.....     2,500,000      2,500,000      2,500,000
12% Subordinated Note...............................        25,000         25,000         50,000
                                                       -----------    -----------    -----------
                                                       $17,325,000    $17,325,000    $13,050,000
                                                       -----------    -----------    -----------
                                                       -----------    -----------    -----------
</TABLE>
 
    In December 1994, the Division refinanced $7,500,000 of its $10,000,000 10%
note payable, due September 15, 1996 with two $3,750,000 10% senior notes
payable (the Senior Notes), due January 1, 1996. On April 28, 1995, the due
dates of the two $3,750,000 Senior Notes were extended to March 31, 1996.
 
    In December 1994, the Division borrowed $3,000,000 from a MobileMedia
shareholder in exchange for a 12% super senior note payable due January 1, 1996.
During 1995, the Division borrowed $4,300,000 in exchange for six additional 12%
super senior notes (collectively, the "Super Senior Notes").
 
    As of April 9, 1996, neither the Senior Notes nor the Super Senior Notes
(collectively, the "Notes") were repaid. It is anticipated that the Notes will
be exchanged for WinStar Notes acquired by the Company pursuant to the Sale
Agreement (Note 1).
 
    Total interest paid for the three months ended March 31, 1996 and 1995, and
for the years ended December 31, 1995 and 1994 was approximately $67,000,
$439,000, $586,000 and $1,269,000, respectively.
 
                                      F-40
<PAGE>
                           THE MICROWAVE DIVISION OF
                      LOCAL AREA TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
4. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
 
    For the three months ended March 31, 1996 and 1995, and for the years ended
December 31, 1995 and 1994, the Division had sales to MobileMedia of
approximately $9,000, $18,000, $70,000 and $721,000, respectively.
 
    In December 1995, on behalf of the Division, the Company acquired certain
vehicles, totaling approximately $103,000, under capital lease agreements (the
Agreements) with Roos Capital Planners, Inc., a related party. The Agreements
require the Company to make 36 monthly installments of $4,000.
 
5. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
 
    On behalf of the Division, the Company leases space under cancellable and
noncancellable operating leases which expire at various dates through 2000.
Total rental expense for the three months ended March 31, 1996 and 1995, and for
the years ended December 31, 1995 and 1994 was approximately $402,000, $373,000,
$1,586,000 and $1,811,000, respectively. Additionally, the Company is obligated
under capital leases for certain equipment.
 
    Future minimum payments under capital leases and noncancellable operating
leases with initial terms of one year or more consists of the following as of
December 31, 1995:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        CAPITAL     OPERATING
                                                                         LEASES       LEASES
                                                                        --------    ----------
<S>                                                                     <C>         <C>
1996.................................................................   $147,900    $  630,000
1997.................................................................    147,900       538,000
1998.................................................................    122,708        18,000
1999.................................................................                    8,000
2000.................................................................                    3,000
                                                                        --------    ----------
Total future minimum payments........................................    418,508    $1,197,000
                                                                                    ----------
                                                                                    ----------
Less amount representing interest....................................     76,830
                                                                        --------
Present value of net minimum lease payments (including current
  portion of $107,816)...............................................   $341,678
                                                                        --------
                                                                        --------
</TABLE>
 
    The Company has employment agreements with certain executives through
December 31, 1996 requiring the payment of $428,645 per year in compensation
with increases of 5% per annum. Additionally, payments of $1,500,000 may be
required in certain circumstances by the Company in the event of the termination
of employment of the executives within six months from the date of sale of the
Company, as defined in the employment agreements. Also, if the earnings before
interest, depreciation, taxes and amortization of MobileMedia increase by more
than 30% and 50%, the Chief Executive Officer is entitled to a payment of
$350,000 for each noted percentage increase. Based on the specified performance
criteria, $350,000 was expensed in each of 1994 and 1995, and is included in the
results of operations of the Division.
 
                                      F-41
<PAGE>
                        REPORT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED
                               PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
 
Board of Directors
  AVANT-GARDE TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.
 
    We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of Avant-Garde
Telecommunications, Inc. as of February 28, 1995, and the related statements of
operations, and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended
February 28, 1995. These financial statements are the responsibility of the
Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these
financial statements based on our audits.
 
    We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
    In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly,
in all material respects, the financial position of Avant-Garde
Telecommunications, Inc. as of February 28, 1995, and the results of its
operations and its cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended
February 28, 1995, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
 
GRANT THORNTON LLP
New York, New York
July 28, 1995
 
                                      F-42
<PAGE>
                      AVANT-GARDE TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.
                                 BALANCE SHEET
                               FEBRUARY 28, 1995
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                               <C>
ASSETS
  Cash.........................................................................   $       237
  Accounts receivable..........................................................       --
  Other current assets.........................................................        97,140
                                                                                  -----------
    Total current assets.......................................................        97,377
  Property and equipment, net..................................................     3,149,911
  Other assets.................................................................       432,683
                                                                                  -----------
    Total assets...............................................................   $ 3,679,971
                                                                                  -----------
                                                                                  -----------
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIENCY
  Accounts payable and accrued expenses........................................   $ 2,765,578
                                                                                  -----------
  Due to affiliate.............................................................     3,350,510
                                                                                  -----------
  Total liabilities............................................................     6,116,088
                                                                                  -----------
Stockholders' Deficiency
  Preferred stock, $.001 par value; authorized 50,000 shares, no shares issued
    and outstanding............................................................       --
  Common stock, $.001 par value; authorized 200,000 shares, issued and
    outstanding 2,250 shares...................................................             2
  Additional paid-in capital...................................................            20
  Accumulated deficit..........................................................    (2,436,139)
                                                                                  -----------
    Total stockholders' deficiency.............................................    (2,436,117)
                                                                                  -----------
    Total liabilities and stockholders' deficiency.............................   $ 3,679,971
                                                                                  -----------
                                                                                  -----------
</TABLE>
 
                       See Notes to Financial Statements
 
                                      F-43
<PAGE>
                     AVANT--GARDE TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.
                            STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                              FOR THE YEAR ENDED
                                                         FOR THE PERIOD          FEBRUARY 28,
                                                           MARCH 1 TO      ------------------------
                                                         JULY 17, 1995        1995          1994
                                                         --------------    -----------    ---------
                                                          (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                      <C>               <C>            <C>
Revenues..............................................    $     17,779     $     7,458    $  --
                                                         --------------    -----------    ---------
Expenses:
  Selling, general, and administrative expenses.......       1,704,294       2,277,094      134,797
  Depreciation........................................          59,250          25,872       --
                                                         --------------    -----------    ---------
Total expenses........................................       1,763,544       2,302,966      134,797
                                                         --------------    -----------    ---------
Operating loss........................................      (1,745,765)     (2,295,508)    (134,797)
Interest expense (income), net........................        --                 6,039         (205)
Amortization of intangibles...........................          31,978         --            --
                                                         --------------    -----------    ---------
Net loss..............................................      (1,777,743)     (2,301,547)    (134,592)
Accumulated deficit, beginning of period..............      (2,436,139)       (134,592)      --
                                                         --------------    -----------    ---------
Accumulated deficit, end of period....................    $ (4,213,882)    $(2,436,139)   $(134,592)
                                                         --------------    -----------    ---------
                                                         --------------    -----------    ---------
</TABLE>
 
                       See Notes to Financial Statements
 
                                      F-44
<PAGE>
                     AVANT--GARDE TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.
                            STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                              FOR THE YEAR ENDED
                                                         FOR THE PERIOD          FEBRUARY 28,
                                                           MARCH 1 TO      ------------------------
                                                         JULY 17, 1995        1995          1994
                                                         --------------    -----------    ---------
                                                          (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                      <C>               <C>            <C>
Cash flows from operating activities:
  Net loss............................................    $ (1,777,743)    $(2,301,547)   $(134,592)
  Adjustments to reconcile net loss to cash used by
    operating activities:
  Depreciation........................................          59,250          25,872       --
  Amortization of intangibles.........................          31,978         --            --
  (Increase) decrease in operating assets
    Accounts receivable...............................          (9,660)             22       --
    Other current assets..............................             168         (97,140)      --
  Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued
expenses..............................................        (913,593)        921,890       43,688
                                                         --------------    -----------    ---------
Net cash used in operating activities.................      (2,609,600)     (1,450,903)     (90,904)
                                                         --------------    -----------    ---------
Cash flows from investing activities
  Purchase of property and equipment..................      (2,447,761)     (1,375,783)      --
  Investment in other assets..........................        (458,371)       (432,683)      --
                                                         --------------    -----------    ---------
Net cash used in investing activities.................      (2,906,132)     (1,808,466)      --
                                                         --------------    -----------    ---------
Cash flows from financing activities
  Increase in due to affiliate........................       5,515,815       3,245,510      105,000
                                                         --------------    -----------    ---------
Net increase (decrease) in cash.......................              83         (13,859)      14,096
Cash at beginning of period...........................             237          14,096       --
                                                         --------------    -----------    ---------
Cash at end of period.................................    $        320     $       237    $  14,096
                                                         --------------    -----------    ---------
                                                         --------------    -----------    ---------
</TABLE>
 
                       See Notes to Financial Statements
 
                                      F-45
<PAGE>
                      AVANT-GARDE TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.
                         NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
NOTE 1--SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
    The financial statements include the accounts of Avant-Garde
Telecommunications, Inc. ("Company"), prepared in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles.
 
NATURE OF BUSINESS:
 
    The Company develops, markets and delivers local telecommunication services
in the United States. The local telecommunications market has become
increasingly open to competition as a result of recent technological
developments and procompetitive regulatory initiatives. The Company, based in
Washington, D.C., holds 30 licenses, each encompassing four 100-MHz millimeter
wave radio channels. These licenses allow the Company to deliver voice, data and
video over 400 MHz of exclusive bandwidth in the 38 GHz band. These licenses
were issued to the Company on September 16, 1993. Under the terms of its
licenses, the Company was required to begin the provision of services authorized
under such licenses by March 15, 1995. On March 15, 1995, the Company filed a
certificate of completion for each license with the Federal Communications
Commission ("FCC").
 
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT:
 
    Property and equipment is stated at cost. When assets are placed into
service, depreciation and amortization are computed using the straight-line
method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets, which ranges from
3 to 8 years.
 
OTHER ASSETS:
 
    Certain costs, associated directly with meeting FCC license requirements
have been capitalized. These costs will be amortized over a 3 year period
beginning June 1, 1995, when the licenses are deemed to have been placed in
service. The amount capitalized is $417,000 as of February 28, 1995.
 
UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS:
 
    In the opinion of the Company, the accompanying unaudited statements of
operations and statements of cash flows for the period of March 1 to July 17,
1995 include all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments)
necessary to present fairly the results of operations and the cash flows for the
period of March 1, 1995 to July 17, 1995.
 
NOTE 2--DUE TO AFFILIATE
 
    In February and April, 1994, WinStar Wireless, Inc. ("Wireless"), a
wholly-owned subsidiary of WinStar Communications, Inc. ("WCII"), purchased a
49% interest in the company from its majority stockholder for $4,900,000 in cash
and stock. Wireless also obtained an option to acquire an additional 31% of the
Company from the majority stockholder. The Company entered into a management
agreement (the "Agreement") with Wireless at that time. Under the terms of the
Agreement, Wireless has managed the operations of the company since February
1994, subject to the direction of the majority shareholder, including the
development of a strategic business plan and financing all of the operations of
the Company, including capital expenditures. The Agreement provided for a
management fee to Wireless equal to 20% of the Company's gross receipts, subject
to a minimum fee of $10,000 per month. All amounts advanced by Wireless to the
Company, as well as accrued management fees
 
                                      F-46
<PAGE>
                      AVANT-GARDE TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 2--DUE TO AFFILIATE--(CONTINUED)
payable, are included in Due to Affiliate in the accompanying balance sheets and
are non-interest bearing.
 
    On April 10, 1995, WCII entered into an agreement with all of the Company's
shareholders pursuant to which WCII agreed to acquire the remaining 51% of the
Company in exchange for 1,275,000 restricted shares of WCII's common stock
valued at $5,100,000. This agreement was contingent upon the Company obtaining
consent from the FCC to transfer control of its licenses. On June 26, 1995, such
consent was granted by the FCC, and on July 17, 1995, this agreement was
consummated and the transfer took place. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement,
the Company merged into WinStar Wireless Fiber Corporation, a wholly-owned
subsidiary of WCII which is the sole surviving corporation.
 
NOTE 3--PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
 
    Property and equipment consist of the following:
 
                                                              FEBRUARY 28, 1995
                                                              -----------------
Communications Network.....................................      $ 2,532,103
Computer Systems and Equipment.............................          592,901
Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment............................           48,230
Other......................................................            2,549
                                                              -----------------
                                                                 $ 3,175,783
Accumulated Depreciation...................................          (25,872)
                                                              -----------------
                                                                 $ 3,149,911
                                                              -----------------
                                                              -----------------
 
NOTE 4--P-COM CONTRACT
 
    In November 1994, the Company entered into a non-exclusive, three year
agreement with P-Com, Inc. ("P-Com"), a manufacturer and distributor of radio
links, providing for the purchase of radio links from P-Com. The contract
pricing structure includes provisions relating to the volume of purchases under
the agreement. An annual minimum volume requirement must be met in order to
maintain the agreed upon pricing structure. The contract is cancelable by the
Company subject to certain conditions, such as the guarantee of the next 90
days' purchases in accordance with an agreed upon schedule as well as the
payment of certain deferred billings. As of February 28, 1995, the Company's
noncancellable purchase commitment was approximately $7,250,000. These
conditions to cancellation become more favorable to the Company as certain
volume levels are reached.
 
    Certain amounts paid under the contract are prepayments for future purchases
and are included in communications equipment in property and equipment but are
not being depreciated. In future periods, as certain volume levels are attained,
these amounts may be recovered. This prepaid amounts as of February 28, 1995 is
$822,500.
 
                                      F-47
<PAGE>
                      AVANT-GARDE TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 5--INCOME TAXES
 
    The Company follows Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109,
"Accounting for Income Taxes," which requires the use of the asset and liability
method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, deferred income taxes
are recognized for the tax consequences of temporary differences by applying
enacted statutory rates applicable to future years to differences between the
financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of existing assets and
liabilities.
 
    The temporary differences which result in deferred tax assets consist of net
operating loss carryforwards. The tax effect of this temporary difference is as
follows:
 
                                                              FEBRUARY 28, 1995
                                                              -----------------
Net operating loss carryforwards...........................       $ 826,000
Valuation allowance........................................        (826,000)
                                                              -----------------
                                                                  $--
                                                              -----------------
                                                              -----------------
 
    Due to losses incurred by the Company, a full valuation of the deferred tax
asset has been provided because realization of this future benefit cannot
currently be assured. The Company's net operating loss carryforwards of
approximately $3,534,000 will begin to expire in 2009, if not utilized. The
Company's ability to utilize its net operating losses deductions to offset
future taxable income is limited due to the change in control as defined in
Internal Revenue Code Section 382.
 
NOTE 6--COMMITMENTS
 
    In May 1995, Wireless completed a private placement of $7,500,000 of five
year secured convertible notes (the "Notes"). These Notes are guaranteed by the
Company, and the security for the Notes includes a pledge by Wireless of its
shares of the Company.
 
                                      F-48
<PAGE>
                 WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                         UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED
                       CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
    The following unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated balance sheet has
been prepared by taking the March 31, 1996 consolidated balance sheets of
WinStar Communications, Inc. and subsidiaries (the "Company"), the Microwave
Division of Local Area Telecommunications, Inc. ("Locate"), The Winning Line,
Inc. ("TWL"), and Fox Lorber Associates, Inc. ("Fox/Lorber"), and giving effect
to the acquisitions of 65% of TWL, 80% of Fox/Lorber, and certain assets of
Locate by the Company as if they occurred on March 31, 1996. The following
unaudited pro forma "as adjusted" balance sheet gives effect to each of these
acquisitions as well as to the Stock Offering and Debt Offering as if they
occurred on March 31, 1996. The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated
balance sheet has been prepared for information purposes only and does not
purport to be indicative of the financial condition that necessarily would have
resulted had these transactions taken place on March 31, 1996.
 
    The following unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statements of
operations for the ten month period ended December 31, 1995 and for the three
months ended March 31, 1996 give effect to the Company's acquisition of certain
assets of Locate, 65% of TWL, 80% of Fox/Lorber, and the remaining 51% of
Avant-Garde Telecommunications, Inc. ("AGT"), as well as the Everest Financing
and issuance of the Old Notes, as if they occurred as of the beginning of the
respective periods. The following unaudited pro forma "as adjusted" statements
of operations for the ten month period ended December 31, 1995 and for the three
month period ended March 31, 1996 give effect to these acquisitions and
financings as well as to the Stock Offering and Debt Offering as if they
occurred as of the beginning of the respective periods. The revenues and results
of operations included in the following unaudited pro forma condensed
consolidated statements of operations are not indicative of anticipated results
of operations for periods subsequent to the transactions, nor are they
considered necessarily to be indicative of the results of operations for the
periods specified had the transactions actually been completed at the beginning
of each respective period.
 
    These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the notes to
the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial statements, which
follow, the consolidated financial statements of the Company and related notes
thereto, the financial statements of Locate and related notes thereto, and the
financial statements of AGT and related notes thereto, appearing elsewhere in
the Prospectus.
 
                                      F-49
<PAGE>
                 WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
            UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
                              AS OF MARCH 31, 1996
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                    PRO FORMA
                                                                                                                   ADJUSTMENTS
                                                                                                                    INCREASE/
                                                                                                                    (DECREASE)
                                                  THE COMPANY,       LOCATE,          TWL,         FOX/LORBER,         FOR
                                                   HISTORICAL      HISTORICAL      HISTORICAL      HISTORICAL      ACQUISITIONS
                                                  ------------     -----------     -----------     -----------     ------------
<S>                                               <C>              <C>             <C>             <C>             <C>
 ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents.....................    $176,130,544     $    71,961     $    11,126     $   175,293     $    (25,000)(b)
                                                                                                                        (71,961)(a)
Short term investments                              27,372,707         --              --              --               --
                                                  ------------     -----------     -----------     -----------     ------------
 Total cash, cash equivalents and short term
investments...................................     203,503,251          71,961          11,126         175,293          (96,961)
Investments in marketable equity securities...       6,158,250         --              --              --
Accounts receivable, net......................       9,746,373         441,906         335,869       3,978,467         (441,906)(a)
Notes receivable..............................         374,908         --              --              --
Inventories...................................       7,895,211       3,366,607         --            1,642,336
Prepaid expenses and other current assets.....       2,819,192         148,191          24,552          82,899         (200,312)(c)
                                                                                                                       (148,191)(a)
                                                                                                                       (222,937)(d)
                                                  ------------     -----------     -----------     -----------     ------------
  Total current assets........................     230,497,185       4,028,665         371,547       5,878,995       (1,110,307)
Property and equipment, net...................      18,089,226       9,409,962         166,918         194,990
Notes receivable..............................       4,029,280         --              --              --              (970,000)(c)
                                                                                                                     (2,623,555)(d)
Investments and advances......................         322,733         --              --               76,996
Licenses, net.................................      12,443,408         --              --              --             5,037,343(a)
Intangible assets, net........................       3,071,629         --              --               68,187        3,090,724(b)
                                                                                                                      3,953,864(c)
Deferred financing costs......................      10,515,964         --              --              --               --
Other assets..................................       1,503,366          84,077          54,390         223,559          (64,080)(c)
                                                                                                                        (84,077)(a)
                                                  ------------     -----------     -----------     -----------     ------------
   Total assets...............................    $280,472,791     $13,522,704     $   592,855     $ 6,442,727     $  7,229,912
                                                  ------------     -----------     -----------     -----------     ------------
                                                  ------------     -----------     -----------     -----------     ------------
 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities
Loans payable.................................    $  8,876,316     $17,300,000     $ 3,619,055     $   820,380     $ 17,500,000(a)
                                                                                                                       (136,508)(b)
                                                                                                                       (970,000)(c)
                                                                                                                    (17,300,000)(a)
                                                                                                                     (2,623,555)(d)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses.........      11,169,254       2,587,954       1,092,584       7,444,263           23,033(b)
                                                                                                                       (429,312)(c)
                                                                                                                     (2,587,954)(a)
                                                                                                                       (222,937)(d)
Capitalized lease obligations.................       1,437,852          80,050         --               17,000
                                                  ------------     -----------     -----------     -----------     ------------
  Total current liabilities...................      21,483,422      19,968,004       4,711,639       8,281,643       (6,747,233)
Old senior notes payable......................     159,194,067         --              --              --
New senior notes offered hereby...............         --              --              --              --               --
New senior subordinated notes offered
hereby........................................         --              --              --              --               --
Old convertible notes payable.................      79,597,033         --              --              --
Other notes payable...........................       3,436,314          25,000         --              167,270          (25,000)(a)
Capitalized lease obligations.................       5,809,745         233,862         --                3,013
                                                  ------------     -----------     -----------     -----------     ------------
  Total liabilities...........................     269,520,581      20,226,866       4,711,639       8,451,926       (6,772,233)
                                                  ------------     -----------     -----------     -----------     ------------
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock...............................         688,900         --              --            3,151,800       (3,151,800)(b)
Common stock, $.01 par value; authorized
 75,000,000 shares, issued 29,740,306 and
 outstanding 27,233,543 shares, pro forma
 issued 29,807,739 and outstanding 27,300,976
 shares, and pro forma as adjusted issued
33,807,739 and outstanding 31,300,976
shares........................................         297,404         --              746,291         290,118         (289,444)(b)
                                                                                                                       (746,291)(c)
Additional paid-in capital....................     103,989,159         --              --              --             1,169,326(b)
Accumulated deficit...........................     (52,009,885)     (6,704,162)     (4,865,075)     (5,042,854)       5,042,854(b)
                                                                                                                      6,704,162(a)
                                                                                                                      4,865,075(c)
                                                  ------------     -----------     -----------     -----------     ------------
                                                    52,965,578      (6,704,162)     (4,118,784)     (1,600,936)      13,593,882
Less: Treasury stock..........................     (39,677,743)        --              --             (408,263)         408,263(b)
   Deferred compensation......................        (996,875)        --              --              --
   Unrealized loss on investments in
      marketable equity securities............      (1,338,750)        --              --              --
                                                  ------------     -----------     -----------     -----------     ------------
Total stockholders' equity....................      10,952,210      (6,704,162)     (4,118,784)     (2,009,199)      14,002,145
                                                  ------------     -----------     -----------     -----------     ------------
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity....    $280,472,791     $13,522,704     $   592,855     $ 6,442,727     $  7,229,912
                                                  ------------     -----------     -----------     -----------     ------------
                                                  ------------     -----------     -----------     -----------     ------------
<CAPTION>
                                                                  PRO FORMA
                                                                 ADJUSTMENTS
                                                 PRO FORMA        INCREASE/
                                                AS ADJUSTED       (DECREASE)
                                                    FOR            FOR THE            PRO FORMA
                                                ACQUISITIONS      OFFERINGS          AS ADJUSTED
                                                ------------     ------------        ------------
<S>                                               <C>            <C>                 <C>
 ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents.....................  $176,291,963     $297,672,500(e)     $473,964,463
 
