SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): July 16, 1998 (June 16, 1998)

                           AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

           Delaware                   001-14195             65-0723837
(State or Other Jurisdiction         (Commission           (IRS Employer
      of Incorporation)              File Number)          Identification No.)




         116 Huntington Avenue
         Boston, Massachusetts                                   02116

 (Address of Principal Executive Offices)                      (Zip Code)




                                 (617) 375-7500
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)



Item 5.  Other Events.

1. New Credit  Facilities.  On June 16, 1998,  American Tower  Corporation ( the
"Company"  or  "ATC")  entered  into new loan  arrangements  (the  "'New  Credit
Facilities"')  with its senior lenders  pursuant to which the maximum  borrowing
capacity of American Tower Systems (Delaware),  Inc., a wholly-owned  subsidiary
of ATC and one of the operating  subsidiaries of ATC and American Tower Systems,
L.P., an indirect wholly-owned  subsidiary of ATC and one of the other operating
subsidiaries of ATC  (collectively,  the "Borrower  Subsidiaries") was increased
from  $400.0  million to $900.0  million,  subject to  compliance  with  certain
financial  ratios,  of which $125.0 million is outstanding in the form of a term
loan, and ATC (the parent holding company) borrowed an additional $150.0 million
in the  form of a term  loan.  For more  information  regarding  the New  Credit
Facilities,  see Exhibits 10.1, 10.2A and 10.2B, which were filed as exhibits to
Amendment  No. 2 to ATC's  Registration  Statement on Form S-1 filed on June 30,
1998 (File No. 333-52481).

      The loans to ATC and the Borrower  Subsidiaries are  cross-guaranteed  and
cross-collateralized by liens on, among other things, all leases of tower space,
contracts  relating  to the  management  of towers for  others,  cash,  accounts
receivable,  capital stock (or other equity interests) and inter-company debt of
all Restricted Subsidiaries (as defined in the New Credit Facilities), inventory
and other personal property, fixtures, intellectual property, as well as certain
fee and leasehold interests, and the proceeds thereof, of ATC and its Restricted
Subsidiaries.  Borrowings  under  the ATC  term  loan  are  subordinated  to the
guaranty by ATC of indebtedness  under the New Credit Facilities of the Borrower
Subsidiaries.

2.  Consummation  of Public  Offering of Class A Common Stock and  Redemption of
Series A Redeemable  Pay-In-Kind  Preferred  Stock. On July 8, 1998, the Company
completed a public offering of 27,861,987  shares of Class A Common Stock,  $.01
par value per share (the "Class A Common  Stock")  (including  2,361,987  shares
sold by the  Company  pursuant  to the  exercise  in  full of the  underwriters'
over-allotment option) at $23.50 per share. Certain selling stockholders sold an
additional  3,874,911  shares in the offering.  Credit  Suisse First Boston,  BT
Alex. Brown,  Lehman Brothers,  Morgan Stanley Dean Witter,  Bear, Stearns & Co.
Inc.,  Merrill Lynch & Co. and Salomon Smith Barney were the underwriters of the
Class A Common  Stock.  The Company  estimates  the net proceeds of the offering
(after deduction of the underwriting  discount and estimated  offering expenses)
to be  approximately  $625.4  million.  The Company  used  approximately  $306.1
million of the net proceeds  from the offering to redeem all of the  outstanding
shares of the Series A Redeemable Pay-In-Kind Preferred Stock at a price of 101%
of the  liquidation  preference  on July 9, 1998.  The balance  was  invested in
short-term   investment  grade  securities  and  will  be  used,  together  with
borrrowings  under the New Credit  Facilities,  to fund future  acquisitions and
construction activities. For more information,  see the ATC press release, dated
July 2, 1998, which is attached herewith as Exhibit 99.


Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.

      (c) Exhibits.

         Exhibit 2.1    -     Underwriting Agreement,  dated as of July 1,
                              1998, by and among ATC and the  Representatives of
                              the Underwriters.

         Exhibit 10.1   -     Parent Loan Agreement, dated as of June 16,
                              1998, by and among ATC, Toronto Dominion  (Texas),
                              Inc., as Administrative Agent, and the
                              Lenders parties thereto.*


                                        2

         Exhibit 10.2A  -     ATS Facility A Loan Agreement, dated as of
                              June  16,  1998,  by  and  among   American  Tower
                              Systems,   L.P.   and   American   Tower   Systems
                              (Delaware),   Inc.,  as  borrowers,   and  Toronto
                              Dominion (Texas),  Inc., as Administrative  Agent,
                              and the Banks parties thereto.**

         Exhibit 10.2B  -     ATS Facility B Loan Agreement, dated as of
                              June  16,  1998,  by  and  among   American  Tower
                              Systems,   L.P.   and   American   Tower   Systems
                              (Delaware),   Inc.,  as  borrowers,   and  Toronto
                              Dominion (Texas),  Inc., as Administrative  Agent,
                              and the Banks parties thereto.***

         Exhibit 99     -     Press Release of ATC, dated July 2, 1998.


         * Filed as  Exhibit  10.1 to  Amendment  No.  2 to  ATC's  Registration
Statement on Form S-1 filed on June 30, 1998 (File No. 333-52481).

         ** Filed as  Exhibit  10.2A to  Amendment  No. 2 to ATC's  Registration
Statement on Form S-1 filed on June 30, 1998 (File No. 333-52481).

         *** Filed as Exhibit  10.2B to  Amendment  No. 2 to ATC's  Registration
Statement on Form S-1 filed on June 30, 1998 (File No. 333-52481).




                                        3



                                   SIGNATURES


         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
the  Registrant  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                             AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION
                             (Registrant)


Date: July 16, 1998          By: /s/ Justin D. Benincasa
                                 Name: Justin D. Benincasa
                                 Title: Vice President and Corporate Controller





                                        4
                                29,374,911 Shares

                           AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION

                 Class A Common Stock, par value $.01 per share


                             UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT




                                                         July 1, 1998



Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation,
BT Alex. Brown Incorporated,
Lehman Brothers Incorporated,
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated,
Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.,
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
                  Incorporated, and
Smith Barney, Inc.,

As Representatives of the Several Underwriters (the "Representatives"),
c/o Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation,
Eleven Madison Avenue
New York, N.Y. 10010-3629.

Dear Sirs:

         1. Introductory. American Tower Corporation, formerly known as American
Tower Systems Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("Company"), proposes to issue
and sell 25,500,000 shares of its Class A Common Stock, par value $.01 per share
("Class  A Common  Stock"  or  "Securities"),  and the  stockholders  listed  in
Schedule  A  hereto   and  the   stockholders   listed  in   Schedule  B  hereto
(collectively, "Selling Stockholders") propose severally to sell an aggregate of
3,874,911  outstanding  shares  of the  Securities  (such  29,374,911  shares of
Securities being hereinafter referred to as the "Firm Securities").  The Company
also proposes to sell to the Underwriters, at the option of the Underwriters, an
aggregate of not more than 2,361,987 additional shares of its Securities, as set
forth below (such 2,361,987  additional shares being hereinafter  referred to as
the "Optional Securities").  The Firm Securities and the Optional Securities are
herein collectively called the "Offered Securities". The Company and the Selling
Stockholders  hereby  agree with the  several  Underwriters  named in Schedule C
hereto ("Underwriters") as hereinafter set forth.

         2.  Representations  and  Warranties  of the  Company  and the  Selling
Stockholders.  (a) The Company  represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the
several Underwriters that:

                  (i) A registration  statement (No.  333-52481) relating to the
         Offered Securities, including a form of prospectus, has been filed with
         the Securities and Exchange  Commission  ("Commission")  and either (A)
         has been declared  effective  under the  Securities Act of 1933 ("Act")
         and is not  proposed  to be amended or (B) is proposed to be amended by
         amendment or post-effective  amendment.  If such registration statement
         (the "initial registration statement") has been



         declared  effective,  either (A) an additional  registration  statement
         (the  "additional  registration  statement")  relating  to the  Offered
         Securities  may have been filed with the  Commission  pursuant  to Rule
         462(b)  ("Rule  462(b)")  under the Act and,  if so filed,  has  become
         effective upon filing pursuant to such Rule and the Offered  Securities
         all have been duly  registered  under the Act  pursuant  to the initial
         registration statement and, if applicable,  the additional registration
         statement or (B) such an additional  registration statement is proposed
         to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(b) and will become
         effective  upon  filing  pursuant to such Rule and upon such filing the
         Offered  Securities  will all have been duly  registered  under the Act
         pursuant  to the initial  registration  statement  and such  additional
         registration  statement.  If the Company  does not propose to amend the
         initial  registration  statement  or  if  an  additional   registration
         statement  has been filed and the Company does not propose to amend it,
         and  if  any  post-effective  amendment  to  either  such  registration
         statement has been filed with the Commission prior to the execution and
         delivery of this Agreement,  the most recent amendment (if any) to each
         such  registration   statement  has  been  declared  effective  by  the
         Commission or has become  effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(c)
         ("Rule  462(c)")  under  the Act  or,  in the  case  of the  additional
         registration  statement,  Rule 462(b).  For purposes of this Agreement,
         "Effective Time" with respect to the initial registration statement or,
         if filed prior to the  execution  and delivery of this  Agreement,  the
         additional  registration statement means (A) if the Company has advised
         the Representatives that it does not propose to amend such registration
         statement,  the date and time as of which such registration  statement,
         or the most  recent  post-effective  amendment  thereto  (if any) filed
         prior to the  execution  and delivery of this  Agreement,  was declared
         effective  by  the  Commission  or has  become  effective  upon  filing
         pursuant  to  Rule  462(c),  or (B)  if the  Company  has  advised  the
         Representatives that it proposes to file an amendment or post-effective
         amendment to such registration statement, the date and time as of which
         such   registration   statement,   as  amended  by  such  amendment  or
         post-effective  amendment, as the case may be, is declared effective by
         the Commission.  If an additional  registration  statement has not been
         filed prior to the  execution  and delivery of this  Agreement  but the
         Company has advised the  Representatives  that it proposes to file one,
         "Effective Time" with respect to such additional registration statement
         means  the date and time as of which  such  registration  statement  is
         filed and becomes effective  pursuant to Rule 462(b).  "Effective Date"
         with respect to the initial  registration  statement or the  additional
         registration  statement (if any) means the date of the  Effective  Time
         thereof.  The  initial  registration   statement,  as  amended  at  its
         Effective Time,  including all information  contained in the additional
         registration  statement (if any) and deemed to be a part of the initial
         registration  statement  as of the  Effective  Time  of the  additional
         registration statement pursuant to the General Instructions of the Form
         on which it is filed and including all  information  (if any) deemed to
         be a part of the initial  registration  statement  as of its  Effective
         Time  pursuant  to Rule  430A(b)  ("Rule  430A(b)")  under the Act,  is
         hereinafter referred to as the "Initial  Registration  Statement".  The
         additional  registration  statement,  as amended at its Effective Time,
         including   the   contents  of  the  initial   registration   statement
         incorporated  by reference  therein and including all  information  (if
         any) deemed to be a part of the additional registration statement as of
         its Effective Time pursuant to Rule 430A(b), is hereinafter referred to
         as the "Additional  Registration  Statement".  The Initial Registration
         Statement and the  Additional  Registration  Statement are  hereinafter
         referred  to   collectively  as  the   "Registration   Statements"  and
         individually  as a  "Registration  Statement".  The form of  prospectus
         relating to the Offered Securities,  as first filed with the Commission
         pursuant to and in accordance  with Rule 424(b) ("Rule  424(b)")  under
         the  Act  or  (if  no  such  filing  is  required)  as  included  in  a
         Registration Statement, is hereinafter referred to as the "Prospectus".
         No document has been or will be prepared or  distributed in reliance on
         Rule 434 under the Act.

