WorldCom Offers $41.50 In Stock Per MCI Share Total Transaction Valued At Approximately $30 Billion

41% Premium Over Current MCI Stock Price

Accretive To WorldCom With Significant Synergies
Anticipated

Accelerates Local Competition

    Jackson, Miss., October 1, 1997 -- WorldCom, Inc. (NASDAQ: WCOM)
announced today that it will be commencing an exchange offer to acquire
all of the outstanding shares of MCI Communications Corporation
(NASDAQ: MCIC) for $41.50 of WorldCom common stock per MCI share.
Following consummation of the exchange offer, WorldCom will effect a
second-step merger with all remaining MCI stockholders receiving the
same per share consideration. WorldCom's offer represents a 41%
premium to MCI's closing stock price on September 30, 1997. The
transaction is valued at approximately $30 billion -- a premium of $9
billion to the market's current valuation of the proposed
acquisition of MCI by British Telecom. The transaction will be
accounted for as a purchase and will be tax-free to MCI's
stockholders.

    The transaction is expected to be accretive to WorldCom's
earnings by as much as 22% in the first year after closing with
synergies of approximately $2.5 billion in the first year, growing to
approximately $5 billion in the fifth year. These synergies are
anticipated to result from better utilization of the combined network
and other operational savings. Because WorldCom has already established
extensive domestic local network facilities, a WorldCom combination
with MCI will achieve significantly higher synergies than possible in
British Telecom's acquisition of MCI.

    WorldCom's combination with MCI will create one of the
world's premier communications companies with over $30 billion in
revenues. The combination will enhance WorldCom's position as a
leading provider of one-stop-shopping communication services --
offering a full range of local, long distance, Internet and
international services.

    The actual number of shares of WorldCom common stock to be
exchanged for each MCI share in the exchange offer will be determined
by dividing $41.50 by the 20-day average of the high and low sales
prices for WorldCom common stock prior to the closing of the exchange
offer, but will not be less than 1.0375 shares (if WorldCom's
average stock price exceeds $40) or more than 1.2206 shares (if
WorldCom's average stock price is less than $34).

    Mr. Bernard J. Ebbers, president and chief executive officer of
WorldCom, said, "The financial benefits of this offer are
compelling for the stockholders of both MCI and WorldCom. MCI's
stockholders will immediately see the superior benefits of
WorldCom's offer -- a higher premium, powerful synergies and
ownership in the best performing telecommunications stock over the past
decade. This is just one of the indisputable reasons why a merger with
WorldCom is superior for MCI's stockholders. While MCI and British
Telecom are both great companies, the fit between them just doesn't
work without sufficient local network assets in place. Because WorldCom
has those assets in place, far greater synergies are possible. It is
clearly a superior fit and, as a result, a superior offer."

    In addition, WorldCom announced today a definitive agreement to
acquire Brooks Fiber Properties, Inc. This acquisition significantly
increases the number of WorldCom local facilities and further
reinforces WorldCom's opportunity for synergies in the WorldCom-MCI
combination.

    Commenting on the role that the merger of WorldCom and MCI might
play in bringing the benefits of competition to U.S. customers, Mr.
Ebbers continued, "This combination helps fulfill the intent of
the Telecommunications Act by enhancing competition. Together, WorldCom
and MCI will have the capital, marketing abilities and state-of-the-art
network to compete more effectively against the incumbent carriers,
domestically and abroad. WorldCom and MCI share similar legacies:
pioneering the introduction of competition to the telecommunications
marketplace and histories of innovation, agility and growth. Indeed,
our two companies are the paradigm for the American entrepreneurial
spirit -- we have both forged significant inroads into industries long
dominated by giants, and have been among the first to offer consumers a
choice of providers for local, long distance, data, and other
services."

