SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON D.C. 20549 FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 21, 2003 HORIZON TELCOM, INC. (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter) Ohio 0-32617 31-1449037 (State or other jurisdiction (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer of incorporation) Identification No.) 68 East Main Street Chillicothe, Ohio 45601-0480 (Address of principal (Zip Code) executive offices) (Registrant's telephone number including area code) (740) 772-8200 ITEM 9. REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE. On August 21, 2003, Horizon Personal Communications, Inc. and Bright Personal Communications Services, LLC, subsidiaries of Horizon PCS, Inc. (collectively, "Horizon"), which is majority owned by Horizon Telcom, Inc., filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Eastern Division, against Sprint Corporation, Sprint Spectrum, L.P., Wirelessco, L.P. and Sprintcom, Inc. (collectively, "Sprint"), alleging wrongful conduct on the part of Sprint in its relationship and business dealings with Horizon. In the Complaint, Horizon asserts claims under the federal RICO laws and similar Ohio state laws, and also asserts fraud, negligent misrepresentation, conversion, breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duties. Any statement in this Form 8-K that is not a statement of historical fact may be deemed to be a forward-looking statement, which involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results of Horizon Telcom, Inc. (the "Company"), or its performance or achievements, to be materially and significantly different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. There can be no guarantee that Horizon will prevail in the lawsuit referenced above. For further information about the risks inherent in the Company's business, see "Risk Factors" in the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002, and the Company's Form 10-Q filed on August 15, 2003. 2 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. HORIZON TELCOM, INC. Date: August 21, 2003 By: /s/ Peter M. Holland ------------------------------------- Peter M. Holland Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) 3 1649066