                                        2

                  (ii)  If  the  Effective  Time  of  the  Initial  Registration
         Statement is prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement: (A)
         on the  Effective  Date  of the  Initial  Registration  Statement,  the
         Initial  Registration  Statement  conformed in all material respects to
         the  requirements  of the Act  and the  rules  and  regulations  of the
         Commission  ("Rules  and  Regulations")  and did not include any untrue
         statement  of a  material  fact or  omit to  state  any  material  fact
         required  to be stated  therein  or  necessary  to make the  statements
         therein not  misleading,  (B) on the Effective  Date of the  Additional
         Registration Statement (if any), each Registration Statement conformed,
         or will conform,  in all material  respects to the  requirements of the
         Act and the  Rules and  Regulations  and did not  include,  or will not
         include,  any untrue  statement of a material fact and did not omit, or
         will not omit, to state any material fact required to be stated therein
         or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,  and (C) on
         the date of this Agreement,  the Initial Registration Statement and, if
         the Effective Time of the Additional Registration Statement is prior to
         the  execution  and  delivery  of  this   Agreement,   the   Additional
         Registration  Statement each conforms, and at the time of filing of the
         Prospectus  pursuant to Rule 424(b) or (if no such filing is  required)
         at the Effective Date of the Additional Registration Statement in which
         the  Prospectus  is  included,  each  Registration  Statement  and  the
         Prospectus will conform,  in all material  respects to the requirements
         of the Act and the Rules and Regulations, and neither of such documents
         includes,  or will include,  any untrue statement of a material fact or
         omits,  or will omit,  to state any material fact required to be stated
         therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.  If
         the Effective Time of the Initial Registration  Statement is subsequent
         to the execution and delivery of this Agreement:  on the Effective Date
         of  the  Initial  Registration  Statement,   the  Initial  Registration
         Statement and the Prospectus  will conform in all material  respects to
         the requirements of the Act and the Rules and  Regulations,  neither of
         such documents will include any untrue  statement of a material fact or
         will omit to state any material fact  required to be stated  therein or
         necessary to make the  statements  therein not  misleading (in light of
         the  circumstances  under  which  it  was  made,  in  the  case  of the
         Prospectus),  and no Additional Registration Statement has been or will
         be filed. The two preceding  sentences do not apply to statements in or
         omissions  from a Registration  Statement or the Prospectus  based upon
         written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through
         the Representatives specifically for use therein.

                  (iii)  The  Company  has  been  duly  incorporated  and  is an
         existing  corporation  in good standing  under the laws of the State of
         Delaware,  with power and  authority  (corporate  and other) to own its
         properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus; and
         the Company is duly  qualified to do business as a foreign  corporation
         in good standing in all other  jurisdictions  in which its ownership or
         lease  of  property  or the  conduct  of  its  business  requires  such
         qualification.

                  (iv) Each subsidiary of the Company has been duly incorporated
         (or  formed,  as the case may be) and is an  existing  corporation  (or
         limited  partnership or limited liability company,  as the case may be)
         in  good  standing   under  the  laws  of  the   jurisdiction   of  its
         incorporation  or formation,  with power and authority  (corporate  and
         other) to own its  properties  and conduct its business as described in
         the Prospectus; and each subsidiary of the Company is duly qualified to
         do  business  as a foreign  corporation  in good  standing in all other
         jurisdictions  in which  its  ownership  or lease  of  property  or the
         conduct  of its  business  requires  such  qualification  except  where
         failure to so qualify would not,  individually or in the aggregate have
         a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries  taken as
         a  whole;  all  of  the  issued  and  outstanding   capital  stock  (or
         partnership  or  other  equity  interests)  of each  subsidiary  of the
         Company has been duly  authorized  and validly issued and is fully paid
         (except  for any  general  partnership  interest)  nonassessable;  and,
         except for the pledge  pursuant  to the Credit  Agreements  (as defined
         herein)  as  disclosed  in  the  Prospectus,  the  capital  stock  (and
         partnership and other equity interests) of each subsidiary owned by the
         Company,  directly or through  subsidiaries,  is owned free from liens,
         encumbrances and defects.

                                        3

                  (v) The Offered Securities and all other outstanding shares of
         capital  stock of the  Company  have been duly  authorized  and validly
         issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and conform to the description
         thereof contained in the Prospectus;  the merger (the "ATC' Merger") of
         American Tower  Corporation,  a Delaware  corporation  ("ATC") into the
         Company  as  described  in the  Prospectus  has been  consummated.  The
         Offered Securities and all other outstanding shares of capital stock of
         the  Company  have  been duly  authorized;  all  outstanding  shares of
         capital stock of the Company  (including the Offered  Securities  being
         sold by the Selling Stockholders) are, and, when the Offered Securities
         being  sold  by  the  Company  have  been  delivered  and  paid  for in
         accordance with this Agreement on each Closing Date (as defined below),
         such Offered Securities will have been, validly issued,  fully paid and
         nonassessable,  and conform or will conform to the descriptions thereof
         contained in the Prospectus; and the stockholders of the Company do not
         and will not have any  preemptive  rights  with  respect to any of such
         securities.

                  (vi)  Except  as  disclosed  in the  Prospectus,  there are no
         contracts,  agreements  or  understandings  between the Company and any
         person that would give rise to a valid claim against the Company or any
         Underwriter  for a  brokerage  commission,  finder's  fee or other like
         payment in connection with the offering of the Offered Securities.

                  (vii)  Except as  disclosed  in the  Prospectus,  there are no
         contracts,  agreements or under  standings  between the Company and any
         person  granting such person the right to require the Company to file a
         registration  statement  under the Act with respect to any  outstanding
         securities  of the  Company  (that will  remain  outstanding  after the
         Closing  Date)  owned or to be owned by such  person or to require  the
         Company  to  include  such  securities  in  the  securities  registered
         pursuant  to a  Registration  Statement  or  in  any  securities  being
         registered  pursuant to any other  registration  statement filed by the
         Company under the Act.

                  (viii) The Securities,  including the Offered Securities, have
         been  approved  for  listing,  subject  in  the  case  of  the  Offered
         Securities being sold by the Company, to notice of issuance, on the New
         York Stock Exchange ("NYSE").

                  (ix) No consent, approval, authorization,  order or waiver of,
         or  filing  with,  any  governmental  agency  or body or any  court  is
         required to be obtained or made by the Company or any subsidiary of the
         Company for the consummation of the  transactions  contemplated by this
         Agreement in connection with the sale of the Offered Securities, except
         (i) such as have been  obtained and made under the Act and (ii) such as
         may be required under state securities laws.

                  (x) The execution,  delivery and performance of this Agreement
         and the consummation of the transactions  herein contemplated will not,
         result in a breach or violation of any of the terms and  provisions of,
         or constitute a default under, any statute, any rule, regulation, order
         or policy of any governmental agency or body or any court,  domestic or
         foreign,  having jurisdiction over the Company or any subsidiary of the
         Company or any of their  properties,  the Credit Agreements (as defined
         herein) or any other  agreement or  instrument  to which the Company or
         any such  subsidiary  is a party or by which  the  Company  or any such
         subsidiary is bound,  or to which any of the  properties of the Company
         or any such subsidiary is subject,  or the charter or by-laws (or other
         constituent document) of the Company or any such subsidiary.

                  (xi) This  Agreement  has been duly  authorized,  executed and
         delivered by the Company.

                  (xii) Except as disclosed in the  Prospectus  or as would not,
         individually or in the aggregate have a material  adverse effect on the
         Company  or its  subsidiaries  taken as a whole,  the  Company  and its
         subsidiaries  have good and marketable title to all real properties and
         all other  properties  and assets owned by them, in each case free from
         liens, encumbrances and defects that


                                        4


         would materially affect the value thereof or materially  interfere with
         the use made or to be made thereof by them;  and except as disclosed in
         the Prospectus,  the Company and its subsidiaries  hold any leased real
         or  personal  property  under  valid  and  enforceable  leases  with no
         exceptions that would  materially  interfere with the use made or to be
         made thereof by them.

                  (xiii) No labor  dispute with the  employees of the Company or
         any subsidiary exists or, to the knowledge of the Company,  is imminent
         that  might  have a  material  adverse  effect on the  Company  and its
         subsidiaries taken as a whole.

                  (xiv) The Company  and its  subsidiaries  own,  possess or can
         acquire on reasonable terms, adequate trademarks, trade names and other
         rights  to  inventions,  know-how,  patents,  copyrights,  confidential
         information   and   other    intellectual    property    (collectively,
         "intellectual  property rights")  necessary to conduct the business now
         operated by them, or presently  employed by them, and have not received
         any notice of  infringement  of or  conflict  with  asserted  rights of
         others  with  respect to any  intellectual  property  rights  that,  if
         determined  adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries,  would
         individually or in the aggregate have a material  adverse effect on the
         Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole.