Short term investments                            27,372,707                           27,372,707
                                                ------------     ------------        ------------
 Total cash, cash equivalents and short term
investments...................................   203,664,670      297,672,500         501,337,170
Investments in marketable equity securities...     6,158,250                            6,158,250
Accounts receivable, net......................    14,060,709                           14,060,709
Notes receivable..............................       374,908                              374,908
Inventories...................................    12,904,154                           12,904,154
Prepaid expenses and other current assets.....     2,503,394                            2,503,394
 
                                                ------------     ------------        ------------
  Total current assets........................   239,666,085      297,672,500         537,338,585
Property and equipment, net...................    27,861,096                           27,861,096
Notes receivable..............................       435,725                              435,725
 
Investments and advances......................       399,729                              399,729
Licenses, net.................................    17,480,751                           17,480,751
Intangible assets, net........................    10,184,404                           10,184,404
 
Deferred financing costs......................    10,515,964        7,925,000(e)       18,440,964
Other assets..................................     1,717,235                            1,717,235

                                                ------------     ------------        ------------
   Total assets...............................  $308,260,989     $305,597,500        $613,858,489
                                                ------------     ------------        ------------
                                                ------------     ------------        ------------
 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities
Loans payable.................................  $ 27,085,688     $                   $ 27,085,688
 
Accounts payable and accrued expenses.........    19,076,885          850,000(e)       19,926,885
 
Capitalized lease obligations.................     1,534,902                            1,534,902
                                                ------------     ------------        ------------
  Total current liabilities...................    47,697,475          850,000          48,547,475
Old senior notes payable......................   159,194,067          --              159,194,067
New senior notes offered hereby...............       --           100,000,000(e)      100,000,000
New senior subordinated notes offered
hereby........................................       --           100,000,000(e)      100,000,000
Old convertible notes payable.................    79,597,033          --               79,597,033
Other notes payable...........................     3,603,584                            3,603,584
Capitalized lease obligations.................     6,046,620                            6,046,620
                                                ------------     ------------        ------------
  Total liabilities...........................   296,138,779      200,850,000         496,988,779
                                                ------------     ------------        ------------
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock...............................       688,900                              688,900
Common stock, $.01 par value; authorized
 75,000,000 shares, issued 29,740,306 and
 outstanding 27,233,543 shares, pro forma
 issued 29,807,739 and outstanding 27,300,976
 shares, and pro forma as adjusted issued
33,807,739 and outstanding 31,300,976
shares........................................       298,078           40,000(e)          338,078
 
Additional paid-in capital....................   105,158,485      104,707,500(e)      209,865,985
Accumulated deficit...........................   (52,009,885)                         (52,009,885)
 
                                                ------------     ------------        ------------
                                                  54,135,578      104,747,500         158,883,078
Less: Treasury stock..........................   (39,677,743)                         (39,677,743)
   Deferred compensation......................      (996,875)                            (996,875)
   Unrealized loss on investments in
      marketable equity securities............    (1,338,750)                          (1,338,750)
                                                ------------     ------------        ------------
Total stockholders' equity....................    12,122,210      104,747,500         116,869,710
                                                ------------     ------------        ------------
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity....  $308,260,989     $305,597,500        $613,858,489
                                                ------------     ------------        ------------
                                                ------------     ------------        ------------
</TABLE>

                                      F-50
<PAGE>

                 WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
       UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
                   FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1996
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                  PRO FORMA
                                                                                                 ADJUSTMENTS
                                                                                                  INCREASE/        PRO FORMA
                                                                                                  (DECREASE)      AS ADJUSTED
                                         THE COMPANY,     LOCATE,        TWL,      FOX/LORBER,       FOR              FOR
                                          HISTORICAL    HISTORICAL    HISTORICAL   HISTORICAL    ACQUISITIONS     ACQUISITIONS
                                         ------------   -----------   ----------   -----------   ------------     ------------
<S>                                      <C>            <C>           <C>          <C>           <C>              <C>
Net sales..............................  $ 14,509,042   $ 1,216,037   $  391,108   $ 1,779,879    $               $ 17,896,066
Cost of sales..........................     8,573,271       831,699      338,628     1,115,958                      10,859,556
                                         ------------   -----------   ----------   -----------   ------------     ------------
   Gross profit........................     5,935,771       384,338       52,480       663,921        --             7,036,510
Selling, general and administrative
expenses...............................    10,191,903       456,187      475,729       647,472                      11,771,291
Depreciation...........................       361,510       637,109        8,250         7,000                       1,013,869
                                         ------------   -----------   ----------   -----------   ------------     ------------
Operating loss.........................    (4,617,642)     (708,958)    (431,499)        9,449        --            (5,748,650)
Other (income) expense
 Interest expense......................     8,492,345       480,080      104,969        21,044       (132,810)(a)    8,965,628
 Interest income.......................    (2,734,454)       (2,407)      --           --                           (2,736,861)
 Amortization of intangibles...........       194,594       --             1,800         1,500        119,807(b)       317,701
                                         ------------   -----------   ----------   -----------   ------------     ------------
Net loss before income taxes...........   (10,570,127)   (1,186,631)    (538,268)      (13,095)        13,003      (12,295,118)
Income taxes...........................       128,683       --            --           --                              128,683
                                         ------------   -----------   ----------   -----------   ------------     ------------
Net loss...............................  $(10,698,810)  $(1,186,631)  $ (538,268)  $   (13,095)   $    13,003     $(12,423,801)
                                         ------------   -----------   ----------   -----------   ------------     ------------
                                         ------------   -----------   ----------   -----------   ------------     ------------
Net loss per share.....................  $      (0.39)                                                            $      (0.46)
                                         ------------                                                             ------------
                                         ------------                                                             ------------
Weighted average shares outstanding....    27,214,281                                                  67,443       27,281,724
                                         ------------                                            ------------     ------------
                                         ------------                                            ------------     ------------
 
<CAPTION>
                                          PRO FORMA
                                         ADJUSTMENTS
                                          INCREASE/
                                          (DECREASE)
                                             FOR
                                             THE           PRO FORMA
                                          OFFERINGS       AS ADJUSTED
                                         ------------     ------------
<S>                                    <C>              <C>
Net sales..............................  $                $ 17,896,066
Cost of sales..........................                     10,859,556
                                         ------------     ------------
   Gross profit........................       --             7,036,510
Selling, general and administrative
expenses...............................                     11,771,291
Depreciation...........................                      1,013,869
                                         ------------     ------------
Operating loss.........................       --            (5,748,650)
Other (income) expense
 Interest expense......................     7,073,125(k)    16,038,753
 Interest income.......................                     (2,736,861)
 Amortization of intangibles...........                        317,701
                                         ------------     ------------
Net loss before income taxes...........    (7,073,125)     (19,368,243)
Income taxes...........................                        128,683
                                         ------------     ------------
Net loss...............................  $ (7,073,125)    $(19,496,926)
                                         ------------     ------------
                                         ------------     ------------
Net loss per share.....................                   $      (0.62)
                                                          ------------
                                                          ------------
Weighted average shares outstanding....     4,000,000(l)    31,281,724
                                         ------------     ------------
                                         ------------     ------------
</TABLE>

                                      F-51

<PAGE>
                 WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
       UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
                FOR THE TEN MONTH PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                PRO FORMA
                                                                                                               ADJUSTMENTS
                                                                                                                INCREASE/
                                                       AGT,                                                     (DECREASE)
                                                    HISTORICAL,                                              FOR ACQUISITIONS
                                    THE COMPANY,    MARCH 1 TO       LOCATE,        TWL,       FOX/LORBER,      AND PRIOR
                                     HISTORICAL    JULY 17, 1995   HISTORICAL    HISTORICAL    HISTORICAL       FINANCINGS
                                    ------------   -------------   -----------   -----------   -----------   ----------------
<S>                                 <C>            <C>             <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>
Net sales.........................  $ 29,771,472    $     17,779   $ 7,090,547   $ 1,381,319   $ 7,534,876     $   (2,189,994)(c)
                                                                                                                      (45,000)(e)
Cost of sales.....................    19,546,351        --           4,034,803       957,190     5,679,399         (1,568,699)(c)
                                    ------------   -------------   -----------   -----------   -----------   ----------------
 Gross profit.....................    10,225,121          17,779     3,055,744       424,129     1,855,477           (666,295)
Selling, general and
administrative expenses...........    19,266,466       1,704,294     2,582,894     1,470,831     2,296,448            (70,000)(d)
                                                                                                                     (651,101)(c)
                                                                                                                      (45,000)(e)
Depreciation......................       770,284          59,250     2,784,156        25,000        27,521           (450,786)(c)
                                    ------------   -------------   -----------   -----------   -----------   ----------------
Operating loss....................    (9,811,629)     (1,745,765)   (2,311,306)   (1,071,702)     (468,492)           550,592
Other (income) expense
 Interest expense                      7,309,258        --           1,587,851       244,454        79,174           (197,782)(a)
                                                                                                                     (239,413)(c)
                                                                                                                   21,705,785(i)
                                                                                                                      155,421(j)
 Interest income..................    (2,568,992)       --             (11,736)      --            --
 Amortization of intangibles......       439,888          31,978       --              7,045         5,619            399,357(b)
                                                                                                                         (937)(c)
 Other expense....................       --             --             --            --            126,188            (21,031)(c)
 Equity in loss of AGT............       865,676        --             --            --            --                (865,676)(f)
                                    ------------   -------------   -----------   -----------   -----------   ----------------
Net loss..........................  $(15,857,459)   $ (1,777,743)  $(3,887,421)  $(1,323,201)  $  (679,473)    $  (20,385,132)
                                    ------------   -------------   -----------   -----------   -----------   ----------------
                                    ------------   -------------   -----------   -----------   -----------   ----------------
Net loss per share................  $      (0.70)
                                    ------------
                                    ------------
Weighted average shares
outstanding.......................    22,769,770                                                                      575,000(h)
                                                                                                                       67,433(g)
                                                                                                             ----------------
                                                                                                             ----------------
 
<CAPTION>
 
                                                        PRO FORMA
                                       PRO FORMA       ADJUSTMENTS
                                      AS ADJUSTED       INCREASE/
                                    FOR ACQUISITIONS    (DECREASE)
                                       AND PRIOR         FOR THE       PRO FORMA
                                       FINANCINGS       OFFERINGS     AS ADJUSTED
                                    ----------------   ------------   ------------
<S>                                 <C>                <C>            <C>
Net sales.........................    $   43,560,999   $              $ 43,560,999
 
Cost of sales.....................        28,649,044                    28,649,044
                                    ----------------   ------------   ------------
 Gross profit.....................        14,911,955                    14,911,955
Selling, general and
administrative expenses...........        26,554,832                    26,554,832
 
Depreciation......................         3,215,425                     3,215,425
                                    ----------------   ------------   ------------
Operating loss....................       (14,858,302)                  (14,858,302)
Other (income) expense
 Interest expense                         30,644,748     24,207,500(k)   54,852,248
 
 Interest income..................        (2,580,728)                   (2,580,728)
 Amortization of intangibles......           882,950                       882,950
 
 Other expense....................           105,157                       105,157
 Equity in loss of AGT............         --                              --
                                    ----------------   ------------   ------------
Net loss..........................    $  (43,910,429)  $(24,207,500)  $(68,117,929)
                                    ----------------   ------------   ------------
                                    ----------------   ------------   ------------
Net loss per share................    $        (1.88)                 $      (2.48)
                                    ----------------                  ------------
                                    ----------------                  ------------
Weighted average shares
outstanding.......................        23,412,203      4,000,000(l)   27,412,203
 
                                    ----------------   ------------   ------------
                                    ----------------   ------------   ------------
</TABLE>

                                      F-52

<PAGE>
                 WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                     NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED
                 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
    The adjustments below were prepared based on data currently available and in
some cases are based on estimates or approximations. It is possible that the
actual amounts to be recorded may have an impact on the results of operations
and the balance sheet different from that reflected in the accompanying
unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial statements. It is therefore
possible that the entries presented below will not be the amounts actually
recorded at the closing date.
 
BALANCE SHEET AT MARCH 31, 1996
 
    (a) To record the issuance of $17,500,000 in notes payable in payment for
certain assets of Locate, to eliminate assets and liabilities not acquired or
assumed and division deficiency, and to allocate the excess of the purchase
price over the fair value of the assets acquired to the licenses acquired.
 
    (b) To record the acquisition of 80% of Fox/Lorber as follows:
 
                                                                  INCREASE/
                                                                  (DECREASE)
                                                                  ----------
Reduce cash for payment of closing costs.......................   $  (25,000)
Allocate excess purchase price to goodwill.....................    3,090,724
                                                                  ----------
      Total asset adjustments..................................   $3,065,724
                                                                  ----------
                                                                  ----------
Reduce notes payable acquired from minority shareholder and
canceled.......................................................   $ (136,508)
Accrue additional closing costs................................       73,000
Reduce miscellaneous accruals..................................      (49,967)
Acquire and cancel preferred stock.............................   (3,151,800)
Eliminate subsidiary equity....................................    5,160,999
Record issuance of 67,433 shares of the Company's common stock
at approximately $17.375 per share.............................    1,170,000
                                                                  ----------
      Total liability and equity adjustments...................   $3,065,724
                                                                  ----------
                                                                  ----------
 
    (c) To record the acquisition of 65% of TWL as follows:
 
                                                                  INCREASE/
                                                                 (DECREASE)
                                                                 -----------
Eliminate notes and interest receivable converted into equity
  in TWL......................................................   $(1,170,312)
Allocate excess purchase price to goodwill....................     3,953,864
Other.........................................................       (64,080)
                                                                 -----------
      Total asset adjustments.................................   $ 2,719,472
                                                                 -----------
                                                                 -----------
Accrue additional closing costs...............................   $    20,000
Eliminate management fees payable by TWL to the Company.......      (249,000)
Eliminate subsidiary equity...................................     2,948,472
                                                                 -----------
      Total liability and equity adjustments..................   $ 2,719,472
                                                                 -----------
                                                                 -----------
 
    (d) To eliminate the remaining $2,623,555 in notes and $222,937 in interest
payable by TWL to the Company.
 
    (e) To record the Stock Offering of 4,000,000 shares of common stock (at an
assumed public offering price of $27.75 per share), the $200 million Debt
Offering and related fees and expenses.
 
                                      F-53
<PAGE>
                 WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                     NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED
                 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE TEN MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995
AND FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1996
 
    (a) To eliminate interest expense incurred by Locate on liabilities not
assumed by the Company, offset in part by an adjustment to record interest
expense at 8% per annum on a $17.5 million promissory note to be issued by the
Company in connection with the acquisition of certain assets of Locate.
 
    (b) To record amortization of the excess of the purchase price over the net
book value of the assets acquired in the Locate, TWL and Fox/Lorber
transactions.
 
    (c) To adjust the historical results of operations to a ten month period.
The historical results of operations reflected in the December 31, 1995
unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statement of operations for Locate
and Fox/Lorber are for the twelve months ended December 31, 1995 and September
30, 1995, respectively, and these adjustments are made to restate these
historical results for the ten months ended on those respective dates. Had the
historical results of operations and the pro forma adjustments been restated in
all instances to reflect twelve months of activity, the unaudited pro forma
condensed consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31,
1995 would reflect net sales of $49.4 million, an operating loss of $16.1
million, and a net loss of $51.5 million.
 
    (d) To eliminate management fee expense incurred by TWL and payable to the
Company.
 
    (e) To eliminate management fees charged by the Company to AGT pursuant to a
management agreement.
 
    (f) To eliminate the Company's proportionate share of AGT's results for the
period, recorded previously under the equity method.
 
    (g) To record shares issued in accordance with the Fox/Lorber acquisition
agreement as being outstanding for the entire period.
 
    (h) To record shares issued in accordance with the AGT merger agreement as
being outstanding for the entire period.
 
    (i) To record interest expense on $225 million in Old Notes issued in
October 1995, bearing interest at 14% per annum compounding semiannually, as if
the Old Notes were issued at the beginning of the period.
 
    (j) To record interest expense on the Everest Financing as if it occurred at
the beginning of the period.
 
    (k) To record interest expense on $200 million of New Notes issued in the
Debt Offering, at an assumed interest rate of 13.5% on the New Senior Notes and
14% on the New Senior Subordinated Notes, including amortization of debt
offering costs and other related fees, as if the New Notes were issued as of the
beginning of the respective periods. If the interest rate on the New Notes
changed by 0.5%, interest expense would change by approximately $0.9 million and
$0.3 million for the ten months ended December 31, 1995 and the three months
ended March 31, 1996, respectively.
 
    (l) To record the issuance of the Common Stock issued in the Stock Offering
as if such shares were outstanding for the entire respective periods.
 
                                      F-54
<PAGE>
                 [Alternate Page for International Prospectus]
 
PROSPECTUS (Subject to Completion)  [LOGO]
Issued June 14, 1996
                                4,000,000 Shares
                          WinStar Communications, Inc.
                                  COMMON STOCK
                              -------------------
 
ALL OF THE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK OFFERED HEREBY ARE BEING SOLD BY THE COMPANY.
OF THE 4,000,000 SHARES BEING OFFERED, 800,000 SHARES ARE BEING OFFERED
INITIALLY OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA BY THE INTERNATIONAL UNDERWRITERS
AND 3,200,000 SHARES ARE BEING OFFERED INITIALLY IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA
BY THE U.S. UNDERWRITERS. SEE "UNDERWRITERS." THE COMMON STOCK OF THE COMPANY IS
QUOTED ON THE NASDAQ NATIONAL MARKET UNDER THE SYMBOL "WCII." ON JUNE 12, 1996,
THE REPORTED LAST SALE PRICE OF THE COMMON STOCK ON THE NASDAQ NATIONAL MARKET
WAS $27 3/4 PER SHARE.

CONCURRENTLY WITH THE STOCK OFFERING, THE COMPANY WILL MAKE A PUBLIC OFFERING OF
                  $100 MILLION OF % SENIOR NOTES DUE 2006
          AND $100 MILLION OF % SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2006.
 
                              -------------------
 
SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE 14 OF THIS PROSPECTUS FOR INFORMATION THAT
SHOULD BE CONSIDERED BY PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS.

                              -------------------
 
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.
 
                              -------------------
 
                              PRICE $      A SHARE
                              -------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                        PROCEEDS
                                           PRICE TO       UNDERWRITING DISCOUNTS           TO
                                            PUBLIC          AND COMMISSIONS(1)         COMPANY(2)
                                           --------       ----------------------       ----------
<S>                                        <C>            <C>                          <C>
Per Share............................             $                        $                   $
Total(3).............................      $                     $                      $
</TABLE>
 
- ------------
   (1) The Company has agreed to indemnify the Underwriters against certain
       liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933. See
       "Underwriters."
   (2) Before deducting estimated expenses of $425,000 payable by the Company.
   (3) The Company has granted to the U.S. Underwriters an option, exercisable
       within 30 days of the date hereof, to purchase up to an aggregate of
       600,000 additional Shares of Common Stock at the price to public less
       underwriting discounts and commissions for the purpose of covering
       over-allotments, if any. If the U.S. Underwriters exercise such option in
       full, the total price to public, underwriting discounts and commissions
       and proceeds to Company will be $         , $         and $         ,
       respectively. See "Underwriters."
 
                              -------------------
 
    The Shares are offered, subject to prior sale, when, as and if accepted by
the Underwriters and subject to approval of certain legal matters by Shearman &
Sterling, counsel for the Underwriters named herein. It is expected that
delivery of the Shares will be made on or about            , 1996 at the office
of Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, New York, N.Y., against payment therefor
in immediately available funds.
 
                              -------------------
MORGAN STANLEY & CO.  CS FIRST BOSTON
       International
 
   , 1996
<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>

                                    PART II

                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION
 
    The following is an itemized statement of the estimated amounts of all
expenses payable by the Registrant in connection with the registration of the
Common Stock offered hereby, other than underwriting discounts and commissions:
 
SEC registration fee..........................................   $ 42,232.76
NASD filing fee...............................................     12,748.00
Nasdaq additional listing application fee.....................     17,500.00
Printing and engraving expenses...............................    100,000.00
Legal fees and expenses.......................................    125,000.00
Accounting fees and expenses..................................     75,000.00
Miscellaneous.................................................     52,519.24
                                                                 -----------
    Total.....................................................   $425,000.00
                                                                 -----------
                                                                 -----------
 
ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
 
    The Company's Certificate of Incorporation provides that all directors,
officers, employees and agents of the Registrant shall be entitled to be
indemnified by the Company to the fullest extent permitted by law.
 
    Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law concerning
indemnification of officers, directors, employees and agents is set forth below.
 
    "Section 145. Indemnification of officers, directors, employees and agents;
insurance.
 
