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                                                                      EXHIBIT 20

                                  [OPTEL LOGO]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts:         Matt Hutchins                        Stephen Dube
                  President                            Chief Operating Officer
                  I3S, Inc.                            OpTel, Inc.
                  972/650-6900                         214/634-3856



               OPTEL AND I3S LAUNCH HIGH-SPEED BROADBAND SERVICES
                      IN DALLAS, HOUSTON AND SAN FRANCISCO


DALLAS, TEXAS, JANUARY 19, 1999. OpTel, Inc. and I3S, Inc. announce today the
launch of high-speed Internet access service in Dallas, Houston, and the San
Francisco Bay Area. Last year, OpTel and I3S formed a strategic relationship to
offer high speed, broadband data services to OpTel cable television customers
across the United States. Through I3S' expanding Internet access network and
OpTel's cable television distribution facilities, OpTel and I3S intend to
provide cable modem Internet access and data services to the over 400,000
apartment and condominium homes reached by OpTel's cable network. The companies'
combined networks will allow OpTel's subscribers to cruise the Internet at
speeds of up to 1.5 megabits per second - - over 100 times faster than typical
telephone dial-up Internet access.

Louis Brunel, OpTel's President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "OpTel is
committed to providing advanced telecommunications and high speed data services
to our customers. After reviewing other potential ISP's, we found I3S to have
the best fit with our business strategy. We are excited to be launching this
advanced service to our customers and look forward to a mutually fruitful
relationship with I3S."




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"We are very pleased to join with OpTel in a strategic alliance to provide high
speed data services to MDUs nationally," said Jim Price, Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of I3S. "With their density in major markets across the United
States, OpTel is an outstanding fit with our planned expansion in 1999 and into
the future."

OpTel is a leading network based provider of integrated communications services,
including local and long distance telephone and cable television services, to
residents of multiple dwelling units in the United States. OpTel currently
provides cable television and telecommunications services in several
metropolitan areas, including Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Phoenix,
Denver, Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin, Chicago, Indianapolis, Atlanta,
Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, Tampa, and Orlando. OpTel is majority owned by Le Groupe
Videotron Ltee, owner of the second largest cable television operator in Canada.

I3S is a leading provider of broadband data services to apartment communities
across the nation. I3S plans to use its national private network to deliver its
BroadbandNow!(TM) Internet service to over 1,000,000 apartment units in 23
metropolitan markets around the country in the coming year. I3S is also
producing and aggregating broadband content that enables subscribers to
experience a true broadband portal supported by its high-speed network.

OpTel and I3S are both based in Dallas, Texas. Additional information concerning
this new high speed Internet service may be found on the Internet at
http://www.optelnow.com. Additional information about OpTel is available on the
Internet at http://www.optelinc.com. I3S provides additional information on its
Internet website at http://www.i3s.com.