CONSENT TO PREPAYMENT OF SUBORDINATED DEBT


         The undersigned, being all of the lenders (both revolving and term, the
"Lenders") to Data  Transmission  Network  Corporation (the "Company") under the
1997 Revolving Credit Agreement (the "Revolving Credit Agreement") , dated as of
February  26,  1997,  as amended  from time to time,  among the  Company and the
Lenders and the 1997 Term Credit Agreement (the "Term Credit Agreement"),  dated
as of February  26, 1997,  as amended  from time to time,  among the Company and
certain of the Lenders,  hereby  consent  under  Section  4.16 of the  Revolving
Credit  Agreement and Section 5.16 of the Term Credit Agreement that the Company
may  prepay  on or  about  March  16,  1998  $15,000,000  of the  11.25%  Senior
Subordinated  Notes due 2004,  together  with accrued  interest  and  prepayment
amounts due in connection with such prepayment.

         This  CONSENT TO  PREPAYMENT  OF  SUBORDINATED  DEBT is effective as of
February 26, 1998.



                                      FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF OMAHA


                                      By
                                         /s/ James P. Bonham
                                         James P. Bonham

                                      Its Vice President
                                




                                       1
                                    - 434 -
<PAGE>






                                      FIRST NATIONAL BANK
                                      WAHOO,  NEBRASKA


                                      By /s/ Elizabeth Rezac
                                         --------------------------
                                         Elizabeth Rezac
                                        

                                      Its 2nd Vice President
                                         ------------------------------

                                       2
                                    - 435 -
<PAGE>








                                      NBD BANK


                                      By /s/ Nathan L. Bloch
                                        -------------------------------
                                         Nathan L. Bloch

                                      Its First Vice President
                                         ------------------------------


                                       3
                                    - 436 -
<PAGE>






                                      NORWEST BANK
                                      NEBRASKA, N.A.


                                      By /s/ Kevin Munro
                                        -------------------------------
                                        Kevin Munro

                                      Its Vice President
                                         ------------------------------

                                       4
                                    - 437 -

<PAGE>









                                      THE SUMITOMO BANK, LIMITED


                                      By /s/ Michael F. Murphy
                                        -------------------------------
                                        Michael F. Murphy
                                      
                                        Its Vice President and Manager
                                         ------------------------------

                                       5
                                    - 438 -

<PAGE>











                                      MERCANTILE BANK OF ST. LOUIS, N.A.


                                      By /s/ Joseph L. Sooter, Jr.
                                        -------------------------------
                                        Joseph L. Sooter, Jr.
                          
                                      Its  Vice President
                                         ------------------------------

                                       6
                                    - 439 -

<PAGE>






                                      FIRST BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION


                                      By/s/ Beth Morgan
                                        -------------------------------
                                        Beth Morgan

                                      Its Vice President
                                         ------------------------------

                                       7
                                    - 440 -

<PAGE>






                                      BANK OF MONTREAL


                                      By
                                        -------------------------------

                                      Its
                                         ------------------------------

                                       8
                                    - 441 -
<PAGE>





                                      LASALLE NATIONAL BANK, 
                                      a national banking association


                                      By /s/ Tom Harmon
                                        -------------------------------
                                        Tom Harmon
                                      Its Assistant Vice President
                                         ------------------------------

                                       9
                                    - 442 -

<PAGE>








                                      NATIONSBANK, N.A (successor in interest to
                                      The Boatmen's National Bank of St. Louis)


                                      By /s/ Roger Bettlach
                                        -------------------------------
                                        Roger Bettlach
                              
                                      Its Assistant Vice President
                                         ------------------------------

                                       10
                                    - 443 -