Exhibit 99.2

                       [AMERICAN TOWER LOGO APPEARS HERE]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                                                        ATC Contact: Anne Alter,
                                   Vice President of Finance, Investor Relations
                                                      Telephone:  (617) 375-7500

           American Tower Corporation Announces Planned Unit Offering

Boston, Massachusetts - January 21, 2003 - American Tower Corporation (NYSE:AMT)
today announced that it is seeking to raise approximately $400 million through
an institutional private placement of Units consisting of (1) senior
subordinated discount notes of a wholly owned subsidiary and (2) warrants to
purchase shares of Class A common stock of American Tower Corporation. The
company expects to use the net proceeds to reduce the term loans outstanding
under its credit facilities and to repurchase its 2.25% convertible notes. The
closing of the offering is expected later this month, subject to market
conditions. At the closing, the net proceeds of the offering will be held in
escrow pending the consent of the lenders under the company's credit facilities.

     The company will be seeking an amendment to its credit facilities to permit
the company to conduct this offering and to use up to $216 million, consisting
of cash on hand and a portion of the net offering proceeds, to repurchase 2.25%
convertible notes. Pursuant to this proposed amendment, the company expects that
it would repay no less than $200 million of the term loans outstanding under its
credit facilities and the lenders' commitment under the revolving credit
facility would be reduced by no less than $200 million. The actual amount of the
permanent reduction in the lenders' commitment and the other terms of the
amendment will depend on negotiations with the lenders. The company can provide
no assurances as to whether it will be able to obtain the consent of its lenders
and the terms of any such amendment.

     This announcement is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an
offer to buy any of the units.

     The units have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, or any state securities laws, and are being offered only to qualified
institutional buyers in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act. Unless
so registered, the notes may not be offered or sold in the United States except
pursuant to an exemption from registration requirements of the Securities Act
and applicable state securities laws.


This press release contains "forward-looking statements" regarding our ability
to complete this private placement, obtain the consent of our lenders and
effectively use the proceeds. These forward-looking statements involve a number
of risks and uncertainties. Among the important factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those indicated in such forward-looking
statement include uncertainties. Among the important factors that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those indicated in such forward-looking
statements include uncertainties relating to market conditions for corporate
debt securities generally, for the securities of telecommunications companies
and for our notes in particular.