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                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.1
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                                                            CUSIP/CINS 558212AA4

                    13 1/4% Series A Senior Notes due 2010

No. 1                                                           $200,000,000.00


                          MADISON RIVER CAPITAL, LLC
                          MADISON RIVER FINANCE CORP.

promises to pay to CEDE & CO.

or registered assigns,

the principal sum of TWO HUNDRED MILLION

Dollars on March 1, 2010.

Interest Payment Dates: March 1 and September 1

Record Dates: February 15 and August 15

Dated:  February 17, 2000



                                              MADISON RIVER CAPITAL, LLC

                                              By:  __________________________
                                                    Name:
                                                    Title


This is one of the Notes referred to          MADISON RIVER FINANCE CORP.
in the within-mentioned Indenture:

NORWEST BANK MINNESOTA,                       By:  ___________________________
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION                                Name:
as Trustee                                          Title
By:  ________________________
      Authorized Signatory


                                                            (SEAL)
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                   13  1/4%  Series A Senior Notes due 2010

"THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE
GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL
OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES
EXCEPT THAT (I) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED
PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.07 OF THE INDENTURE, (II) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE
EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(a) OF THE INDENTURE,
(III) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT
TO SECTION 2.11 OF THE INDENTURE AND (IV) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO
A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE ISSUERS."

"THE NOTES EVIDENCED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 (THE "SECURITIES ACT") AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD,
PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT (1) TO A PERSON WHO THE SELLER
REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER WITHIN THE MEANING OF
RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PURCHASING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE
ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE
REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (2) IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION COMPLYING WITH RULE
903 OR RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (3) PURSUANT TO AN
EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144
THEREUNDER (IF AVAILABLE) AND (4) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR IN A
TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, IN
EACH CASE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF THE STATES OF
THE UNITED STATES."

          Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them
in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.



     1.  Interest. Madison River Capital, LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company (the "Company") and Madison River Finance Corp., A Delaware corporation
("Madison River Finance" and, together with the Company, the "Issuers"),
promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at 13 1/4% per
annum from February 17, 2000 until maturity and shall pay the Special Interest
payable pursuant to Section 2 of the Registration Rights Agreement referred to
below. The Issuers will pay interest and Special Interest semi-annually in
arrears on March 1 and September 1 of each year, or if any such day is not a
Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each an "Interest Payment
Date"). Interest on the Notes will accrue from the most recent date to which
interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the date of
issuance; provided that if there is no existing Default in the payment of
interest, and if this Note is authenticated between a record date referred to on
the face hereof and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, interest shall
accrue from such next succeeding Interest Payment Date; provided, further, that
the first Interest Payment Date shall be September 1, 2000. The Issuers shall
pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any
Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on
demand at a rate that is 1% per annum in excess of the rate then in effect; it
shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any
Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest and Special Interest
(without regard to any applicable grace periods) from time to time on demand at
the same rate to the extent lawful. Interest will be computed on the basis of a
360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
<PAGE>

     2.  Method of Payment. The Issuers will pay interest on the Notes (except
defaulted interest) and Special Interest to the Persons who are registered
Holders of Notes at the close of business on the February 15 or August 15 next
preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are canceled after such
record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in
Section 2.12 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest. The Notes will
be payable as to principal, premium and Special Interest, if any, and interest
at the office or agency of the Paying Agent and Registrar maintained for such
purpose within or without the City and State of New York, or, at the option of
the Issuers, payment of interest and Special Interest may be made by check
mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders,
and provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds will
be required with respect to principal of and interest, premium and Special
Interest on, all Global Notes and all other Notes the Holders of which shall
have provided wire transfer instructions to the Issuers or the Paying Agent.
Such payment shall be in such coin or currency of the United States of America
as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private
debts.

     3.  Paying Agent and Registrar. Initially, Norwest Bank Minnesota, National
Association, the Trustee under the Indenture, will act as Paying Agent and
Registrar. The Issuers may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice
to any Holder. Either Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries may act in any such
capacity.