    (a) A corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is
threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action,
suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative
(other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the
fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the
corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a
director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys'
fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably
incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he acted
in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to
the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action
or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. The
termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement,
conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of
itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a
manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests of the corporation, and with respect to any criminal action or
proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
 
    (b) A corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is
threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or
suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgement in its favor
by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent
of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a
director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys' fees)
actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or
settlement of such action or suit if he acted in good faith and in a manner he
reasonably
 
                                      II-1
<PAGE>
believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and
except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or
matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable for
negligence or misconduct in the performance of his duty to the corporation
unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which
such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite
the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case,
such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses
which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
 
    (c) To the extent that a director, officer, employee or agent of a
corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any
action, suit or proceeding referred to in subsections (a) and (b) of this
section, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he shall be
indemnified against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably
incurred by him in connection therewith.
 
    (d) Any indemnification under sections (a) and (b) of this section (unless
ordered by a court) shall be made by the corporation only as authorized in the
specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the director,
officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because he has met the
applicable standard of conduct set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of this
section. Such determination shall be made (1) by the board of directors by a
majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to such
action, suit or proceeding, or (2) if such a quorum is not obtainable, or, even
if obtainable, a quorum of disinterested directors so directs, by independent
legal counsel in a written opinion, or (3) by the stockholders.
 
    (e) Expenses incurred by an officer or director in defending a civil or
criminal action, suite or proceeding may be paid by the corporation in advance
of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an
undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer, to repay such amount if
it shall ultimately be determined that he is not entitled to be indemnified by
the corporation as authorized in this section. Such expenses incurred by other
employees and agents may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as
the board of directors deems appropriate.
 
    (f) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted
pursuant to, the other subsections of this section shall not be deemed exclusive
of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of
expenses may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or
disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in his official capacity
and as to action in another capacity while holding such office.
 
    (g) A corporation shall have power to purchase and maintain insurance on
behalf of any person who is or was director, officer, employee or agent of the
corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a
director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against him
and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such,
whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify him against
such liability under this section.
 
    (h) For purposes of this section, references to "the corporation" shall
include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation
(including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or
merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and
authority to indemnify its directors, officers, and employees or agents, so that
any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such
constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent
corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same
position under this section with respect to the resulting or surviving
corporation as he would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its
separate existence had continued.
 
    (i) For purposes of this section, references to "other enterprises" shall
include employee benefit plans; references to "fines" shall include any excise
taxes assessed on a person with respect to an
 
                                      II-2
<PAGE>
employee benefit plan; and references to "serving at the request of the
corporation" shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent
of the corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such
director, officer, employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan,
its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith an in a
manner he reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and
beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a
manner "not opposed to the best interests of the corporation" as referred to in
this section.
 
    Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), may be permitted to directors,
officers, and controlling persons of the Company pursuant to the foregoing
provisions, or otherwise, the Company 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 liabilities (other than
the payment by the Company of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer
or controlling person of the Company in a successful defense of any action, suit
or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the Company will, unless in the
opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit to the 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.
 
                                      II-3
<PAGE>
ITEM 16.
(A) EXHIBITS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
 NUMBER                                       DESCRIPTION
- --------                                      -----------
<C>        <S>
 1.1       Form of Underwriting Agreement (Filed herewith)
 2.1       Agreement by and among the Company, WinStar New Media, TWL, and the principals of
           TWL relating to certain financing provided by the Company to TWL and related
           matters (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.3 to the Company's Annual Report
           on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended February 28, 1994)
 2.2       First Amendment to Agreement by and among the Company, WinStar New Media, TWL and
           the principals of TWL (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to the Company's
           Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended February 28, 1995)
 2.3       Second Amendment to Agreement by and among the Company, WinStar New Media, TWL and
           the principals of TWL (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to the Company's
           Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended February 28, 1995)
 2.4       Merger Agreement by and among WinStar Wireless, WinCom Corp., Avant-Garde, Leo
           George and The Larry D. Hudson Trust (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.5 to
           the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended February 28,
           1995)
 2.5       Preferred Stock E Subscription Agreement between the Company and GFL Ultra Fund
           Limited ("GFL") for the purchase by GFL of 932,040 shares of Preferred Stock E
           (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.6 to the Company's Annual Report on Form
           10-KSB for the fiscal year ended February 28, 1995)
 2.6       Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among the Company, WinStar NFF Inc. ("WinStar
           NFF") and Non Fiction Films Inc. ("NFF") (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.7
           to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended February
           28, 1995)
 3.1       Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (Incorporated by reference to
           Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-18 (No. 33-37024))
 3.2       Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation of the Company effecting name change
           from "Robern Apparel, Inc." to "Robern Industries, Inc." (Incorporated by
           reference to Exhibit 3.1(b) to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-4
           (No. 33-52716))
 3.3       Second Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation of the Company effecting name
           change from "Robern Industries, Inc." to "WinStar Communications, Inc."
           (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1(b) to the Company's Registration
           Statement on Form S-1 (No. 33-43915))
 3.4       Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights of Series B Preferred Stock
           (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Company's Registration Statement
           on Form S-1 (No. 33-43915))
 3.5       Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights of Series E Preferred Stock
           (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.6 to the Company's Annual Report on Form
           10-KSB for the fiscal year ended February 28, 1995)
 3.6       By-Laws of the Company (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company's
           Registration Statement on Form S-18 (No. 33-37024))
 3.7       Certificate of Incorporation of WinStar Wireless (Incorporated by reference to
           Exhibit 7 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated February 11, 1994)
 3.8       By-Laws of WinStar Wireless (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 8 to the
           Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated February 11, 1994)
 3.9       Certificate of Incorporation of WinStar Gateway (Incorporated by reference to
           Exhibit 3.5 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year
           ended February 28, 1993)
 3.10      Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation of WinStar Gateway effecting name change
           from "Communications Gateway Network, Inc." to "WinStar Gateway Network, Inc."
           (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.11 to the Company's Annual Report on Form
           10-KSB for the fiscal year ended February 28, 1995)
</TABLE>
 
                                      II-4
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
 NUMBER                                       DESCRIPTION
- --------                                      -----------
<C>        <S>
 3.11      By-Laws of WinStar Gateway (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.6 to the
           Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended February 28,
           1993)
 3.12      Certificate of Incorporation of WinStar New Media (Incorporated by reference to
           Exhibit 3.9 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year
           ended February 28, 1994)
 3.13      Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation of WinStar New Media effecting name
           change from "WinStar Interactive Media Company, Inc." to "WinStar New Media
           Company, Inc." (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.14 to the Company's Annual
           Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended February 28, 1995)
 3.14      By-Laws of WinStar New Media (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.10 to the
           Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended February 28,
           1994)
 3.15      Certificate of Incorporation of WinCom Corp. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
           3.16 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended
           February 28, 1995)
 3.16      Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation of WinCom Corp. effecting name change to
           "WinStar Wireless Fiber Corp." (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.17 the
           Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 33-95242))
 3.17      Certificate of Merger effecting merger of Avant-Garde Telecommunications, Inc.
           into Wireless Fiber Corp (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.18 the Company's
           Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 33-95242))
 3.18      By-Laws of WinCom Corp. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.17 to the
           Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended February 28,
           1995)
 3.19      Certificate of Incorporation of WinStar Global Products (Incorporated by reference
           to Exhibit 3.3 to the Registration Statement on Form S-18 of WinStar Global
           Products (No. 33-12549))
 3.20      Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation of WinStar Global Products to change its
           name from "Beauty Labs, Inc." to "WinStar Global Products, Inc." (Incorporated by
           reference to Exhibit 3.19 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the
           fiscal year ended February 28, 1995)
 3.21      By-Laws of WinStar Global Products (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 to
           the Registration Statement on Form S-18 of WinStar Global Products (No. 33-12549))
 3.22      Certificate of Incorporation of WinStar NFF Inc. ("WinStar NFF") (Incorporated by
           reference to Exhibit 3.21 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the
           fiscal year ended February 28, 1995)
 3.23      By-laws of WinStar NFF (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.22 to the Company's
           Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended February 28, 1995)
 3.24      Certificate of Merger of NFF with and into WinStar NFF, with WinStar NFF as the
           merger's surviving entity (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.23 to the
           Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended February 28,
           1995)
 3.25      Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation of WinStar NFF changing its name from
           "WinStar NFF Inc." to "Non Fiction Films Inc." (Incorporated by reference to
           Exhibit 3.24 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year
           ended February 28, 1995)
 3.26      Certificate of Incorporation of WinStar Telecommunications, Inc. (Incorporated by
           reference to Exhibit 3.26 of the Company's Transitional Report on Form 10-KSB for
           the ten months ended December 31, 1995)
 3.27      By-laws of WinStar Telecommunications, Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
           3.27 of the Company's Transitional Report on Form 10-KSB for the ten months ended
           December 31, 1995)
 4.1       Specimen of Common Stock Certificate (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to
           the Registration Statement of Company on Form S-18 (No.33-37024))
 4.2       Specimen of Preferred Stock B Certificate (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
           4.4 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 33-43915))
</TABLE>
 
                                      II-5
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

EXHIBIT
 NUMBER                                       DESCRIPTION
- --------                                      -----------
<C>        <S>
 4.3       Specimen of Preferred Stock C Certificate (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
           4.4(a) to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 33-43915))
 4.4       Specimen of Preferred Stock E Certificate (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
           4.5 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended
           February 28, 1995)
 4.6       EC-A Warrants issued to Everest Capital Fund, L.P. ("Fund") for 130,500 shares of
           Common Stock and to Everest Capital International, L.P. ("Capital") for 169,500
           shares of Common Stock (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 to the Company's
           Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 33-95242))
 4.7       EC-B Warrants issued to Fund for 43,500 shares of Common Stock and to Capital for
           56,500 shares of Common Stock (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.7 to the
           Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 33-95242))
 4.8       EC-C Warrants issued to Fund for 65,250 shares of Common Stock and to Capital for
           84,750 shares of Common Stock (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.8 to the
           Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 33-95242))
 4.9       Form of Senior Notes Indenture (To be filed by amendment)
 4.10      Form of Senior Subordinated Notes Indenture (To be filed by amendment)
 5.1       Opinion of Graubard Mollen & Miller (To be filed by amendment)
10.1       Agreement between the Company and ITC Group (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
           10.9 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended
           February 28, 1995)
10.2       Lease for 230 Park Avenue, New York, New York facilities (Incorporated by
           reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the
           fiscal year ended February 28, 1995)
10.2(a)    Lease for additional space at 230 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10169
           (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2(a) to the Company's Transitional Report
           on Form 10-KSB for the ten months ended December 31, 1995)
 10.3      Lease for 60 Oser Avenue, Hauppauge, New York facilities ((Incorporated by
           reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-4
           (No. 33-52716))
 10.4      Lease for 144 Fairfield Road, Fairfield, New Jersey facilities (Incorporated by
           reference to Exhibit 10.12 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the
           fiscal year ended February 28, 1995)
 10.5      Lease for 5221 North O'Connor Boulevard, Irving, Texas facilities (Incorporated by
           reference to Exhibit 10.17 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1, as
           amended on Form SB-2 (No. 33-43915))
 10.6      Lease for 500 South Ervay Street, Dallas, Texas facilities (Incorporated by
           reference to Exhibit 10.11(a) to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1,
           as amended on Form SB-2 (No. 33-43915))
 10.7      Lease for 7799 Leesburg Pike, Tysons Corner, Virginia facilities (Incorporated by
           reference to Exhibit 10.15 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the
           fiscal year ended February 28, 1995)
 10.7(a)   Amendment to Leesburg Pike Lease (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7(a) of
           the Company's Transitional Report on Form 10-KSB for the ten months ended December
           31, 1995)
 10.8      Common Stock Incentive Plan (1990) (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to
           the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-18 (No. 33-37024))
 10.9      1992 Performance Equity Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.53 to the
           Company's Registration Statement on Form S-18 (No. 33-37024))
</TABLE>
 
                                      II-6
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
 NUMBER                                       DESCRIPTION
- --------                                      -----------
<C>        <S>
10.10      Asset Purchase Agreement by and among Inne Dispensables Inc., a wholly-owned
           subsidiary of WinStar Global Products ("Inne Dispensables"), Savonnerie, Inc.
           ("Savonnerie") and John Todd (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.81 to the
           Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended by Form SB-2 (No. 33-
           43915))
10.11      Assignment of Trademarks from Savonnerie to WinStar Global Products (Incorporated
           by reference to Exhibit 10.82 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1,
           as amended on Form SB-2 (No. 33-43915))
10.12      Loan and Security Agreement between WinStar Gateway and The CIT Group/Credit
           Finance, Inc. ("CIT") (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to the Company's
           Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended February 28, 1995)
10.13      Stock Purchase Warrant issued by the Company to CIT in connection with Exhibit
           10.12 above (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.23 to the Company's Annual
           Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended February 28, 1995)
10.14      Registration Rights Agreement between the Company and CIT in connection with
           Exhibits 10.12 and 10.13 above (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.24 to the
           Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended February 28,
           1995)
10.15      Guaranty and Surety Agreement between the Company and CIT in connection with
           Exhibit 10.12 above (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.25 to the Company's
           Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended February 28, 1995)
10.16      Subordination Agreement between the Company and CIT in connection with Exhibit
           10.12 above (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.26 to the Company's Annual
           Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended February 28, 1995)
10.17      Keepwell Agreement between the Company and CIT in connection with Exhibit 10.12
           above (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.27 to the Company's Annual Report
           on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended February 28, 1995)
10.18      Agreement between CIT and Zero Plus Dialing, Inc. regarding Escrow and Disbursing
           Agreement with Texas Commerce Bank and Assignment of Outstanding Accounts
           Receivable in connection with Exhibit 10.22 above (Incorporated by reference to
           Exhibit 10.28 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year
           ended February 28, 1995)
10.19      Loan and Security Agreement between Century Business Credit Corporation
           ("Century") and WinStar Global Products (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
           10.29 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended
           February 28, 1995)
10.20      Supplement Letter of Credit Security Agreement between Century and WinStar Global
           Products in connection with Exhibit 10.19 above (Incorporated by reference to
           Exhibit 10.30 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year
           ended February 28, 1995)
10.21      Trademark Collateral Security Agreement between Century and WinStar Global
           Products in connection with Exhibit 10.19 above (Incorporated by reference to
           Exhibit 10.31 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year
           ended February 28, 1995)
10.22      Trademark Assignment of Security by WinStar Global Products to Century in
           connection with Exhibits 10.19 and 10.21 above (Incorporated by reference to
           Exhibit 10.32 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year
           ended February 28, 1995)
10.23      Trademark Collateral Security Agreement between Century and Inne Dispensables in
           connection with Exhibit 10.19 above (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.33 to
           the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended February 28,
           1995)
</TABLE>
 
                                      II-7
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
 NUMBER                                       DESCRIPTION
- --------                                      -----------
<C>        <S>
10.24      Trademark Assignment of Security by Inne Dispensables Inc. to Century in
           connection with Exhibits 10.19 and 10.23 above (Incorporated by reference to
           Exhibit 10.34 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year
           ended February 28, 1995)
10.25      Landlord's Waiver and Consent with respect to the facilities at 60 Oser Avenue,
           Hauppauge, New York in connection with Exhibit 10.19 above (Incorporated by
           reference to Exhibit 10.35 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the
           fiscal year ended February 28, 1995)
10.26      Intercreditor and Subordination Agreement between the Company and Century in
           connection with Exhibit 10.19 above (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.36 to
           the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended February 28,
           1995)
10.27      Guaranty of Inne Dispensables in connection with Exhibit 10.19 above (Incorporated
           by reference to Exhibit 10.37 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for
           the fiscal year ended February 28, 1995)
10.28      Limited Guaranty of the Company in connection with Exhibit 10.19 above
           (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.38 to the Company's Annual Report on Form
           10-KSB for the fiscal year ended February 28, 1995)
10.29      Guaranty Security Agreement between Inne Dispensables and Century in connection
           with Exhibit 10.27 above (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.39 to the
           Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended February 28,
           1995)
10.30      Executive Incentive Compensation Program (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
           10.40 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended
           February 28, 1995)
10.31      Agreement Terminating the Management Agreement between the Company and WinStar
           Services, Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.41 to the Company's Annual
           Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended February 28, 1995)
10.32      Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement by and among the Company, WinStar Wireless and
           Avant-Garde and the Fund and Capital (the Fund and Capital collectively referred
           to herein as the "Purchasers") and Everest Capital Limited ("Agent") (Incorporated
           by reference to Exhibit 10.42 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3
           (No. 33-95242))
10.33      Promissory Notes payable to Fund for $3,262,500 and to Capital for $4,237,500
           (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.43 to the Company's Registration
           Statement on Form S-3 (No. 33-95242))
10.34      Conversion Rights Agreement among the Company, WinStar Wireless and the Purchasers
           (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.44 to the Company's Registration
           Statement on Form S-3 (No. 33-95242))
10.35      Registration Rights Agreement between the Company and the Purchasers (Incorporated
           by reference to Exhibit 10.45 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3
           (No. 33-95242))
10.36      Security Agreement and Conditional Assignment between WinStar Wireless and the
           Agent (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.46 to the Company's Registration
           Statement on Form S-3 (No. 33-95242))
10.37      Security Agreement between Avant-Garde and the Agent (Incorporated by reference to
           Exhibit 10.47 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 33-95242))
10.38      Guarantee from the Company to the Agent on behalf of the Purchasers (Incorporated
           by reference to Exhibit 10.48 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3
           (No. 33-95242))
10.39      Guarantee from Avant-Garde to the Agent on behalf of the Purchasers (Incorporated
           by reference to Exhibit 10.49 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3
           (No. 33-95242))
</TABLE>
 
                                      II-8
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
 NUMBER                                       DESCRIPTION
- --------                                      -----------
<C>        <S>
10.40      Pledge Agreement between the Company and the Agent (Incorporated by reference to
           Exhibit 10.50 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 33-95242))
10.41      Pledge Agreement between the Avant-Garde, Leo I. George, as Voting Trustee, and
           the Agent (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.51 to the Company's
           Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 33-95242))
10.42      Lease for 12 Gardner Road, Fairfield, New Jersey facilities (Incorporated by
           reference to Exhibit 10.52 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3
           (No. 33-95242))
10.43      Agreement between the Company, WinStar Wireless and P-Com, Inc. (Incorporated by
           reference to Exhibit 10.11 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of P-Com,
           Inc. (No. 33-88492) on file with the Commission)
10.44      Employment Agreement between the Company and Nathan Kantor, together with voting
           stipulation given by William J. Rouhana, Jr. to Mr. Kantor (Incorporated by
           reference to Exhibit 10.54 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3
           (No. 33-95242))
10.45      Form of Stock Option Agreement between the Company and Nathan Kantor for the
           purchase of 350,000 shares of Common Stock (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
           10.55 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 33-95242))
10.46      Form of Stock Option Agreement between the Company and Nathan Kantor for the
           purchase of 350,000 additional shares of Common Stock (Incorporated by reference
           to Exhibit 10.56 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No.
           33-95242))
10.47      Employment Agreement between the Company and William J. Rouhana, Jr. (Incorporated
           by reference to Exhibit 10.57 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3
           (No. 33-95242))
10.48      Employment Agreement between the Company and Fredric E. von Stange (Incorporated
           by reference to Exhibit 10.58 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3
           (No. 33-95242))
10.49      Facility Agreement between ML Investors Services, Inc. ("ML") and WinStar Wireless
           (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.59 to the Company's Registration
           Statement on Form S-3 (No. 33-95242))
10.50      Master Lease Agreement between ML and WinStar Wireless (Incorporated by reference
           to Exhibit 10.60 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No.
           33-95242))
10.51      Form of Stock Option Agreement between the Company and ML (Incorporated by
           reference to Exhibit 10.61 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3
           (No. 33-95242))
10.52      Lease Guaranty between the Company and ML (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
           10.62 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 33-95242))
10.53      Service Agreement between WinStar Wireless and AT&T (Incorporated by reference to
           Exhibit 10.63 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 33-95242))
           (confidentiality granted under Rule 406 promulgated under the Act; accordingly,
           certain information has been omitted from this exhibit and filed separately with
           the Commission)
10.54      Placement Agreement between the Company and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated,
           entered into in connection with the 1995 Debt Placement (Incorporated by reference
           to Exhibit 1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K, dated October 23, 1995)
10.55      Senior Notes Indenture, including form of Restricted Global Senior Note, entered
           into in connection with the 1995 Debt Placement (Incorporated by reference to
           Exhibit 2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K, dated October 23, 1995)
10.56      Convertible Notes Indenture, including form of Restricted Global Convertible
           Notes, entered into in connection with the 1995 Debt Placement (Incorporated by
           reference to Exhibit 3 to the Current Report on Form 8-K, dated October 23, 1995)
</TABLE>
 
                                      II-9
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
 NUMBER                                       DESCRIPTION
- --------                                      -----------
<C>        <S>
10.57      Senior Notes Registration Rights Agreement, entered into in connection with the
           1995 Debt Placement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4 to the Current Report
           on Form 8-K, dated October 23, 1995)
10.58      Convertible Notes Registration Rights Agreement, entered into in connection with
           the 1995 Debt Placement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 5 to the Current
           Report on Form 8-K, dated October 23, 1995)
10.59      Employment Agreement between WinStar Global Products and Joseph Dwyer
           (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company's Registration Statement
           on Form S-4 (No. 33-52716))
10.60      Employment Agreement between the Company and Doreen F. Davidson (Incorporated by
           reference to Exhibit 10.29(a) to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1,
           as amended on Form SB-2 (No. 33-43915))
10.61      Employment Agreement between WinStar Wireless and Leo I. George (Incorporated by
           reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the
           fiscal year ended February 28, 1995)
10.62      Employment Agreement between NFF and Stuart B. Rekant (Incorporated by reference
           to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year
           ended February 28, 1995)
10.63      Employment Agreement between WinStar New Media and Stuart B. Rekant (Incorporated
           by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the
           fiscal year ended February 28, 1995)
10.64      Employment Agreement between WinStar Telecommunications Group and David Ackerman
           (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Company's Annual Report on Form
           10-KSB for the fiscal year ended February 28, 1995)
10.65      Employment Agreement between the Company and Amy Newmark (Incorporated by
           reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the
           fiscal year ended February 28, 1995)
10.66      Exchange Agreement, dated November 15, 1995, between the Company and WinStar
           Companies, Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.69 to the Company's
           Current Report on Form 8-K, dated December 11, 1995)
10.67      Letter from Everest Capital electing to convert certain debt of the Company into
           shares of Common Stock (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.67 to the
           Company's Transitional Report on Form 10-KSB for the ten months ended December 31,
           1995)
10.68      Agreement and Plan of Reorganization by and among Non Fiction Films Inc., the
           Company, GFL, Fox/Lorber Associates, a wholly-owned subsidiary of GFL, and Richard
           Lorber (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.67 to the Company's Quarterly
           Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1996)
10.69      Security Agreement between Fox/Lorber and WinStar New Media (Incorporated by
           reference to Exhibit 10.68 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
           quarter ended March 31, 1996)
10.70      Purchase and Sale Agreement by and among the Company, WinStar Locate, MobileMedia
           Corporation and Local Area Telecommunications, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of
           MobileMedia (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.69 to the Company's Quarterly
           Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1996)
10.71      Private Network Contract between the Company and Digex, Inc. (Filed herewith)
10.72      Agreement between the Company and Source Media (to be Filed by amendment)
17.1       Letter of Resignation delivered by Richard Russano to the Company pursuant to
           which he resigns as a director of the Company (Incorporated by reference to
           Exhibit 17.1 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 33-95242))
21.1       Schedule of Company's Subsidiaries (Incorporated by reference to the Company's
           Transitional Report on Form 10-KSB for the ten months ended December 31, 1995)
23.1       Consent of Grant Thornton LLP with respect to the Company (Filed herewith)
</TABLE>
 
                                     II-10
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
 NUMBER                                       DESCRIPTION
- --------                                      -----------
<C>        <S>
23.2       Consent of Grant Thornton LLP with respect to Avant-Garde (Filed herewith)
23.3       Consent of Ernst & Young LLP (Filed herewith)
23.4       Consent of Graubard Mollen & Miller (To be included in Exhibit 5.1)
24.1       Power of Attorney (Included on signature page to Registration Statement)
</TABLE>
 
(B) SCHEDULES
 
<TABLE>
<C>   <S>
 S-1  Report of Independent Certified Public Accountants on Schedules
 S-2  Schedule II-Valuation and Qualifying Accounts.
</TABLE>
 
ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS.
 
