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):  September 24, 1997


                            MCLEODUSA INCORPORATED
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            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


 
 
                                                        
         Delaware                       0-20763                 42-1407240
- ----------------------------          -----------             --------------
(State or Other Jurisdiction          (Commission             (IRS Employer
of Incorporation)                     File Number)            Identification
                                                              Number)



6400 C Street, S.W., P.O. Box 3177, Cedar Rapids, IA          52406-3177
- ----------------------------------------------------          ----------
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                      (Zip Code)

      Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (319) 364-0000

 
                    INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN THE REPORT

ITEM 2.  ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION OF ASSETS
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ACQUISITION OF CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS INC.

          On September 24, 1997, McLeodUSA Incorporated, a Delaware corporation
("McLeodUSA") acquired Consolidated Communications Inc., a privately held
Illinois corporation ("CCI"), through the merger (the "Merger") of CCI with and
into Eastside Acquisition Co. ("Acquiror Sub"), a newly formed wholly-owned
subsidiary of McLeodUSA.  The Merger was effected pursuant to that certain
Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, dated as of June 14, 1997 among McLeodUSA,
Acquiror Sub and CCI (the "Reorganization Agreement").

          CCI is a diversified telecommunications holding company which, as of
June 30, 1997, served telecommunications customers in 43 cities and towns
primarily in Illinois.  CCI's wholly-owned subsidiary Illinois Consolidated
Telephone Company is an independent local exchange carrier with 37 central
office exchanges in east central Illinois serving approximately 89,000 access
lines as of August 22, 1997.  CCI's wholly-owned subsidiary Consolidated Telecom
Services Inc. is a competitive local exchange carrier offering integrated local,
long distance and other telecommunications services in central and southern
Illinois, and in Indiana.  CCI's wholly-owned subsidiary Consolidated
Communications Directories Inc. publishes and distributes approximately 370
annual "white page" and "yellow page" telephone directories in 38 states and the
United States Virgin Islands.  CCI also operates an operator service company, 
an inmate pay-phone company and a full service telemarketing agency. In 
addition, CCI owns a majority interest in a cable television company serving 
customers in Greene County, Illinois and Benton Harbor, Michigan, and owns a 
minority interest in a cellular telephone partnership. Renamed "Consolidated
Communication Inc." pursuant to the Merger, Acquiror Sub will operate under
CCI's existing management and personnel will occupy CCI's existing facilities in
Mattoon, Illinois.

          As a result of the Merger, all of CCI's issued and outstanding capital
stock immediately prior to the Merger was automatically converted into the right
to receive an aggregate of 8,488,596 shares of McLeodUSA's Class A common stock,
par value $.01 per share, and approximately $155 million in cash. Upon
consummation of the Merger, former CCI shareholders owned approximately 13.8% of
the outstanding common stock of McLeodUSA.

          Pursuant to the Reorganization Agreement, Richard A. Lumpkin, the
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CCI and Robert J. Currey, the President

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and Chief Operating Officer of CCI, were appointed directors of McLeodUSA and
joined McLeodUSA's executive management team.

          The foregoing description of the Merger does not purport to be
complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Reorganization
Agreement, filed as Exhibit 2 hereto and incorporated herein by reference. A
                    ---------  
copy of the press release, dated September 24, 1997, issued by McLeodUSA 
regarding the above-described transaction is attached as Exhibit 99 hereto.
                                                         ----------        



ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS
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          Certain of the financial statements and exhibits listed below are
incorporated by reference to financial statements and exhibits to previously
filed registration statements or reports of McLeodUSA filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") as indicated.

     (a)  Financial Statements of business acquired

             Description
             -----------
          
             Report of Independent Public Accountants (Incorporated herein by
             reference to McLeodUSA's Form S-4, No. 333-34227, filed with the
             Commission on August 22, 1997).
          
             Consolidated Balance Sheets of CCI and subsidiaries at June 30,
             1997, December 31, 1996 and December 31, 1995 (Incorporated herein
             by reference to McLeodUSA's Form S-4, No. 333-34227, filed with the
             Commission on August 22, 1997).
          
             Consolidated Statements of Income of CCI and subsidiaries for the
             six months ended June 30, 1997 and June 30, 1996 and for the years
             ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 (Incorporated herein by
             reference to McLeodUSA's Form S-4, No. 333-34227, filed with the
             Commission on August 22, 1997).
          
             Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity of CCI
             and subsidiaries for the six months ended June 30, 1997 and the
             years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 (Incorporated herein
             by reference to McLeodUSA's Form S-4, No. 333-34227, filed with the
             Commission on August 22, 1997).

                                      -3-

 
     (a)  Financial Statements of business acquired (cont'd)

             Description
             -----------
          
             Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows of CCI and subsidiaries for
             the six months ended June 30, 1997 and June 30, 1996 and for the
             years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 (Incorporated herein
             by reference to McLeodUSA's Form S-4, No. 333-34227, filed with the
             Commission on August 22, 1997).
          