                  (xv)  Neither the Company  nor any of its  subsidiaries  is in
         violation of any statute,  any rule,  regulation,  decision or order of
         any  governmental  agency or body or any court,  domestic  or  foreign,
         relating  to the  use,  disposal  or  release  of  hazardous  or  toxic
         substances  or  relating  to  the  protection  or  restoration  of  the
         environment  or  human  exposure  to  hazardous  or  toxic   substances
         (collectively,   "environmental  laws"),  owns  or  operates  any  real
         property  contaminated  with  any  substance  that  is  subject  to any
         environmental   laws,   is  liable  for  any   off-site   disposal   or
         contamination  pursuant to any environmental laws, or is subject to any
         claim   relating   to  any   environmental   laws,   which   violation,
         contamination,   liability  or  claim  would  individually  or  in  the
         aggregate  have a  material  adverse  effect  on the  Company  and  its
         subsidiaries  taken as a whole;  and the  Company  is not  aware of any
         pending investigation which might lead to such a claim.

                  (xvi)  There  are no  pending  actions,  suits or  proceedings
         against or affecting  the Company,  any of its  subsidiaries  or any of
         their  respective  properties  that,  if  determined  adversely  to the
         Company  or any  of  its  subsidiaries,  would  individually  or in the
         aggregate have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or
         other), business, prospects or results of operations of the Company and
         its  subsidiaries  taken as a whole, or would  materially and adversely
         affect the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this
         Agreement,  or which are otherwise  material in the context of the sale
         of the Offered Securities;  and, except as disclosed in the Prospectus,
         no such  actions,  suits  or  proceedings  are  threatened  or,  to the
         Company's knowledge, contemplated.

                  (xvii) The financial  statements  included in the Registration
         Statements and Prospectus  present fairly the financial position of the
         Company and its consolidated  subsidiaries and the other entities named
         therein as of the dates shown and their results of operations  and cash
         flows for the periods shown,  and such financial  statements  have been
         prepared  in  conformity   with  the  generally   accepted   accounting
         principles in the United States applied on a consistent  basis; and the
         schedules  included in the Registration  Statements  present fairly the
         information required to be stated therein.

                  (xviii) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus,  since the date
         of the latest audited financial  statements  included in the Prospectus
         there has been no material adverse change, nor any development or event
         involving a  prospective  material  adverse  change,  in the  condition
         (financial or other), business,  properties or results of operations of
         the  Company  and its  subsidiaries  taken as a whole,  and,  except as
         disclosed  in or  contemplated  by the  Prospectus,  there  has been no
         dividend  or  distribution  of any kind  declared,  paid or made by the
         Company on any class of its capital stock.


                                        5

                  (xix)  The  Company  is not and,  after  giving  effect to the
         offering and sale of the Offered  Securities and the application of the
         proceeds  thereof  as  described  in  the  Prospectus,  will  not be an
         "investment company" as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940.

                  (b) Each Selling Stockholder severally represents and warrants
to, and agrees with, the several Underwriters that:

                  (i) Such Selling Stockholder has and on the First Closing Date
         hereinafter  mentioned  will have valid and  unencumbered  title to the
         Offered Securities to be delivered by such Selling  Stockholder on such
         Closing  Date and full right,  power and  authority  to enter into this
         Agreement  and to  sell,  assign,  transfer  and  deliver  the  Offered
         Securities to be delivered by such Selling Stock holder on such Closing
         Date  hereunder;  and upon the  delivery of and payment for the Offered
         Securities on such Closing Date hereunder the several Underwriters will
         acquire valid and  unencumbered  title to the Offered  Securities to be
         delivered by such Selling Stockholder on such Closing Date.

                  (ii) All information furnished, or to be furnished, in writing
         to the  Company  by  the  Selling  Stockholder  regarding  the  Selling
         Stockholder  specifically for use in the  Registration  Statement is on
         the date of this  Agreement,  and will be on the Closing Date, true and
         correct  in all  material  respects  and  does  not on the date of this
         Agreement,  and  will  not on the  Closing  Date,  contain  any  untrue
         statement of a material  fact or omit any material  fact required to be
         stated  therein  or  necessary  to  make  the  statements  therein  not
         misleading.

                  (iii)  The  execution,   delivery  and   performance  of  this
         Agreement  by such  Selling  Stockholder,  the  sale  by  such  Selling
         Stockholder  of the  Offered  Securities  to be sold  by  such  Selling
         Stockholder  and the  consummation  by such Selling  Stockholder of the
         transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not result in a breach
         or  violation  of any of the terms or  provisions  of, or  constitute a
         default  under,  any  statute,   rule,   regulation  or  order  of  any
         governmental  agency or body or any court having jurisdiction over such
         Selling  Stockholder  or any of its  properties,  or any  agreement  or
         instrument to which such Selling  Stockholder is a party or by which it
         is  bound  or to  which  any  of  its  properties  is  subject,  or the
         constituent documents, if any, of such Selling Stockholder.

                  (iv) No consent, approval, authorization,  order or waiver of,
         or  filing  with,  any  governmental  agency  or body or any  court  is
         required  to be obtained or made by such  Selling  Stockholder  for the
         sale of the Offered  Securities to be sold by such Selling  Stockholder
         or the  consummation of the  transactions  contemplated by the power of
         attorneys or related Custody Agreements or this Agreement,  except such
         as have been obtained and made under the Act.

                  3. Purchase,  Sale and Delivery of Offered Securities.  On the
basis of the  representations,  warranties and agreements herein contained,  but
subject  to the terms and  conditions  herein set forth,  the  Company  and each
Selling  Stockholder  agree,   severally  and  not  jointly,  to  sell  to  each
Underwriter, and each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase
from the Company and each Selling Stockholder, at a purchase price of $22.50 per
share,  that number of Firm  Securities  (rounded up or down,  as  determined by
Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation ("CSFBC") in its discretion,  in order to
avoid fractions) obtained by multiplying  25,500,000 Firm Securities in the case
of the Company and the number of Firm  Securities set forth opposite the name of
such  Selling  Stockholder  in  Schedule  A  hereto,  in the  case of a  Selling
Stockholder,  in each case by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of
Firm  Securities set forth  opposite the name of such  Underwriter in Schedule B
hereto and the denominator of which is the total number of Firm Securities.


                                        6


                  Certificates  in  negotiable  form for any Common Stock of the
Company  to be sold by  Selling  Stockholders  hereunder  have  been  placed  in
custody,  for delivery  under this  Agreement,  under  custody  agreements  (the
"Custody Agreements") made with Harris Trust and Savings Bank, as custodian (the
"Custodian"). Each Selling Stockholder agrees that the shares represented by the
certificates  held in custody  for the  Selling  Stockholders  under the Custody
Agreements are subject to the interests of the Underwriters hereunder,  that the
arrangements  made by the  Selling  Stockholders  for such  custody  are to that
extent  irrevocable,  and  that  the  obligations  of the  Selling  Stockholders
hereunder  shall not be terminated by operation of law,  whether by the death of
any individual  Selling  Stockholder or the occurrence of any other event, or in
the case of a trust,  by the death of any trustee or trustees or the termination
of  such  trust,  or in  the  case  of a  corporation  or  partnership,  by  the
dissolution or liquidation of such corporation or partnership, or the occurrence
of any other event. If any individual Selling Stockholder or any such trustee or
trustees  should  die,  or if any such  corporation  or  partnership  should  be
dissolved or liquidated  or if any other such event should  occur,  or if any of
such trusts  should  terminate,  before the  delivery of the Offered  Securities
hereunder,  certificates  for such Offered  Securities shall be delivered by the
Custodian in accordance  with the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the
Custody Agreements as if such death, dissolution,  liquidation or other event or
termination  had not occurred,  regardless of whether or not the Custodian shall
have received notice of such death,  dissolution,  liquidation or other event or
termination.

                  The Company and the Custodian will deliver the Firm Securities
to the Representatives for the accounts of the Underwriters,  against payment of
the purchase price in Federal (same day) Funds by wire transfer in U.S.  Dollars
to an account at a bank acceptable to CSFBC drawn to the order of the Company in
the  case of  25,500,000  shares  of Firm  Securities  and to the  order  of the
Custodian in the case of 3,874,911 shares of Firm  Securities,  at the office of
Sullivan & Cromwell, 125 Broad Street, New York, New York at 9:30 A.M., New York
time,  July 8, 1998 or at such  other  date and time not later  than  seven full
business  days  thereafter as CSFBC and the Company  determine,  such time being
herein  referred to as the "First Closing Date." The  certificates  for the Firm
Securities so to be delivered will be in definitive form, in such  denominations
and  registered in such names as CSFBC  requests and will be made  available for
checking  and  packaging at the New York office of Harris Trust and Savings Bank
at least 24 hours prior to the First Closing Date.

                  In  addition,  upon  written  notice  from CSFBC  given to the
Company  from time to time not more than thirty days  subsequent  to the date of
the  Prospectus,  the  Underwriters  may  purchase  all or less  than all of the
Optional  Securities  at the  purchase  price  per share to be paid for the Firm
Securities.  The  Company  agrees  to sell to the  Underwriters  the  number  of
Optional  Securities  specified  in  such  notice  and the  Underwriters  agree,
severally and not jointly, to purchase such Optional  Securities.  Such Optional
Securities  shall be purchased for the account of each  Underwriter  in the same
proportion  as  the  number  of  Firm   Securities   set  forth   opposite  such
Underwriter's  name bears to the total  number of Firm  Securities  (subject  to
adjustment  by  CSFBC  to  eliminate  fractions)  and  may be  purchased  by the
Underwriters only for the purpose of covering over-allotments made in connection
with the sale of the Firm  Securities.  No Optional  Securities shall be sold or
delivered  unless the Firm Securities  previously  have been, or  simultaneously
are, sold and  delivered.  The right to purchase the Optional  Securities or any
portion  thereof  may be  exercised  from  time to time  and to the  extent  not
previously  exercised may be surrendered  and terminated at any time upon notice
by CSFBC to the Company.

                  Each time for the  delivery of and  payment  for the  Optional
Securities, being herein referred to as an "Optional Closing Date", which may be
the First Closing Date (the First  Closing Date and each Optional  Closing Date,
if any, being sometimes referred to as a "Closing Date"), shall be determined by
CSFBC but shall not be later than seven full business days after written  notice
of election to purchase  Optional  Securities is given. The Company will deliver
the Optional  Securities  being  purchased on each Optional  Closing Date to the
Representatives for the accounts of the several Underwriters, against payment


                                        7


of the purchase  price  therefor in Federal (same day) Funds by wire transfer to
an account at a bank  acceptable to CSFBC drawn to the order of the Company,  at
the above  office of  Sullivan & Cromwell.  The  certificates  for the  Optional
Securities  being purchased on each Optional  Closing Date will be in definitive
form, in such  denominations and registered in such names as CSFBC requests upon
reasonable notice prior to such Optional Closing Date and will be made available
for  checking  and  packaging at the New York office of Harris Trust and Savings
Bank at a reasonable time in advance of such Optional Closing Date.