    Consummation of the WorldCom exchange offer will be conditioned
on: (1) receipt of Federal Communications Commission approval of a
voting trust to be established by WorldCom and antitrust clearance of
the transaction, (2) the MCI Rights Plan being inapplicable to the
exchange offer, (3) MCI's stockholders having voted against the
British Telecom-MCI acquisition agreement, (4) WorldCom's
stockholders having approved (by a majority of those voting) the
issuance of WorldCom common stock in the exchange offer, (5) a majority
of MCI's shares having been tendered in the exchange offer and (6)
other conditions substantially the same as those contained in the
British Telecom-MCI acquisition agreement.

    Salomon Brothers Inc is acting as financial advisor to WorldCom.
MacKenzie Partners, Inc. is the information agent for the exchange
offer.

    A detailed description of the offer is included in a preliminary
prospectus being filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

    Attached is a letter WorldCom sent today to MCI's
Chairman:

October 1, 1997

Mr. Bert C. Roberts, Jr.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

MCI Communications Corporation

1801 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20006-3606

Dear Mr. Roberts:

    I am writing to inform you that this morning WorldCom is
publicly announcing that it will be commencing an offer to acquire all
the outstanding shares of MCI for $41.50 of WorldCom common stock per
MCI share. The actual number of shares of WorldCom common stock to be
exchanged for each MCI share in the exchange offer will be determined
by dividing $41.50 by the 20-day average of the high and low sales
prices for WorldCom common stock prior to the closing of the exchange
offer, but will not be less than 1.0375 shares (if WorldCom's
average stock price exceeds $40) or more than 1.2206 shares (if
WorldCom's average stock price is less than $34).

    Our offer represents a 41% premium to MCI's closing stock
price on September 30, 1997. The transaction is valued at approximately
$30 billion -- a premium of $9 billion to the market's current
valuation of the proposed acquisition of MCI by British Telecom. The
transaction will be accounted for as a purchase and will be tax-free to
MCI's stockholders.

    The transaction is expected to be accretive to WorldCom's
earnings by as much as 22% in the first year after closing with
synergies of approximately $2.5 billion in the first year, growing to
approximately $5 billion in the fifth year. These synergies are
anticipated to result from better utilization of the combined network
and other operational savings. Because WorldCom has already established
extensive domestic local network facilities, a WorldCom combination
with MCI will achieve significantly higher synergies than possible in
British Telecom's acquisition of MCI.

    WorldCom and MCI share similar legacies: pioneering the
introduction of competition to the telecommunications marketplace and
histories of innovation, agility and growth. Indeed, these two
companies are the paradigm for the American entrepreneurial spirit --
we have both forged significant inroads into industries long dominated
by giants, and have been among the first to offer consumers a choice of
providers for local, long distance, data, and other services. Combined,
we will accelerate competition -- especially in local markets -- by
creating a company with the capital, marketing abilities and
state-of-the-art networks to compete more effectively against the
incumbent network carriers, domestically and abroad.

    Unlike British Telecom, WorldCom is already a seasoned
competitor in the U.S. local market with an established presence in 52
local markets. WorldCom's local network both accelerates MCI's
local strategy and results in significant savings for the combined
company. WorldCom's announcement today of the Brooks Fiber
Properties acquisition significantly increases the number of WorldCom
local facilities and further reinforces WorldCom's opportunity for
synergies in the WorldCom-MCI combination. Creating a stronger
competitor in the local market helps fulfill the intent of the
Telecommunications Act of 1996.

    Combining WorldCom's pan-European fiber network in 12
European cities with MCI's international operations will create a
leading alternative provider of telecommunications services in key
markets abroad. WorldCom and MCI will bring complementary skills to
compete in rapidly deregulating global markets.

    MCI's stockholders will benefit from the opportunity to own
an entrepreneurial telecommunications operator with a proven track
record of shareholder value creation. MCI's stockholders will not
only achieve a higher valuation today but will also be better
positioned to realize higher returns in the future through ownership in
the combined company. Historical returns realized by WorldCom's
stockholders over the past decade have exceeded those realized by
investors in all other U.S. telecommunications companies. Since the end
of 1989, WorldCom has provided investors with a total compound annual
return of 55.8% compared to 4.3% for MCI and 9.4% for British Telecom.
Our proposal will result in MCI's stockholders owning approximately
45% of the combined company -- while under the proposed acquisition of
MCI by British Telecom, your stockholders would only own approximately
25% of the combined company.

