<PAGE>
 
                                                      REGISTRATION NO.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
                               ----------------
 
                                   FORM S-8
                                      TO
                            REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                          THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
 
                               ----------------
 
                        MCI COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
              (EXACT NAME OF ISSUER AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
 
                               ----------------
 
               DELAWARE                              52-0886267
    (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF               (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
    INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)               IDENTIFICATION NO.)
 
                        1801 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, N.W.
                            WASHINGTON, D.C. 20006
                   (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
 
                               ----------------
 
                        MCI COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
                           1990 STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
                           (FULL TITLE OF THE PLAN)
                           MICHAEL H. SALSBURY, ESQ.
                 EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL COUNSEL
                        MCI COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
                        1801 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, N.W.
                            WASHINGTON, D.C. 20006
                    (NAME AND ADDRESS OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)
  TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF AGENT FOR SERVICE: (202) 872-1600
 
                               ----------------
 
  APPROXIMATE DATE OF PROPOSED SALES: From time to time after effective date
of this Registration Statement.
 
                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                             PROPOSED
        TITLE OF                             MAXIMUM       PROPOSED
       SECURITIES             AMOUNT         OFFERING      MAXIMUM       AMOUNT OF
         TO BE                 TO BE          PRICE       AGGREGATE    REGISTRATION
       REGISTERED           REGISTERED      PER SHARE   OFFERING PRICE      FEE
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                      <C>               <C>          <C>            <C>
Common Stock (par value     11,000,000
 $.10 per share).......       Shares           (a)                     $105,733.49(b)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) Price will be determined according to plan rules, using the fair market
    value of the Common Stock as reported by the National Association of
    Securities Dealers Inc. through its Automated Quotation System.
(b) Filing fee was calculated pursuant to 17 CFR 230.457(c), using a price of
    $27.875 which is the closing price of MCI Communications Corporation
    Common Stock on April 19, 1996, as reported by the National Association of
    Securities Dealers Inc. on its Automated Quotation System, which is within
    5 business days prior to the date of filing.
 
  Exhibit Index is located at page 12 of this document.
 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
 
                             CROSS REFERENCE SHEET
 
                   PURSUANT TO ITEM 501(B) OF REGULATION S-K
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  ITEM
   NO.                  ITEM IN FORM S-8              CAPTION IN PROSPECTUS
  ----                  ----------------              ---------------------
 <C>     <S>                                          <C>
 Part I

   1.    Plan Information. .........................  Employee Handbook.

   2.    Registrant Information and Employee Plan     Employee Handbook.
          Annual Information. ......................   Registration Statement.
 Part II

   3.    Incorporation of Documents by Reference....  Employee Handbook.

   4.    Description of Securities. ................  Employee Handbook.

   5.    Interests of Named Experts and Counsel. ...  Registration Statement.
         
   6.    Indemnification of Directors and Officers..  Registration Statement.

   7.    Exemption from Registration Claimed. ......  Not Applicable.

   8.    Exhibits. .................................  Registration Statement

   9.    Undertakings. .............................  Registration Statement.

</TABLE>
<PAGE>
 
PROSPECTUS
 
                               11,000,000 SHARES
 
                        MCI COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
 
                                 COMMON STOCK
                          (PAR VALUE $.10 PER SHARE)
 
                               ----------------
 
                        MCI COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
 
                           1990 STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
                                 FOURTH OFFER
 
                               ----------------
 
  This Prospectus covers a maximum of 11,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par
value $.10 per share ("Common Stock"), of MCI Communications Corporation (the
"Company") offered by the Company to employees of the Company and its
subsidiaries through its 1990 Stock Purchase Plan by permitting employees to
make periodic purchases of Common Stock through payroll deductions at prices
below the market prices then pertaining.
 
                               ----------------
 
  THESE SECURITIES  HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY  THE SECURITIES
     AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION  NOR HAS THE COMMISSION PASSED  UPON THE AC-
        CURACY OR ADEQUACY  OF THIS PROSPECTUS.  ANY REPRESENTATION TO
           THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 
                               ----------------
 
                 The date of this Prospectus is April 26, 1996
<PAGE>
 
ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.
 