                  4. Offering by Underwriters. It is understood that the several
Underwriters  propose to offer the Offered  Securities for sale to the public as
set forth in the Prospectus.

                  5.  Certain   Agreements   of  the  Company  and  the  Selling
Stockholders.  The Company agrees with the several  Underwriters and the Selling
Stockholders that:

                  (a) The Company will file the  Prospectus  with the Commission
         pursuant to and in accordance with  subparagraph (1) (or, if applicable
         and if  consented  to by CSFBC,  subpara  graph (4)) of Rule 424(b) not
         later than the earlier of (A) the second  business  day  following  the
         execution and delivery of this Agreement or (B) the fifteenth  business
         day after the Effective Date of Registration Statement No. 333-52481.

                  The  Company  will  advise  CSFBC  promptly of any such filing
         pursuant to Rule 424(b).

                  (b) The Company will advise CSFBC  promptly of any proposal to
         amend  or  supplement  the  initial  or  any  additional   registration
         statement   as  filed  or  the  related   prospectus   or  the  Initial
         Registration Statement,  the Additional Registration Statement (if any)
         or the Prospectus and will not effect such amendment or supplementation
         without  CSFBC's  consent;  and the  Company  will  also  advise  CSFBC
         promptly  of  any  amendment  or   supplementation  of  a  Registration
         Statement or of the Prospectus and of the institution by the Commission
         of any stop order  proceedings in respect of a  Registration  Statement
         and will use its best  efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop
         order and to obtain as soon as possible its lifting, if issued.

                  (c) If, at any time when a prospectus  relating to the Offered
         Securities is required to be delivered under the Act in connection with
         sales by any  Underwriter  or dealer,  any event  occurs as a result of
         which the Prospectus as then amended or  supplemented  would include an
         untrue  statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
         necessary  to  make  the  statements  therein,  in  the  light  of  the
         circumstances  under which they were made, not misleading,  or if it is
         necessary at any time to amend the  Prospectus  to comply with the Act,
         the Company will promptly  notify CSFBC of such event and will promptly
         prepare and file with the Commission,  at its own expense, an amendment
         or  supplement  that will  correct  such  statement  or  omission or an
         amendment that will effect such compliance. Neither CSFBC's consent to,
         nor the  Underwriters'  delivery of, any such  amendment or  supplement
         shall constitute a waiver of any of the conditions set forth in Section
         6.

                  (d)   [reserved]

                  (e)  As  soon  as   practicable,   but  not  later   than  the
         Availability  Date (as defined below),  the Company will make generally
         available  to its  securityholders  an  earnings  statement  covering a
         period of at least 12 months  beginning  after  the  Effective  Date of
         Registration  Statement No. 333-52481 which will satisfy the provisions
         of Section 11(a) of the Act. For the purpose of the preceding sentence,
         "Availability  Date"  means the 45th day  after  the end of the  fourth
         fiscal quarter following the fiscal quarter that includes the Effective
         Date, except that, if such fourth fiscal quarter is the last quarter of
         the Company's fiscal year, "Availability Date" means the 90th day after
         the end of such fourth fiscal quarter.

                                        8

                  (f) The Company will furnish to the Representatives  copies of
         each Registration  Statement (seven of which will be signed, or will be
         photocopies  of signed ones in the case of  Registration  Statement No.
         333-52481,  and will include all  exhibits),  each related  preliminary
         prospectus  and, so long as delivery  of a  prospectus  relating to the
         Offered  Securities  is  required  to be  delivered  under  the  Act in
         connection with sales by any Underwriter or dealer,  the Prospectus and
         all amendments and supplements to such documents,  in each case as soon
         as available and in such quantities as CSFBC requests. The Company will
         pay the expenses of printing and  distributing to the  Underwriters all
         such documents.

                  (g) The  Company  will  arrange for the  qualification  of the
         Offered  Securities  for sale under the laws of such  jurisdictions  as
         CSFBC  designates  and will continue such  qualifications  in effect so
         long as required for the distribution; provided, that the Company shall
         not be  required  to  qualify  as a  foreign  corporation  or to file a
         general  consent to service of process or to subject itself to taxation
         generally in any jurisdiction.

                  (h) During the period of five  years  hereafter,  the  Company
         will furnish to the  Representatives  and, upon request, to each of the
         other Underwriters, as soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal
         year, a copy of its annual report to  stockholders  for such year;  and
         the  Company  will  furnish  to  the  Representatives  (i) as  soon  as
         available,  a copy of each report and any definitive proxy statement of
         the Company filed with the Commission under the Securities Exchange Act
         of 1934 or mailed  to  stockholders,  and (ii) from time to time,  such
         other  information  concerning  the  Company  as CSFBC  may  reasonably
         request.

                  (i) For a period  of 120 days  after  the date of the  initial
         public offering of the Offered Securities,  the Company will not offer,
         sell,  contract to sell,  pledge or otherwise  dispose of,  directly or
         indirectly,  or file with the Commission a registration statement under
         the Act  relating  to,  any  additional  shares of its  Securities,  or
         securities  convertible  into or  exchangeable  or exercisable  for any
         Securities,  or disclose the  intention  to make any such offer,  sale,
         pledge, disposal or filing, without the prior written consent of CSFBC,
         except with respect to private  issuances of Securities  (or securities
         convertible  into or exchangeable for Securities) or in connection with
         acquisitions, if the holders thereof agree to be bound by the foregoing
         120-day  restriction  to the same  extent  as the  Company,  grants  of
         employee stock options pursuant to the terms of a plan in effect on the
         date hereof,  issuances of Securities pursuant to the exercise of stock
         options outstanding on the date hereof or granted pursuant to the terms
         of a plan  in  effect  on the  date  hereof,  issuances  of  Securities
         pursuant to any dividend  reinvestment plan of the Company or issuances
         of Securities upon conversion of Class B Common Stock or Class C Common
         Stock.

                  (j) The Company will apply the proceeds to it from the sale of
         the Offered Securities as described in the Prospectus.

         The  Company  and each  Selling  Stockholder  agree  with  the  several
Underwriters  that the Company will pay all expenses incident to the performance
of the  obligations  of the  Company  and the  Selling  Stockholders  under this
Agreement, and will reimburse the Underwriters (if and to the extent incurred by
them) for any filing fees and other expenses  (including fees and  disbursements
of counsel)  incurred by them in connection  with  qualification  of the Offered
Securities for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions as CSFBC designates and
the printing of memoranda  relating thereto,  for the filing fee of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. relating to the Offered Securities,  for
any travel  expenses  of the  Company's  officers  and  employees  and any other
expenses of the Company in connection  with  attending or hosting  meetings with
prospective purchasers of the Offered Securities,  for any transfer taxes on the
sale by the Selling  Stockholders of the Offered  Securities to the Underwriters
(the  Selling  Stockholders  being  responsible  for the  payment of any of such
transfer taxes) and for expenses incurred in distributing

                                        9

preliminary  prospectuses  and the  Prospectus  (including  any  amendments  and
supplements thereto) to the Underwriters.

         Each  Selling  Stockholder  agrees  to  deliver  to  CSFBC,  attention:
Transactions  Advisory  Group,  on or prior to the First Closing Date a properly
completed and executed  United  States  Treasury  Department  Form W-9 (or other
applicable  form or statement  specified by Treasury  Department  regulations in
lieu thereof).

         Each  Selling  Stockholder  agrees,  for a period of 120 days after the
date of the initial  public  offering of the Offered  Securities,  not to offer,
sell,  contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly,
any  additional  shares  of  Securities  (or  securities   convertible  into  or
exchangeable  or exercisable for any  securities),  or disclose the intention to
make any such offer, sale, pledge or disposal, without the prior written consent
of CSFBC, except as otherwise contemplated under those certain "lock-up" letters
delivered in connection  herewith by such Selling Stockholder to the Company and
the Representatives.

                  6.  Conditions of the  Obligations  of the  Underwriters.  The
obligations  of the  several  Underwriters  to  purchase  and pay  for the  Firm
Securities on the First Closing Date and the Optional Securities to be purchased
on  each  Optional  Closing  Date  will  be  subject  to  the  accuracy  of  the
representations  and  warranties  on the  part of the  Company  and the  Selling
Stockholders  herein, to the accuracy of the statements of Company officers made
pursuant to the  provisions  hereof,  to the  performance by the Company and the
Selling  Stockholders  of  their  obligations  hereunder  and to  the  following
additional conditions precedent:

                  (a) The  Representatives  shall have received a letter,  dated
         the date of delivery thereof (which shall be on or prior to the date of
         this  Agreement),  of  Deloitte & Touche LLP  confirming  that they are
         independent  public  accountants  within the meaning of the Act and the
         applicable  published Rules and  Regulations  thereunder and stating in
         effect that:

                           (i) in their  opinion the  financial  statements  and
                  schedules  examined by them and  included in the  Registration
                  Statements  comply in form in all material  respects  with the
                  applicable accounting  requirements of the Act and the related
                  published Rules and Regula tions;

                           (ii) they have performed the procedures  specified by
                  the American  Institute of Certified Public  Accountants for a
                  review  of  interim  financial  information  as  described  in
                  Statement  of Auditing  Standards  No. 71,  Interim  Financial
                  Information, on the unaudited financial statements included in
                  the Registration Statements;

                           (iii)  on the  basis  of the  review  referred  to in
                  clause (ii) above, a reading of the latest  available  interim
                  consolidated financial statements of the Company, inquiries of
                  officials of the Company who have responsibility for financial
                  and accounting matters and other specified procedures, nothing
                  came to their attention that caused them to believe that:

                                    (A) the  selected  combined  financial  data
                           included  in the  Prospectus  for  each of the  three
                           years ended  December 31, 1997 do not agree with,  or
                           were not properly derived from, the amounts set forth
                           in  each  of  the  constituent   companies'  selected
                           financial  data included in the  Prospectus for those
                           same periods;

                                    (B) the selected  financial data included in
                           the  Prospectus  for each of the  three  years  ended
                           December  31,  1997 do not  agree  with,  or were not
                           properly  derived from,  the amounts set forth in the
                           audited financial statements of the Company for those
                           same  periods  or  were  not  determined  on a  basis
                           substantially


                                       10


                           consistent with that of the corresponding  amounts in
                           the  audited  financial  statements  included  in the
                           Prospectus;