    (a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
 
    (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment of this registration statement;
 
    (i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities
Act of 1933;
 
    (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the
effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective
amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a
fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities
offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that
which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high and of the
estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus
filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the
changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the
maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration
Fee" table in the effective registration statement;
 
    (iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of
distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any
material change to such information in the registration statement;
 
    provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i) and (1)(ii) do not apply if the
registration statement is on Form S-3, Form S-8 or Form F-3, and the information
required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is
contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the
registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.
 
    (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities
Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.
 
    (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any
of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
offering.
 
    (b) 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 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit
plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be
deemed to be a new registration
 
                                     II-11
<PAGE>
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.
 
    (h) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of
the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act
and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses
incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant
in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of
such issue.
 
    (i) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:
 
    (1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of
1933, 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 of
1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be
deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered
therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
                                     II-12
<PAGE>
                                   SIGNATURES
 
    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of New York, State of New York on June 14, 1996.
 
                                          WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
 
                                          By: /s/ WILLIAM J. ROUHANA, JR.
                                              ..................................
 
                                              William J. Rouhana, Jr.
                                             Chairman of the Board and Chief
                                              Executive Officer
 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
    KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints William J. Rouhana, Jr., and/or Fredric E. von
Stange his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, with
full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place
and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments to this
Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments, and to file the
same, with all exhibits thereto, and all documents in connection therewith, with
the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and
agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in
person, and hereby ratifies and confirms all that said attorneys-in-fact and
agents, each acting alone, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do
or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
 
    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
              SIGNATURE                                TITLE                        DATE
              ---------                                -----                        ----
<S>                                    <C>                                     <C>
 
/s/ WILLIAM J. ROUHANA, JR.            Chief Executive Officer and Chairman    June 14, 1996
 .....................................    of the Board
       William J. Rouhana, Jr.
 
/s/ FREDRIC E. VON STANGE              Executive Vice President, Director,     June 14, 1996
 .....................................    Chief Financial Officer and
        Fredric E. von Stange            Principal Accounting Officer
 
/s/ STEVEN CHRUST                      Vice Chairman of the Board              June 14, 1996
 .....................................
            Steven Chrust
 
/s/ NATHAN KANTOR                      President, Chief Operating Officer      June 14, 1996
 .....................................    and Director
            Nathan Kantor
 
/s/ WILLIAM HARVEY                     Director                                June 14, 1996
 .....................................
           William Harvey
 
/s/ STEVEN MAGYAR                      Director                                June 14, 1996
 .....................................
            Steven Magyar
 
/s/ WILLIAM J. VANDEN HEUVEL           Director                                June 14, 1996
 .....................................
      William J. vanden Heuvel
 
/s/ BERT WASSERMAN                     Director                                June 14, 1996
 .....................................
           Bert Wasserman
</TABLE>
 
                                     II-13
<PAGE>
                        REPORT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED
                        PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS ON SCHEDULES
 
Board of Directors
  WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
 
    In connection with our audit of the consolidated financial statements of
WinStar Communications, Inc. and Subsidiaries referred to in our report dated
March 8, 1996, which is included in the Propectus constituting Part I of this
Registration Statement, we have also audited Schedule II as of December 31,
1995, February 28, 1995 and 1994 and for the ten months ended December 31, 1995
and the years ended February 28, 1995 and 1994.
 
    In our opinion, this schedule, when considered in relation to the basic
consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly, in all
material respects, the information required to be set forth therein.
 
GRANT THORNTON LLP
 
New York, New York
March 8, 1996
 
                                      S-1
<PAGE>
                 WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                  SCHEDULE II--VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          COLUMN C
                                                      -----------------
                                    COLUMN B                                                            COLUMN E
         COLUMN A             --------------------    ADDITIONS CHARGED           COLUMN D           --------------
- ---------------------------   BALANCE AT BEGINNING      TO COSTS AND       ----------------------    BALANCE AT END
        DESCRIPTION                OF PERIOD              EXPENSES               DEDUCTIONS            OF PERIOD
- ---------------------------   --------------------    -----------------    ----------------------    --------------
<S>                           <C>                     <C>                  <C>                       <C>
Reserves deducted from
  assets to which they
  apply:
 
Ten months ended December
  31, 1995
  Allowance for doubtful
accounts (a)...............         $823,709              $ 887,425               $911,403(b)           $799,731
                                  ----------          -----------------         ----------           --------------
                                  ----------          -----------------         ----------           --------------
 
Year ended February 28,
  1995
  Allowance for doubtful
accounts (a)...............         $357,843              $ 893,857               $427,991(b)           $823,709
                                  ----------          -----------------         ----------           --------------
                                  ----------          -----------------         ----------           --------------
 
Year ended February 28,
  1994
  Allowance for doubtful
accounts (a)...............         $196,015              $ 343,694               $181,866(b)           $357,843
                                  ----------          -----------------         ----------           --------------
                                  ----------          -----------------         ----------           --------------
</TABLE>
 
- ------------
 
(a) Deducted from accounts receivable.
 
(b) Uncollectible accounts receivable charged against allowance.
 
                                      S-2
<PAGE>
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT NO.                                 DESCRIPTION                                  PAGE NO.
- -----------                                ------------                                  --------
<C>           <S>                                                                        <C>
    1.1       Form of Underwriting Agreement..........................................
   10.71      Private Network Contract between the Company and Digex, Inc.............
   23.1       Consent of Grant Thornton LLP with respect to the Company...............
   23.2       Consent of Grant Thornton LLP with respect to Avant-Garde...............
   23.3       Consent of Ernst & Young LLP............................................
</TABLE>

<PAGE>





                                4,000,000 Shares

                          WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

                     Common Stock (par value $.01 per share)



                                     FORM OF

                             UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT



                                ___________, 1996



<PAGE>

                                                             _____________, 1996



Morgan Stanley & Co.
  Incorporated
CS First Boston Corporation
c/o Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
     1585 Broadway
     New York, New York  10036

Morgan Stanley & Co. International Limited
CS First Boston Limited
c/o Morgan Stanley & Co. International Limited
     25 Cabot Square
     Canary Wharf
     London E14 4QA
     England

Ladies and Gentlemen:

          WinStar Communications, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
proposes to issue and sell to the several Underwriters named in Schedules I and
II hereto (the "Underwriters") 4,000,000 shares of its common stock (par value
$.01 per share) (the "Firm Shares").

          It is understood that, subject to the conditions hereinafter stated,
___________ Firm Shares (the "U.S. Firm Shares") will be sold to the several
U.S. Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the "U.S. Underwriters") in
connection with the offering and sale of such U.S. Firm Shares in the United
States and Canada to United States and Canadian Persons (as such terms are
defined in the Agreement Between U.S. and International Underwriters of even
date herewith), and _________ Firm Shares (the "International Shares") will be
sold to the several International Underwriters named in Schedule II hereto (the
"International Underwriters") in connection with the offering and sale of such
International Shares outside the United States and Canada to persons other than
United States and Canadian Persons.  Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated and CS
First Boston Corporation shall act as representatives (the "U.S.
Representatives") of the several U.S. Underwriters, and Morgan Stanley & Co.
International Limited and CS First Boston Limited shall act as representatives
(the "International Representatives") of the several International Underwriters.



<PAGE>
                                        2


          The Company also proposes to issue and sell to the several U.S.
Underwriters not more than an additional 600,000 shares of its common stock (par
value $.01 per share) (the "Additional Shares") if and to the extent that the
U.S. Representatives shall have determined to exercise, on behalf of the U.S.
Underwriters, the right to purchase such shares of Common Stock granted to the
U.S. Underwriters in Article II hereof.  The Firm Shares and the Additional
Shares are hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Shares".  The shares of
common stock (par value $.01 per share) of the Company to be outstanding after
giving effect to the sales contemplated hereby are hereinafter referred to as
the "Common Stock".  
Concurrent with this Common Stock offering, the Company will make a public
offering of ____% Senior Notes due 2006 and ____% Senior Subordinated Notes due
2006 (the "Notes Offering").  The closings of this Common Stock offering and the
Notes Offering are conditioned upon one another.  

          The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "Commission") a registration statement relating to the Shares.  The
registration statement contains two prospectuses to be used in connection with
the offering and sale of the Shares: the "U.S. prospectus", to be used in
connection with the offering and sale of Shares in the United States and Canada
to United States and Canadian Persons, and the "international prospectus", to be
used in connection with the offering and sale of Shares outside the United
States and Canada to persons other than United States and Canadian Persons.  The
international prospectus is identical to the U.S. prospectus except for the
outside front cover page.  The registration statement as amended at the time it
becomes effective, including the information (if any) deemed to be part of the
registration statement at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), is hereinafter
referred to as the "Original Registration Statement"; the U.S. prospectus and
the international prospectus in the respective forms first used to confirm sales
of Shares are hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Prospectus".  As used
herein, the term "Registration Statement" shall include all exhibits thereto and
the terms "Registration Statement", "Prospectus" and "preliminary prospectus"
shall include all documents incorporated therein by reference pursuant to Form
S-3 under the Securities Act as of the date of the Registration Statement,
Prospectus or the preliminary prospectus, as the case may be.  The terms
"supplement" and "amendment" or "amend" as used in this Agreement shall include
all documents subsequently filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), that are
deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Prospectus pursuant to Form S-3
under the Securities Act.  If the Company files a registration statement to
register a portion of the Shares and relies on Rule 462(b) for such registration
statement to become effective upon filing with the Commission (the "Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement"), then any reference to the "Registration Statement"
shall be deemed to refer to both the registration statement referred to above
(Commission File No. 333-____) and the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, in
each case as amended from time to time.



<PAGE>
                                        3



                                       I.

          The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each of the
Underwriters that as of the date hereof:

          (a)  The Original Registration Statement has become effective, and if
     the Company has elected to rely upon Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act,
     the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement shall have become effective not
     later than the earlier of (i) 10:00 p.m. Eastern time on the date hereof
     and (ii) the time confirmations are sent or given, as specified by Rule
     462(b) under the Securities Act; no stop order suspending the effectiveness
     of the Registration Statement is in effect, and no proceedings for such
     purpose are pending before or, to the Company's knowledge, threatened by
     the Commission.

          (b)  (i) Each part of the Registration Statement, when such part
     became effective, did not contain and each such part, as amended or
     supplemented, if applicable, will not contain any untrue statement of a
     material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated
     therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii)
     the Registration Statement and the Prospectus comply and, as amended or
     supplemented, if applicable, will comply in all material respects with the
     Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission
     thereunder, (iii) each document filed or to be filed pursuant to the
     Exchange Act and incorporated by reference in the Prospectus complied or
     will comply when so filed in all material respects with the Exchange Act
     and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and
     (iv) the Prospectus does not contain and, as amended or supplemented, if
     applicable, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or
     omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in
     the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading,
     except that the representations and warranties set forth in this paragraph
     (b) do not apply to statements or omissions in the Registration Statement
     or the Prospectus based upon information relating to any Underwriter
     furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through you
     expressly for use therein.

          (c)  The Company has been duly incorporated, is validly existing as a
     corporation in good standing under the laws of Delaware, has the corporate
     power and authority to own its property and to conduct its business as
     described in the Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact business and
     is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its
     business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such
     qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or
     be in good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the Company
     and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.



<PAGE>
                                        4


          (d)  Each subsidiary of the Company has been duly incorporated under
     the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, is validly existing as a
     corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
     incorporation, has the corporate power and authority to own its property
     and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and is duly
     qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction
     in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of
     property requires such qualification, except to the extent that the failure
     to be so qualified or be in good standing would not have a material adverse
     effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.  The
     significant subsidiaries of the Company are WinStar Global Products, Inc.,
     WinStar Telecommunications, Inc., WinStar Gateway Network, Inc., WinStar
     Wireless, Inc., WinStar Wireless Fiber Corp., WinStar New Media Company
     Inc. and Non Fiction Films, Inc.

          (e)  The authorized capital stock of the Company conforms as to legal
     matters to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus.

          (f)  The shares of Common Stock outstanding prior to the issuance of
     the Shares have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid and
     non-assessable.

          (g)  The Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued and
     delivered in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be validly
     issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and the issuance of such Shares will
     not be subject to any preemptive or similar rights.

          (h)  This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered
     by the Company.

          (i)  The execution and delivery by the Company of, and the performance
     by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement will not contravene
     any provision of the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of the Company
     or any applicable law or any agreement or other instrument binding upon the
     Company or any of its subsidiaries that is material to the Company and its
     subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or any judgment, order or decree of any
     governmental body, agency or court having jurisdiction over the Company or
     any subsidiary (except, with respect to any such agreement, instrument,
     judgment, order or decree, where such contravention (singly or in the
     aggregate) will not have a material adverse effect on the Company and its
     subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or materially adversely affect the
     Company's ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement), and no
     consent, approval, authorization or order of, or qualification with, any
     governmental body or agency is required for the performance by the Company
     of its obligations under this Agreement, except such as have been obtained
     or such as may be required by the securities laws



<PAGE>
                                        5

     or Blue Sky laws of the various states and foreign countries in connection
     with the offer and sale of the Shares by the Underwriters.

          (j)  There has not occurred any material adverse change, or any
     development involving a prospective material adverse change, in the
     condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business or
     operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from that
     set forth in the Prospectus.

          (k)  There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or, to the
     Company's knowledge, threatened to which the Company or any of its
     subsidiaries is a party or to which any of the properties of the Company or
     any of its subsidiaries is subject, other than proceedings accurately
     described in all material respects in the Prospectus and proceedings that
     could not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the
     Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or on the power or ability
     of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement or to
     consummate the transactions contemplated by the Prospectus.

          (l)  Each of the Company and its subsidiaries owns or possesses all of
     the licenses, permits, franchises and other governmental and private
     authorizations, or rights with respect to the foregoing, reasonably
     necessary for the present conduct of its business, without any conflict
     with the rights of others known to the Company or any of its subsidiaries,
     except for such licenses, permits, franchises, authorizations and rights,
     the failure to possess which would not have a material adverse effect on
     the properties, assets, prospects, condition, financial or otherwise,
     present conduct of its business or operations of the Company and its
     subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and, with respect to the Company's
     prospects, except licenses that the Company is in the process of obtaining,
     which it reasonably expects to obtain.  The Company and its subsidiaries
     collectively hold [41] microwave radio licenses granted by the Federal
     Communications Commission (the "FCC"), expiring on February 1, 2001, a
     true, correct and complete listing of which has been provided  (the
     "Licenses").  The Wireless Licenses enable the Company to provide Wireless
     Fiber services in the 31 largest Metropolitan Statistical Areas ("MSAs") in
     the United States, including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New
     York and San Francisco, among others, and 41 of the top 45 MSAs.  The MSAs
     covered by the Wireless Licenses include more than 100 cities with
     populations exceeding 100,000, and encompass an aggregate population of
     almost 110 million.  Each of the Licenses was validly issued by the FCC and
     is in full force and effect throughout the entire geographical area
     specified therein.  Each of the Company and its subsidiaries is in full
     compliance with all material terms and conditions of each License and with
     all material FCC rules, rulings, and policies applicable to the Company or
     any of its subsidiaries or the Licenses.  Except as disclosed in the
     Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is aware, after
     diligent inquiry, of any event or circumstances or omission



<PAGE>
                                        6

     that exists or has occurred that may permit or is likely to lead to the
     revocation, nonrenewal, modification, impairment, restriction, or
     suspension of any License or any right or authority thereunder in whole or
     in part.  In particular, and without limitation, the Company and its
     subsidiaries have filed in a timely manner all required reports,
     certifications, notices, lists, and other filings, and has completed all
     construction and engaged in such operation of facilities authorized by each
     of the Licenses as is necessary, as of the date hereof, to maintain each of
     the Licenses in full force and effect.

          (m)  Each preliminary prospectus filed as part of the Registration
     Statement as originally filed or as part of any amendment thereto, or filed
     pursuant to Rule 424 or Rule 462 under the Securities Act, complied when so
     filed in all material respects with the Securities Act and the rules and
     regulations of the Commission thereunder.

          (n)  The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and
     sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof as described
     in the Prospectus, will not be an "investment company" nor an entity
     "controlled" by an "investment company", as such terms are defined in the
     Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

          (o)  The Company and its subsidiaries are (i) in compliance with any
     and all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws and regulations
     relating to the protection of human health and safety, the environment or
     hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants
     ("Environmental Laws"), (ii) have received all permits, licenses or other
     approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct
     their respective businesses and (iii) are in compliance with all terms and
     conditions of any such permit, license or approval, except where such
     noncompliance with Environmental Laws, failure to receive required permits,
     licenses or other approvals or failure to comply with the terms and
     conditions of such permits, licenses or approvals would not, singly or in
     the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Company and its
     subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

          (p)  The Company has complied with all provisions of Section 517.075,
     Florida Statutes (Chapter 92-198, Laws of Florida).

          (q)  The Shares have been approved for quotation on the Nasdaq
     National Market System ("Nasdaq") by the National Association of Securities
     Dealers, Inc.

          (r)  The terms of the Common Stock conform in all material respects to
     the description thereof contained in the Prospectus under the heading
     "Description of Capital Stock."



<PAGE>
                                        7


          (s)  Each holder of common stock of the Company received pursuant to,
     or entitled to the benefits of, the Exchange Agreement, dated November 15,
     1995 (the "Exchange Agreement"), between WinStar Companies, Inc., a
     Delaware corporation and the Company shall have waived (i) any rights to
     participate in this Common Stock offering and (ii) any rights, if
     applicable, to demand that the Company register such holder's Common Stock
     received pursuant to the Exchange Agreement for a period of 120 days.
                                       II.

          The Company hereby agrees to sell to the several Underwriters, and the
Underwriters, upon the basis of the representations and warranties herein
contained but subject to the conditions hereinafter stated, agree, severally and
not jointly, to purchase from the Company the respective numbers of Firm Shares
set forth in Schedules I and II hereto opposite their names at $_____ a share
(the "purchase price").

          On the basis of the representations and warranties contained in this
Agreement, and subject to its terms and conditions, the Company agrees to sell
to the U.S. Underwriters the Additional Shares, and the U.S. Underwriters shall
have a one-time right, exercisable for a period for 30 days from the date of
this Agreement, to purchase, severally and not jointly, up to 600,000 Additional
Shares at the purchase price.  Additional Shares may be purchased as provided in
Article IV hereof solely for the purpose of covering overallotments made in
connection with the offering of the Firm Shares.  If any Additional Shares are
to be purchased, each U.S. Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to
purchase the number of Additional Shares (subject to such adjustments to
eliminate fractional shares as the U.S. Representatives may determine) that
bears the same proportion to the total number of Additional Shares to be
purchased as the number of U.S. Firm Shares set forth in Schedule I hereto
opposite the name of such U.S. Underwriter bears to the total number of U.S.
Firm Shares.  The Additional Shares to be purchased by the U.S. Underwriters
hereunder and the U.S. Firm Shares are hereinafter collectively referred to as
the "U.S. Shares".

          The Company hereby agrees that, without the prior written consent of
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated on behalf of the Underwriters, it will not,
during the period commencing on the date hereof and ending 120 days after the
date hereof, (i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or
contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option,
right or warrant to purchase or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or
indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or
exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock or (ii) enter into any swap or
other arrangement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic
consequences of ownership of the Common Stock, whether any such transaction
described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Common
Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, other than (A) sale of the
Shares hereunder, (B) the sale of any shares of Common Stock issued by the
Company upon the exercise of an option or warrant or the



<PAGE>
                                        8

conversion of a security outstanding on the date hereof of which the
Underwriters have been advised in writing and (C) the grant of any options to
employees which do not become exercisable until at least 120 days after the date
of the Prospectus and (D) up to an aggregate of 1,587,500 shares (adjusted for
any stock split) of Common Stock (or securities convertible into such shares) in
connection with acquisitions, joint ventures, strategic alliances and other
similar transactions, if the holders thereof agree not to sell any such shares
until 120 days after the date of the Prospectus. 