  The following documents filed by the Registrant with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") are incorporated by reference in this
Registration Statement, except to the extent that any statement or information
contained therein is modified, superseded or replaced by a statement or
information contained in any subsequently filed document incorporated herein
by reference:
 
    (a) The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
  December 31, 1995.
 
    (b) The description of securities to be registered contained in the
  Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities
  Exchange Act of 1934 (the "1934 Act") relating to the Registrant's Common
  Stock, including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of
  updating such description.
 
    (c) All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to
  Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act, prior to the filing of
  a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement which indicates
  that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all
  such securities remaining unsold.
 
ITEM 4. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.
 
  Not applicable.
 
ITEM 5. INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.
 
  The validity of the securities offered hereby has been passed upon for the
Company by Michael H. Salsbury, Esquire, 1801 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20006, General Counsel of the Company. At March 31, 1996, Mr.
Salsbury owned 20,040 shares of Common Stock of the Company.
 
ITEM 6. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
 
  The Registrant has in effect an insurance policy covering officers' and
directors' legal liability containing a maximum limit of $25 million per loss
per policy year, including legal fees and expenses, with retained liability
for each loss for its officers and directors of $50,000 in the aggregate, and
$2,500,000 for the Registrant.
 
  The Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation, at Section 8, provides as
follows:
 
    (a) No director of this corporation shall be personally liable to this
  corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of
  fiduciary duty as a director; provided that this provision shall not
  eliminate or limit the liability of a director (i) for any breach of the
  director's duty of loyalty to this corporation or its stockholders, (ii)
  for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional
  misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the
  General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, or (iv) for any
  transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.
  If the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware is amended after
  approval by the stockholders of this paragraph (a) to authorize corporate
  action further limiting or eliminating the personal liability of directors,
  then the liability of a director of this corporation shall be limited or
  eliminated to the fullest extent permitted by the General Corporation Law
  of the State of Delaware, as so amended. No amendment or repeal of this
  paragraph (a) shall apply to or have any effect on the liability or alleged
  liability of any director of this corporation for or with respect to any
  acts or omissions of such director occurring prior to such amendment or
  repeal.
 
    (b) This corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware
  law, as in effect from time to time, indemnify all persons who are or were
  directors, officers and employees of this corporation or any wholly owned
  subsidiary, and all such directors, officers and employees who, at the
  request of this corporation, are or were at any time serving any other
  corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or
  other enterprise in any capacity. This corporation may also indemnify all
  other persons to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law.
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
 
  The General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, at Section 145,
provides, in pertinent part, that a corporation may indemnify any person who
was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened,
pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of
the corporation), by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer,
employee or agent of the corporation or serving another corporation at the
request of the corporation, against expenses (including attorneys' fees),
judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement, actually and reasonably
incurred by him if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably
believed to be in or not opposed to the best interest of the corporation and,
with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to
believe his conduct was unlawful. Lack of good faith is not presumed from a
settlement or nolo contendere plea. In addition, the indemnification of
expenses (including attorneys' fees) is allowed in derivative actions, except
no indemnification is allowed in respect to any claim, issue or matter as to
which any such person has been adjudged to be liable to the corporation,
unless the Court of Chancery decides that indemnification is proper. To the
extent that any such person succeeds on the merits or otherwise, he shall be
indemnified against expenses (including attorneys' fees). The determination
that the person to be indemnified met the applicable standard of conduct, if
not made by the Court, is made by the board of directors of the corporation by
a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors not party to such an
action, suit or proceeding or, if a quorum is not obtainable or a
disinterested quorum so directs, by independent legal counsel or by the
stockholders. Expenses may be paid in advance upon the receipt of undertakings
to repay. A corporation may purchase indemnity insurance.
 
