UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
OMB APPROVAL
FORM 4 OMB Number: 3235-0287
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP
[ ] Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16.
Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue.
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person(s)
Sean S. Scarlis
12975 Worldgate Drive
Herndon, VA 20170
2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
e.spire Communications, Inc. (ESPI)
3. I.R.S. Identification Number of Reporting Person, if an entity (Voluntary)
4. Statement for Month/Year
December 2000
5. If Amendment, Date of Original (Month/Year)
6. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable)
[ ] Director [ ] 10% Owner
[x] Officer (give title below) [ ] Other (specify below)
Chief Accounting Officer
7. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)
[x] Form filed by One Reporting Person
[ ] Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
Table I Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of,
or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)
Common Stock (1)
Common Stock (2)
2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)
12/15/00
12/29/00
3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)
J
V
4. Securities Acquired(A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)
Amount (A) or (D) Price
5,546 A $4.29000
7,500 A $0.50000
5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned at End of Month (Instr. 3 and 4)
19,420
6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)
D
D
7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
<PAGE>
Table II (PART 1) Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or
Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)
Incentive Stock Option (right to buy) (3)
Incentive Stock Option (right to buy) (3)
Incentive Stock Option (right to buy) (3)
Incentive Stock Option (right to buy) (3)
2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security
$3.81300
$3.81300
$3.81300
$3.81300
3. Transaction Date (month/day/year)
05/31/00
05/31/00
05/31/00
05/31/00
4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)
Code V
V
V
V
5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr.
3, 4, 5)
(A) (D)
5,625
5,625
5,625
5,625
6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)
Dated Exercisable Expiration Date
05/31/01 05/30/06
05/31/02 05/31/07
05/31/03 05/30/08
05/31/04 05/31/09
7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securtities (Instr. 3 and 4)
Title Amount or Number of Shares
Common Stock 5,625
Common Stock 5,625
Common Stock 5,625
Common Stock 5,625
8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)
9. Number of derivative Securities Benenficially Owned at End of Month
(Instr. 4)
5,625
5,625
5,625
5,625
10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)
D
D
D
D
11. Nature of Indirect Benenficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
[FN]
Explanation of Responses:
(1) These shares were granted as stock bonuses pursuant to the Company's Annual
Performance Plan, and grants pursuant to this plan are Rule 16b-3 qualified.
(2) Granted pursuant e.spire's 1998 Restricted Stock Plan. The stock vests
25% on September 29, 2001 and 25% on each anniversary of September 29. Unvested
stock is subject to forfeiture under certain circumstance.
(3) Granted under the Company's Amended 1994 Stock Option Plan and qualified
under Rule 16b-3.
</FN>
SIGNATURE OF REPORTING PERSON
/S/ SEAN S. SCARLIS
DATE January 9, 2001
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