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                                                                   EXHIBIT 23.1
 
                              ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
 
                   CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
 
  As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the incorporation by
reference in this registration statement of our reports dated January 24, 1997
incorporated by reference in ACC Corp.'s Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 1996 and to all references to our Firm included in this registration
statement.
 
Arthur Andersen LLP
 
Rochester, New York
January 21, 1998