  The Registrant has indemnification agreements with each of its directors
which have been approved by stockholders. The indemnification under the
indemnification agreements differs from that provided in Section 8 of the
Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation in the following ways: (i) the
Registrant is obligated to advance litigation expenses to an indemnitee,
subject to reimbursement if the Reviewing Party (as defined in the
indemnification agreements) determines that the director would not be
permitted such indemnification under applicable laws; (ii) the Registrant must
prove that the applicable standard of conduct has not been met for
indemnification if the Registrant denies protection to a director; (iii) upon
a potential change in control (as defined in the indemnification agreements)
the Registrant is required to contribute an amount sufficient to pay all
claims for which the indemnitee is entitled to be indemnified to a trust for
the benefit of the indemnitee (subject to an overall maximum amount on such
trusts); (iv) a subsequent board of directors, hostile to an indemnitee
entitled to indemnification, will not have the right to make a final
determination that the indemnitee has not met the required standard of care;
and (v) the period of time in which the Registrant may sue an indemnitee for
an action is limited to two years from the date of accrual of such cause of
action.
 
ITEM 7. EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.
 
  Not applicable.
 
ITEM 8. EXHIBITS.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION
 ----------- -----------
 <C>         <S>
  4(a)       Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Registrant (incorporated
              by reference to Exhibit 3(a) to the Registrant's Annual Report on
              Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995).
  4(b)       By-laws of Registrant, as amended (incorporated by reference to
              Exhibit 3(ii) to the Registrant's Form S-3 Registration No. 33-
              57155).
  4(c)       1990 Stock Purchase Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
              4(e) of Registrant's Original Prospectus dated July 18, 1989).
  5          Opinion of Counsel re Legality.
 24(a)       Consent of Independent Accountants.
 24(b)       Consent of Counsel (included in Exhibit 5).
</TABLE>
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
 
ITEM 9. UNDERTAKINGS.
 
  The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
 
    1. To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
  post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:
 
      (i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the
    Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act");
 
      (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after
    the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent
    post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
    aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth
    in the Registration Statement;
 
      (iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of
    distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or
    any material change to such information in the Registration Statement;
 
    provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) above do
    not apply if the information required to be included in a post-
    effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic
    reports filed by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d)
    of the 1934 Act that are incorporated by reference in the Registration
    Statement.
 
    2. That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the 1933 Act,
  each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration
  statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of
  such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide
  offering thereof.
 
    3. To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any
  of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination
  of the offering.
 
  The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the 1933 Act, each filing of the Registrant's
annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the 1934 Act that
is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to
be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein,
and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the
initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
  Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the 1933 Act may be
permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant
pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been
advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against
public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.
In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other
than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director,
officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of
any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or
controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the
Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been
settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
 
                                  SIGNATURES
 
  PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, THE REGISTRANT
CERTIFIES THAT IT HAS REASONABLE GROUNDS TO BELIEVE THAT IT MEETS ALL OF THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR FILING ON FORM S-8 AND HAS DULY CAUSED THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT TO BE SIGNED ON ITS BEHALF BY THE UNDERSIGNED, THEREUNTO DULY
AUTHORIZED, IN THE CITY OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ON THIS 26TH DAY
OF APRIL, 1996.
 
                                          MCI Communications Corporation
 
                                          By:      Bert C. Roberts, Jr.
                                             ------------------------------
                                             BERT C. ROBERTS, JR., Chairman
 
  PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, THIS
REGISTRATION STATEMENT HAS BEEN SIGNED BY THE FOLLOWING PERSONS IN THE
CAPACITIES INDICATED ON THIS 26TH DAY OF APRIL, 1996.
 
              SIGNATURE                        TITLE
 
        Bert C. Roberts, Jr.           Principal Executive
- -------------------------------------   Officer, Director
        BERT C. ROBERTS, JR.
 
          Douglas L. Maine             Principal Financial
- -------------------------------------   Officer
          DOUGLAS L. MAINE
 
         James M. Schneider            Principal Accounting
- -------------------------------------   Officer
         JAMES M. SCHNEIDER
 
     Clifford L. Alexander, Jr.        Director
- -------------------------------------
     CLIFFORD L. ALEXANDER, JR.
 