                                      III.

          The Company is advised by you that the Underwriters propose to make a
public offering of their respective portions of the Shares as soon after the
Original Registration Statement and this Agreement have become effective as in
your judgment is advisable.  The Company is further advised by you that the
Shares are to be offered to the public initially at U.S.$____ a share (the
public offering price) and to certain dealers selected by you at a price that
represents a concession not in excess of U.S.$____ a share under the public
offering price, and that any Underwriter may allow, and such dealers may
reallow, a concession, not in excess of U.S.$____ a share, to any Underwriter or
to certain other dealers.

          Each U.S. Underwriter hereby makes to and with the Company the
representations and agreements of such U.S. Underwriter contained in the fifth
and sixth paragraphs of Article III of the Agreement Between U.S. and
International Underwriters of even date herewith.  Each International
Underwriter hereby makes to and with the Company the representations and
agreements of such International Underwriter contained in the seventh, eighth,
ninth and tenth paragraphs of Article III of such Agreement.


                                       IV.

          Payment for the Firm Shares shall be made to the Company in Federal or
other funds immediately available in New York City against delivery of such Firm
Shares for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters at a closing to
be held at the offices



<PAGE>
                                        9

of Shearman & Sterling, 599 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York, at 10:00 A.M.,
New York City time, on __________, 1996, or at such other time on the same or
such other date, not later than ________, 1996, as shall be designated in
writing by you.  The time and date of such payment are hereinafter referred to
as the "Closing Date".

          Payment for any Additional Shares shall be made to the Company in
Federal or other funds immediately available in New York City against delivery
of such Firm Shares for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters at a
closing to be held at the offices of Shearman & Sterling, 599 Lexington Avenue,
New York, New York, at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the date specified in
the notice described in this Article IV or on such other date, in any event not
later than _____, 1996, as shall be designated in writing by you.  The time and
date of such payment are hereinafter referred to as the "Option Closing Date". 
The notice of the determination to exercise the option to purchase Additional
Shares and of the Option Closing Date may be given at any time within 30 days
after the date of this Agreement.

          Certificates for the Firm Shares and Additional Shares shall be in
definitive form and registered in such names and in such denominations as you
shall request in writing not later than one full business day prior to the
Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be.  The certificates
evidencing the Firm Shares and Additional Shares shall be delivered to you on
the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, for  the
respective accounts of the several Underwriters, with any transfer taxes payable
in connection with the transfer of the Shares to the Underwriters duly paid,
against payment of the purchase price therefor.


                                       V.

          The obligations of the Company and the several obligations of the
Underwriters hereunder are subject to the condition that the Registration
Statement shall have become effective not later than the date hereof.

          The several obligations of the Underwriters hereunder are subject to
the following further conditions:

          (a)  Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement and
     prior to the Closing Date:

               (i)  there shall not have occurred any downgrading, nor shall any
          notice have been given of any intended or potential downgrading or of
          any review for a possible change that does not indicate the direction
          of the possible change, in the rating accorded any of the Company's
          securities by any "nationally recognized statistical rating
          organization", as such term is defined for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2)
          under the Securities Act; and

               (ii) there shall not have occurred any change, or any development
     involving a prospective change, in the condition, financial or otherwise,
     or in the earnings, business or operations, of the Company and its
     subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from that set forth in the Registration 
     Statement, that, in your



<PAGE>
                                       10

     reasonable judgment, is material and adverse and that makes it, in 
     reasonable judgment, impracticable to market the Shares on the terms and in
     the manner contemplated in the Prospectus.

          (b)  The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date a
     certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by two executive officers of
     the Company reasonably acceptable to the several Underwriters, to the
     effect set forth in clause (a)(i) above and to the effect that the
     representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement
     are true and correct in all material respects as of the Closing Date and
     that the Company has complied with all of the agreements and satisfied all
     of the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder on or
     before the Closing Date.

          (c)  No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
     Statement shall be in effect and no proceedings for such purpose shall be
     pending before or, to the knowledge of the Company or the Underwriters,
     threatened by the Commission.

          (d)  You shall have received on the Closing Date (i) an opinion of
     Graubard Mollen & Miller, counsel for the Company, dated the Closing Date,
     to the effect set forth in Exhibit A and (ii) an opinion of Willkie, Farr &
     Gallagher, special regulatory counsel for the Company, dated the Closing
     Date, to the effect set forth in Exhibit B.

          (e)  You shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of
     Shearman & Sterling, counsel for the Underwriters, dated the Closing Date,
     with respect to such matters as you may reasonably request.

          (f)  You shall have received, on each of the date hereof and the
     Closing Date, a letter dated the date hereof or the Closing Date, as the
     case may be, in form and substance satisfactory to you, from Grant Thornton
     L.L.P., independent public accountants for the Company, containing
     statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants'
     "comfort letters" to underwriters with respect to the financial statements
     and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement
     and the Prospectus.

          (g)  The "lock-up" agreements between you and (1) the directors and
     executive officers and certain other officers of the Company and its
     subsidiaries and (2) individuals who as of December 31, 1996 have vested
     options to purchase 80,000 or more shares of Common stock, relating to
     sales of shares of Common Stock of the Company or any securities
     convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for such Common Stock,
     delivered to you on or before the date hereof, shall be in full force and
     effect on the Closing Date.



<PAGE>
                                       11


          (h)  The Company shall have complied with the provisions of Article
     VI(a) hereof with respect to the furnishing of Prospectuses on the business
     day next succeeding the date of this Agreement, in such quantities as you
     shall have reasonably requested.

          (i)  You shall have received such other documents and certificates as
     are reasonably requested by you or your counsel.

          (j)  The Shares shall have been approved for quotation on Nasdaq by
     the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.

          (k)  Each holder of common stock of the Company received pursuant to,
     or entitled to the benefits of, the Exchange Agreement, dated November 15,
     1995 (the "Exchange Agreement"), between WinStar Companies, Inc., a
     Delaware corporation and the Company shall have waived (i) any rights to
     participate in this Common Stock offering and (ii) any rights, if
     applicable, to demand that the Company register such holder's Common Stock
     received pursuant to the Exchange Agreement for a period of 120 days.

          The obligations of the Underwriters hereunder are also subject to the
concurrent closing of the Notes Offering, as described in the Prospectus.

          The several obligations of the U.S. Underwriters to purchase
Additional Shares hereunder are subject to the delivery to the U.S.
Representatives on the Option Closing Date of such documents, including legal
opinions, as they may reasonably request with respect to the good standing of
the Company, the due authorization and issuance of the Additional Shares and
other matters related to the issuance of the Additional Shares.


                                       VI.

          In further consideration of the agreements of the Underwriters herein
contained in this Agreement, the Company covenants as follows:

          (a)  To furnish to you, without charge, three signed copies of the
     Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto and documents
     incorporated by reference) and for delivery to each other Underwriter a
     conformed copy of the Registration Statement (without exhibits thereto but
     including documents incorporated by reference) and, during the period
     mentioned in paragraph (c) below, as many copies of the Prospectus, any
     documents incorporated therein by reference, and any supplements and
     amendments thereto or to the Registration Statement as you may reasonably
     request.  In the case of the Prospectus, to furnish copies of the
     Prospectus



<PAGE>
                                       12

     in New York City, prior to 10:00 p.m., on the business day following the
     date of this Agreement, in such quantities as you reasonably request.

          (b)  Before amending or supplementing the Registration Statement or
     the Prospectus, to furnish to you a copy of each such proposed amendment or
     supplement and not to file any such proposed amendment or supplement to
     which you reasonably object.

          (c)  If, during such period after the first date of the public
     offering of the Shares as in the opinion of your counsel the Prospectus is
     required by law to be delivered in connection with sales by an Underwriter
     or dealer, any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of
     which it is necessary in your counsel's reasonable judgment to amend or
     supplement the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the
     light of the circumstances when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser,
     not misleading, or if, in the reasonable opinion of your counsel, it is
     necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with applicable
     law, the Company shall forthwith prepare, file with the Commission and
     furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and to the dealers (whose
     names and addresses you will furnish to the Company) to which Shares may
     have been sold by you on behalf of the Underwriters and to any other
     dealers upon request, either amendments or supplements to the Prospectus so
     that the statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will
     not, in the light of the circumstances when the Prospectus is delivered to
     a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Prospectus, as amended or
     supplemented, will comply with law.

          (d)  To endeavor to qualify the Shares for offer and sale under the
     securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as you shall reasonably
     request and to pay all expenses (including fees of counsel) in connection
     with such qualification and in connection with any review of the offering
     of the Shares by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.

          (e)  If the Company elects to rely on Rule 462(b) under the Securities
     Act, the Company shall file a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement with the
     Commission in compliance with Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act no later
     than the earlier of (i) 10:00 p.m. Eastern time on the date hereof and (ii)
     the time confirmations are sent or given, as specified by Rule 462(b) under
     the Securities Act, and shall pay the applicable fees in accordance with
     Rule 111 under the Securities Act.

          (f)  To make generally available to the Company's security holders and
     to you as soon as practicable an earnings statement of the Company covering
     such twelve-month period that satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of
     the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission
     thereunder.



<PAGE>
                                       13


          (g)  Whether or not the transactions contemplated in this Agreement
     are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, to pay or cause to be paid
     all expenses incidental to the performance of its obligations under this
     Agreement including:  (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the
     Company's counsel and the Company's accountants in connection with the
     registration and delivery of the Shares under the Securities Act and all
     other fees or expenses in connection with the preparation and filing of the
     Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus and
     amendments and supplements to any of the foregoing, including all printing
     costs associated therewith, and the mailing and delivering of copies
     thereof to the U.S. Representatives, in the quantities specified above,
     (ii) all costs and expenses related to the transfer and delivery of the
     Shares to the Underwriters, including any transfer or other taxes payable
     thereon, (iii) the cost of printing or producing any Blue Sky or Legal
     Investment memorandum in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares
     under state securities laws and all expenses in connection with the
     qualification of the Shares for offer and sale under state securities laws
     as provided in paragraph (d) above, including filing fees and the
     reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in
     connection with such qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky or
     Legal Investment memorandum, (iv) all filing fees and disbursements of
     counsel to the Underwriters incurred in connection with the review and
     qualification of the offering by the National Association of Securities
     Dealers, Inc., (v) all costs and expenses incidental to listing the Shares
     on Nasdaq, (vi) the cost of printing certificates representing the Shares,
     (vii) the costs and charges of any transfer agent, registrar or depositary,
     (viii) the costs and expenses of the Company relating to investor
     presentations on any "road show" undertaken in connection with the
     marketing of the offering, including, without limitation, expenses
     associated with the production of road show slides and graphics, fees and
     expenses of any consultants engaged in connection with the road show
     presentations with the prior approval of the Company, travel and lodging
     expense of the representatives and officers of the Company and any such
     consultants, and the cost of any aircraft chartered in connection with the
     road show and (ix) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance
     of the obligations of the Company hereunder for which provision is not
     otherwise made in this paragraph.  It is understood, however, that except
     as provided in this Article, Article VII and the third paragraph of Article
     IX below, the Underwriters will pay all of their costs and expenses,
     including fees and disbursements of their counsel, stock transfer taxes
     payable on resale of any of the Shares by them and any advertising expenses
     connected with any offers they may make.



<PAGE>
                                       14


                                      VII.

          The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter and
each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of either
Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and
against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without
limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by any Underwriter
or any such controlling or affiliated person in connection with defending or
investigating any such action or claim) caused by any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration
Statement or any amendment thereof, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus
(as amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments
or supplements thereto), or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state
therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein in light of the circumstances under which they were made not
misleading, except (i) insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities
are caused by any such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement
or omission based upon information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the
Company in writing by such Underwriter through you expressly for use therein and
(ii) that the foregoing agreement with respect to any preliminary prospectus
shall not inure to the benefit of the Underwriters, or any person controlling
the Underwriters, if a copy of the Prospectus (as then amended or supplemented
if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto) was
not sent or given by or on behalf of the Underwriters to a purchaser, if
required by law to be sent, with or prior to the written confirmation of the
sale of the Shares to such purchaser, and if the Prospectus (as so amended or
supplemented) would have cured the defect giving rise to such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities.

          Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and
hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers who sign the Registration
Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning
of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to
the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to such Underwriter,
but only with reference to information relating to such Underwriter furnished to
the Company in writing by such Underwriter through you expressly for use in the
Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus or any
amendments or supplements thereto.

          In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation)
shall be instituted involving any person in respect of which indemnity may be
sought pursuant to either of the two preceding paragraphs of this Article VII,
such person (the "indemnified party") shall promptly notify the person against
whom such indemnity may be sought (the "indemnifying party") in writing and the
indemnifying party, upon request of the indemnified party, shall retain counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified
party and any others the indemnifying party may designate in such proceeding



<PAGE>
                                       15

and shall pay the fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such
proceeding.  In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right
to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at
the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party and the
indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel or
(ii) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties)
include both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and representation
of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or
potential differing interests between them.  It is understood that the
indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related
proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of
more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all such
indemnified parties and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as
they are incurred.  Such firm shall be designated in writing by Morgan Stanley &
Co. Incorporated, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to the first
preceding paragraph of this Article VII, and by the Company, in the case of
parties indemnified pursuant to the second paragraph of this Article VII.  The
indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding
effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if
there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to
indemnify the indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason
of such settlement or judgment.  Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at
any time an indemnified party shall have requested in writing an indemnifying
party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as
contemplated by the second and third sentences of this third paragraph, the
indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any
proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is
entered into more than 30 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the
aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the
indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such
settlement.  No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of
the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened
proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a
party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party,
unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such indemnified
party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such
proceeding.

          To the extent the indemnification provided for in the first or second
paragraph of this Article VII is unavailable to an indemnified party or
insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred
to therein, then each indemnifying party under such paragraph, in lieu of
indemnifying such indemnified party thereunder, shall contribute to the amount
paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the
relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters
on the other hand from the offering of the Shares or (ii) if the allocation
provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred
to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company on the one
hand and



<PAGE>
                                       16

of the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the statements or
omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well
as any other relevant equitable considerations.  The relative benefits received
by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand in
connection with the offering of the Shares shall be deemed to be in the same
respective proportions as the net proceeds from the offering of the Shares
(before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the total underwriting
discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set
forth in the table on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate public
offering price of the Shares.  The relative fault of the Company on the one hand
and the Underwriters on the other hand shall be determined by reference to,
among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material
fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to
information supplied by the Company or by the Underwriters and the parties'
relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or
prevent such statement or omission.  The Underwriters' respective obligations to
contribute pursuant to this Article VII are several in proportion to the
respective number of Shares they have purchased hereunder, and not joint.

          The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just or
equitable if contribution pursuant to this Article VII were determined by pro
                                                                          ---
rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such
- ----
purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the
equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding fourth
paragraph of this Article VII.  The amount paid or payable by an indemnified
party as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in
the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the
limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by
such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such
action or claim.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article VII, no
Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount
by which the total price at which the Shares underwritten by it and distributed
to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages that
such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.  No person guilty of
fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the
Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.  

          The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Article
VII and the representations and warranties of the Company contained in this
Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i)
any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf
of any Underwriter or any person controlling any Underwriter or by or on behalf
of the Company, its officers or directors or any person controlling the Company
and (iii) acceptance of and payment for any of the Shares.  The remedies
provided for in this Article VII are not exclusive and shall not limit any
rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any indemnified party at
law or in equity.



<PAGE>
                                       17


                                      VIII.

          This Agreement shall be subject to termination by notice given by you
to the Company, if (a) after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and
prior to the Closing Date (i) trading generally shall have been suspended or
materially limited on or by, as the case may be, any of the New York Stock
Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System, the Chicago Board of Options Exchange,
the Chicago Mercantile Exchange or the Chicago Board of Trade, (ii) trading of
any securities of the Company shall have been suspended on any exchange or in
any over-the-counter market, (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking
activities in New York shall have been declared by either Federal or New York
State authorities or (iv) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation
of hostilities or any change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis
that, in your reasonable judgment, is material and adverse and (b) in the case
of any of the events specified in clauses (a)(i) through (iv), such event singly
or together with any other such event makes it, in your reasonable judgment,
impracticable to market the Shares on the terms and in the manner contemplated
in the Prospectus.


                                       IX.

          This Agreement shall become effective upon the later of (x) execution
and delivery hereof by the parties hereto and (y) release of notification of the
effectiveness of the Original Registration Statement by the Commission.

          If, on the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may
be, any one or more of the Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Shares
that it or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, and the
aggregate number of Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters
agreed but failed or refused to purchase is not more than one-tenth of the
aggregate



<PAGE>
                                       18

number of the Shares to be purchased on such date, the other Underwriters shall
be obligated severally in the proportions that the number of Firm Shares set
forth opposite their respective names in Schedule I or Schedule II bears to the
aggregate number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the names of all such
nondefaulting Underwriters, or in such other proportions as you may specify, to
purchase the Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but
failed or refused to purchase on such date; provided that in no event shall the
                                            --------
number of Shares that any Underwriter has agreed to purchase pursuant to Article
II be increased pursuant to this Article IX by an amount in excess of one-ninth
of such number of Shares without the written consent of such Underwriter.  If,
on the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, any
Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Shares and the
aggregate number of Shares with respect to which such default occurs is more
than one-tenth of the aggregate number of Shares to be purchased on such date,
and arrangements satisfactory to you and the Company for the purchase of such
Shares are not made within 36 hours after such default, this Agreement shall
terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or the
Company.  In any such case either you or the Company shall have the right to
postpone the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, but in
no event for longer than seven days, in order that the required changes, if any,
in the Registration Statement and in the Prospectus or in any other documents or
arrangements may be effected. Any action taken under this paragraph shall not
relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of
such Underwriter under this Agreement.

          If this Agreement shall be terminated by the Underwriters, or any of
them, because of any failure or refusal on the part of the Company to comply
with any material terms or to fulfill any of the material conditions of this
Agreement, or if for any reason the Company shall be unable to perform any of
its material obligations under this Agreement, the Company will reimburse the
Underwriters or such Underwriters as have so terminated this Agreement with
respect to themselves, severally, for all out-of-pocket expenses (including the
fees and disbursements of their counsel) reasonably incurred by such
Underwriters in connection with this Agreement or the offering contemplated
hereunder.

          This Agreement may be signed in any number of counterparts, each of
which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto
and hereto were upon the same instrument.



<PAGE>
                                       19

          This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York.

                                   Very truly yours,

                                   WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC.



                                   By______________________________

Accepted, ___________ 1996

MORGAN STANLEY & CO.
     INCORPORATED
CS FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION

Acting severally on behalf of themselves
     and the several U.S. Underwriters
     named in Schedule I hereto.

By Morgan Stanley & Co.
     Incorporated


By__________________________


MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
CS FIRST BOSTON LIMITED

Acting severally on behalf of themselves
     and the several International Underwriters
     named in Schedule II hereto.

By Morgan Stanley & Co. International Limited


By                                      
   -------------------------------------



<PAGE>
                                   SCHEDULE I

                                U.S. Underwriters
                                -----------------



                                                          Number of
                                                        Firm  Shares
      Underwriter                                      To Be Purchased
      -----------                                      ---------------
 Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated

 CS First Boston Corporation 



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

 Total U.S. Firm Shares  . . . . . . . . . . . 



<PAGE>
                                   SCHEDULE II

                           International Underwriters
                           --------------------------



                                                           Number of
                                                          Firm  Shares
      Underwriter                                       To Be Purchased
      -----------                                       ---------------
 Morgan Stanley & Co. International Limited

 CS First Boston Limited



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

 Total International Firm Shares . . . . . . .  



<PAGE>
                                                                       EXHIBIT A
                                                                       ---------

                      OPINION OF GRAUBARD, MOLLEN & MILLER

          The opinion of counsel for the Company to be delivered pursuant to
Section 5(d) of the Underwriting Agreement shall be to the effect that:

          (A)  the Company has been duly incorporated, is validly existing as a
corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has the
corporate power and authority to own its property and to conduct its business as
described in the Prospectus (references herein to the Prospectus being taken to
mean the same, as amended or supplemented);

          (B)  each of WinStar Gateway Network, Inc., WinStar
Telecommunications, Inc., WinStar Wireless, Inc., WinStar Wireless Fiber Corp.,
WinStar New Media Company Inc., Non Fiction Films Inc. and WinStar Global
Products, Inc. is a subsidiary of the Company, has been duly incorporated, is
validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State
of Delaware, has the corporate power and authority to own its property and to
conduct its business as described in the Prospectus.  