     4.  Indenture. The Issuers issued the Notes under an Indenture dated as of
February 17, 2000 ("Indenture") between the Issuers and the Trustee. The terms
of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the
Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S.
Code (S)(S) 77aaa-77bbbb). The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders
are referred to the Indenture and such Act for a statement of such terms. To the
extent any provision of this Note conflicts with the express provisions of the
Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling. The
Notes are obligations of the Issuers limited to $350.0 million in aggregate
principal amount of which $200.0 million are Initial Notes and up to $150.0
million may be issued as Additional Notes.

     5.  Optional Redemption.

     (a)  Except as set forth in subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph 5, the
Issuers shall not have the option to redeem the Notes pursuant to this Paragraph
5 prior to March 1, 2005. Thereafter, the Issuers shall have the option to
redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60
days' notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal
amount) set forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest
thereon, if any, to the applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the
twelve-month period beginning on March 1 of the years indicated below:


     Year                                             Percentage
     ----                                             ----------
     2005...........................................   106.625%
     2006...........................................   104.417%
     2007...........................................   102.208%
     2008 and thereafter............................   100.000%


     (b)  Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph
5, at any time prior to March 1, 2003, the Issuers may on any one or more
occasions redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes originally
issued under the Indenture with the net proceeds of one or more Public Equity
Offerings by the Company or the net cash proceeds of a Strategic Equity
Investment in the Company or a capital contribution to the Company's common
equity made with the net cash proceeds of a concurrent Public Equity Offering
by, or Strategic Investment in, the Company's direct parent at a
<PAGE>

redemption price equal to 113.250% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued
and unpaid interest and Special Interest thereon, if any, to the redemption
date; provided that (1) at least 65% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes
remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption,
excluding Notes held by the Company and its Subsidiaries and (2) that such
redemption occurs within 60 days of the date of the closing of such Public
Equity Offering or Strategic Equity Investment.

     6.  Mandatory Redemption.

           Except as set forth in paragraph 7 below, the Issuers shall not be
required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to
the Notes.

     7.   Repurchase at Option of Holder.

     (a)  If there is a Change of Control, the Issuers shall be required to make
an offer (a "Change of Control Offer") to repurchase all or any part (equal to
$1,000 or an integral multiple thereof) of each Holder's Notes at a purchase
price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes repurchased
plus accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest thereon, if any, to the
date of purchase or, in the case of repurchases of Notes prior to the full
Accretion Date, at a purchase price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal
amount of Notes repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest and Special
Interest thereon, if any, to such date of repurchase (in either case, the
"Change of Control Payment"). Within 30 days following any Change of Control,
the Issuers shall mail a notice to each Holder setting forth the procedures
governing the Change of Control Offer as required by the Indenture.

     (b)  If the Company or a Subsidiary consummates any Asset Sales, within
five Business Days of each date on which the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds
exceeds $10 million, the Issuers shall commence an offer to all Holders of Notes
(as "Asset Sale Offer") pursuant to Section 3.09 of the Indenture to purchase
the maximum principal amount of Notes (including any Additional Notes) that may
be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds at an offer price in cash in an amount
equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest
and Special Interests thereon, if any, to the date of purchase, in accordance
with the procedures set forth in the Indenture. To the extent that the aggregate
amount of Notes (including any Additional Notes) tendered pursuant to an Asset
Sale Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Company (or such Subsidiary)
may use such deficiency for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by the
Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes surrendered by Holders
thereof and such other pari passi indebtedness tendered exceeds the amount of
Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes and such other pari passi
indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis. Holders of Notes that are the
subject of an offer to purchase will receive an Asset Sale Offer from the
Issuers prior to any related purchase date and may elect to have such Notes
purchased by completing the form entitled "Option of Holder to Elect Purchase"
on the reverse of the Notes.

     8.   Notice of Redemption.  Notice of redemption will be mailed at least 30
days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder whose
Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address.  Notes in denominations
larger than $1,000 may be redeemed in part but only in whole multiples of
$1,000, unless all of the Notes held by a Holder are to be redeemed.  On and
after the redemption date interest ceases to accrue on Notes or portions thereof
called for redemption.

     9.   Denominations, Transfer, Exchange.  The Notes are in registered form
without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000.
The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged as provided
in the Indenture.  The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among
other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and the
Issuers may require a Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law or
permitted by the Indenture.  The Issuers need not exchange or register the
transfer of any Note or portion of a Note selected for
<PAGE>

redemption, except for the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in
part. Also, the Company need not exchange or register the transfer of any Notes
for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed or during the
period between a record date and the corresponding Interest Payment Date.

