<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 24.1

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
                               -----------------


         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, a director of
IXC Communications, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), hereby
constitutes and appoints Ralph J. Swett and John J. Willingham, and each of
them with full power to act without the other, his true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact and agents of the undersigned, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in
any and all capacities (unless revoked in writing) to sign the Company's Annual
Report on Form 10-K, and any or all amendments thereto, and to file the same,
with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with
the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting to such attorneys-in-fact and
agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in connection therewith,
as fully to all intents and purposes as he might and could do in person hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of
them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be
done by virtue thereof.


Dated:  March 19, 1997


                                      /s/ PHILLIP L. WILLIAMS
                                      ------------------------------------
                                          Phillip L. Williams


<PAGE>   2
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
                               -----------------


         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, a director of
IXC Communications, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), hereby
constitutes and appoints Ralph J. Swett and John J. Willingham, and each of
them with full power to act without the other, his true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact and agents of the undersigned, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in
any and all capacities (unless revoked in writing) to sign the Company's Annual
Report on Form 10-K, and any or all amendments thereto, and to file the same,
with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with
the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting to such attorneys-in-fact and
agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in connection therewith,
as fully to all intents and purposes as he might and could do in person hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of
them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be
done by virtue thereof.


Dated:  March 20, 1997


                                      /s/ JOE C. CULP
                                      ------------------------------------
                                          Joe C. Culp
<PAGE>   3
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
                               -----------------


         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, a director of
IXC Communications, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), hereby
constitutes and appoints Ralph J. Swett and John J. Willingham, and each of
them with full power to act without the other, his true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact and agents of the undersigned, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in
any and all capacities (unless revoked in writing) to sign the Company's Annual
Report on Form 10-K, and any or all amendments thereto, and to file the same,
with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with
the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting to such attorneys-in-fact and
agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in connection therewith,
as fully to all intents and purposes as he might and could do in person hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of
them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be
done by virtue thereof.


Dated:  March 19, 1997


                                      /s/ RICHARD D. IRWIN
                                      ------------------------------------
                                          Richard D. Irwin


<PAGE>   4
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
                               -----------------


         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, a director of
IXC Communications, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), hereby
constitutes and appoints Ralph J. Swett and John J. Willingham, and each of
them with full power to act without the other, his true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact and agents of the undersigned, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in
any and all capacities (unless revoked in writing) to sign the Company's Annual
Report on Form 10-K, and any or all amendments thereto, and to file the same,
with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with
the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting to such attorneys-in-fact and
agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in connection therewith,
as fully to all intents and purposes as he might and could do in person hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of
them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be
done by virtue thereof.


Dated:  March 19, 1997


                                      /s/ WOLFE H. BRAGIN
                                      ------------------------------------
                                          Wolfe H. Bragin


<PAGE>   5
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
                               -----------------


         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, a director of
IXC Communications, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), hereby
constitutes and appoints Ralph J. Swett and John J. Willingham, and each of
them with full power to act without the other, his true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact and agents of the undersigned, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in
any and all capacities (unless revoked in writing) to sign the Company's Annual
Report on Form 10-K, and any or all amendments thereto, and to file the same,
with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with
the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting to such attorneys-in-fact and
agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in connection therewith,
as fully to all intents and purposes as he might and could do in person hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of
them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be
done by virtue thereof.


Dated:  March 20, 1997


                                      /s/ CARL W. MCKINZIE
                                      ------------------------------------
                                          Carl W. McKinzie