The following subsidiaries are duly qualified to conduct business and are in
good standing in the following jurisdictions:

                Subsidiary                      Jurisdiction
                ----------                      ------------

                WinStar Gateway                 California
                                                Florida
                                                Illinois
                                                New Jersey
                                                New York
                                                Ohio
                                                Pennsylvania
                                                Texas

                WinStar Telecommunications

                WinStar Wireless                Virginia

                WinStar Wireless Fiber

                WinStar Global Products         New York
                                                New Jersey;



<PAGE>
                                       A-2


          (C)  the authorized capital stock of the Company conforms as to legal
matters to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus;

          (D)  the shares of Common Stock outstanding prior to the issuance of
the Shares have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid and non-
assessable;

          (E)  the Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued and
delivered in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, will be
validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and the issuance of such Shares
will not be subject to any statutory preemptive rights or, to such counsel's
knowledge after due inquiry, any contractual preemptive rights;

          (F)  the Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company;

          (G)  the execution and delivery by the Company of, and the performance
by the Company of its obligations under, the Underwriting Agreement will not
contravene (i) any provision of applicable law, (ii) the certificate of
incorporation or by-laws of the Company, (iii) any agreement or other instrument
known to such counsel (after due inquiry of the Company's executive officers)
and binding upon the Company or any of its subsidiaries that is material to the
Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (iv) any judgment, or decree
of any governmental body, agency or court having jurisdiction over the Company
or any subsidiary that is known to such counsel (after due inquiry of the
Company's executive officers) (except, with respect to clauses (iii) and (iv),
where such contravention (singly or in the aggregate) will not have a material
adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole or
materially adversely affect the Company's ability to perform its obligations
under the Underwriting Agreement).  To such counsel's knowledge after due
inquiry of the Company's executive officers, no consent, approval, authorization
or order of, or qualification with, any governmental body or agency is required
for the performance by the Company or its subsidiaries of their obligations
under the Underwriting Agreement, except such as have been obtained or as may be
required by the securities laws or Blue Sky laws of the various states of the
United States and foreign jurisdictions in connection with the offer and sale of
the Shares;

          (H)  the statements (i) in the Prospectus under the captions "Business
- - Legal Proceedings," "Description of Capital Stock", "Underwriters",
"Description of Certain Indebtedness" and "Shares Eligible for Future Sale",
(ii) in the Registration Statement in Item 15 and (iii) under the captions
"Employment Agreements" and "Certain Transactions" in the Definitive Proxy
Statement of the Company dated May 3, 1996, in each case insofar as such
statements constitute summaries of the legal matters, documents or proceedings
referred to therein, fairly summarize the matters referred to therein;



<PAGE>
                                       A-3


          (I)  based solely on such counsel's discussions with executive
officers of the Company and such counsel's representation of the Company, such
counsel does not know of any legal or governmental proceedings pending or
threatened to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or to
which any of the properties of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject
other than proceedings fairly summarized in all material respects in the
Prospectus and proceedings which could not reasonably be expected to have a
material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole,
or on the power or ability of the Company to perform its obligations under the
Underwriting Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated by the
Prospectus;

          (J)  the Company is not, and immediately after giving effect to the
offering and sale of the Common Stock and the application of the proceeds
thereof as described in the Prospectus will not be, an "investment company" or
an entity "controlled" by an "investment company", as such terms are defined in
the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;

          (K)  the statements in the Prospectus, under the caption "Certain
Federal Income Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders," are accurate and fairly
summarize the matters referred to therein; and

          (L)  each document filed pursuant to the Exchange Act and incorporated
by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (except as to the
financial statements and other than financial data and schedules included or
incorporated by reference therein as to which such counsel need not express any
opinion) complied when so filed as to form in all material respects with the
Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and the
Registration Statement and Prospectus (except as to the financial statements and
other than financial data and schedules included therein as to which such
counsel need not express any opinion) comply as to form in all material respects
with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder. 

Additionally, such counsel shall state that, in the course of preparation of the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus, it has participated in conferences
with Officers and other representatives of the Company with respect to the
Registration Statement and Prospectus and, although such counsel is not passing
upon and does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or
fairness of the statements contained in the Registration Statement or Prospectus
(except as otherwise set forth in the Opinion), no facts have come to its
attention which give it reason to believe that the Registration Statement or any
amendment thereto at the time it became effective (including the documents
incorporated by reference therein, as supplemented by the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus, as supplemented) contained any untrue statement of a



<PAGE>
                                       A-4

material fact required to be stated therein or omitted to state any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading or that the Prospectus or any supplement thereto (including the
documents incorporated by reference therein, as supplemented by the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus, as supplemented) when issued, or on the Closing
Date, contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a
material fact necessary in order to make statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (except, in the case of
both the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and the Prospectus and
any supplement thereto (and any documents incorporated by reference therein),
for the financial statements, notes thereto and other financial information,
statistical data and schedules contained therein (including without limitation,
the pro forma financial information), as to which such counsel need express no
belief).

Counsel may state that their opinion and belief are based upon their
participation in the preparation of the Registration Statement and Prospectus
(and any amendments or supplements thereto) and any documents incorporated
therein by reference and review and discussion of the contents thereof, but are
without independent check or verification except with respect to paragraphs (H)
and (K) above.  



<PAGE>
                                                                       EXHIBIT B
                                                                       ---------


              OPINION OF SPECIAL REGULATORY COUNSEL FOR THE COMPANY

          The opinion of special regulatory counsel for the Company to be
delivered pursuant to Section 5(d) of the Underwriting Agreement shall be to the
effect that:

                                         
          (A)  the thirty 400 MHz Wireless Licenses authorize WCI to use 400 MHz
     of bandwidth capacity, and the thirteen WinStar Licenses authorize WCI to
     use 100 MHz of bandwidth capacity, to offer voice, data and video
     transmission services on certain channels in the 38.6 GHz - 40 GHz band
     within the service areas designated in the respective Licenses.  Each of
     the Licenses was validly issued by the FCC.  WCI is in full compliance with
     all material terms and conditions of each License and with all material FCC
     Rules applicable to the Licenses.  WCI has filed in a timely manner all
     required reports, certifications, notices, lists, and other filings as are
     necessary to maintain each of the Licenses in full force and effect;

          (B)  the FCC has the authority, under certain circumstances, to modify
     radio licenses that it has issued.  The FCC may propose and/or adopt rules
     to auction portions of the 38.6 GHz - 40.0 GHz and surrounding radio
     spectrum available for commercial use.  If it does, the FCC may adopt
     changes to the existing regulations governing 38 GHz licensees, which could
     have an impact on the scope of the Licenses and the operations of WCI and
     its subsidiaries.  As of the Closing Date, such counsel is not aware of any
     official FCC action that may permit or is likely to lead to the revocation,
     nonrenewal, modification, impairment, restriction, or suspension of any
     License or any right or authority thereunder in whole or in part;

          (C)  the execution of the Underwriting Agreement, and the performance
     by the parties to the Underwriting Agreement of their obligations
     thereunder, and the exercise by them of their remedies thereunder in
     accordance with the terms thereof, do not violate the Communications Act of
     1934 or the Rules thereunder;

          (D)  the statements in the Prospectus under the captions "Risk Factors
     -- Government Regulation," "Business -- Telecommunications Services --
     Wireless Fiber -- Wireless Licenses" and "Business -- Government Regulation
     of Telecommunications Operations", insofar as such statements constitute a
     summary of the legal matters, licenses, procedures or proceedings referred
     to therein, fairly summarize the matters referred to therein relating to
     applicable federal law;

          (E)  the six 100 MHz Wireless Licenses granted on June 20, 1995
     require WCI to complete construction by December 20, 1996, and the five
     licenses that



<PAGE>
                                       B-2

     became effective on July 18, 1995 require WCI to complete construction by
     January 18, 1997; and 

          (F)  construction has been completed with respect to each of the 400
     MHz Wireless Licenses and WCI is operating the facilities authorized by
     each of the 400 MHz Wireless Licenses in accordance with the Act and the
     Rules and in such manner as is necessary to maintain each of the Licenses
     in full force and effect.

          With respect, however, to the question of whether the extent of the
     construction and operation of the facilities completed as of March 15, 1995
     was sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the FCC's Rules, such counsel
     is of the opinion that the FCC, in a properly argued and presented case,
     should find that construction of the Wireless Fiber licensed facilities was
     completed on or before March 15, 1995, and WCI is currently operating those
     facilities as required by the Act and the Rules.







                                                            EXHIBIT 10.71



                              DIGEX Private Network Contract

DIGEX, Inc., a Maryland corporation, with offices at 6800 Virginia
- ------------                                         -------------
Manor Road, Beltsville, Maryland 20705, hereinafter referred as
- --------------------------------------
"DIGEX", and WINSTAR Communications, Inc. with offices at 230 Park
 -----       ----------------------------                 --------
Avenue, Suite 3126, New York, New York 10169, hereinafter referred to
- ---------------------------------------------
as "WINSTAR", agree that the following terms and conditions shall
    -------
govern the sale and discounting of Products as herein defined.

1.    Definitions.
      -----------
     
1.1   Parties, Party.  "Parties" means DIGEX and WINSTAR, collectively. 
      --------------
      "Party" means either DIGEX and WINSTAR.
     
1.2   Agreement.  "Agreement" refers to this contract for Private Network
      ---------
      Capacity agreed to between WINSTAR and DIGEX.
     
1.3   Territory.  "Territory" is designated as: Continental United
      ---------
      States and shall include all other locations where DIGEX provides
      Service during the term hereof.
     
1.4   Service(s). The term "Service" or  "Services" as used herein
      ----------
      shall mean one or more of the items listed on EXHIBITs "A & B"
      hereto, as changed from time to time in accordance with the
      provisions of this Agreement, and all future DIGEX products and
      services (which shall be added to EXHIBIT "B").
     
1.5   Network Availability.  The term is defined as the cumulative time
      --------------------
      the "Network Backbone" (as defined below) is available to process
      Internet usage as measured by the HP Open View software package
      (as defined in EXHIBIT "A").
     
1.6   Network Backbone.  The term is defined as any network
      ----------------
      interconnection that exists between a DIGEX Internet gateway
      interconnection or Network Access Point ("NAP") and any DIGEX
      interconnection device(s).
     
2.    Appointment.
      -----------
     
2.1   Authorization.  DIGEX hereby sells private network capacity to
      -------------
      WINSTAR which includes nationwide Internet access with which
      WINSTAR will privately label and market, distribute, and solicit
      orders for Services to WINSTAR Customers (defined as customers of
      WINSTAR utilizing DIGEX Internet access Services on a non-
      exclusive basis) subject to the terms and conditions of this
      Agreement.
     
      A.   WINSTAR at its option can disclose in its advertisements,
           materials and to Customers that it is using the services of
           DIGEX and DIGEX can also do so, as to WINSTAR  but neither
           Party can use the trademarks, service marks, etceteras
           without the prior written consent of the other.
     
      B.   DIGEX will grant to WINSTAR roof rights and other access to
           DIGEX at DIGEX owned facilities, or leased facilities (If
           facility is leased, lease agreement between DIGEX and the
           leasing party must permit DIGEX to grant roof rights; In
           addition, local statutes, regulations and laws must permit
           such rights) as WINSTAR requires and WINSTAR will have the
           right to place its equipment in DIGEX owned or leased
           premises for any purpose relating to this Agreement. 
           WINSTAR employees and consultants will have access to such
           premises and equipment.






                                                                         Page 1


<PAGE>

2.2   Public Release of Information.  No news releases, articles,
      -----------------------------
      brochures, advertisements, speeches or other informational
      releases concerning this Agreement, the terms contained herein,
      or the relationship of the Parties shall be made without written
      approval from the other Party.  Both Parties agree to give four
      (4) hours advance time for review of any material submitted for
      approval.  Review shall be completed within four (4) business
      hours.  To the extent that disclosure is required by legal
      obligation to any governmental entity or pursuant to judicial,
      quasi judicial and/or government action no consent is required,
      though notice shall be given.
     
2.3   No Authority to Make Agreements. Except as expressly permitted
      -------------------------------
      herein, neither Party shall have the authority to make any
      agreement or incur any liability on behalf of the other Party.
     
2.4   Reserved Rights. DIGEX reserves the right to market the Services
      ----------------
      in any manner and without limitation, provided however that DIGEX
      will not knowingly directly market to WINSTAR's Customers. 
      Should this occur DIGEX will pay to WINSTAR a ten (10%) percent
      commission on the sale of the Service(s) sold to such
      customer(s). 
     
3.    Commencement Date And Term.
      --------------------------
     
3.1   Commencement Date.  This Agreement shall be effective, upon
      -----------------
      execution by both Parties.
     
3.2   Term.  The initial term of this Agreement shall be for seventy-
      ----
      two (72) months from the commencement date specified herein.
     
3.3   Renewal.  This Agreement shall automatically renew for two
      -------
      additional renewal terms, each consisting of three (3) year
      periods.  WINSTAR may terminate upon written notice no later than
      sixty (60) days prior to the end of any term.
     
4.    Reserved
      --------
     
5.    Commitment
      ----------
     
5.1   Total Commitment. WINSTAR hereby agrees to purchase from DIGEX
      ----------------
      Five Million ($5,000,000)  dollars of Services less any Service
      Credits at the Port Acquisition and Revenue Rates received by
      WINSTAR from DIGEX for failure to meet Performance Specifications
      or any other credits or offsets given to WINSTAR over a seventy-
      two (72) month period (the "Commitment"). WINSTAR further
      anticipates that it will purchase an additional Five Million
      ($5,000,000) dollars of Services during the initial term of this
      Agreement.
     
5.2   WINSTAR's satisfaction of the Commitment will vary depending on
      the Term remaining as follows:
     
      a. WINSTAR agrees to pay DIGEX the amount of Five Million
         ($5,000,000) dollars Commitment within eight (8) business
         days of the Commencement Date.  This Five Million
         ($5,000,000) dollars will be applied against Services sold
         by WINSTAR to its Customers over the initial seventy-two
         month period of the Agreement.   

      b. WINSTAR shall be invoiced for all Services sold over the
         Term of the contract.  Invoices shall state the amount of
         Services sold by WINSTAR and the remaining credit from the
         Five Million ($5,000,000) dollar Commitment amount. 
         Payment of invoices once the Five Million ($5,000,000)
         dollar Commitment amount has been fully credited, are due
         thirty (30) days from date of invoice.

      c. DIGEX agrees to a discount rate of twenty (20%) off of
         Services as stated on the DIGEX PNC Rate Cards from Zero
         to Ten Million dollars ($0 - $10,000,000) in EXHIBIT "B".










                                                               Page 2
          

<PAGE>
      d. DIGEX agrees to a discount rate of twenty-five (25%)
         percent off of Services as stated in the DIGEX PNC Rate
         Cards from Ten Million and One dollars and above,
         ($10,000,001 and above) in EXHIBIT "B".
    
6.    Responsibilities of WINSTAR.
      ---------------------------
    
6.1   WINSTAR agrees to provide DIGEX, monthly, a rolling three
      month sales forecast by POP.  ("POP") is defined as any Point
      of Presence where DIGEX connects or is planning a connection
      to a WINSTAR Customer).  This plan will be submitted by
      WINSTAR to DIGEX for review.  The forecast is due the first
      Monday of every month for review and incorporation into the
      DIGEX network operations and planning, Point of Presence
      ("POP") build-out, and revenue forecast.
    
6.2 . WINSTAR shall not use in its marketing effort any materials or
      make any warranties or representations to WINSTAR Customers
      regarding the Services from DIGEX that are misleading or
      inaccurate, or otherwise not in accordance with DIGEX's
      specifications, unless approved in advance in writing by
      DIGEX.
    
6.3   WINSTAR will act as a single point of contact for its
      customer(s) and will be responsible for all customer premise
      management, initial service trouble shooting, marketing, sales
      and billing issues.
    
7.    Responsibilities of DIGEX.
      -------------------------
    
      DIGEX's responsibilities under this Agreement shall, in
      addition to any others contained herein, be as follows:
    
7.1   Provision of Service.  DIGEX will provide the Service for use
      --------------------
      throughout the Territory.  The Service will be available
      following the successful placement into revenue service of a
      POP; completion, integration, and testing of the POP; and
      receipt by DIGEX of all necessary regulatory approvals,
      permits, licenses and certifications for the POP.
    
7.2   Port Access Records. DIGEX will provide WINSTAR on an agreed
      -------------------
      upon monthly basis with Port Access Records of WINSTAR
      Customers in reasonable detail sufficient to enable WINSTAR to
      bill its customers, but in no greater detail than DIGEX
      generates for its own billing and record keeping purposes. 
      DIGEX will provide the Port Access Records to WINSTAR on media
      and in a format agreed upon by the Parties.  In the event that
      WINSTAR  requests in writing that the Port Access Records be
      tailored to a more detailed format,   DIGEX reserves the right
      to charge WINSTAR for DIGEX's additional reasonable out of
      pocket costs of preparation and delivery, including but not
      limited to any hardware/software modifications required to be
      made to DIGEX's systems. DIGEX will advise WINSTAR in advance
      and obtain WINSTAR's approval in advance, in writing of any
      such costs prior to the generation of a new formatted report.
    
7.3   Deactivation of Services.  DIGEX shall, upon receipt of agreed
      ------------------------
      upon notice from WINSTAR requesting deactivation of a Service,
      promptly arrange for such deactivation, but WINSTAR shall be
      liable for all charges for port fees for WINSTAR, activated at
      WINSTAR's request, until the end of the business day next
      succeeding the date on which DIGEX receives agreed upon notice
      from WINSTAR to deactivate such Services.
    
7.4   DIGEX will provide to WINSTAR upon WINSTAR's request product
      and services training to WINSTAR as required at a fee of Two
      Thousand Five Hundred ($2,500) dollars per each full day for
      training and expenses.  DIGEX will provide to WINSTAR, at a
      reasonable price, the necessary marketing and technical
      materials required to effectively market the DIGEX Service
      offerings.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
                                                                Page 3
           
    
<PAGE>
7.5   DIGEX will provide the Services to WINSTAR and hence WINSTAR's
      Customers equal to or better than the Services provided to
      other DIGEX customers.
    
7.6   DIGEX will provide, install and own the Internet node
      configuration, hardware and software including but not limited
      to nodal routers and news servers.
    
7.7   WINSTAR has the right of first refusal to provide to DIGEX all
      of DIGEX's local access and/or customer interconnection
      service requirements, subject to WINSTAR's rates in the
      appropriate geographic area being equal to or better than
      those provided and offered in writing by MCI Metro, the
      Regional Bell Operating Companies, Local Exchange Carriers,
      Competitive Access Providers, AT&T, and Worldcom for similar
      provisioning interval, volume, term, traffic, and
      access/termination type commitments.
    
7.8   DIGEX will be responsible for and shall pay the costs
      associated with delivering the Services which include the DS3
      backhaul costs from the DIGEX POP to the Internet Network
      Access Port ("NAP").   This does not encompass the customer
      premise equipment or the local access loop between the
      customer premise and the DIGEX POP.
    
7.9   DIGEX agrees to schedule any downtime maintenance at times
      which will minimize WINSTAR Customer interruption.  DIGEX
      will try to notify WINSTAR thirty (30) days in advance, but
      in no event less than three (3) days in advance, of its
      downtime maintenance schedule, and upon reasonable request
      from WINSTAR, DIGEX will re-schedule such maintenance at the
      convenience of WINSTAR.
    
7.10  Performance Specifications:  DIGEX agrees to meet the
      --------------------------
      "Performance Specifications" (as set forth in EXHIBIT "A")
      including but not limited to Tier 2 customer service
      obligations.
     
7.11  DIGEX shall not be responsible for the performance,
      maintenance, or ongoing support of customer premises
      equipment or interconnection services.
     
7.12  DIGEX will provide to WINSTAR, monthly, a rolling three
      month DIGEX POP build-out schedule and a mutually agreed
      upon capacity measurement by POP.  ("POP" is defined as any
      Point of Presence where DIGEX connects or is planning a
      connection).  This plan will be submitted by DIGEX to
      WINSTAR for review and/or modification.  The forecast is due
      the first Monday of every month during the Term of this
      Agreement for review and incorporation into the WINSTAR
      network operations and planning, POP build-out, and revenue
      forecast.
     
 8.   Service Integration.
      -------------------
     
 8.1  Testing and implementation:  The Parties shall within 45
      days after the date of this Agreement, enter into a plan for
      testing and implementation of the Service ("Implementation
      Plan"). The Implementation Plan shall address, at a minimum,
      the following:
     
      A.   The schedule for implementation of individual Services
           provided by DIGEX, e.g., Leased Line, Frame Relay,
           Fractional, SMDS, FNS, Servers, and Software products;
      B.   Testing of the Service, both as to geographic coverage,
           transmission quality and integration of the Service
           with WINSTAR's other products, services, and
           facilities;
      C.   How customer service will be provided to WINSTAR and
           WINSTAR Customers;
      D.   Configuration parameters of the customer premise
           equipment, including procedures for commissioning;
      E.   Procedures for billing of services, subject to the
           provisions of this Agreement;
      F.   Plans and procedures for addressing failure, if any, of
           the Services to meet acceptable quality standards; 
     
     
     
     
     
     
                                                                Page 4
           
     
<PAGE>
      G.   Procedures for the ordering, installation, and ongoing
           management of WINSTAR provided and/or WINSTAR managed
           access services to DIGEX as provided for in SECTION
           "7.7" of this Agreement; 
      H.   Such other procedures, policies, and matters as the
           Parties may agree upon in writing.
     
9.    Fraud Prevention.
      ----------------
     
9.1   The Services are provided subject to the condition that
      there will be no abuse or fraudulent use thereof.  Abuse and
      fraudulent use shall mean the following or such other things
      as may be agreed upon by both Parties:
     
      A.   Obtaining, interrupting, accessing, altering, or
           destroying, or attempting to obtain, interrupt, access,
           alter, or destroy, any files, programs, information
           and/or use of the Services  of another DIGEX customer
           or user by rearranging, tampering with, or making
           connection to any facilities of DIGEX by any trick,
           scheme, false representation, or through any other
           fraudulent means or devices; or
      B.   Assisting another to perform any of the acts prohibited
           in subparagraph of this SECTION " 9.1".
     
9.2   WINSTAR and DIGEX shall cooperate to prevent abuse or
      fraudulent usage of the Services, and WINSTAR shall promptly
      terminate any WINSTAR Customer, or participation in or
      access to the Services by  its vendors after receipt of
      notice from DIGEX of fraudulent use of the Services by
      WINSTAR's Customer(s) provided, however that such notice
      must be validated by WINSTAR prior to the Customer(s)
      termination by DIGEX and any such termination must be in
      accordance with any applicable laws and/or governmental
      regulations.
     
10.   Rates.
      -----
     
10.1  Rates and charges for the Services shall be as set forth in
      EXHIBIT "B", which is attached to and made a part of this
      Agreement.  Services can be ordered and/or provisioned
      either individually (unbundled) or together (bundled).
     
