EXHIBIT 23




The Board of Directors
Electric Lightwave, Inc.


We consent to the  incorporation by reference in the  registration  statement on
Form S-8 of  Electric  Lightwave,  Inc. of our  reports  dated  March 10,  1998,
relating to the balance  sheets of Electric  Lightwave,  Inc. as of December 31,
1997 and 1996, and the related  statements of operations,  stockholders'  equity
and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31,
1997,  and the related  schedule,  which reports appear in the December 31, 1997
annual report on Form 10-K of Electric Lightwave, Inc.





                                                           KPMG Peat Marwick LLP

New York, New York
June 5, 1998