Exhibit 5.01


                  Buchanan Ingersoll Professional Corporation
                               One Oxford Centre
                         301 Grant Street, 20th Floor
                           Pittsburgh, PA 15219-1410

                                 June 13, 2001

Adelphia Communications Corporation
One North Main Street
Coudersport, Pennsylvania 16915

Re:  Adelphia Communications Corporation

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     We have acted as counsel to Adelphia Communications Corporation, a Delaware
corporation ("Adelphia" or the "Company"), in connection with the preparation of
a Registration Statement on Form S-3, registering 453,636 shares of Class A
common stock (the "Shares") and to which this opinion is an exhibit (the
"Registration Statement"), including the form of prospectus included therein
(the "Prospectus"), filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Act"), relating to the registration for resale by the Selling Stockholders
named therein.

     In connection with this opinion, we have examined originals or copies,
certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such documents,
certificates or records as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as bases for
the opinions set forth herein.  In our examination, we have assumed the legal
capacity of all natural persons, the genuineness of all signatures, the
authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to
original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic
copies and the authenticity of the originals of such copies.

     Upon the basis of such examination, we advise you that in our opinion the
Shares to be sold by the Selling Stockholders have been duly and validly
authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.  It is our
understanding that this opinion is to be used only in connection with the offer
and sale of the Shares while the Registration Statement is in effect.

     We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement and any amendment thereto, including any and all post-effective
amendments and any registration statement relating to the same offering that is
to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act,
and to the reference to this firm under the caption "Legal Matters."  In giving
such consent, we do not hereby admit that we are in the category of persons
whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

                              BUCHANAN INGERSOLL PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION


                              By: /s/ Carl E. Rothenberger, Jr.
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