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  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="win_NumeratorAbstract" name="NumeratorAbstract" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:stringItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="win_OperatingTargetConsiderationPeriod" name="OperatingTargetConsiderationPeriod" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:durationItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="win_OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlanAdjustmentAmountsArisingInPeriodAbstract" name="OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlanAdjustmentAmountsArisingInPeriodAbstract" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:stringItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="win_OtherCurrentLiabilitiesMember" name="OtherCurrentLiabilitiesMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="win_OtherIncludingDevelopedTechnologyMember" name="OtherIncludingDevelopedTechnologyMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="win_OtherNoncurrentLiabilitiesMember" name="OtherNoncurrentLiabilitiesMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="win_PaetecHoldingCorpMember" name="PaetecHoldingCorpMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="win_PaetecIssuerMember" name="PaetecIssuerMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="win_RatioOfIndebtednessToEarnings" name="RatioOfIndebtednessToEarnings" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="num:percentItemType" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element id="win_RemainingLiabilityForAccruedMergerIntegrationAndRestructuringCharges" name="RemainingLiabilityForAccruedMergerIntegrationAndRestructuringCharges" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" xbrli:balance="credit" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element id="win_ReportingUnits" name="ReportingUnits" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:integerItemType" xbrli:periodType="instant" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="win_RestrictedStockAndRestrictedStockUnitsMember" name="RestrictedStockAndRestrictedStockUnitsMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="win_RestrictedStockAwardsMember" name="RestrictedStockAwardsMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="win_RestrictedStockRestrictedStockUnitsAndStockAppreciationRightsMember" name="RestrictedStockRestrictedStockUnitsAndStockAppreciationRightsMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="win_RestructuringIntegrationAndMergerCostAbstract" name="RestructuringIntegrationAndMergerCostAbstract" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:stringItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="win_RestructuringIntegrationAndMergerCostRollForward" name="RestructuringIntegrationAndMergerCostRollForward" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:stringItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="win_RevolvingLineOfCreditDue2015Member" name="RevolvingLineOfCreditDue2015Member" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="win_ScheduleOfMergerIntegrationAndRestructuringActivitiesTableTextBlock" name="ScheduleOfMergerIntegrationAndRestructuringActivitiesTableTextBlock" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:textBlockItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="win_ScheduleOfRestructuringAndReorganizationCostsBenefitsNet" name="ScheduleOfRestructuringAndReorganizationCostsBenefitsNet" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:textBlockItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="win_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardVestingPeriodAxis" name="ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardVestingPeriodAxis" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrldt:dimensionItem" type="xbrli:stringItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="win_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardVestingPeriodDomain" name="ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardVestingPeriodDomain" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="win_SeniorSecuredCreditFacilityTrancheA2AmendedAndRestatedToTrancheA3Domain" name="SeniorSecuredCreditFacilityTrancheA2AmendedAndRestatedToTrancheA3Domain" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="win_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodTotalFairValue" name="ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodTotalFairValue" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" xbrli:balance="debit" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="win_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardVestedSharesAsPercentageOfAward" name="ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardVestedSharesAsPercentageOfAward" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="num:percentItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="win_SignageAndOtherRebrandingCosts" name="SignageAndOtherRebrandingCosts" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" xbrli:balance="debit" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="win_SignificantAccountingPoliciesAndNewAccountingPronouncementsAbstract" name="SignificantAccountingPoliciesAndNewAccountingPronouncementsAbstract" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:stringItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="win_SignificantAccountingPoliciesLineItems" name="SignificantAccountingPoliciesLineItems" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:stringItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="win_SignificantAccountingPoliciesTable" name="SignificantAccountingPoliciesTable" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrldt:hypercubeItem" type="xbrli:stringItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="win_SummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesTextBlock" name="SummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesTextBlock" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:textBlockItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="win_TaxesWithheldOnVestedRestrictedStockAndOther" name="TaxesWithheldOnVestedRestrictedStockAndOther" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" xbrli:balance="debit" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="win_TrancheA2Notes2013Member" name="TrancheA2Notes2013Member" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="win_TrancheA3Notes2016Member" name="TrancheA3Notes2016Member" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="win_TrancheB2Notes2015Member" name="TrancheB2Notes2015Member" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="win_TrancheBNotes2013Member" name="TrancheBNotes2013Member" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element id="win_UnamortizedNetPremiumdiscountOnRetiredDebt" name="UnamortizedNetPremiumdiscountOnRetiredDebt" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" xbrli:balance="credit" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="win_ValorTelecommunicationsEnterprisesLlcAndValorTelecommunicationsFinanceCorpMember" name="ValorTelecommunicationsEnterprisesLlcAndValorTelecommunicationsFinanceCorpMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="win_VestContingentlyOverThreeYearPerformancePeriodMember" name="VestContingentlyOverThreeYearPerformancePeriodMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="win_VestOneYearFromGrantDateServiceBasedMember" name="VestOneYearFromGrantDateServiceBasedMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="win_VestRatablyOverThreeYearServicePeriodMember" name="VestRatablyOverThreeYearServicePeriodMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="win_VestThreeYearFromGrantDateServiceBasedMember" name="VestThreeYearFromGrantDateServiceBasedMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="win_WholesaleProductsSuspendedOrModifiedDomain" name="WholesaleProductsSuspendedOrModifiedDomain" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="win_WindstreamGeorgiaCommunicationsLlcMember" name="WindstreamGeorgiaCommunicationsLlcMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
  <xsd:element abstract="true" id="win_WindstreamHoldingsOfMidwestIncMember" name="WindstreamHoldingsOfMidwestIncMember" nillable="true" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" type="nonnum:domainItemType" xbrli:periodType="duration" />
</xsd:schema>
