EXHIBIT 32.1



                  CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                       PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350

In connection with the accompanying Form 10-Q of Rural Cellular Corporation for
the quarter ended September 30, 2003, I, Richard P. Ekstrand, President and
Chief Executive Officer of Rural Cellular Corporation, hereby certify pursuant
to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

         (1) such Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2003, fully
             complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the
             Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

         (2) the information contained in such Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
             September 30, 2003, fairly presents, in all material respects, the
             financial condition and results of operations of Rural Cellular
             Corporation.


Date:   November 14, 2003       /s/ Richard P. Ekstrand
                               ------------------------------------------------
                                Richard P. Ekstrand
                                President and Chief Executive Officer



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