<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

<documentType>4</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-05-06</periodOfReport>
    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>
<issuer>        <issuerCik>0001043533</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>METROMEDIA FIBER NETWORK INC</issuerName>
<issuerTradingSymbol>MFNX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
    <reportingOwnerId>
        <rptOwnerCik>0001110785</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BECHTEL GROUP INC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
<reportingOwnerRelationship>
        <isDirector>0</isDirector>
        <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
        <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
        <isOther>0</isOther>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>8.5% Senior Subordinated Convertible Promissory Note</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>0.5283</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-05-06</value>
        </transactionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
    </transactionCoding>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>1</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>18137083.33</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2001-10-01</value>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2003-09-30</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>class A common stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>134495906</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>0</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>I</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <natureOfOwnership>
                <value>See Explanation of Responses below.</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </natureOfOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Bechtel Corporation, the direct owner of the Note, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bechtel Group, Inc. (with principal executive offices at 50 Beale Street, P.O. Box 193965, San Francisco, CA 94119) and therefore is the indirect beneficial owner of the Note and the class A common stock into which it is convertible.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Michael C. Bailey</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-05-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

