EXHIBIT 99
[LOGO OF MCLEOD, INC. APPEARS HERE]                                PRESS RELEASE

                                    

( BW)(MCLEOD)(MCLD) McLeod, Inc. Announces Proposed Private Debt Offering

          CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 18, 1997--McLeod, Inc.
(NASDAQ/NMS:MCLD), announced today its plans to raise approximately $200 million
in a proposed private offering of senior discount notes due 2007 (i) to
"qualified institutional buyers" (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities
Act of 1933), (ii) to a limited number of institutional "accredited investors"
(as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act of 1933)
and (iii) pursuant to offers and sales that occur outside the United States
within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933.

          McLeod, Inc. intends to use the proceeds from the proposed private
offering to fund development and construction costs of its fiber optic network;
market expansion activities of its telecommunications business; potential
acquisitions, joint ventures and strategic alliances; the acquisition of PCS
licenses and related development, construction and operation costs; construction
of its corporate headquarters buildings; and for additional working capital and
general corporate purposes, including funding operating deficits and net losses.

          The senior discount notes proposed to be offered by McLeod, Inc. will
not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933 or any state securities laws
and, unless so registered, may not be offered or sold except pursuant to an
exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and
applicable state securities laws.

          This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the
solicitation of an offer to buy the proposed senior discount notes.

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          CONTACT: McLeod, Inc.
                   Press and Investor Contact: Casey D. Mahon
                   Phone:(319) 364-0000
                   FAX:(319) 298-7767