                                    (C)  the  unaudited   financial   statements
                           included in the Registration Statements do not comply
                           in form in all material  respects with the applicable
                           accounting  requirements  of the Act and the  related
                           published  Rules  and  Regulations  or  any  material
                           modifications   should  be  made  to  such  unaudited
                           financial  statements  for  them to be in  conformity
                           with generally accepted accounting principles;

                                    (D)  the  unaudited  consolidated  financial
                           statements  for the three month  periods  ended March
                           31,  1998  and  March  31,   1997   included  in  the
                           Prospectus do not agree with the amounts set forth in
                           the  unaudited  financial  statements  for those same
                           periods   or   were   not   determined   on  a  basis
                           substantially  consistent  with  that of the  audited
                           consolidated financial statements; at the date of the
                           latest   available   balance   sheet   read  by  such
                           accountants,  or at a subsequent  specified  date not
                           more  than  five  days  prior  to the  date  of  this
                           Agreement,  there was any change in the capital stock
                           or any increase in short-term  debt or long-term debt
                           of the Company and its consolidated  subsidiaries or,
                           at the date of the  latest  available  balance  sheet
                           read by such  accountants,  there was any decrease in
                           consolidated  net current  assets or net  assets,  as
                           compared  with  amounts  shown on the latest  balance
                           sheet included in the Prospectus;

                                    (E) for the period from the closing  date of
                           the latest  statement of  operations  included in the
                           Prospectus   to  the  closing   date  of  the  latest
                           available   statement  of  operations  read  by  such
                           accountants  there were any  decreases,  as  compared
                           with the  corresponding  period of the previous  year
                           and with the period of corresponding length ended the
                           date  of  the  latest   Consolidated   Statement   of
                           Operations    included   in   the   Prospectus,    in
                           consolidated net revenues,  operating income (defined
                           as net revenues less  operating  expenses,  excluding
                           depreciation, amortization and corporate expenses) or
                           in other income and expense,  net, or in the total or
                           per share amounts of consolidated net income; or

                                    (F) the pro forma  financial  data set forth
                           in the  Prospectus  does  not  comply  in form in all
                           material   respects  to  the  applicable   accounting
                           requirements  of the Act and the  related  Rules  and
                           Regulations  or the pro  forma  adjustments  have not
                           been properly  applied to the  historical  amounts in
                           the compilation of that data; except in all cases set
                           forth  in  clauses  (D) and (E)  above  for  changes,
                           increases or decreases which the Prospectus discloses
                           have  occurred or may occur or which are described in
                           such letter; and

                        (iv) they have  compared  specified  dollar  amounts (or
                  percentages  derived  from  such  dollar  amounts)  and  other
                  financial  information  contained or incorporated by reference
                  in the  Registration  Statements  (in each case to the  extent
                  that such  dollar  amounts,  percentages  and other  financial
                  information are derived from the general accounting records of
                  the  Company,   its  subsidiaries  and  other  entities  whose
                  financial statements are included in the Prospectus subject to
                  the  internal  controls  of the  Company's  or such  entities'
                  accounting system or are derived directly from such records by
                  analysis  or  computation)  with  the  results  obtained  from
                  inquiries,  a reading of such general  accounting  records and
                  other procedures  specified in such letter and have found such
                  dollar amounts, percentages and


                                       11


                  other  financial  information  to be in  agreement  with  such
                  results, except as otherwise specified in such letter.

                  (b) The Representatives shall have received letters, dated the
         date of  delivery  thereof  (which  shall be on or prior to the date of
         this  Agreement),  of Pressman  Ciocca Smith LLP,  Rooney,  Ida, Nolt &
         Ahern,  KPMG  Peat  Marwick  LLP and  Ernst & Young  LLP,  in each case
         confirming  that they are  independent  public  accountants  within the
         meaning of the Act and the applicable Rules and Regulations thereunder,
         and stating in effect that:

                         (i) in  their  opinion  the  financial  statements  and
                  schedules  examined by them and  included in the  Registration
                  Statements  comply in form in all material  respects  with the
                  applicable accounting  requirements of the Act and the related
                  published Rules and Regulations; and

                        (ii) they have  compared  specified  dollar  amounts (or
                  percentages  derived  from  such  dollar  amounts)  and  other
                  financial information contained in the Registration Statements
                  (in  each  case  to  the  extent  that  such  dollar  amounts,
                  percentages and other  financial  information are derived from
                  the general  accounting  records of the entity whose financial
                  statements they have audited subject to the internal  controls
                  of such  entity's  accounting  system or are derived  directly
                  from such records by analysis or computation) with the results
                  obtained from inquiries,  a reading of such general accounting
                  records and other procedures specified in such letter and have
                  found such dollar  amounts,  percentages  and other  financial
                  information  to be in agreement  with such results,  except as
                  otherwise specified in such letter.

                  (c) The  Prospectus  shall have been filed with the Commission
         in accordance  with the Rules and  Regulations and Section 5(a) of this
         Agreement.  Prior to such Closing  Date, no stop order  suspending  the
         effectiveness of either  Registration  Statement shall have been issued
         and no proceedings  for that purpose shall have been  instituted or, to
         the  knowledge  of  any  Selling   Stockholder,   the  Company  or  the
         Representatives, shall be contemplated by the Commission.

                  (d)   Subsequent   to  the  execution  and  delivery  of  this
         Agreement,  there  shall  not  have  occurred  (i) any  change,  or any
         development or event involving a prospective  change,  in the condition
         (financial or other), business,  properties or results of operations of
         the  Company or any of its  subsidiaries  which,  in the  judgment of a
         majority in interest of the Underwriters including the Representatives,
         is material  and adverse and makes it  impractical  or  inadvisable  to
         proceed  with  completion  of the  public  offering  or the sale of and
         payment for the Offered Securities;  (ii) any downgrading in the rating
         of any debt securities of the Company,  by any  "nationally  recognized
         statistical  rating  organization"  (as  defined  for  purposes of Rule
         436(g)  under  the  Act),  or any  public  announcement  that  any such
         organization  has under  surveillance  or review its rating of any debt
         securities  of the Company  (other than an  announcement  with positive
         implications of a possible upgrading,  and no implication of a possible
         downgrading,  of such  rating);  (iii) any  suspension or limitation of
         trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange,  or any
         setting  of  minimum  prices  for  trading  on  such  exchange,  or any
         suspension of trading of any  securities of the Company on any exchange
         or in the over-the-counter market; (iv) any banking moratorium declared
         by Federal or New York  authorities;  or (v) any outbreak or escalation
         of major  hostilities  in which  the  United  States is  involved,  any
         declaration  of war by  Congress or any other  substantial  national or
         international  calamity or emergency  if, in the judgment of a majority
         in interest of the Under  writers  including the  Representatives,  the
         effect  of any such  outbreak,  escalation,  declaration,  calamity  or
         emergency   makes  it   impractical  or  inadvisable  to  proceed  with
         completion  of the public  offering  or the sale of and payment for the
         Offered Securities.

                                       12


                  (e) The Representatives shall have received an opinion,  dated
         such  Closing  Date,  of  Sullivan &  Worcester  LLP,  counsel  for the
         Company, to the effect that:
         
                           (i) Each of the Company and the  subsidiaries  listed
                  on Annex I hereto has been duly  incorporated  (or formed,  as
                  the case may be) and each of the Company and its  subsidiaries
                  is an existing  corporation (or limited partnership or limited
                  liability company,  as the case may be) in good standing under
                  the  laws  of  the   jurisdiction  of  its   incorporation  or
                  formation,  with corporate,  partnership or limited  liability
                  company power and authority to own its  properties and conduct
                  its  business  as  described  in the  Prospectus,  and is duly
                  qualified  to do business as a foreign  corporation  (or other
                  entity) in good standing in all other  jurisdictions  in which
                  its  ownership  or lease of  property  or the  conduct  of its
                  business requires such qualification, except where the failure
                  to be so qualified would not  individually or in the aggregate
                  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  the  Company  and  its
                  subsidiaries taken as a whole;

                           (ii)  Each of the ATC  Merger,  and the  merger  of a
                  wholly-owned  subsidiary  of CBS  Corporation  with  and  into
                  American  Radio  Systems  Corporation  has  previously  become
                  effective;

                           (iii)  The  Offered  Securities   delivered  on  such
                  Closing Date and all other  outstanding  shares of all classes
                  of the capital stock of the Company have been duly  authorized
                  and  validly  issued,  are fully  paid and  nonassessable  and
                  conform  to  the  descrip  tion   thereof   contained  in  the
                  Prospectus  under the caption  "Description of Capital Stock";
                  and the stockholders of the Company have no preemptive  rights
                  with respect to the Offered Securities;

                           (iv) Except as described in the Prospectus, there are
                  no  contracts,  agreements  or  understandings  known  to such
                  counsel  between  the  Company  and any person  granting  such
                  person the right to require the Company to file a registration
                  statement  under the Act with respect to any securities of the
                  Company  owned or to be owned by such person or to require the
                  Company  to  include  such   securities   in  the   securities
                  registered  pursuant to the  Registration  Statement or in any
                  securities being registered pursuant to any other registration
                  statement filed by the Company under the Act;

                           (v) Each of the Credit  Agreements,  each dated as of
                  June 16,  1998,  among the  Company,  American  Tower  Systems
                  (Delaware),    Inc.   and   American   Tower   Systems   L.P.,
                  respectively, Toronto Dominion (Texas) Inc., as Administrative
                  Agent,  and the  other  lenders  under  each  such  agreement,
                  (collectively,   the  "Credit   Agreements")   has  been  duly
                  authorized,  executed  and  delivered  by the  Company and its
                  subsidiaries  party  thereto  and,  constitutes  a  valid  and
                  legally binding obligation of the Company and its subsidiaries
                  party thereto,  as the case may be,  enforceable in accordance
                  with  its  terms  against  the  Company  and its  subsidiaries
                  thereto,   subject  to  bankruptcy,   insolvency,   fraudulent
                  transfer, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general
                  applicability  relating to or affecting  creditors' rights and
                  to general equity principles;

                           (vi) No consent,  approval,  authorization,  order or
                  waiver of, or filing with, any governmental  agency or body or
                  any court is  required  to be  obtained or made by the Company
                  for the consummation of the transactions  contemplated by this
                  Agreement  in   connection   with  the  sale  of  the  Offered
                  Securities,  except  such as have been  obtained or made under
                  the  Act or  under  state  securities  laws  or such as may be
                  required under the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (the
                  "Communications  Act") (as to which such  counsel need express
                  no opinion);