            Judith Areen               Director
- -------------------------------------
            JUDITH AREEN
 
          Michael H. Bader             Director
- -------------------------------------
          MICHAEL H. BADER
 
                                       Director
- -------------------------------------
          PETER L. BONFIELD
 
          Richard M. Jones             Director
- -------------------------------------
          RICHARD M. JONES
 
          Gordon S. Macklin            Director
- -------------------------------------
          GORDON S. MACKLIN
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
 
                                        Director
- -------------------------------------
          ALFRED T. MOCKETT
 
          K. Rupert Murdoch             Director
- -------------------------------------
          K. RUPERT MURDOCH
 
            Alan W. Rudge               Director
- -------------------------------------
            ALAN W. RUDGE
 
         Richard B. Sayford             Director
- -------------------------------------
         RICHARD B. SAYFORD
 
          Gerald H. Taylor              Director
- -------------------------------------
          GERALD H. TAYLOR
 
          Judith Whittaker              Director
- -------------------------------------
          JUDITH WHITTAKER
 
         John R. Worthington            Director
- -------------------------------------
         JOHN R. WORTHINGTON
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
 
                               Index to Exhibits
                                                   
<TABLE>                                            
<CAPTION>                                           
                                                              Sequential 
Exhibit No.       Description                                  Page No.
- -----------       -----------                                 ----------
<S>               <C>                                         <C>
4(a)              Restated Certificate of                    
                  Incorporation of Registrant                
                  (incorporated by reference to              
                  Exhibit 3(a) to the Registrant's           
                  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the         
                  year ended December 31, 1995).             
                                                      
4(b)              By-laws of Registrant, as amended          
                  (incorporated by reference to              
                  Exhibit 3(ii) to the Registrant's          
                  Form S-3 Registration No. 33-              
                  57155).                                    
                                                      
4(c)              1990 Stock Purchase Plan                   
                  (incorporated by reference to              
                  Exhibit 4(e) to Registrant's               
                  Original Prospectus dated July 18,         
                  1989).                                     
                                                      
5                 Opinion of Counsel re Legality.                     13
                                                      
24(a)             Consent of Independent                              14
                  Accountants.                               
                                                      
24(b)             Consent of Counsel (included in            
                  Exhibit 5).                                
 
</TABLE>
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 23398}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "MCI COMMUNICATIONS CORP", "cik": "0000064079", "assigned-sic": "4813", "irs-number": "520886267", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-02887", "film-number": "96551815"}, "business-address": {"street1": "1801 PENNSYLVANIA AVE N W", "city": "WASHINGTON", "state": "DC", "zip": "20006", "phone": "2028721600"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "1801 PENNSYVANIA AVENUE NW", "city": "WASHINGTON", "state": "DC", "zip": "20006"}}
REGISTRATION NO.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
                               ----------------
 
                                   FORM S-8
                                      TO
                            REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                          THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
 
                               ----------------
 
                        MCI COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
              (EXACT NAME OF ISSUER AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
 
                               ----------------
 
               DELAWARE                              52-0886267
    (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF               (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
    INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)               IDENTIFICATION NO.)
 
                        1801 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, N.W.
                            WASHINGTON, D.C. 20006
                   (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
 
                               ----------------
 
                        MCI COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
                           1990 STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
                           (FULL TITLE OF THE PLAN)
                           MICHAEL H. SALSBURY, ESQ.
                 EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL COUNSEL
                        MCI COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
                        1801 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, N.W.
                            WASHINGTON, D.C. 20006
                    (NAME AND ADDRESS OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)
  TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF AGENT FOR SERVICE: (202) 872-1600
 
                               ----------------
 
  APPROXIMATE DATE OF PROPOSED SALES: From time to time after effective date
of this Registration Statement.
 
                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROPOSED
        TITLE OF                             MAXIMUM       PROPOSED
       SECURITIES             AMOUNT         OFFERING      MAXIMUM       AMOUNT OF
         TO BE                 TO BE          PRICE       AGGREGATE    REGISTRATION
       REGISTERED           REGISTERED      PER SHARE   OFFERING PRICE      FEE
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock (par value     11,000,000
 $.10 per share).......       Shares           (a)                     $105,733.49(b)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) Price will be determined according to plan rules, using the fair market
    value of the Common Stock as reported by the National Association of
    Securities Dealers Inc. through its Automated Quotation System.
(b) Filing fee was calculated pursuant to 17 CFR 230.457(c), using a price of
    $27.875 which is the closing price of MCI Communications Corporation
    Common Stock on April 19, 1996, as reported by the National Association of
    Securities Dealers Inc. on its Automated Quotation System, which is within
    5 business days prior to the date of filing.
 
