Exhibit 99.1

                                 [LOGO] HORIZON

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE               CONTACT:  Pete Holland,
                                              Chief Financial Officer
                                              Horizon Telcom
                                              Phone (740) 772-8547
                                              Email: Pete.Holland@horizonpcs.com

        Horizon Telcom, Inc. Announces Preliminary Proposal To Go Private

      CHILLICOTHE, OHIO (August 19, 2004) Horizon Telcom, Inc. ("Horizon") today
announced that its board of directors has  unanimously  approved stock splits of
its shares of Class B common stock.  The stock splits would consist of a reverse
stock split at a ratio to be determined followed  immediately by a forward stock
split utilizing the same ratio.  Each stockholder  owning less than one share of
Class B common stock immediately after the reverse stock split would, instead of
participating in the forward stock split, receive a cash payment in an amount to
be  determined.  Each  stockholder  owning one or more  shares of Class B common
stock  following  the reverse stock split would not receive any cash payment and
would remain a  stockholder  of Horizon.  The  completion of the stock splits is
subject to  approval by the  affirmative  vote of at least  two-thirds  (2/3) of
Horizon's Class B common stock.

The stock splits will reduce the number of record  holders of Horizon's  Class B
common stock to below 300, thereby allowing Horizon to suspend its obligation to
file  periodic  reports and other  documents  with the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission. Horizon incurs substantial accounting, legal and compliance costs by
being a public company.  These costs would decrease  significantly after Horizon
suspends its reporting obligations.

Horizon's  board of  directors  appointed  a  special  committee  to  assist  in
determining the terms and conditions of the stock splits, including the price to
be paid to those  holders  of Class B common  stock  that will not  continue  as
stockholders  following  the  reverse  stock  split.  The members of the special
committee  are John E.  Herrnstein,  Joel  Gerber  and  Jerry B.  Whited.  These
individuals also serve on Horizon's audit committee.

In connection with the stock splits,  it is contemplated  that the  registration
statement  on Form S-8 filed by  Horizon  in May 2002 will be  terminated  as it
pertains  to the  shares of  Horizon's  Class A common  stock and Class B common
stock registered thereunder.

This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Private
Securities  Litigation  Reform Act of 1995.  Readers are  cautioned not to place
undue reliance on these  forward-looking  statements.  Actual results may differ
materially from those indicated by these forward-looking  statements as a result
of risks and uncertainties.