FORM 3 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person*
Markert William D
(Last) (First) (Middle)
1467 ASHBOURNE CIRCLE
(Street)
SHAKOPEE MN 55379
(City) (State) (Zip)
2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
06/05/2006 		3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
ESCHELON TELECOM INC [ ESCH ]
4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
Director 10% Owner
X Officer (give title below) Other (specify below)
EVP - Network Financial Mgmt
5. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)
X Form filed by One Reporting Person
Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 4) 2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned (Instr. 4) 3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5) 4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
Common Stock 10,993(1) D
Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 4) 2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year) 3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 4) 4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 5. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5) 6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Common Stock Options 05/22/2003 05/22/2013 Common Stock 444(2) 0.68 D
Common Stock Options 05/20/2004 05/20/2014 Common Stock 2,953(3) 1.36 D
Common Stock Options 04/01/2005 04/01/2015 Common Stock 592(4) 2.71 D
Common Stock Options 04/29/2005 04/29/2015 Common Stock 5,982(5) 6.78 D
Common Stock Options 08/18/2005 08/18/2015 Common Stock 1,239(6) 12.19 D
Explanation of Responses:
1. On February 7, 2003, Mr. Markert was granted 13,112 restricted shares of the Company's common stock. 3,300 shares were sold on 2/21/06, 7,927 shares are vested and 1,885 vest on 2/7/07. Mr. Markert also owns 1,181 shares of common stock.
2. On May 22, 2003, Mr. Markert was granted options to purchase 739 shares of common stock. 295 options were exercised on 4/27/05, 296 options are vested and 148 options vest on 5/22/07.
3. On May 20, 2004, Mr. Markert was granted options to purchase 3,691 shares of common stock. 738 options were exercised on 4/27/05, 1,476 options are vested, 738 options vest on 5/20/07 and 739 options vest on 5/20/08.
4. On April 1, 2005, Mr. Markert was granted options to purchase 739 shares of common stock. 147 options were exercised on 4/27/05, 148 options are vested and the remaining 444 options vest equally over the next three anniversary dates.
5. On April 29, 2005, Mr. Markert was granted options to purchase 5,982 shares of common stock. 3,988 options are vested and 1,994 options vest on 4/29/07.
6. On August 18, 2005, Mr. Markert was granted options to purchase 1,239 shares of common stock. 247 options are vested and the remaining 992 options vest equally over the next four anniversary dates.
/s/ William D. Markert 06/05/2006
** Signature of Reporting Person Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.