  Exhibit Index is located at page 12 of this document.
 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CROSS REFERENCE SHEET
 
                   PURSUANT TO ITEM 501(B) OF REGULATION S-K
ITEM
   NO.                  ITEM IN FORM S-8              CAPTION IN PROSPECTUS
  ----                  ----------------              ---------------------
Part I

   1.    Plan Information. .........................  Employee Handbook.

   2.    Registrant Information and Employee Plan     Employee Handbook.
          Annual Information. ......................   Registration Statement.
 Part II

   3.    Incorporation of Documents by Reference....  Employee Handbook.

   4.    Description of Securities. ................  Employee Handbook.

   5.    Interests of Named Experts and Counsel. ...  Registration Statement.
         
   6.    Indemnification of Directors and Officers..  Registration Statement.

   7.    Exemption from Registration Claimed. ......  Not Applicable.

   8.    Exhibits. .................................  Registration Statement

   9.    Undertakings. .............................  Registration Statement.
PROSPECTUS
 
                               11,000,000 SHARES
 
                        MCI COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
 
                                 COMMON STOCK
                          (PAR VALUE $.10 PER SHARE)
 
                               ----------------
 
                        MCI COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
 
                           1990 STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
                                 FOURTH OFFER
 
                               ----------------
 
  This Prospectus covers a maximum of 11,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par
value $.10 per share ("Common Stock"), of MCI Communications Corporation (the
"Company") offered by the Company to employees of the Company and its
subsidiaries through its 1990 Stock Purchase Plan by permitting employees to
make periodic purchases of Common Stock through payroll deductions at prices
below the market prices then pertaining.
 
                               ----------------
 
  THESE SECURITIES  HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY  THE SECURITIES
     AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION  NOR HAS THE COMMISSION PASSED  UPON THE AC-
        CURACY OR ADEQUACY  OF THIS PROSPECTUS.  ANY REPRESENTATION TO
           THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 
                               ----------------
 
                 The date of this Prospectus is April 26, 1996
ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.
 
  The following documents filed by the Registrant with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") are incorporated by reference in this
Registration Statement, except to the extent that any statement or information
contained therein is modified, superseded or replaced by a statement or
information contained in any subsequently filed document incorporated herein
by reference:
 
    (a) The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
  December 31, 1995.
 
    (b) The description of securities to be registered contained in the
  Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities
  Exchange Act of 1934 (the "1934 Act") relating to the Registrant's Common
  Stock, including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of
  updating such description.
 
    (c) All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to
  Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act, prior to the filing of
  a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement which indicates
  that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all
  such securities remaining unsold.
 
ITEM 4. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.
 
  Not applicable.
 
ITEM 5. INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.
 
  The validity of the securities offered hereby has been passed upon for the
Company by Michael H. Salsbury, Esquire, 1801 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20006, General Counsel of the Company. At March 31, 1996, Mr.
Salsbury owned 20,040 shares of Common Stock of the Company.
 
ITEM 6. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
 
  The Registrant has in effect an insurance policy covering officers' and
directors' legal liability containing a maximum limit of $25 million per loss
per policy year, including legal fees and expenses, with retained liability
for each loss for its officers and directors of $50,000 in the aggregate, and
$2,500,000 for the Registrant.
 
  The Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation, at Section 8, provides as
follows:
 
    (a) No director of this corporation shall be personally liable to this
  corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of
  fiduciary duty as a director; provided that this provision shall not
  eliminate or limit the liability of a director (i) for any breach of the
  director's duty of loyalty to this corporation or its stockholders, (ii)
  for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional
  misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the
  General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, or (iv) for any
  transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.
  If the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware is amended after
  approval by the stockholders of this paragraph (a) to authorize corporate
  action further limiting or eliminating the personal liability of directors,
  then the liability of a director of this corporation shall be limited or
  eliminated to the fullest extent permitted by the General Corporation Law
  of the State of Delaware, as so amended. No amendment or repeal of this
  paragraph (a) shall apply to or have any effect on the liability or alleged
  liability of any director of this corporation for or with respect to any
  acts or omissions of such director occurring prior to such amendment or
  repeal.
 
