EXHIBIT 99.1
                                                                    ------------

   [GRAPHIC OMITTED]
     Spectra Site
Getting Networks on Air


CONTACT:  Investor Relations Department
          919-466-5492
          investorrelations@spectrasite.com
          ---------------------------------


                       SPECTRASITE ANNOUNCES CHANGE TO ITS
                               BOARD OF DIRECTORS

CARY, NC, OCTOBER 4, 2004 - SpectraSite, Inc. (NYSE: SSI), one of the largest
wireless tower operators in the United States, announced today that it reduced
the size of its Board of Directors from ten members to eight members.

Robert Katz and Richard Masson, each of whom is affiliated with former
significant shareholders of the Company, have resigned from the company's Board
of Directors. Robert Katz is associated with Apollo Management, L.P., and
Richard Masson is associated with Oaktree Capital Management, LLC. Affiliates of
Apollo Management V, L.P., and certain funds managed by Oaktree Capital
Management, LLC, were the Company's largest shareholders when the Company
emerged from restructuring on February 10, 2003, and Messrs. Katz and Masson
were named members of SpectraSite's Board of Directors at that time. Since then,
Apollo Management and Oaktree Capital Management have liquidated their ownership
positions in the company in three secondary offerings, the last of which was
completed on May 10, 2004.

In describing the departure of Messrs. Katz and Masson, Stephen H. Clark,
President and CEO of SpectraSite stated, "Rob Katz and Richard Masson have been
instrumental to SpectraSite's success over the last two years. However, since
their firms no longer maintain an ownership position in the Company, we fully
understand their decision. Given the expansion of our Board of Directors that
took place in June of this year, I am confident in saying that SpectraSite has
never been in a stronger position from a Board of Directors and a governance
standpoint."

On June 22, 2004, SpectraSite named six new members to its Board of Directors.
After giving effect to the departure of Messrs. Katz and Masson, SpectraSite's
Board of Directors will consist of eight members, six of whom are independent
directors.

ABOUT SPECTRASITE, INC.

SpectraSite, Inc. (www.spectrasite.com), based in Cary, North Carolina, is one
of the largest wireless tower operators in the United States. At June 30, 2004,
SpectraSite owned or operated approximately 10,000 revenue producing sites,
including 7,604 towers and in-building sites primarily in the top 100 markets in
the United States. SpectraSite's customers are leading wireless communications
providers, including AT&T Wireless, Cingular, Nextel, Sprint PCS, T-Mobile and
Verizon Wireless.




SAFE HARBOR

This press release and oral statements made from time to time by representatives
of the Company may contain "forward-looking statements" concerning the Company's
financial outlook, future expectations, financial and operating projections,
plans and strategies, its share repurchase program and the trading markets for
its securities. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of
risks and uncertainties. The Company wishes to caution readers that certain
factors may impact the Company's actual results and could cause results for
subsequent periods to differ materially from those expressed in any
forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of the Company. Such factors
include, but are not limited to (i) the Company's substantial capital
requirements and debt, (ii) market conditions, (iii) the Company's dependence on
demand for wireless communications and related infrastructure, (iv) competition
in the communications tower industry, including the impact of technological
developments, (v) consolidation in the wireless industry, (vi) future regulatory
actions, (vii) conditions in its operating areas and (viii) management's
estimates and assumptions included in the Company's 2004 Outlook. These and
other important factors are described in more detail in the "Risk Factors" and
the "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations" sections of the Company's SEC filings and public announcements. The
Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect
subsequently occurring events or circumstances.


                                      # # #




                                                                               2