     10.  Persons Deemed Owners. The registered Holder of a Note may be treated
as its owner for all purposes.

     11.  Amendment, Supplement and Waiver.  Subject to certain exceptions, the
Indenture or the Notes may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the
Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes
and Additional Notes, if any, voting as a single class, and any existing default
or compliance with any provision of the Indenture or the Notes may be waived
with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then
outstanding Notes and Additional Notes, if any, voting as a single class.
Without the consent of any Holder of a Note, the Indenture or the Notes may be
amended or supplemented to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to
provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated
Notes, to provide for the assumption of the Issuers' obligations to Holders of
the Notes in case of a merger or consolidation, to make any change that would
provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of the Notes or that
does not adversely affect the legal rights under the Indenture of any such
Holder, to comply with the requirements of the SEC in order to effect or
maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, or to
provide for the Issuance of Additional Notes in accordance with the limitations
set forth in the Indenture.

     12.  Defaults and Remedies.  Events of Default include:  (i) default for 30
days in the payment when due of interest or Special Interests on the Notes; (ii)
default in payment when due of principal of or premium, if any, on the Notes
when the same becomes due and payable at maturity, upon redemption (including in
connection with an offer to purchase) or otherwise, (iii) failure by the Company
to comply for 30 days after notice with Section 4.07 or 4.09, or to comply with
Sections 4.10, 4.15 or 5.01 of the Indenture; (iv) failure by the Company for 45
days after notice to the Company by the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25%
in principal amount of the Notes (including Additional Notes, if any) then
outstanding voting as a single class to comply with certain other agreements in
the Indenture or the Notes; (v) default under certain other agreements relating
to Indebtedness of the Company which default results in the acceleration of such
Indebtedness prior to its express maturity; (vi) certain final judgments for the
payment of money that remain undischarged for a period of 60 days; and (vii)
certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company or any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries.  If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing,
the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then
outstanding Notes may declare all the Notes to be due and payable.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default arising from
certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency, all outstanding Notes will become
due and payable without further action or notice.  Holders may not enforce the
Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture.  Subject to certain
limitations, Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding
Notes may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee
may withhold from Holders of the Notes notice of any continuing Default or Event
of Default (except a Default or Event of Default relating to the payment of
principal or interest) if it determines that withholding notice is in their
interest.  The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes
then outstanding by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of
the Notes waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences
under the Indenture except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the
payment of interest on, Special Interest, if any, or the principal of, the
Notes.  The Issuers are required to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement
regarding compliance with the Indenture, and the Issuers are required upon
becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, to deliver to the Trustee a
statement specifying such Default or Event of Default.
<PAGE>

     13.  Trustee Dealings with Company.  The Trustee, in its individual or any
other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services
for the Issuers or their Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the Issuers or
their Affiliates, as if it were not the Trustee.

     14.  No Recourse Against Others. A director, officer, employee,
incorporator or stockholder, of the Issuers, as such, shall not have any
liability for any obligations of the Issuers under the Notes or the Indenture or
for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or
their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such
liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance
of the Notes.

     15.  Authentication. This Note shall not be valid until authenticated by
the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.

     16.  Abbreviations.  Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a
Holder or an assignee, such as:  TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (=
tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship
and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts
to Minors Act).

     17.  Additional Rights of Holders of Restricted Global Notes and Restricted
Definitive Notes.  In addition to the rights provided to Holders of Notes under
the Indenture, Holders of Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive
Notes shall have all the rights set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement
dated as of February 17, 2000, between the Issuers and the parties named on the
signature pages thereof (the "Registration Rights Agreement").

     18.  CUSIP Numbers. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the
Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Issuers have caused
CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes and the Trustee may use CUSIP numbers
in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made
as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as
contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the
other identification numbers placed thereon.

               The Issuers will furnish to any Holder upon written request and
without charge a copy of the Indenture and/or the Registration Rights Agreement.
Requests may be made to:

Madison River Capital, LLC
Madison River Finance Corp.
c/o Madison River Telephone Company, LLC
103 South Fifth Street
Mebane, NC  27302
Attention:  General Counsel