    (b) This corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware
  law, as in effect from time to time, indemnify all persons who are or were
  directors, officers and employees of this corporation or any wholly owned
  subsidiary, and all such directors, officers and employees who, at the
  request of this corporation, are or were at any time serving any other
  corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or
  other enterprise in any capacity. This corporation may also indemnify all
  other persons to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law.
 
                                       2
The General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, at Section 145,
provides, in pertinent part, that a corporation may indemnify any person who
was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened,
pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of
the corporation), by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer,
employee or agent of the corporation or serving another corporation at the
request of the corporation, against expenses (including attorneys' fees),
judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement, actually and reasonably
incurred by him if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably
believed to be in or not opposed to the best interest of the corporation and,
with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to
believe his conduct was unlawful. Lack of good faith is not presumed from a
settlement or nolo contendere plea. In addition, the indemnification of
expenses (including attorneys' fees) is allowed in derivative actions, except
no indemnification is allowed in respect to any claim, issue or matter as to
which any such person has been adjudged to be liable to the corporation,
unless the Court of Chancery decides that indemnification is proper. To the
extent that any such person succeeds on the merits or otherwise, he shall be
indemnified against expenses (including attorneys' fees). The determination
that the person to be indemnified met the applicable standard of conduct, if
not made by the Court, is made by the board of directors of the corporation by
a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors not party to such an
action, suit or proceeding or, if a quorum is not obtainable or a
disinterested quorum so directs, by independent legal counsel or by the
stockholders. Expenses may be paid in advance upon the receipt of undertakings
to repay. A corporation may purchase indemnity insurance.
 
  The Registrant has indemnification agreements with each of its directors
which have been approved by stockholders. The indemnification under the
indemnification agreements differs from that provided in Section 8 of the
Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation in the following ways: (i) the
Registrant is obligated to advance litigation expenses to an indemnitee,
subject to reimbursement if the Reviewing Party (as defined in the
indemnification agreements) determines that the director would not be
permitted such indemnification under applicable laws; (ii) the Registrant must
prove that the applicable standard of conduct has not been met for
indemnification if the Registrant denies protection to a director; (iii) upon
a potential change in control (as defined in the indemnification agreements)
the Registrant is required to contribute an amount sufficient to pay all
claims for which the indemnitee is entitled to be indemnified to a trust for
the benefit of the indemnitee (subject to an overall maximum amount on such
trusts); (iv) a subsequent board of directors, hostile to an indemnitee
entitled to indemnification, will not have the right to make a final
determination that the indemnitee has not met the required standard of care;
and (v) the period of time in which the Registrant may sue an indemnitee for
an action is limited to two years from the date of accrual of such cause of
action.
 
ITEM 7. EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.
 
  Not applicable.
 
ITEM 8. EXHIBITS.
EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION
 ----------- -----------
4(a)       Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Registrant (incorporated
              by reference to Exhibit 3(a) to the Registrant's Annual Report on
              Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995).
  4(b)       By-laws of Registrant, as amended (incorporated by reference to
              Exhibit 3(ii) to the Registrant's Form S-3 Registration No. 33-
              57155).
  4(c)       1990 Stock Purchase Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
              4(e) of Registrant's Original Prospectus dated July 18, 1989).
  5          Opinion of Counsel re Legality.
 24(a)       Consent of Independent Accountants.
 24(b)       Consent of Counsel (included in Exhibit 5).
3
ITEM 9. UNDERTAKINGS.
 
  The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
 
    1. To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
  post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:
 
      (i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the
    Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act");
 
      (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after
    the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent
    post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
    aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth
    in the Registration Statement;
 
      (iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of
    distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or
    any material change to such information in the Registration Statement;
 
    provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) above do
    not apply if the information required to be included in a post-
    effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic
    reports filed by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d)
    of the 1934 Act that are incorporated by reference in the Registration
    Statement.
 