                                       13


                           (vii) The execution, delivery and performance of this
                  Agreement and the consummation of the  transactions  herein or
                  therein  contemplated will not result in a breach or violation
                  of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default
                  under,  any  statute,  any  rule,  regulation  or order of any
                  governmental  agency or body or any court having  jurisdiction
                  over the Company,  or any  subsidiary of the Company or any of
                  their  properties,   or,  to  such  counsel's  knowledge,  any
                  agreement or instrument to which the Company or any subsidiary
                  of the  Company  is a party or by  which  the  Company  or any
                  subsidiary of the Company is bound including,  but not limited
                  to,  the  Credit  Agreements,   and  the  Registration  Rights
                  Agreement, dated as of January 22, 1998, among the Company and
                  the  stockholders  named  therein,  or to  which  any  of  the
                  properties of the Company or any  subsidiary of the Company is
                  subject,  or the  charter  or  by-laws  or  other  constituent
                  document  of the  Company or any  subsidiary  of the  Company,
                  except that such  counsel  need not  express any opinion  with
                  respect to the  Communications  Act or the rules,  regulations
                  and  orders  of the  Federal  Communications  Commission  (the
                  "FCC") promulgated thereunder;

                           (viii)  Registration   Statement  No.  333-52481  was
                  declared  effective  under  the Act as of the  date  and  time
                  specified  in  such   opinion,   Registration   Statement  No.
                  333-52481,  satisfying the  requirements  of Rule 462(b),  was
                  filed and  became  effective  under the Act as of the date and
                  (if  determinable)   time  specified  in  such  opinion,   the
                  Prospectus  was  filed  with the  Commission  pursuant  to the
                  subparagraph  of Rule 424(b)  specified in such opinion on the
                  date  specified   therein  or  was  included  in  the  Initial
                  Registration   Statement   or  the   Additional   Registration
                  Statement  (as the  case  may  be),  and,  to the  best of the
                  knowledge  of such  counsel,  no  stop  order  suspending  the
                  effectiveness of a Registration  Statement or any part thereof
                  has been issued and no proceedings  for that purpose have been
                  instituted or are pending or  contemplated  under the Act, and
                  each  Registration  Statement  and the  Prospectus,  and  each
                  amendment  or  supplement  thereto,  as  of  their  respective
                  effective or issue dates,  complied as to form in all material
                  respects  with the  requirements  of the Act and the Rules and
                  Regulations;  such  counsel have no reason to believe that any
                  part of a Registration  Statement or any amendment thereto, as
                  of its effective  date or as of such Closing  Date,  contained
                  any untrue  statement  of a material  fact or omitted to state
                  any material fact  required to be stated  therein or necessary
                  to make the  statements  therein not  misleading;  or that the
                  Prospectus or any amendment or supplement  thereto,  as of its
                  issue date or as of such Closing  Date,  contained  any untrue
                  statement of a material  fact or omitted to state any material
                  fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the
                  light of the  circumstances  under  which they were made,  not
                  misleading;  the descriptions in each  Registration  Statement
                  and  the  Prospectus  of  statutes,   legal  and  governmental
                  proceedings  and contracts and other documents are accurate in
                  all  material  respects  and fairly  present  the  information
                  required  to be  shown;  and such  counsel  do not know of any
                  legal or governmental  proceedings required to be described in
                  either Registration  Statement or the Prospectus which are not
                  described  as required or of any  contracts  or documents of a
                  character  required  to be  described  in either  Registration
                  Statement  or the  Prospectus  or to be filed as  exhibits  to
                  either  Registration  Statement  which are not  described  and
                  filed as required;  it being understood that such counsel need
                  express  no  opinion  as  to  the  financial   statements  and
                  schedules  or  other   financial   data  contained  in  either
                  Registration  Statement  or the  Prospectus,  except that such
                  counsel  need not  express  any  opinion  with  respect to the
                  Communications Act or the rules, regulations and orders of the
                  FCC promulgated thereunder; and


                                       14

                           (ix)  This   Agreement  has  been  duly   authorized,
                  executed and delivered by the Company.

                  (f) The Representatives shall have received an opinion,  dated
         such  Closing  Date,  of Dow,  Lohnes &  Albertson,  FCC counsel to the
         Company, to the effect that:

                           (i) No  consent,  approval,  authorization,  order or
                  waiver  of,  or filing  with,  the FCC is  required  under the
                  Communications  Act  and the  published  policies,  rules  and
                  regulations  of the FCC to be  obtained or made by the Company
                  or any subsidiary of the Company for the  consummation  of the
                  transactions  described  in the  Prospectus  as  necessary  to
                  effectuate  the issuance of the Offered  Securities to be sold
                  by the  Company,  the sale of the  Offered  Securities  by the
                  Company  and the  Selling  Stockholders,  the public  offering
                  thereof by the  Underwriters  and the execution,  delivery and
                  performance of the Underwriting  Agreement (provided that such
                  counsel shall not be required to undertake any examination of,
                  or to opine with respect to, the  qualifications  or ownership
                  interests of the stockholders of the Company or of any parties
                  that  may  purchase   securities  in   connection   with  such
                  transaction);

                           (ii) The execution,  delivery and performance of this
                  Agreement,  the issuance of the Offered  Securities to be sold
                  by the  Company,  the sale of the  Offered  Securities  by the
                  Company and the Selling  Stockholders  and the public offering
                  thereof by the  Underwriters,  do not and will not violate any
                  of the terms or  provisions  of, or constitute a default under
                  (i) the Communications Act or any FCC regulation, rule, policy
                  or order,  (ii) the FCC  licenses  held by the  Company or any
                  subsidiary  of the Company  (provided  that such counsel shall
                  not be required to undertake any  examination  of, or to opine
                  with respect to, the qualifications or ownership  interests of
                  the  stockholders  of the Company or of any  parties  that may
                  purchase securities in connection with such transaction);

                           (iii) To the knowledge of such counsel,  there are no
                  administrative  or judicial  proceedings  pending  before,  or
                  threatened  by,  the FCC with  respect  to the  Company or any
                  subsidiary of the Company,  or any towers owned or operated by
                  the  Company  or any  subsidiary  of  the  Company  which,  if
                  determined adversely,  individually or in the aggregate, could
                  reasonably be expected to have a material  adverse effect upon
                  the Company and its subsidiaries taken on a whole.

                  (g) The  Representatives  shall have  received an opinion,  of
         counsel each of the Selling  Stockholders  as contemplated by and dated
         the date of the  Power of  Attorney  and the  opinion  of such  counsel
         substantially to the effect that each Selling Stockholder had valid and
         unencumbered title to the Offered Securities  delivered by such Selling
         Stockholder  on  such  Closing  Date  and had  full  right,  power  and
         authority to sell, assign,  transfer and deliver the Offered Securities
         to be  delivered  by such  Selling  Stockholder  on such  Closing  Date
         hereunder;  and  the  several  Underwriters  have  acquired  valid  and
         unencumbered title to the Offered Securities purchased by them from the
         Selling Stockholders hereunder.
          
                  (h) The  Representatives  shall have  received from Sullivan &
         Cromwell, counsel for the Underwriters, such opinion or opinions, dated
         such Closing Date,  with respect to the incorpora  tion of the Company,
         the validity of the Offered Securities  delivered on such Closing Date,
         the Registration  Statements,  the Prospectus and other related matters
         as  the  Representatives  may  require,  and  the  Company  shall  have
         furnished  to such  counsel  such  documents  as they  request  for the
         purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.


                                       15

                  (i) The  Representatives  shall have  received a  certificate,
         dated such Closing Date, of the Chief Executive  Officer of the Company
         and the Chief Financial  Officer of the Company in which such officers,
         to the best of their knowledge after  reasonable  investigation,  shall
         state that the  representations  and  warranties of the Company in this
         Agreement are true and correct,  that the Company has complied with all
         agreements  and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or
         satisfied  hereunder  at or prior to such  Closing  Date,  that no stop
         order suspending the  effectiveness  of any Registration  Statement has
         been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or
         are contemplated by the Commission, that, subsequent to the date of the
         most recent financial  statements in the Prospectus,  there has been no
         material  adverse  change,  nor any  development  or event  involving a
         prospective  material  adverse change,  in the condition  (financial or
         other),  business,  properties  or results of operations of the Company
         and  its  subsidiaries  taken  as a whole  except  as set  forth  in or
         contemplated by the Prospectus or as described in such certificate, and
         that any additional  Registration  Statement was filed pursuant to Rule
         462(b) under the Act, including payment of the applicable filing fee in
         accordance with Rule 111(a); such registration  statement satisfied the
         requirements  of  subparagraphs  (1)  and  (3)  of  Rule  462(b);  such
         registration  statement was filed prior to the time the  Prospectus was
         printed  and  distributed;   and  no  document  has  been  prepared  or
         distributed in reliance on Rule 434 under the Act.

                  (j) The  Representatives  shall have received  letters,  dated
         such Closing Date, of Deloitte & Touche LLP, Pressman Ciocca Smith LLP,
         Rooney,  Ida, Nolt & Ahern, KPMG Peat Marwick LLP and Ernst & Young LLP
         which meets the requirements of subsections (a) and (b),  respectively,
         of this  Section,  except that the  specified  date referred to in such
         subsections  will be a date  not  more  than  five  days  prior to such
         Closing Date for the purposes of this subsection.

                  (k) The  Securities to be delivered on such Closing Date shall
         have been approved for listing on NYSE, subject, in the case of Offered
         Securities  being  sold by the  Company,  only to  official  notice  of
         issuance.

The Selling  Stockholders and the Company will furnish the Representatives  with
such conformed copies of such opinions,  certificates,  letters and documents as
the Representatives  reasonably request.  CSFBC may in its sole discretion waive
on behalf of the Underwriters  compliance with any conditions to the obligations
of the Underwriters hereunder, whether in respect of an Optional Closing Date or
otherwise.