    WorldCom has a proven track record of successfully integrating
acquisitions and has completed more than 40 transactions over the past
five years. These transactions have been accomplished smoothly with
minimal disruption to the employee base. As in our other significant
business combinations, we expect that MCI's management would be an
important part of the combined company and we would welcome members of
MCI's Board to our Board.

    Our exchange offer can be closed promptly without the need for
any consent from British Telecom. The roadmap to a timely completion of
WorldCom's exchange offer includes the following:

    We are confident that the WorldCom exchange offer can be
completed no later than the first quarter of 1998. Since British
Telecom's acquisition of MCI cannot be closed until the end of
1997, at the earliest, and because of the need for SEC clearance and
stockholders meetings, our exchange offer can close on essentially the
same timetable as the proposed acquisition by British Telecom. We will
consummate a second-step merger between MCI and a subsidiary of
WorldCom at the same per share consideration as that provided for in
the WorldCom exchange offer as soon as possible following consummation
of the exchange offer. This merger could be completed without British
Telecom's consent on October 1, 1998, when British Telecom's
class vote expires.

    As you are aware, if MCI's stockholders reject the British
Telecom acquisition, your agreement with British Telecom permits you to
avoid paying British Telecom a $450 million termination fee even if
there is a subsequent transaction with WorldCom. Even though our offer
and merger can close without British Telecom's consent, as outlined
above, we believe it is in the best interests of all parties to come to
a three-way negotiated agreement providing for the merger of WorldCom
and MCI. We believe that a negotiated merger transaction (as opposed to
our exchange offer) could be structured to be accounted for as a
pooling-of-interests, which would be even more beneficial to the
stockholders of MCI, British Telecom and WorldCom than the purchase
transaction proposed.

    You should understand that in connection with any negotiated
transaction, we would enter into a merger agreement with terms
substantially similar to the existing British Telecom-MCI acquisition
agreement, including no material adverse change condition and payment
of a $750 million termination fee if WorldCom's stockholders fail
to approve the WorldCom-MCI merger.

    We believe that our proposed transaction is in the best
interests of the stockholders of MCI. MCI's stockholders would
receive a substantial premium and significantly more upside potential
in a combination with WorldCom. We look forward to meeting with you and
would welcome the opportunity to present our offer directly to you and
your Board.

Sincerely,

/s/ [Bernard J. Ebbers]

Mr. Bernard J. Ebbers

President and Chief Executive Officer

WorldCom, Inc.

cc: MCI Board of Directors

WorldCom is a global telecommunications company. Operating in
more than 50 countries, the company is a premier provider of
facilities-based and fully integrated local, long distance,
international and Internet services. WorldCom's subsidiary, UUNET
Technologies, Inc., is an international provider of Internet services
with over 1,000 Points of Presence (POPs) throughout the United
States and in Canada, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.
WorldCom's World Wide Web address is
http://www.wcom.com

. The common and depository shares of WorldCom trade on the NASDAQ
National Market (US) under the symbols WCOM and WCOMP,
respectively.

Information contained in this release with respect to the expected
financial impact of the proposed transaction is forward-looking. These
statements represent the company's reasonable judgment with respect
to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could
cause actual results to differ materially. Such factors include, but
are not limited to, material adverse changes in economic and
competitive conditions in the markets served by the companies, material
adverse changes in the business and financial condition of either or
both companies and their respective customers, uncertainties concerning
technological changes and future product performance, and substantial
delay in the expected closing of the transaction.

Wednesday, October 1, 1997

09:00 -09:30 AM EDT

C-Band Galaxy 6; Transponder 17

Downlink frequency: 4040

Wednesday, October 1, 1997

12:30 - 1:00 PM EDT

C-Band Telstar 5; Transponder 15

Downlink frequency: 4000

If you have any technical questions or problems with the satellite
feed for WorldCom B-Roll, please call Bret Curran at (212)
627-5622.