10.2  Most Favored Nation Clause: DIGEX will assure WINSTAR of the
      --------------------------
      status of a "Most Favored Nation" (as defined below) for
      existing Services and new Services maintained or ordered
      during the Term of the Agreement. "Most Favored Nation" is
      defined as the understanding between the Parties that the
      prices, contractual and business benefits offered by DIGEX
      to WINSTAR shall be equal to or better than the prices,
      business and contractual benefits provided to other DIGEX
      customers.  In the event that DIGEX shall fail in this
      regard as determined by (the "Audit") set forth in SECTION
      "10.3" below, DIGEX shall credit WINSTAR the required
      difference for the period of time WINSTAR did not receive
      Most Favored Nation status and provide WINSTAR the pricing,
      contractual, and business benefits not received.
     
10.3  The Audit. Not more than once annually, and upon not less
      ---------
      than thirty (30) business days written notice to the other
      Party, WINSTAR shall have the right to engage a certified
      public accounting firm or such other assistance, other then
      the assistance of a direct competitor, as it deems desirable
      to conduct an audit of all books and records of DIGEX
      directly related to the status of WINSTAR as a Most Favored
      Nation hereunder.  WINSTAR may cause any person or firm
      retained for this purpose to execute a non-disclosure
      agreement in favor of the other Party.  Such audit shall be
      conducted during regular business hours at the office of the
      audited Party where such books and records are regularly
      maintained and shall be paid for by the requesting Party,
      provided however that if there is a material discrepancy
      (more than 10%) the audited party shall pay reasonable fees. 
      
      
10.4  Twenty (20%) Percent Discount for WINSTAR: For the
      -----------------------------------------
      Commitment, DIGEX agrees to provide to WINSTAR at all times
      at least a twenty (20%) discount for Services to WINSTAR
      
      
      
      
                                                                Page 5
           
      
<PAGE>
      below what DIGEX  provides in its to its own retail
      customers.  Further, DIGEX agrees to provide pricing to
      WINSTAR such that the DIGEX whole sale prices will always
      remain at least thirty-five (35%) percent below the list
      retail rates of standalone Internet Leased Line Services for
      Tier one (1) Internet service providers to include UUNET,
      PSINET, Netcom, AT&T/BBN Planet, MCI, and SprintNet.   
      
10.5  The rates shown in EXHIBIT "B" are based on the Commitment. 
      If WINSTAR exceeds the Commitment, WINSTAR shall have the
      opportunity to re-negotiate all or part of this agreement
      including terms and rates as set forth herein.
      
11.   Billing of Charges.
      ------------------
      
      WINSTAR shall pay all charges for access to and use of the
      Services as set forth in this SECTION "11".
      
11.1  Monthly Billing.  Installation and recurring charges will be
      ---------------
      billed in arrears in the month following the month in which
      they are incurred.  For purposes of computing partial month
      charges for Port charges, each day is considered to be 1/30
      (one-thirtieth) of a month.  A first invoice may contain
      charges from a previous billing period for service provided
      from the date of installation through the current invoice
      period.
      
12.   Taxes.
      -----
      
      All rates set forth in this Agreement are exclusive of
      Applicable Taxes.  For purposes of this Agreement,
      "Applicable Taxes" are taxes, assessments, surcharges,
      levies, or similar items assessed by a governmental body for
      Service. WINSTAR is liable for, and shall indemnify DIGEX
      from and against, all Applicable Taxes which may be passed
      directly through to WINSTAR or WINSTAR Customers, and all
      Applicable Taxes (excluding DIGEX income taxes), properly
      chargeable to WINSTAR or WINSTAR Customers with respect to
      DIGEX's provision of Service to WINSTAR or relating to
      WINSTAR's use, resale, or lease of the Service to WINSTAR
      Customers or others, and/or any penalty and interest thereon
      if assessed by the applicable governmental body.  DIGEX will
      invoice WINSTAR for such penalties and interest, and WINSTAR
      shall pay such invoices in accordance with the provisions of
      SECTION "13" of this Agreement.
     
13.   Terms of Payment.
      ----------------
     
13.1  Payment due date.  After WINSTAR's initial Five Million
      ----------------
      ($5,000,000) dollars has been drawn down, WINSTAR shall pay
      to DIGEX all invoiced charges, including Applicable Taxes
      and any penalties and interest thereon, whether or not such
      charges have been paid to WINSTAR by WINSTAR Customers,
      within thirty (30) days of the date of invoice.  Payments
      received will be applied to the earliest outstanding amounts
      due under this Agreement.
     
13.2  Disputed amounts.  WINSTAR shall notify DIGEX in writing
      ----------------
      within fifteen (15) business days after the date of invoice
      of any dispute or disagreement with invoiced charges.  The
      disputed amount is to be resolved by WINSTAR and DIGEX
      within sixty (60) days of the invoice date. WINSTAR is
      responsible for leading the resolution process by bringing
      supporting documentation forward and DIGEX will maintain
      good faith negotiations.  DIGEX will not perform
      unreasonable requests which include providing information
      out of that normally available or from its legacy systems. 
      All disputed amounts resolved in WINSTAR's favor will be
      credited against amounts owing on subsequent invoices.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
                                                                Page 6
           
     
<PAGE>
14.   Record Keeping and Audit.
      ------------------------
     
14.1  Maintenance of Records.  As required by law, each Party
      ----------------------
      shall, directly or through a third party service bureau,
      create and maintain full, complete and accurate records of
      business conducted pursuant to this Agreement, including but
      not limited to data relating to customer activation,
      deposits, port charges, invoices, payments, and Service
      credits.
     
15.   Service Credits.
      ---------------
     
15.1  In the event that DIGEX does not meet Network Availability
      (as defined in Section 1.5 of the Agreement), DIGEX will
      grant to WINSTAR a "Service Credit(s)" (as set forth in
      EXHIBIT "A").
      
15.2  The liability of DIGEX for any interruption of the Service
      shall in no event exceed the Service Credit(s) provided for
      in this SECTION "15" and EXHIBIT "A".  Except for such
      Service Credits, DIGEX shall not be liable to WINSTAR for
      any loss or damage incurred by reason of or incidental to
      any delay or interruption of this Service.
      
16.   Termination by DIGEX.
      --------------------
      
      DIGEX may terminate this Agreement, immediately, without
      penalty or liability to WINSTAR or any third party if any of
      the following occur:
      
      A.   WINSTAR fails to pay all charges hereunder, including,
           without limitation, all charges based on the Port
           Installation and Recurring Rates (excluding any
           disputed amounts), within sixty (60) days after receipt
           of notice from DIGEX that the same are overdue; and
      
      B.   WINSTAR fails, upon written notice from DIGEX, to
           terminate, as required under SECTION "9" of this
           Agreement, a customer or vendor that has made material
           fraudulent use of or access to the Service or any other
           DIGEX facility; provided, however, such termination
           shall not violate any laws, statutes and/or
           regulations.
      
17.   Termination by WINSTAR
      ----------------------
      
17.1  With Cause.  WINSTAR may terminate this Agreement,
      ----------
      immediately, without penalty or liability to DIGEX or any
      third party if any of the following occur:
      
      a)   DIGEX fails to meet the Network Availability
           Performance set forth in Section 4.(b) of EXHIBIT "A". 
      
      
      b)   DIGEX provides any information to, or makes any
           representations or warranties to, WINSTAR in connection
           with the Service, or otherwise in connection with any
           information required to be provided by it hereunder,
           which proves to have been false or misleading in any
           material respect as of the date provided or made. 
      
      c)   Failure to honor DIGEX warranties under this
           Agreement.
      
18.   Termination by either Party.
      ---------------------------
      
18.1  Either DIGEX or WINSTAR (the "Terminating Party") may
      terminate this Agreement and the use of the Services
      hereunder if the other Party (the "Defaulting Party), as
      follows:
      
      A.   Dissolves or liquidates; or










                                                               Page 7
          

<PAGE>
      B.   Becomes the subject of voluntary or involuntary
           bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or liquidation
           proceedings, makes an assignment for the benefit of
           creditor, or admits in writing its inability to pay its
           debts as they mature, or a receiver is appointed for
           any of its assets or properties, and the same is not
           dismissed, vacated, or stayed within thirty (30)
           business days, or the Party seeking to terminate has
           reason to believe that the commencement of any such
           proceeding or assignment for the benefit of creditors
           is imminent.
      
18.2  Termination under this SECTION "18" shall be effective
      immediately upon receipt by the Defaulting Party of written
      notice of default, or at the end of such period as the
      Terminating Party may grant the cure of the default; and the
      non-defaulting Party may pursue any remedies available to it
      in law or equity.
      
19.   Termination Rights.
      ------------------
      
19.1  Upon any termination of the Service, DIGEX promptly shall
      refund or return to WINSTAR, as appropriate, the advance
      payments (including any amount remaining on the Commitment)
      and/or all deposits, letters of credit and other forms of
      security provided by WINSTAR, less only such amounts as are
      due for implementation or use of the Service before
      termination and such other amounts as DIGEX reasonably shall
      determine are due and owing, or will become due and owing,
      from WINSTAR.  Reconciliation is required within thirty (30)
      days of the invoice date, as certified by the CFO and
      President in written certificate to WINSTAR.  DIGEX shall
      pay WINSTAR simple interest on the amount of any cash
      deposit so refunded from the dates of its deposit with DIGEX
      to the date refunded at a per annum rate equal to the prime
      lending rate published in the "Money Rates" column of The
                                                            ---
      Wall Street Journal as of the date of the termination of the
      -------------------
      Service.
      
19.3  Upon termination of this Agreement, each Party shall, at its
      expense, promptly return to the other Party, all copies of
      Confidential Information, including but not limited to any
      marketing or other materials.
      
19.4  In the event of termination for any reason under this
      Agreement, the Parties will arbitrate the withdrawal of
      their respective Customers from either Parties network.  The
      arbitration should take no longer than six (6) months.
      
20.   Security / Pledge.
      -----------------
      
      As security for WINSTAR's Five Million ($5,000,000) dollar
      payment (less Services credited against the Five Million
      ($5,000,000) dollar payment) as described in Paragraph
      5.2(a), DIGEX hereby pledges its assets (current and
      hereinafter acquired) to WINSTAR, provided however, that
      upon the successful conclusion of DIGEX's initial public
      offering or fulfillment of DIGEX's Twenty Million
      ($20,000,000) financing objective, this Security / Pledge
      shall automatically terminate.  DIGEX will cooperate with
      WINSTAR to execute and provide to WINSTAR a UCC financing
      statement and any other documentation reasonably requested
      by WINSTAR to perfect WINSTAR's security interest.
      
21.   Non-Solicitation of Employees.
      -----------------------------
      
      In order to protect each Party's trade secrets and
      confidential information and to prevent disclosure of
      important competitive information, each Party agrees that,
      during the term of this Agreement and for a period of six
      (6) months after its termination or expiration, it shall
      not, directly solicit employment of any person employed in a
      full-time position by the other Party at that time, or who
      has been so employed by such other Party within the six-
      month period prior to the offer.  
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
                                                                Page 8
           
      
<PAGE >
           Each Party agrees that the restriction is reasonable and
           necessary to protect proprietary information of the other
           and thus, is a material term of this Agreement.
      
22.   Warranty Limitations.
      --------------------
      
      A.   DIGEX warrants that the Services furnished under this
           Agreement will be free from defects and delivered
           pursuant to the highest standards in the industry; and
      
      B.   DIGEX has obtained and shall maintain full authority to
           grant the rights herein without the consent of any
           other person or entity.
      
           THE EXPRESS WARRANTIES IN THIS AGREEMENT ARE IN LIEU OF
           ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING,
           BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THOSE OF MERCHANTABILITY AND
           FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  IN ADDITION, TO ALL
           OTHER REMEDIES AT LAW AND IN EQUITY AVAILABLE TO IT,
           WINSTAR SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO SEEK REPLACEMENT OF THE
           DEFECTIVE MATERIALS OR A REFUND OF THE PAYMENTS MADE BY
           WINSTAR TO DIGEX FOR THE AFFECTED SERVICES AFTER
           WINSTAR HAS PROVIDED DIGEX WITH A THIRTY (30) BUSINESS
           DAY PERIOD TO CURE.
      
23.   Indemnification and Limitation of Damages.
      -----------------------------------------
      
      In light of the rapidly changing regulatory environment
      applicable to Services and the technological limitations
      involved in the provision of Services, DIGEX will NOT be
                                                        ---
      responsible for the following, provided, however, DIGEX is
      in full compliance with all applicable laws and fully
      satisfying industry standards required of other Internet
      service providers: (a) protecting from unauthorized access
      WINSTAR Customers' transmission facilities or WINSTAR
      Customer-owned premise equipment, or for alteration, theft
      or destruction of WINSTAR or WINSTAR Customers' data files,
      programs, or information through any means; or (b) claims or
      damages caused by a WINSTAR Customer (including relating to
      the transmissions or storage of defamatory content), to a
      third party through fault or negligence of WINSTAR to
      perform WINSTAR Customers' responsibilities, claims against
      WINSTAR Customer by any other party, or any act of omission
      of any third party furnishing services or products to
      WINSTAR's Customers.
      
      Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement
      or the EXHIBITS or Appendices hereto, in no event will
      either Party be liable to the other Party for special,
      indirect or consequential damages, under any theory of 
      recovery, unless such damages are part of an award to a
      third party for which indemnification is properly due
      hereunder.
      
      Should DIGEX purchase insurance to cover slander and/or
      liable (defamation) claims, WINSTAR will be a named party
      for the term of this Agreement and for six years after.
      
24.   Compliance with Law.
      -------------------
      
      WINSTAR and DIGEX shall comply with all applicable laws,
      statutes, and regulations relating to the performance of
      their respective duties and obligations under this
      Agreement.
      
25.   Patent/Copyright Indemnification.
      --------------------------------
      
      DIGEX shall defend and indemnify any suit or proceeding
      brought against WINSTAR or WINSTAR and its Customers
      (collectively, "Indemnified Parties") based on a claim of a
      third party that the Services or any party thereof (but not
      any information transmitted or stored by customer or any
      third party by using the Services) furnished by DIGEX
      constitutes an infringement 
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
                                                             Page 9
           
      
<PAGE>
      of any United States patent or copyright, provided that DIGEX
      is notified promptly in writing and given authority,
      information and assistance (at DIGEX's expense) for the
      defense of such a suit or proceeding, and DIGEX will pay all
      damages and costs awarded against the Indemnified Parties or
      any related settlements made by DIGEX on behalf of the
      Indemnified Parties.  If DIGEX / the Indemnified Parties
      prevail DIGEX shall be entitled to recover any attorney and
      other legal fees related to its indemnification or defense. 
      If a claim of infringement occurs and the use of the Services
      is enjoined, DIGEX, at its expense, shall either (a) if the
      performance thereof will not be materially affected, promptly
      replace and/or modify the Services(s) so that they become non-
      infringing or (b) promptly obtain the right for the
      Indemnified Parties to continue using the Service(s).  In the
      event that DIGEX cannot satisfy (a) and (b) above, in addition
      to all other legal rights in law and equity available to the
      Indemnified Parties, DIGEX agrees to assist the Indemnified
      Parties in finding an alternative Internet service provider
      and to compensate WINSTAR and its customers for the expenses
      associated in migrating the affected Services(s) to such new
      Internet service provider.
      
      EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH HEREIN, DIGEX SHALL HAVE NO
      OTHER LIABILITY OR OBLIGATION TO WINSTAR WITH RESPECT TO
      PATENT OR COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT MATTERS.
      
26.   General.
      -------
      
26.1  Confidential Information.  Should confidential or proprietary
      ------------------------
      information of either WINSTAR or DIGEX be disclosed to the
      other in the performance of  this Agreement, the Party
      receiving such confidential or proprietary information
      (hereinafter "Recipient") hereby agrees to receive such
      information in confidence, and take such precautions as may be
      necessary to protect same from disclosure to others, during
      the Term of this Agreement and for one (1) year following
      termination of this Agreement.  Precautions taken shall be at
      least equivalent to Recipient's precautions with respect to
      its own confidential and proprietary information, but in no
      event less than a reasonable standard of care.  ("Confidential
      Information" shall mean: (1) any written information marked as
      confidential or proprietary, or (2) if verbally disclosed,
      shall be identified as confidential and/or proprietary at the
      time of disclosure and summarized in writing to the Recipient
      within fifteen (15) days of disclosure.  Confidential
      Information shall not include information which (i) at the
      time of disclosure to Recipient is in the public domain
      through no acts or omission of Recipient or subsequently
      becomes into the public domain through no acts or omission of
      Recipient; (ii) as shown by written records, is already known
      by Recipient; (iii) is revealed to Recipient by a third party
      who does not thereby breach any obligation of confidentiality
      and who discloses such information in good faith; or (iv) is
      disclosed pursuant to a legal obligation to disclose same to
      any governmental entity or pursuant to judicial or quasi
      judicial action (so long as Recipient gives disclosing Party
      prompt prior written notice) and provided further that
      Recipient will disclose only such confidential information as
      is legally required and will use its reasonable efforts to
      obtain confidential treatment for any confidential or
      proprietary information so disclosed.
      
26.2  Each Party acknowledges that the disclosing Party's
      information is proprietary, and agrees, that the disclosing
      Party is entitled to seek equitable relief, including without
      limitation, specific performance and injunctions, in addition
      to any other remedies at law or equity.

26.3  Arbitration.  All disputes (except for recovery of the
      -----------
      Commitment and/or foreclosure on WINSTAR's security interest
      as provided in Section 20 of this Agreement) concerning the
      terms and conditions of this Agreement shall be subject to
      binding arbitration of the American Arbitration Association
      ("AAA") subject to the rules of the AAA then in effect
      relating to commercial arbitration.  There shall be three
      arbitrators.  Each Party shall choose one arbitrator within
      thirty (30) days of initiation of the arbitration, and the two
      so chosen shall in turn choose the third within fifteen (15)
      days.  The arbitration shall be held in New York City and
      shall be completed within 
      
                                                             Page 10
           
      
<PAGE>
       ninety (90) days of selection of the initial two arbitrators. 
       Judgment upon the award rendered in any arbitration may be
       entered in any court having jurisdiction of the manner.
      
26.4   Attorney's Fees.  If any arbitration, litigation, or other
       ---------------
       legal proceeding occurs between the Parties relating to this
       Agreement, the prevailing Party shall be entitled to recover
       (in addition to any other relief awarded or granted) its
       reasonable cost and expenses, including attorneys' fees,
       incurred in the proceeding.
      
26.5   Notices.  Unless otherwise expressly provided for, all
       -------
       notices, requests, demands, consents or other communications
       required or pertaining to this Agreement must be in writing
       and must be delivered personally or sent by certified or
       registered mail (postage prepaid and return receipt requested)
       to the other Party at the address set forth below (or to any
       other address given by either Party to the other Party in
       writing:
      
       TO:  DIGEX - Private Networks Group
            6800 Virginia Manor Road
            Beltsville, Maryland 20705
            Attention:  DIGEX/WINSTAR Sr. Account Manager
      
       TO:  WINSTAR Communications,  Inc.
            230 Park Avenue, Suite 3126
            New York, New York 10169
            Attention:  General Counsel
      
       In case of mailing, the effective date of delivery of any
       notice, demand, or consent shall be considered to be five (5)
       days after proper mailing.
      
26.6   Waiver and Amendment.  No waiver, amendment, or modification
       --------------------
       of this Agreement shall be effective unless in writing and
       signed by both Parties.  No failure or delay by either Party
       in exercising any right, power or remedy under this Agreement,
       shall operate as a waiver of the right, power or remedy.
      
26.7   Benefit.  This Agreement is binding upon and inures to the
       -------
       benefit of the successors and assigns of the Parties.
      
26.8   No third party's Rights.  This Agreement is not for the
       -----------------------
       benefit of any third party and shall not be deemed to grant
       any right or remedy to any third party, whether or not
       referred to in this Agreement, except as otherwise provided at
       Section 25 of this Agreement.
      
26.9   Headings.  The SECTION and paragraph headings of this
       --------
       Agreement are intended as a convenience only, and shall not
       affect the interpretation of its provisions.
      
26.10  Singular and Plural Terms.  Where the context of this
       -------------------------
       Agreement requires, singular terms shall be considered plural
       and plural terms shall be considered singular.
      
26.11  Severability.  If any provision(s) of this Agreement is
       ------------
       finally held by a court or arbitration panel of competent
       jurisdiction to be unlawful, the remaining provisions of this
       Agreement shall remain in full force and effect to the extent
       that the intent of the Parties can be enforced.
      
26.12  Governing Law and Forum.  The validity, construction, and
       -----------------------
       performance of this Agreement is governed by the laws of New
       York.  Both Parties agree that this Agreement is considered to
       be entered into in New York, and that all payment obligations
       of the Parties under this Agreement are to be performed in New
       York.  The Parties consent to personal jurisdiction in New
       York with 
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
                                                             Page 11
           
      
<PAGE>
       respect to any arbitration or suit brought relating to this
       Agreement.  The Parties waive all objections to venue to the
       extent permitted by law.
      
26.13  Relationship of the Parties.  This Agreement does not
       ---------------------------
       constitute a partnership agreement, nor does it create a joint
       venture or agency relationship between the Parties.
      
26.14  Survivorship.  All obligations and duties hereunder which
       ------------
       shall be their nature extend beyond the expiration or
       termination of this Agreement, including 20, 21, 22, 23, 24,
       25, and 26 shall survive and remain in effect beyond any
       expiration or termination hereof.

26.15  Force Majeure.  Neither Party shall be responsible for
       -------------
       any delay or failure in performance of any part of this
       Agreement or order to the extent that such delay or failure is
       caused by fire, flood, explosion, war, strike, embargo,
       government requirement, action of civil or military authority,
       or act of God.  In the event of any such delay, the time of
       performance that was delayed for such causes will be extended
       for a period equal to the time lost by reason of the delay.
  
26.16  Conflicting Terms.  The Parties agree that the terms and
       -----------------
       conditions of this Agreement shall prevail, notwithstanding
       the contrary or additional terms, in any purchase order, sales
       acknowledgment, confirmation or any other document issued by 
       either Party effecting the purchase and/or sale of Services. 

