EXHIBIT 5.1
                              BUCHANAN INGERSOLL
 
                           PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION
 
                                   Attorneys
 
                                                 One Oxford Centre
                                                 301 Grant Street, 20th Floor
                                                 Pittsburgh, PA 15219-1410
 
                                                 Telephone: 412-562-8800
                                                 Fax: 412-562-1041
 
                               October 29, 1997
 
Hyperion Telecommunications, Inc. Main at Water Street Coudersport, PA 16915
 
Dear Sirs:
 
  We have acted as counsel to Hyperion Telecommunications, Inc., a Delaware
corporation ("Hyperion", the "Company" or the "Registrant"), in connection
with the proposed exchange (the "Exchange") by the Company of 12 7/8% Series B
Senior Exchangeable Redeemable Preferred Stock ("New Preferred Stock") for an
equal number of shares of its outstanding 12 7/8% Senior Exchangeable
Redeemable Preferred Stock ("Old Preferred Stock," and together with the New
Preferred Stock, the "Preferred Stock"). Subject to certain conditions, the
Company may exchange the Preferred Stock for its 12 7/8% Series B Senior
Subordinated Exchange Debentures Due 2007 (" Exchange Debentures") which are
issuable under an indenture (the "Exchange Indenture") between the Company and
Bank of Montreal Trust Company, as trustee ("Exchange Trustee").
 
  In connection with the proposed Exchange, we have examined the Company's
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, as presently in effect, the Company's
relevant corporate proceedings, the draft Registration Statement on Form S-4
covering the proposed Exchange (the "Registration Statement"), including the
Prospectus filed as a part of the Registration Statement, the Certificate of
Designation, in respect of the Old Preferred Stock and the New Preferred
Stock, the form of the Exchange Indenture governing the Exchange Debentures,
filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, and such other documents,
records, certificates of public officials, statutes and decisions as we
considered necessary to express the opinions contained herein. In the
examination of such documents, we have assumed the genuineness of all
signatures and the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals
and the conformity to the original documents of all documents submitted to us
as certified or photostatic copies.
 
  We understand that the New Preferred Stock is to be issued to the holders of
the Old Preferred Stock, in the Exchange and are to be available for resale by
such holders, and that the Company, under certain conditions, may exchange, in
whole or in part, the then-outstanding Preferred Stock for Exchange
Debentures, all in the manner described in the Prospectus, which is a part of
the Registration Statement, the Certificate of Designation and the Exchange
Indenture.
 
  Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:
 
  1. The issuance of the New Preferred Stock to the holders of the Old
     Preferred Stock and the issuance of the Exchange Debentures pursuant to
     the terms of the Exchange, the Certificate of Designation, and the
     Exchange Indenture, have been duly authorized by proper corporate action
     of the Registrant.

 
  2. When the Registration Statement shall have been declared effective by
     order of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the New Preferred
     Stock has been duly issued to and exchanged for the Old Preferred Stock,
     and when the Exchange Debentures shall have been duly issued, all in
     accordance with the terms of the Exchange, the Certificate of
     Designation, the Exchange Indenture and the Registration Statement, such
     New Preferred Stock and Exchange Debentures will be validly issued and
     will constitute binding obligations of the Registrant, subject, as to
     enforcement (i) to any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent
     conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws relating to or
     affecting creditors' rights and remedies generally and (ii) to general
     principles of judicial discretion and equity, including principles of
     commercial reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing (regardless of
     whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity or in
     a bankruptcy proceeding and except that (i) rights to contribution or
     indemnification may be limited by the laws, rules or regulations of any
     governmental authority or agency thereof or by public policy and (ii)
     waivers as to usury, stay or extension laws may be unenforceable).
 
 
  We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to any reference to us in the Prospectus which is a
part hereof.
 
                                          Sincerely,
 
                                          BUCHANAN INGERSOLL PROFESSIONAL
                                          CORPORATION
 
                                          By: /s/ Carl E. Rothenberger, Jr.
                                             -----------------------------
                                               Carl E. Rothenberger, Jr.