EXHIBIT 23



                          Independent Auditors' Consent



The Board of Directors
AvTel Communications, Inc.


We consent to incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements (No.
333-30725), (No. 333-53435), and (No. 333-64769) on Form S-8 of AvTel
Communications, Inc. of our report dated April 14, 1999, relating to the
consolidated balance sheets of AvTel Communications, Inc. and subsidiaries as of
December 31, 1998 and 1997, and the related consolidated statements of
operations, stockholders' equity, and cash flows and related schedule, for each
of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1998, which report
appears in the December 31, 1998 annual report on Form 10-K of AvTel
Communications, Inc.


                                             /s/ KPMG LLP
                                             -------------
                                             KPMG LLP



Dallas, Texas
April 14, 1999