Madison River Communications

For Immediate Release: August 31, 2000
Mebane, North Carolina
MADISON RIVER COMMUNICATIONS ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT WITH MCIWORLDCOM TO INTERCONNECT WITH OTHER TIER 1 INTERNET CARRIERS AT DALLAS AND ATLANTA
Contact: Paul Sunu, Chief Financial Officer at (919) 563-8222 or Kevin Hancock, Marketing Manager at (919) 563-8227

Bond Ticker: MADRIV
August 31, 2000

Madison River Communications, an established and rapidly growing Integrated Communications Provider, is pleased to announce an agreement with MCIWorldCom to interconnect with other Tier 1 Internet carriers in Dallas and Atlanta.

Multi-homed in two major Network Access Points, MAE Central and Atlanta NAP, Madison River will offers its Internet customers a fully meshed OC-48 (2.5 gigabyte) Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) network architecture. The two network access points also enhance the reliability and flexibility of Madison River's self-healing, HDWDM (High-Density Wavelength Division Multiplexing) SONET ring network that encompasses the Southeastern US.

"Madison River's agreement with MCIWorldCom to co-locate at MAE Central and the Atlanta NAP significantly increases our customers ability to distribute their information and applications on a leading edge state-of-the art network architecture." stated Rob Marquart, Director of Data Marketing for Madison River Communications. "Our ability to deliver world class IP service to tier 2 markets as well as the major cities in our serving areas, at extremely cost effective price points, will set Madison River apart from our competition".

The statements, other than statements of historical fact, included in this press release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as ''may,'' ''will,'' ''expect,'' ''intend,'' ''estimate,'' ''anticipate,'' ''plan,'' ''seek'' or ''believe.'' We believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are accurate. However, we cannot assure you that such expectations will occur. Our actual future performance could differ materially from such statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, the following:

· the uncertainties and potential delays associated with    integrating the operations of Gulf Coast Services and   Coastal Communications;

· the uncertainties and potential delays associated with our   planned expansion into competitive local service;

· the passage of legislation or court decisions adversely   affecting the telecommunications industry;

· our ability to repay our outstanding indebtedness;

· competition in the telecommunications industry; and

· the advent of new technology.

For more information, see the "Risk Factors" section beginning on page 11 of our Registration Statement on Form S-4 (Registration No. 333-36804) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

You should not unduly rely on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, we are not obligated to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Madison River Capital, LLC operates as Madison River Communications and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Madison River Telephone Company, LLC. Madison River Communications operates and enhances rural telephone companies and uses advanced technology to provide competitive communications services in nearby markets. Madison River Telephone Company, LLC is owned by affiliates of Madison Dearborn Partners Inc., Goldman, Sachs & Co., Providence Equity Partners and members of management.