                  7.  Indemnification  and  Contribution.  (a) The Company  will
indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter against any losses, claims, damages
or liabilities,  joint or several, to which such Underwriter may become subject,
under  the  Act or  otherwise,  insofar  as  such  losses,  claims,  damages  or
liabilities  (or actions in respect  thereof) arise out of or are based upon any
untrue  statement or alleged untrue  statement of any material fact contained in
any  Registration  Statement,  the  Prospectus,  or any  amendment or supplement
thereto,  or any related  preliminary  prospectus,  or arise out of or are based
upon the omission or alleged  omission to state therein a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,
and will reimburse each  Underwriter for any legal or other expenses  reasonably
incurred by such  Underwriter in connection with  investigating or defending any
such loss,  claim,  damage,  liability or action as such  expenses are incurred;
provided,  however,  that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the
extent that any such loss, claim,  damage or liability arises out of or is based
upon an untrue  statement or alleged untrue  statement in or omission or alleged
omission  from any of such  documents in reliance  upon and in  conformity  with
written  information  furnished  to the Company by any  Underwriter  through the
Representatives  specifically for use therein. The foregoing indemnity agreement
with respect to any untrue  statement or omission in the Preliminary  Prospectus
shall not inure to the benefit of any Underwriter from whom the person asserting
any such losses, claims, damages or liabilities purchased the Offered Securities
if a copy of the  Prospectus  (as then  amended or  supplemented  if the Company
shall

                                       16

have furnished any  amendments or supplements  thereto) was not sent or given by
or on  behalf of such  Underwriter  to such  person  at or prior to the  written
confirmation  of the sale of the  Offered  Securities  to such  person,  and the
Prospectus (as amended or supplemented)  would have cured the defect giving rise
to such losses, claims, damages or liabilities.

                  (b) Each Selling Stockholder,  severally and not jointly, will
indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter against any losses, claims, damages
or liabilities to which such  Underwriter may become  subject,  under the Act or
otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in
respect  thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of any material fact contained in any  Registration  Statement,
the  Prospectus,  or  any  amendment  or  supplement  thereto,  or  any  related
preliminary  prospectus,  or arise  out of or are  based  upon the  omission  or
alleged  omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements  therein not misleading,  and will reimburse
each  Underwriter  for any legal or other expenses  reasonably  incurred by such
Underwriter in connection with  investigating or defending any such loss, claim,
damage,  liability or action as such expenses are incurred;  provided,  however,
that the Selling  Stockholders will not be liable in any such case to the extent
that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an
untrue  statement or alleged untrue statement in or omission or alleged omission
from any of such  documents  in reliance  upon and in  conformity  with  written
information   furnished   to  the   Company  by  an   Underwriter   through  the
Representatives  specifically for use therein; provided, further, that a Selling
Stockholder  shall  only be  subject to such  liability  to the extent  that the
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was
made in reliance upon and in conformity  with written  information  furnished to
the  Company by such  Selling  Stockholder  specifically  for use  therein.  The
foregoing  indemnity  agreement with respect to any untrue statement or omission
in the Preliminary  Prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of any Underwriter
from whom the person asserting any such losses,  claims,  damages or liabilities
purchased the Offered Securities if a copy of the Prospectus (as then amended or
supplemented  if the Company shall have  furnished any amendments or supplements
thereto)  was not sent or  given by or on  behalf  of such  Underwriter  to such
person  at or  prior to the  written  confirmation  of the  sale of the  Offered
Securities to such person, and the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) would
have  cured  the  defect  giving  rise  to  such  losses,   claims,  damages  or
liabilities.   In  no  event,  however,  shall  the  liability  of  any  Selling
Stockholder for indemnification under this Section 7(b) exceed the lesser of (i)
the proceeds  received by such Selling  Stockholder from the Underwriters in the
Offering  and (ii)  that  portion  of the  total  losses,  claims,  damages  and
liabilities  for which  the  Underwriters  and any  controlling  persons  may be
subject to  indemnification  hereunder equal to the ratio of the total number of
Offered Securities sold hereunder by such Selling Stockholder as compared to the
total Offered Securities sold hereunder by all Selling Stockholders.

                  (c) Each Underwriter will severally and not jointly  indemnify
and hold harmless the Company and each Selling  Stockholder  against any losses,
claims,  damages or liabilities to which the Company or such Selling Stockholder
may become subject, under the Act or otherwise,  insofar as such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based
upon any untrue  statement or alleged  untrue  statement  of any  material  fact
contained in any  Registration  Statement,  the Prospectus,  or any amendment or
supplement thereto, or any related  preliminary  prospectus,  or arise out of or
are based upon the omission or the alleged  omission to state therein a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the  statements  therein
not misleading,  in each case to the extent,  but only to the extent,  that such
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was
made in reliance upon and in conformity  with written  information  furnished to
the Company by such Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use
therein,  and will reimburse any legal or other expenses  reasonably incurred by
the Company and each Selling  Stockholder in connection  with  investigating  or
defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are
incurred.

                                       17


                  (d) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified  party under this
Section  or  Section  9 of  notice  of  the  commencement  of any  action,  such
indemnified  party will, if a claim in respect  thereof is to be made against an
indemnifying  party under  subsection (a), (b) or (c) above or Section 9, notify
the  indemnifying  party of the  commencement  thereof;  but the  omission so to
notify the  indemnifying  party will not relieve it from any liability  which it
may have to any indemnified  party  otherwise than under  subsection (a), (b) or
(c)  above  or  Section  9. In case any  such  action  is  brought  against  any
indemnified  party and it notifies  an  indemnifying  party of the  commencement
thereof,  the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate therein and, to
the extent that it may wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly
notified,  to assume the defense  thereof,  with  counsel  satisfactory  to such
indemnified  party (who shall not,  except with the  consent of the  indemnified
party,  be  counsel  to the  indemnifying  party),  and  after  notice  from the
indemnifying  party to such  indemnified  party of its election so to assume the
defense thereof,  the indemnifying  party will not be liable to such indemnified
party  under  this  Section  or  Section 9, as the case may be, for any legal or
other expenses  subsequently  incurred by such  indemnified  party in connection
with the  defense  thereof  other than  reasonable  costs of  investigation.  No
indemnifying  party shall,  without the prior written consent of the indemnified
party,  effect any settlement of any pending or threatened  action in respect of
which any  indemnified  party is or could have been a party and indemnity  could
have been sought  hereunder by such  indemnified  party  unless such  settlement
includes an unconditional  release of such indemnified  party from all liability
on any claims that are the subject matter of such action.

                  (e) If the  indemnification  provided  for in this  Section or
Section 9 is unavailable or insufficient  to hold harmless an indemnified  party
under  subsection  (a),  (b) or (c) above or Section  9, then each  indemnifying
party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such  indemnified  party
as a result  of the  losses,  claims,  damages  or  liabilities  referred  to in
subsection  (a),  (b) or (c)  above or  Section 9 (i) in such  proportion  as is
appropriate  to reflect  the  relative  benefits  received by the  Company,  the
Selling  Stockholders  and the  Underwriters  from the  offering  of the Offered
Securities  or (ii) if the  allocation  provided  by  clause  (i)  above  is not
permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not
only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative
fault  of  the  Company,  the  Selling  Stockholders  and  the  Underwriters  in
connection  with the  statements  or  omissions  which  resulted in such losses,
claims,  damages  or  liabilities  as  well  as  any  other  relevant  equitable
considerations.  The  relative  benefits  received by the  Company,  the Selling
Stockholders and the  Underwriters  shall be deemed to be in the same proportion
as the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received
by the  Company  and the  Selling  Stockholders  bear to the total  underwriting
discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters. The relative fault shall
be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state
a material  fact relates to  information  supplied by the  Company,  the Selling
Stockholders or the  Underwriters and the parties'  relative intent,  knowledge,
access to  information  and  opportunity  to  correct  or  prevent  such  untrue
statement or omission.  The amount paid by an  indemnified  party as a result of
the losses,  claims, damages or liabilities referred to in the first sentence of
this  subsection  (e)  shall be deemed to  include  any legal or other  expenses
reasonably  incurred by such indemnified party in connection with  investigating
or defending  any action or claim which is the subject of this  subsection  (e).
Notwithstanding  the provisions of this subsection (e), no Underwriter  shall be
required  to  contribute  any  amount in excess of the amount by which the total
price at which the Securities  underwritten  by it and distributed to the public
were  offered  to the  public  exceeds  the  amount of any  damages  which  such
Underwriter  has  otherwise  been  required  to pay by reason of such  untrue or
alleged  untrue  statement  or  omission  or  alleged  omission  and no  Selling
Stockholder shall be require to contribute any amount in excess of the amount of
the proceeds  received by such Selling  Stockholder from the Underwriters in the
Offering. No person guilty of fraudulent  misrepresentation  (within the meaning
of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to  contribution  from any person
who was not guilty of such fraudulent  misrepresentation.  The Underwriters' and
the Selling

                                       18

Stockholders'  obligations  in this  subsection (e) to contribute are several in
proportion to their respective obligations and not joint.

                  (f)  The   obligations   of  the   Company   and  the  Selling
Stockholders  under  this  Section  or  Section  9 shall be in  addition  to any
liability which the Company and the Selling  Stockholders may otherwise have and
shall extend,  upon the same terms and conditions,  to each person,  if any, who
controls any Underwriter or the QIU (as hereinafter  defined) within the meaning
of the Act; and the obligations of the Underwriters  under this Section shall be
in addition to any liability  which the  respective  Underwriters  may otherwise
have and shall extend,  upon the same terms and conditions,  to each director of
the  Company,  to each  officer of the  Company  who has  signed a  Registration
Statement  and to each  person,  if any,  who  controls  the Company  within the
meaning of the Act.

                  8. Default of Underwriters. If any Underwriter or Underwriters
default in their obligations to purchase Offered Securities  hereunder on either
the First or any  Optional  Closing Date and the  aggregate  number of shares of
Offered Securities that such defaulting  Underwriter or Underwriters  agreed but
failed to purchase  does not exceed 10% of the total number of shares of Offered
Securities that the Underwriters are obligated to purchase on such Closing Date,
CSFBC  may  make  arrangements  satisfactory  to the  Company  and  the  Selling
Stockholders  for the  purchase of such  Offered  Securities  by other  persons,
including any of the Underwriters,  but if no such arrangements are made by such
Closing Date, the non-defaulting  Underwriters shall be obligated severally,  in
proportion to their respective  commitments  hereunder,  to purchase the Offered
Securities that such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to
purchase on such Closing Date. If any Underwriter or Underwriters so default and
the aggregate number of shares of Offered  Securities with respect to which such
default  or  defaults  occur  exceeds  10% of the total  number of shares of the
Offered  Securities  that the  Underwriters  are  obligated  to purchase on such
Closing Date and arrangements satisfactory to CSFBC, the Company and the Selling
Stockholders  for the purchase of such Offered  Securities  by other persons are
not made within 36 hours  after such  default,  this  Agreement  will  terminate
without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter,  the Company or
the Selling  Stockholders,  except as provided in Section 10  (provided  that if
such default occurs with respect to Optional  Securities after the First Closing
Date,  this  Agreement  will  not  terminate  as to the Firm  Securities  or any
Optional  Securities  purchased  prior  to  such  termination).  As used in this
Agreement,  the  term  "Underwriter"  includes  any  person  substituted  for an
Underwriter  under  this  Section.  Nothing  herein  will  relieve a  defaulting
Underwriter from liability for its default.