    2. That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the 1933 Act,
  each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration
  statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of
  such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide
  offering thereof.
 
    3. To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any
  of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination
  of the offering.
 
  The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the 1933 Act, each filing of the Registrant's
annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the 1934 Act that
is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to
be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein,
and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the
initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
  Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the 1933 Act may be
permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant
pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been
advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against
public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.
In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other
than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director,
officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of
any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or
controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the
Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been
settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.
 
                                       4
SIGNATURES
 
  PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, THE REGISTRANT
CERTIFIES THAT IT HAS REASONABLE GROUNDS TO BELIEVE THAT IT MEETS ALL OF THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR FILING ON FORM S-8 AND HAS DULY CAUSED THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT TO BE SIGNED ON ITS BEHALF BY THE UNDERSIGNED, THEREUNTO DULY
AUTHORIZED, IN THE CITY OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ON THIS 26TH DAY
OF APRIL, 1996.
 
                                          MCI Communications Corporation
 
                                          By:      Bert C. Roberts, Jr.
                                             ------------------------------
                                             BERT C. ROBERTS, JR., Chairman
 
  PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, THIS
REGISTRATION STATEMENT HAS BEEN SIGNED BY THE FOLLOWING PERSONS IN THE
CAPACITIES INDICATED ON THIS 26TH DAY OF APRIL, 1996.
 
              SIGNATURE                        TITLE
 
        Bert C. Roberts, Jr.           Principal Executive
- -------------------------------------   Officer, Director
        BERT C. ROBERTS, JR.
 
          Douglas L. Maine             Principal Financial
- -------------------------------------   Officer
          DOUGLAS L. MAINE
 
         James M. Schneider            Principal Accounting
- -------------------------------------   Officer
         JAMES M. SCHNEIDER
 
     Clifford L. Alexander, Jr.        Director
- -------------------------------------
     CLIFFORD L. ALEXANDER, JR.
 
            Judith Areen               Director
- -------------------------------------
            JUDITH AREEN
 
          Michael H. Bader             Director
- -------------------------------------
          MICHAEL H. BADER
 
                                       Director
- -------------------------------------
          PETER L. BONFIELD
 
          Richard M. Jones             Director
- -------------------------------------
          RICHARD M. JONES
 
          Gordon S. Macklin            Director
- -------------------------------------
          GORDON S. MACKLIN
 
                                       5
Director
- -------------------------------------
          ALFRED T. MOCKETT
 
          K. Rupert Murdoch             Director
- -------------------------------------
          K. RUPERT MURDOCH
 
            Alan W. Rudge               Director
- -------------------------------------
            ALAN W. RUDGE
 
         Richard B. Sayford             Director
- -------------------------------------
         RICHARD B. SAYFORD
 
          Gerald H. Taylor              Director
- -------------------------------------
          GERALD H. TAYLOR
 
          Judith Whittaker              Director
- -------------------------------------
          JUDITH WHITTAKER
 
         John R. Worthington            Director
- -------------------------------------
         JOHN R. WORTHINGTON
 
                                       6
Index to Exhibits
Sequential 
Exhibit No.       Description                                  Page No.
- -----------       -----------                                 ----------
4(a)              Restated Certificate of                    
                  Incorporation of Registrant                
                  (incorporated by reference to              
                  Exhibit 3(a) to the Registrant's           
                  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the         
                  year ended December 31, 1995).             
                                                      
4(b)              By-laws of Registrant, as amended          
                  (incorporated by reference to              
                  Exhibit 3(ii) to the Registrant's          
                  Form S-3 Registration No. 33-              
                  57155).                                    
                                                      
4(c)              1990 Stock Purchase Plan                   
                  (incorporated by reference to              
                  Exhibit 4(e) to Registrant's               
                  Original Prospectus dated July 18,         
                  1989).                                     
                                                      
5                 Opinion of Counsel re Legality.                     13
                                                      
24(a)             Consent of Independent                              14
                  Accountants.                               
                                                      
24(b)             Consent of Counsel (included in            
                  Exhibit 5).