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                                                         ATC Contact: Anne Alter
                                                  Director of Investor Relations
                                                       Telephone: (617) 375-7500

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                   AMERICAN TOWER COMPLETES PRIVATE PLACEMENT

Boston,   Massachusetts  -  February  18,  2000  -  American  Tower  Corporation
(NYSE:AMT)   announced  today  that  it  completed  its  private   placement  of
$450,000,000  principal amount of 5.00%  Convertible  Notes Due 2010,  issued at
100% of their face amount. This amount includes the initial purchasers' exercise
of their full option to purchase an additional  $50,000,000  aggregate principal
amount of Notes.  American  Tower will use the estimated  $438.3  million in net
proceeds  to  repay  bank  borrowings,   finance  tower  acquisitions,   finance
construction projects and for general working capital purposes.

American  Tower will pay  interest  on the Notes on February 15 and August 15 of
each year, commencing on August 15, 2000. In addition, the Notes are convertible
to Class A Common  Stock at the  option of the holder at a  conversion  price of
$51.50 per share, subject to adjustment in certain events.

The Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
or under applicable state securities laws, and unless so registered,  may not be
offered or sold in the United States, except pursuant to an applicable exemption
from the registration  requirement of the Securities Act of 1933 as amended, and
applicable state securities laws.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the  solicitation of
an offer to buy the Notes. This press release is being issued pursuant to and in
accordance with Rule 135c under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

This press  release  contains  "forward-looking  statements"  concerning  future
expectations,   plans  or  strategies   that  involve  a  number  of  risks  and
uncertainties.  The Company wishes to caution  readers that certain  factors may
have  affected  the  Company's  actual  results  and  could  cause  results  for
subsequent   periods  to  differ   materially   from  those   expressed  in  any
forward-looking  statement  made by or on behalf of the  Company.  Such  factors
include,  but  are not  limited  to (i)  substantial  capital  requirements  and
leverage   principally  as  a  consequence  of  its  ongoing   acquisitions  and
construction activities,  (ii) dependence on demand for wireless communications,
use of satellites for internet data transmission,  and implementation of digital
television,  (iii) the success of the Company's tower  construction  program and
(iv)  the  successful   operational   integration  of  the  Company's   business
acquisitions.  The Company  undertakes no  obligation to update  forward-looking
statements to reflect subsequently occurring events or circumstances.

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   American Tower Corporation  116 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts
            (617) 375-7500 FAX  (617) 375-7575  www.americantower.com