EXHIBIT 5



                            ARNALL GOLDEN GREGORY LLP
                            2800 One Atlantic Center
                        1201 West Peachtree Street, N.W.
                           Atlanta, Georgia 30309-3450


                                                                  (404) 873-8500

                                                                  (404) 873-8501


                                 May 20, 2002

Horizon Telcom, Inc.
68 East Main Street
Chillicothe, Ohio  45601-0480

     Re: Registration Statement on Form S-8

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     This opinion is rendered in connection  with the proposed issue and sale by
Horizon  Telcom,  Inc., an Ohio  corporation  (the  "Company"),  of up to 10,000
shares of the Company's Common Stock, without par value (the "Shares"), upon the
terms and  conditions set forth in the  Registration  Statement on Form S-8 (the
"Registration  Statement") filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange
Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), pursuant to
the Company's 1999 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan").  We have acted as counsel for
the  Company  in  connection  with the  issuance  and sale of the  Shares by the
Company.

     In  rendering  the opinion  contained  herein,  we have relied in part upon
examination of the Company's  corporate  records,  documents,  certificates  and
other  instruments  and  the  examination  of such  questions  of law as we have
considered necessary or appropriate for the purpose of this opinion.  Based upon
the foregoing,  we are of the opinion that the Shares have been duly and validly
authorized,  and when sold in the manner  contemplated by the Plan, upon receipt
by the  Company  of payment  in full  therefor  as  provided  therein,  and upon
issuance pursuant to a current  prospectus in conformity with the Act, they will
be legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

     We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the  Registration
Statement.  This consent is not to be  construed  as an admission  that we are a
party  whose  consent is required  to be filed with the  Registration  Statement
under the provisions of the Act.

                                    Sincerely,

                                    ARNALL GOLDEN GREGORY LLP