             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of CCI and subsidiaries
             (Incorporated herein by reference to McLeodUSA's Form S-4, No. 333-
             34227, filed with the Commission on August 22, 1997).

     (c)  Exhibits.

          2.   Agreement and Plan of Reorganization dated as of June 14, 1997 by
               and among McLeodUSA, Acquiror Sub and CCI  (Filed as Exhibit 2.2
                                                                    -----------
               to McLeodUSA's Current Report of Form 8-K, No. 0-20763, filed 
               with the Commission on June 26, 1997 and incorporated herein by
               reference.)

          99.1 Press Release, dated September 24, 1997, relating to McLeodUSA's
               acquisition of CCI.

          99.2 Report of Independent Public Accountants (Incorporated herein by
               reference to McLeodUSA's Form S-4, No. 333-34227, filed with the
               Commission on August 22, 1997).

          99.3 Consolidated Balance Sheets of CCI and subsidiaries at June 30,
               1997, December 31, 1996 and December 31, 1995 (Incorporated
               herein by reference to McLeodUSA's Form S-4, No. 333-34227, filed
               with the Commission on August 22, 1997).

          99.4 Consolidated Statements of Income of CCI and subsidiaries for
               the six months ended June 30, 1997 and June 30, 1996 and for the
               years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 (Incorporated herein
               by reference to McLeodUSA's Form S-4, No. 333-34227, filed with
               the Commission on August 22, 1997).

                                      -4-

 
     (c)  Exhibits (cont'd)

          99.5 Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity of
               CCI and subsidiaries for the six months ended June 30, 1997 and
               the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 (Incorporated
               herein by reference to McLeodUSA's Form S-4, No. 333-34227, filed
               with the Commission on August 22, 1997).

          99.6 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows of CCI and subsidiaries
               for the six months ended June 30, 1997 and June 30, 1996 and for
               the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 (Incorporated
               herein by reference to McLeodUSA's Form S-4, No. 333-34227, filed
               with the Commission on August 22, 1997).

          99.7 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of CCI and
               subsidiaries (Incorporated herein by reference to McLeodUSA's
               Form S-4, No. 333-34227, filed with the Commission on August 22,
               1997).

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                                   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.



Date:  October 7, 1997              McLEODUSA INCORPORATED



                                    By: /s/ Stephen C. Gray
                                    ---------------------------------
                                        Stephen C. Gray
                                        President and Chief Operating
                                         Officer

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                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
                                        
 
 

                                                                                            Page Number in          
Exhibit Number      Exhibit                                                          Sequential Numbering System
- --------------      -------                                                          ---------------------------
                                                                                                        
      2.            Agreement and Plan of Reorganization dated                       
                    as of June 14, 1997, by and among McLeodUSA,                     
                    Acquiror Sub and CCI  (Filed as Exhibit 2.2                      
                                                    -----------                      
                    to McLeodUSA's Current Report on Form 8-K, File No. 0-20763,     
                    filed with the Commission on June 26, 1997 and                   
                    incorporated herein by reference.)                               
                                                                                     
     99.1           Press Release, dated September 24, 1997, relating                
                    to McLeodUSA's acquisition of CCI.                               
                                                                                     
     99.2           Report of Independent Public Accountants                         
                    (Incorporated herein by reference to McLeodUSA's                 
                    Form S-4, No. 333-34227, filed with the Commission               
                    on August 22, 1997).                                             
                                                                                     
     99.3           Consolidated Balance Sheets of CCI and subsidiaries              
                    at June 30, 1997, December 31, 1996 and December                 
                    31, 1995 (Incorporated herein by reference to                    
                    McLeodUSA's Form S-4, No. 333-34227, filed with                  
                    the Commission on August 22, 1997).                              
                                                                                     
     99.4           Consolidated Statements of Income of CCI and                     
                    subsidiaries for the six months ended June 30, 1997              
                    and June 30, 1996 and for the years ended December               
                    31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 (Incorporated herein by                  
                    reference to McLeodUSA's Form S-4, No. 333-34227,                
                    filed with the Commission on August 22, 1997).                   

 
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                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
                                        

                                                           Page Number in
Exhibit Number      Exhibit                          Sequential Numbering System
- --------------      -------                          ---------------------------


     99.5      Consolidated Statements of Changes in 
               Stockholders' Equity of CCI and subsidiaries 
               for the six months ended June 30, 1997 and 
               the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994
               (Incorporated herein by reference to McLeodUSA's 
               Form S-4, No. 333-34227, filed with the Commission 
               on August 22, 1997).

     99.6      Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows of CCI and
               subsidiaries for the six months ended June 30, 1997 
               and June 30, 1996 and for the years ended December 
               31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 (Incorporated herein by 
               reference to McLeodUSA's Form S-4, No. 333-34227, 
               filed with the Commission on August 22, 1997).

     99.7      Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of CCI 
               and subsidiaries (Incorporated herein by reference 
               to McLeodUSA's Form S-4, No. 333-34227, filed with 
               the Commission on August 22, 1997).

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