                  9.  Qualified  Independent  Underwriter.  The  Company  hereby
confirms that at its request Bear,  Stearns & Co. Inc. has without  compensation
acted as  "qualified  independent  underwriter"  (in such  capacity,  the "QIU")
within the meaning of Rule 2720 of the Conduct Rules of the National Association
of  Securities  Dealers,  Inc. in  connection  with the  offering of the Offered
Securities.  The Company will  indemnify  and hold  harmless the QIU against any
losses, claims,  damages or liabilities,  joint or several, to which the QIU may
become  subject,  under the Act or  otherwise,  insofar as such losses,  claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based
upon the QIU's acting (or alleged failing to act) as such "qualified independent
underwriter"  and  will  reimburse  the QIU  for any  legal  or  other  expenses
reasonably incurred by the QIU in connection with investigating or defending any
such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred.

                  10. Survival of Certain  Representations and Obligations.  The
respective  indemnities,  agreements,  representations,   warranties  and  other
statements  of the Selling  Stockholders,  of the Company or its officers and of
the several  Underwriters  set forth in or made pursuant to this  Agreement will
remain in full force and effect,  regardless of any investigation,  or statement
as to the results thereof, made by or on behalf of any Underwriter,  any Selling
Stockholder and the Company or any of their respective

                                       19

representatives,  officers or  directors  or any  controlling  person,  and will
survive delivery of and payment for the Offered Securities. If this Agreement is
terminated  pursuant  to  Section 8 or if for any  reason  the  purchase  of the
Offered  Securities by the Underwriters is not consummated,  the Company and the
Selling  Stockholders  shall remain  responsible  for the expenses to be paid or
reimbursed  by them  pursuant  to Section 5 the  respective  obligations  of the
Company, the Selling  Stockholders,  and the Underwriters  pursuant to Section 7
and the  obligations  of the Company and the  Selling  Stockholders  pursuant to
Section 9 shall  remain  in  effect,  and if any  Offered  Securities  have been
purchased  hereunder  the  representations  and  warranties in Section 2 and all
obligations  under Section 5 shall also remain in effect. If the purchase of the
Offered  Securities by the  Underwriters is not consummated for any reason other
than solely because of the  termination of this Agreement  pursuant to Section 8
or the occurrence of any event specified in clause (iii), (iv) or (v) of Section
6(d), the Company will reimburse the Underwriters for all out-of-pocket expenses
(including fees and  disbursements  of counsel)  reasonably  incurred by them in
connection with the offering of the Offered Securities.

                  11. Notices.  All communications  hereunder will be in writing
and, if sent to the Underwriters,  will be mailed,  delivered or telegraphed and
confirmed to the  Representatives,  c/o Credit Suisse First Boston  Corporation,
Eleven Madison Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010-3629,  Attention: Investment Banking
Department--Transactions Advisory Group; if sent to the Company, will be mailed,
delivered or telegraphed and confirmed to it at 116 Huntington  Avenue,  Boston,
MA 02116, Attention:  Steven B. Dodge or, if sent to the Selling Stockholders or
any of them,  will be mailed,  delivered or  telegraphed  and confirmed c/o with
respect to Selling Stockholders listed on Schedule A, Steven Dodge, with respect
to Selling  Stockholders  listed on Schedule B, Fred Lummis, in each case at 116
Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, 02116,  provided,  however, that any notice to an
Underwriter  pursuant to Section 7 will be mailed,  delivered or telegraphed and
confirmed to such Underwriter.

                  12.  Successors.  This  Agreement will inure to the benefit of
and  be  binding  upon  the  parties  hereto  and  their   respective   personal
representatives  and successors  and the officers and directors and  controlling
persons  referred  to in Section 7, and no other  person  will have any right or
obligation hereunder.

                  13.  Representation.  The  Representatives  will  act  for the
several  Underwriters in connection with the  transactions  contemplated by this
Agreement,  and any action  under this  Agreement  taken by the  Representatives
jointly or by CSFBC will be binding upon all the  Underwriters.  Steven Dodge or
Thomas Stoner as attorneys-in-fact, will act for the Selling Stockholders listed
on  Schedule A and Fred  Lummis as  attorney-in-fact,  will act for the  Selling
Stockholders  listed  on  Schedule  B, in each  case,  in  connection  with such
transactions,  and any action under or in respect of this Agreement taken by any
of them will be binding upon all the Selling Stockholders.

                  14. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number
of counterparts,  each of which shall be deemed to be an original,  but all such
counterparts shall together constitute one and the same Agreement.

                  15.  Applicable  Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and
construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York,  without regard
to principles of conflicts of laws.

                  The Company hereby submits to the  non-exclusive  jurisdiction
of the Federal and state  courts in the Borough of  Manhattan in The City of New
York in any suit or proceeding  arising out of or relating to this  Agreement or
the transactions contemplated hereby.

                                       20

                  If the  foregoing is in accordance  with the  Representatives'
understanding  of our  agreement,  kindly  sign  and  return  to us three of the
counterparts  hereof,  whereupon  it will become a binding  agreement  among the
Company,  the Selling  Stockholders  and the several  Underwriters in accordance
with its terms.

                           Very truly yours,

                           AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION


                           By: \s\ Steven B. Dodge
                              Name: Steven B. Dodge
                              Title: President and Chief Executive Officer


                           Each of The Selling Stockholders Listed on 
                            Schedule A Hereto


                           By: \s\ Steven B. Dodge
                                    Attorney-in-fact

                           Each of The Selling Stockholders Listed on 
                            Schedule B Hereto


                           By: \s\ Fred R. Lummis
                                      Attorney-in-fact

The foregoing  Underwriting Agreement 
  is hereby confirmed and accepted 
  as of the date first above written.

         CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION,
         BT ALEX. BROWN INCORPORATED,
         LEHMAN BROTHERS INCORPORATED,
         MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED,
         BEAR, STEARNS & CO. INC.,
         MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
                              INCORPORATED and
         SMITH BARNEY, INC.

                  Acting on behalf of themselves and as
                    the Representatives of the several
                    Underwriters.

         By  Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation


         By: \s\  Kristin M. Allen
                Name: Kristin Allen
                Title:   Managing Director


                                       21





                                           SCHEDULE A



                                                             Number of
                                                          Firm Securities
Selling Stockholder                                         to be Sold
- -------------------                                        -------------
Douglas Wiest                                                    8,888
Dan King Brainard                                               88,889
The Gearon Family Trust                                         71,111
Karen Edward Kwilosz                                            66,666
Melham Inc.                                                    172,537
Mayfirst Associates Ltd.                                       108,377
Scott R. McQueen                                               204,375
Randall T. Odeneal                                             179,375
Charlton H. Buckley                                            300,000
                                                             ---------
         Total                                               1,200,218
                                                             =========








                                           SCHEDULE B



                                                                   Number of
                                                                Firm Securities
Selling Stockholder                                               to be Sold
- -------------------                                            -------------
Arnold 1994 Limited Partnership                                     192,671
Arnold Family Limited Partnership                                   192,671
BOCP II, Limited Liability Company                                1,014,607
Equus Equity Appreciation Fund, L.P.                                732,151
William R. Lummis                                                   202,305
Ransom C. Lummis                                                     25,457
Isabel Stude Lummis                                                   6,557
Summit Capital Inc.                                                 289,007
Ann Isabel Stude Trust                                               19,267
                                                                  ---------
         Total                                                    2,674,693
                                                                  =========












                                   SCHEDULE C


                                                               Number of
                                                            Firm Securities
                                                                 to be
                      Underwriter                              Purchased
                      -----------                              ---------

Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation                          7,343,730
BT Alex. Brown Incorporated                                     4,406,236
Lehman Brothers Incorporated                                    4,406,236
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated                               4,406,236
Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.                                        2,937,491
Merrill Lynch, Pierce Fenner & Smith
                  Incorporated                                  2,937,491
Smith Barney Inc.                                               2,937,491
                                                               ----------
         Total
                                                               29,374,911
                                                               ==========






                                     ANNEX I


American Tower Systems (Delaware), Inc.
ATS Merger Corporation
ATSC Holding, Inc.
ATSC Operating Inc.
ATSC GP Inc.
ATSC LP, Inc.
American Tower Systems, L.P.



                                                                    EXHIBIT 99

                     [American Tower Corporation letterhead]





FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE               Contact:  Joe Winn, Chief Financial
                                              Officer or Emily Farina, Director
                                              of Investor Relations
                                              Tel: (617) 375-7500

                           AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION
                                 PUBLIC OFFERING
            OF 29,374,911 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK AT $23.50 PER SHARE

Boston,  Massachusetts  - July 2, 1998 - American Tower  Corporation  (NYSE:AMT)
announced the public  offering of  29,374,911  shares of Class A Common Stock at
$23.50.  Of the total number of shares,  25,500,000 shares are being sold by the
Company and 3,874,911 shares are being sold by certain selling stockholders. The
Company has granted the  underwriters  an option to purchase up to an additional
2,361,987 shares to cover  over-allotments,  if any. Credit Suisse First Boston,
BT Alex. Brown,  Lehman Brothers,  Morgan Stanley Dean Witter,  Bear,  Stearns &
Co., Inc.,  Merrill Lynch & Co. and Salomon Smith Barney are the underwriters of
the Class A Common Stock.

The Company  will use the net  proceeds  from the  offering to redeem all of the
outstanding  shares of its Series A  Pay-In-Kind  Preferred  Stock at a price of
101% of the liquidation  preference (which is expected to occur on or about July
9,  1998),  to  reduce  bank  borrowings  and to fund  future  acquisitions  and
construction activities.

Steve Dodge,  American  Tower's  Chairman & CEO, stated "We appreciate the broad
and  deep  support  that we  received  in  this  offering,  and we are now  well
positioned to build a substantial company."

American  Tower  is a  leading,  independent  owner  and  operator  of  wireless
communications  sites in the  United  States,  and,  giving  effect  to  pending
acquisitions,  operates  more than 1,800 towers in 44 states and the District of
Columbia.

A prospectus  relating to these  securities  may be obtained  from Credit Suisse
First Boston,  Prospectus  Department,  11 Madison  Avenue,  New York,  New York
10010, (212) 325-2580.



                                      # # #

               116 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02116
                        (617) 375-7500 Fax (617) 375-7575