26.17  Escalation Procedures.  Any customer service or
       ---------------------
       operational system problems will be handled by DIGEX in
       accordance with EXHIBIT "A".
  
26.18  Entire Agreement.  This Agreement including all
       ----------------
       appendices and EXHIBITS, constitutes the complete and final
       Agreement between the Parties, and supersedes all prior
       negotiations and agreements between the Parties concerning its
       subject matter.  This Agreement may be executed in
       counterparts, all of which, when taken together, shall
       constitute one original Agreement.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be
executed by their duly authorized representatives intending to be
legally bound.

     DIGEX, Inc.                        WINSTAR Communications,
     Inc.

     By: /s/                           By:  /s/
        ---------------------------       -------------------------------

     Title: VP-GM Private Networks     Title: Vice Chairman
           ------------------------          ----------------------------
     Date: 6/10/96                     Date:  6/10/96
          -------------------------          ----------------------------




























                                                            Page 12
<PAGE>



EXHIBIT  "A"


                         DIGEX Network Performance Specifications
                         ----------------------------------------

Performance Specifications Supplemental to Agreement. Timely performance of the
obligations provided hereunder is of the essence; therefore failure to timely
perform shall constitute a breach of the Agreement. Any credits received by
WINSTAR from DIGEX will reduce the Commitment (as defined in the Agreement).

1.   Provisioning.
     -------------

     a) DIGEX will provide to WINSTAR the Services identified in EXHIBIT "B"
        (the "Service") at the corresponding rates (the "Rates") attached
        thereto.

     b) Access Service Types

        i) DIGEX shall support both Fractional, Frame Relay and Private Line
           access types at the full range of speeds from 56Kbps to 1.54 Mbps
           (56K, 128K, 192K, 256K, 384K, 512K, 768K, 1.54 Mbps) (Defined herein
           as "Access Service Types").  Should DIGEX upgrade its capacity, DIGEX
           will promptly make it available to WINSTAR.

2.   If DIGEX fails to meet the following provisioning intervals for
     installations in any one month, DIGEX will credit one hundred (100%) of the
     DIGEX monthly recurring charges to WINSTAR for all WINSTAR Customers'
     affected.

     a) Provisioning Intervals:

        i) DIGEX shall provide the Services listed in EXHIBIT "B" within twenty
           (20) business days from the receipt of an order (such activity 
           defined as "Provisioning").  For DS3 level service (defined herein as
           a DS3 Leased Line), Provisioning shall be performed within a sixty 
           (60) business day period.

       ii) In the event DIGEX fails to meet the Provisioning timeframe, DIGEX
           will provide a credit to WINSTAR equal to one hundred (100%) percent
           of the installation fee to WINSTAR for all Customer(s) affected.

      iii) The only exception to the timeframes set forth above in this Section,
           is an "Inaccurate Forecast" (defined in Section 5).  In the event of
           an Inaccurate Forecast, WINSTAR Customers who exceed the WINSTAR
           Forecast by twenty (20%) percent in a particular month for a
           particular POP shall be defined as ("Overflow Customers") and will
           receive Provisioning as follows:

           a) In the event that an Inaccurate Forecast materially and directly
              causes a shortage and congestion in the National Network Backbone
              (defined in Section 1.6 of the Agreement), DIGEX will have sixty
              (60) business days from receipt of the WINSTAR order to procure
              additional  capacities; otherwise, provisioning will be completed
              for WINSTAR Overflow Customers within twenty (20) business days.

           b) If Provisioning is not performed for the Overflow Customers in
              accordance with this Section, DIGEX will provide a credit equal
              to one hundred (100%) percent of the installation fee to WINSTAR
              for all Customer(s) affected. 

3.   Maintenance.
     ------------
    
   The Parties shall perform the following maintenance.

     a) Customer Service Support for Trouble Resolution

        i) WINSTAR shall provide first level support ("Tier 1").  Tier 1 
           consists of the following:

                                 Page 1
          




<PAGE>



EXHIBIT  "A"

        a) First point of contact for all WINSTAR Customer problems;

        b) Resolution of all customer premises equipment problems;

        c) Resolution of all customer circuit provisioning related problems;

        d) Resolution of Local Loop problems;

        e) Referral of trouble tickets to DIGEX via electronic mail.

    ii) DIGEX shall provide second level support ("Tier 2").  Tier 2 
        consists of the following:

        a) Acceptance of trouble tickets from WINSTAR via electronic mail;

        b) Resolution of all DIGEX related Internet Protocol routing and/or
           facility problems;

        c) Resolution of all Network Backbone and/or network elements
           (routers, bridges, switches) and related problems (excluding
           CPE);

        d) From 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, EST time, DIGEX shall respond to
           electronic messages within thirty (30) minutes; from 8:01 p.m. to
           7:59 a.m., EST time, DIGEX must respond to electronic messages
           within forty-five (45) minutes; and

        e) DIGEX will provide "Network Operations Center Support" (defined
           below") to WINSTAR on a seven (7) days a week, twenty-four (24)
           hours a day, three hundred and sixty-five (365) days a year
           (cumulatively referred to as "24x7x365").  ("Network Operations
           Center Support" is defined as WINSTAR's provisioning of customer
           service and/or network management support.)

     b) Time to Repair Standards:

        i) "Unmanned" Point of Presence ("POP") locations.  ("Unmanned" means
           no DIGEX personnel at the POP for repair):

           a) Router Replacement:  Not to exceed eight (8) hours;

           b) Router Component Replacement:  Not to exceed eight (8) hours; and

           c) All other Service Repairs:  Not to exceed six (6) hours.

      ii)  "Manned"  POP Locations (includes Hayward, CA; Chicago, IL;
           Waynesville, OH; Atlanta, GA; Houston, TX; Washington, DC and New
           York, NY).  ("Manned" means DIGEX personnel at the POP for repairs).
           The POPs will be Manned 24x7x365 (with the exception of Houston, TX
           which will be Manned, Monday through Friday, 24x5).

           a) Router Replacement: Not to exceed eight (8) hours;

           b) Router Component Replacement: Not to exceed four (4) hours; and

           c) All other Service Repairs:  Not to exceed four (4) hours.

      iii) Failure of Network Backbone (defined in Section 1.5 of the 
           Agreement):















                                 Page 2          




<PAGE>



EXHIBIT  "A"


         a) Time to reroute - Not to exceed four (4) hours to reroute Services
            from the time of the failure of the Network Backbone.

       iv) DIGEX shall credit WINSTAR for one hundred (100%) percent of the
           WINSTAR monthly recurring Service charge for all Customer(s) affected
           by DIGEX's failure to meet the Time to Repair / Re-Route Standards.

4. Service Performance Guarantees.
   -------------------------------

   Network Availability will be measured and determined by the DIGEX network
   performance monitoring tool - Hewlett Packard Open View software ("HP Open
   View").  Provided however that the Parties shall agree upon the network
   management methodology and the standards for implementation for that
   methodology.

   a)     DIGEX shall meet a "Network Availability" (as defined in Section 1.5
          of the Agreement) of ninety-nine (99%) percent per month ("Network
          Availability Performance")

     i)   If Service is not available to a WINSTAR Customer for a total of sixty
          (60) minutes in any one month, DIGEX shall credit WINSTAR one hundred
          (100%) percent of the WINSTAR monthly recurring Service fee for all
          Customer(s) affected; and

     ii)  In addition, if Service is not available to a WINSTAR Customer for a
          total of thirty (30) minutes of within a twenty-four hour period in
          any one month, DIGEX shall credit WINSTAR one hundred (100%) percent
          of the WINSTAR daily recurring Service fee for all Customer(s)
          affected; 

     iii) Notwithstanding Section 4.a (i) or (ii) above, if WINSTAR has provided
          an Inaccurate Forecast to DIGEX with respect to the Customer daily
          and/or monthly (as appropriate) recurring Service fee NO credit will
          be given to WINSTAR with respect to such WINSTAR Customers affected by
          the Inaccurate Forecast.

   b)     If, for three consecutive months, DIGEX does not satisfy its Network
          Availability Performance Goal for the entire DIGEX national network,
          then WINSTAR will have the right to terminate this Agreement; provided
          however, that this right to terminate will not arise if WINSTAR has
          delivered an Inaccurate Forecast for the three (3) month period, as
          measured for the entire DIGEX national network.

5. Inaccurate Forecast.
   --------------------
    
   On a monthly basis, WINSTAR shall provide DIGEX a rolling three month sales
   forecast by product and DIGEX POP location to be used for forecast planning. 
   If WINSTAR exceeds its sales forecast by more than twenty (20%) percent in a
   month for a particular DIGEX POP, such activity is referred to as an
   "Inaccurate Forecast".























                                 Page 3
<PAGE>





EXHIBIT  "B"

                                                         DIGEX PNC RATE CARDS

PNC INTERNET LEASED LINE PRICING:
- --------------------------------

                        $ 0 - $ 10,000,000 PRICE SCHEDULE
                        ---------------------------------

                      MINIMUM                          MONTHLY
SERVICE                 CIR         INSTALLATION      RECURRING        NOTES
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

56 Kbps Frame Relay             56Kbps     $   240   $   160         3
                                                                    
T1 Frame Relay                  128 Mbps   $   800   $   212         1, 2, 3, 4
                                192 Kbps   $ 1,200   $   280         1, 2, 3, 4
                                256 Kbps   $ 1,200   $   348         1, 2, 3, 4
                                384 Kbps   $ 1,200   $   428         1, 2, 3
                                512 Mbps   $ 1,200   $   508         1, 2, 3
                                768 Mbps   $ 1,200   $   668
56 Kbps Leased Line              56 Kbps   $ 1,440   $   400         3
T1 Leased Line                 1.54 Mbps   $ 2,400   $   960         3
T3 Leased Line                   45 Mbps   $12,000   $27,000         3

Fractional T1                   128 Mbps   $ 2,400   $   480         3
                                192 Kbps   $ 2,400   $   520         3
                                256 Kbps   $ 2,400   $   560         3
                                384 Kbps   $ 2,400   $   640         3
                                512 Mbps   $ 2,400   $   720         3
                                768 Mbps   $ 2,400   $   800

SMDS                           1.17 Mbps   $ 1,840   $ 1,200         3
                                  4 Mbps   $ 2,800   $ 2,900         3
                                 10 Mbps   $ 2,800   $ 4,400         3
                                 16 Mbps   $ 4,400   $ 6,500         3
                                 25 Mbps   $ 6,400   $ 8,000         3
                                 34 Mbps   $ 8,400   $ 9,200         3
              
FNS - Ethernet                   10 Mbps   $ 3,600   $ 4,000         3

FNS - Token Ring                  4 Mbps   $ 6,500   $ 4,000         3
                                 16 Mbps   $11,600   $ 6,800         3
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NOTES:
1) No charges for minimum speed increases to 768 Kbps.
2) All circuits will burst up to double their CIR rates.
3) No, IP resale permitted on any DIGEX provisioned circuit; a 500%
   assessment fee on the monthly port fee will be charged in addition to the
   port fee and possible termination of circuit.
4) $400 install cost if upgraded to 256K or higher in the first 90
   (ninety) days.

All leased line services include Domain Name Service, NNTP news feed, and
network addresses as required. $100 for InterNIC domain name registration.
Typical circuit installation time without local loop is 15 business days.

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

CPE, DIGEX will offer for resale, the following prices for customer premise
equipment. It is the Customers responsibility to configure, install and maintain
all CPE.
                                    UNIT PRICE                        UNIT PRICE
                                    ----------                        ----------
CISCO 250 Router (T1/56K/FR)          $1,695    AdTran 56K CSU/DSU        $255
CISCO 1005 Router (T1/56K/FR)         $1,105    Imatek 56K CSU/DSU/
Digital Link Prelude  T1/FR CSU/DS    $  855    Router (preconfigured)  $1,015


<PAGE>




                                                         DIGEX PNC RATE CARDS

PNC INTERNET LEASED LINE PRICING:
- ---------------------------------

                      $ 10,000,001 AND ABOVE PRICE SCHEDULE
                      -------------------------------------


                        MINIMUM                       MONTHLY
SERVICE                   CIR        INSTALLATION    RECURRING        NOTES
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

56 Kbps Frame Relay      56 Kbps       $   225       $   150         3
                                                                   
T1 Frame Relay          128 Mbps       $   750       $   199         1, 2, 3, 4
                        192 Kbps       $ 1,125       $   263         1, 2, 3, 4
                        256 Kbps       $ 1,125       $   326         1, 2, 3, 4
                        384 Kbps       $ 1,125       $   405         1, 2, 3
                        512 Mbps       $ 1,125       $   476         1, 2, 3
                        768 Mbps       $ 1,125       $   626       
56 Kbps Leased                                                     
     Line                56 Kbps       $ 1,350       $   375         3
T1 Leased Line         1.54 Mbps       $ 2,250       $   900         3
T3 Leased Line           45 Mbps       $11,250       $25,313         3
                                                                   
Fractional T1           128 Mbps       $ 2,250       $   450         3
                        192 Kbps       $ 2,250       $   488         3
                        256 Kbps       $ 2,250       $   525         3
                        384 Kbps       $ 2,250       $   600         3
                        512 Mbps       $ 2,250       $   675         3
                        768 Mbps       $ 2,250       $   750       
                                                                   
SMDS                   1.17 Mbps       $ 1,725       $ 1,125         3
                          4 Mbps       $ 2,625       $ 2,725         3
                         10 Mbps       $ 2,625       $ 4,125         3
                         16 Mbps       $ 4,125       $ 6,100         3
                         25 Mbps       $ 6,000       $ 7,500         3
                         34 Mbps       $ 7,875       $ 8,625         3
                                                                   
FNS - Ethernet           10 Mbps       $ 3,375       $ 3,750         3
                                                                   
FNS - Token Ring          4 Mbps       $ 4,875       $ 3,750         3
                         16 Mbps       $10,875       $ 6,375         3
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NOTES:
1) No charges for minimum speed increases to 768 Kbps.
2) All circuits will burst up to double their CIR rates.
3) No, IP resale permitted on any DIGEX provisioned circuit; a 500%
   assessment fee on the monthly port fee will be charged in addition to the
   port fee and possible termination of circuit.
4) $400 install cost if upgraded to 256K or higher in the first 90
   (ninety) days.

All leased line services include Domain Name Service, NNTP news feed, and
network addresses as required. $100 for InterNIC domain name registration.
Typical circuit installation time without local loop is 15 business days.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CPE, DIGEX will offer for resale, the following prices for customer premise
equipment. It is the Customers responsibility to configure, install and maintain
all CPE.
                                   UNIT PRICE                         UNIT PRICE
                                   ----------                         ----------
CISCO 250 Router (T1/56K/FR)        $1,695     AdTran 56K CSU/DSU        $ 255
CISCO 1005 Router (T1/56K/FR)       $1,105     Imatek 56K CSU/DSU/
Digital Link Prelude T1/FR CSU/DS   $  855      Router (preconfigured)  $1,015



                                                                   Page 2
<PAGE>

                                                         DIGEX PNC RATE CARDS



PNC INTERNET DIAL UP PRICING:
- -----------------------------



*MONTHLY  NUMBER OF USERS           500      750     1000      1500    2500
                                    ---      ---     ----      ----    ----
Activation with out DIGEX Help     $10.00  $10.00   $10.00    $10.00  $10.00
Desk
Monthly Access Fee Per User        $19.99  $17.99   $15.99    $15.99  $15.99

Activation with DIGEX Help Desk    $15.00  $15.00   $15.00    $15.00  $15.00
Monthly Access Fee Per User        $30.00  $30.00   $30.00    $25.00  $19.95

1.  Pricing and quantity is based on a per city basis.
2.  DIGEX / WINSTAR will collaborate to try to lower the cost dial up with
    help desk.

                                                                   Page 3
<PAGE>


                                                          DIGEX PNC RATE CARDS

DIGEX INTERNET SERVERS
- ----------------------


DEDICATED HARDWARE PLATFORM NOT SHARED WITH OTHER CUSTOMERS
- ---------------------------

        -  Fast Internet connectivity
        -  10 Mbps local Ethernet
        -  45 Mbps T3 to other peering points
        -  Redundant circuits for backup Internet connectivity
        -  Current version Sun OS software installation and initial 
           configuration
        -  Domain registration for your organization Domain name server
        -  Installation and initial configuration Installation and initial
           configuration of one server software package (server installation 
           only, customer adds information content)
        -  One user shell account setup 
        -  Tape backups of your data are made on a daily or weekly basis.

HARDWARE CONFIGURATION OPTIONS

HARDWARE OPTION           MEMORY/DISK        INSTALLATION        MONTHLY
Sun 3/60                4 MB RAM/50 MB        $   240           $   240
Sun 3/60                12 MB RAM/100 MB      $   320           $   400
Sun Sparc Station 2     16 MB RAM/1 GB        $   800           $   800
Sun Sparc Station 2     32 MB RAM/2 GB        $ 1,200           $ 1,040
Sun Sparc Station 5     32 MB RAM/2 GB        $ 2,000           $ 2,800
Sun Sparc Station 5     64 MB RAM/4 GB        $ 2,800           $ 3,600
                                                            
      Custom configuration available upon request.    
      100% credit of previous installation cost on upgrade.

Dedicated tape backup                          $2,000            $  240
Dedicated CD-ROM drive                         $1,200


SERVER SOFTWARE OPTIONS
(Additional network server software)

World Wide Web (WWW) server                   $   200          $     40
Anonymous FTP server                          $   200          $     40
Gopher Server                                 $   200          $     40
POP3 Mail Server                              $   200          $     40
Mailing list server **                        $   200          $     80
                                                         

SERVER MANAGEMENT OPTIONS
Root access privilege (privileged user)*      $ 1,200              n/c
Initial domain name (domain.com)             InterNIC charges apply
Additional domain names (domain2.com)         $    80              n/c
Temporary CD-ROM drive                        $    80
CD-ROM mounting                               $    40
                                            
                                            

                                                                   Page 4

<PAGE>


                                                          DIGEX PNC RATE CARDS


DIGEX INTERNET FIREWALL PRODUCTS INCLUDE:

RAPTOR EAGLETM FIREWALL SECURITY SOLUTIONS
Complete, proven firewall solution using the Raptor Eagle firewall product
family. Includes hardware, software, two day on-site installation and 30 day
customer support (phone and e-mail).

EAGLE FIREWALL HARDWARE PLATFORMS Sun SPARC 4 model 110 (new) or a Sun SPARC 2
(refurbished). Both systems come with a one year warranty offered by Raptor
Systems third party vendor at the option of the PNC's Customer and are
configured with 32 MB RAM, 1 GB disk drive, CD-ROM, 5 GB 4mm DAT tape drive, two
include travel time and or additional expenses.

Sun SPARC 2 platform                            Sun SPARC 4 model 110 platform
50 users                       $10,000          50 users              $11,600
200 users                      $10,800          200 users             $12,400
unlimited users                $11,600          unlimited users       $13,200
                                                                 
EAGLE VPN (VIRTUAL PRIVATE NETWORKING) OPTION FOR THE EAGLE FIREWALL
1st license                   $ 4,000
Additional License            $ 1,600

EAGLE LAN
Sun SPARC 2 platform                            Sun SPARC 4 model 110 platform
unlimited users               $ 9,600           unlimited users       $11,200

EAGLE REMOTE
Sun SPARC 2 platform                            Sun SPARC 4 model 110 platform
50 users                      $10,000           50 users              $11,600
250 users                     $12,400           250 users             $14,000
unlimited users               $15,600           unlimited users       $17,200
                                                                 
EAGLE NOMAD                   $    79
EAGLE DESK                    $    79

HOT SPARE EAGLE FIREWALL
Clone of primary firewall system, used as an on-site "hot" swap spare. Includes
hardware, software, installation, and training on hot spare implementation
procedures.

Sun SPARC 2 platform                            Sun SPARC 4 model 110 platform
50 users                      $ 5,040           50 users             $ 6,440
200 users                     $ 5,360           200 users            $ 6,760
unlimited users               $ 5,680           unlimited users      $ 7,080

ANNUAL HARDWARE MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS
1 year hardware warranty included with all Eagle firewall products. SPARC 4
hardware support program offered by Sun Microsystems. SPARC 2 hardware support
is provided via third party at the option of the PNC's Customer.

SPARC 2 platform              $   714            SPARC 4 platform    $   300



ANNUAL SOFTWARE MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS
Eagle 50 users                $   840
Eagle 200 users               $ 1,800
Eagle unlimited users         $ 3,000
Eagle Nomad                   $    12
Eagle Desk                    $    12

                                                                   Page 5









                                                            EXHIBIT 23.1

                        CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED
                               PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS




We have issued our reports dated March 8, 1996, accompanying the consolidated
financial statements and schedule of WinStar Communications, Inc. and
Subsidiaries contained in the Registration Statement and Prospectus and our
report dated March 8, 1996 appearing in the Transition Report on Form 10-KSB for
the ten months ended December 31, 1995 which is incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement and Prospectus.  We consent to the use of the
aforementioned reports and the incorporation by reference in the Registration
Statement and Prospectus and to the use of our name as it appears under the
captions "Experts" and "Selected Financial Information."




GRANT THORNTON LLP


New York, New York
June 12, 1996


                                                            Exhibit 23.2





                         CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED
                                PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS



We have issued our report dated July 28, 1995, accompanying the financial
statements of Avant-Garde Telecommunications, Inc. contained in the
Registration Statement.  We consent to the use of the aforementioned
report in the Registration Statement, and to the use of our name as it
appears under the caption "Experts."




GRANT THORNTON LLP


New York, New York
June 12, 1996



                                                            Exhibit 23.3

                        Consent of Independent Auditors

We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts" and to
the use of our report dated April 9, 1996, with respect to the financial
statements of the Microwave Division of Local Area Telecommunications, Inc.
included in the Form S-3 Registration Statement and related Prospectus of
WinStar Communications, Inc. for the registration of 4,000,000 shares of its
common stock.



                                            /s/ Ernst & Young LLP
                                          
                                            Ernst & Young LLP
MetroPark, New Jersey
June 14, 1996




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