<PAGE>   1

                           SPECIFIC POWER OF ATTORNEY


      KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, Richard R. Jaros do make,
constitute and appoint Timothy J. Stoklosa, RCN Corporation's Chief Financial
Officer, as my true and lawful attorney for me and in my name:

      1.    I authorize said attorney in fact to specifically execute in my name
            and on my behalf the RCN Corporation Form 10-K for the fiscal year
            ended December 31, 2000, and to file said form to the Securities and
            Exchange Commission, 450 5th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549,
            and relative instruments in writing which I deem requisite or proper
            to effectuate specifically the execution and delivery of the
            above-mentioned form with the same validity as I could, if
            personally present, and I hereby ratify and affirm that my said
            attorney as I may deem to act for me, shall do, by virtue of these
            presents, herein set forth by me.

      2.    All rights, powers and authority of said attorney in fact to
            exercise any and all of the specific rights and powers herein
            granted shall commence and be in full force and effect as of the
            date hereof, and such specific rights, powers and authority shall
            remain in full force and effect thereafter until termination in
            writing by me.

      3.    I give to said attorney in fact full power and authority to appoint
            a substitute to perform all such of the acts that said attorney in
            fact is by this instrument authorized to perform, with the right to
            revoke such appointment of substitute at pleasure.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand and seal this __ day of
      ___________, 2001.


                                        /s/ Richard R. Jaros

                                        ______________________(SEAL)
                                        Richard R. Jaros

Witness:


----------------------
<PAGE>   2

                           SPECIFIC POWER OF ATTORNEY

      KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, Thomas J. May do make, constitute
and appoint Timothy J. Stoklosa, RCN Corporation's Chief Financial Officer, as
my true and lawful attorney for me and in my name:

      1.    I authorize said attorney in fact to specifically execute in my name
            and on my behalf the RCN Corporation Form 10-K for the fiscal year
            ended December 31, 2000, and to file said form to the Securities and
            Exchange Commission, 450 5th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549,
            and relative instruments in writing which I deem requisite or proper
            to effectuate specifically the execution and delivery of the
            above-mentioned form with the same validity as I could, if
            personally present, and I hereby ratify and affirm that my said
            attorney as I may deem to act for me, shall do, by virtue of these
            presents, herein set forth by me.

      2.    All rights, powers and authority of said attorney in fact to
            exercise any and all of the specific rights and powers herein
            granted shall commence and be in full force and effect as of the
            date hereof, and such specific rights, powers and authority shall
            remain in full force and effect thereafter until termination in
            writing by me.

      3.    I give to said attorney in fact full power and authority to appoint
            a substitute to perform all such of the acts that said attorney in
            fact is by this instrument authorized to perform, with the right to
            revoke such appointment of substitute at pleasure.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand and seal this __ day of
      ___________, 2001.


                                        /s/ Thomas J. May
                                        ______________________(SEAL)
                                        Thomas J. May

Witness:


----------------------
<PAGE>   3

                           SPECIFIC POWER OF ATTORNEY

      KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, Stuart E. Graham do make,
constitute and appoint Timothy J. Stoklosa, RCN Corporation's Chief Financial
Officer, as my true and lawful attorney for me and in my name:

      1.    I authorize said attorney in fact to specifically execute in my name
            and on my behalf the RCN Corporation Form 10-K for the fiscal year
            ended December 31, 2000, and to file said form to the Securities and
            Exchange Commission, 450 5th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549,
            and relative instruments in writing which I deem requisite or proper
            to effectuate specifically the execution and delivery of the
            above-mentioned form with the same validity as I could, if
            personally present, and I hereby ratify and affirm that my said
            attorney as I may deem to act for me, shall do, by virtue of these
            presents, herein set forth by me.

      2.    All rights, powers and authority of said attorney in fact to
            exercise any and all of the specific rights and powers herein
            granted shall commence and be in full force and effect as of the
            date hereof, and such specific rights, powers and authority shall
            remain in full force and effect thereafter until termination in
            writing by me.

      3.    I give to said attorney in fact full power and authority to appoint
            a substitute to perform all such of the acts that said attorney in
            fact is by this instrument authorized to perform, with the right to
            revoke such appointment of substitute at pleasure.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand and seal this __ day of
      ___________, 2001.


                                        /s/ Stuart E. Graham
                                        ______________________(SEAL)
                                        Stuart E. Graham

Witness:


----------------------
<PAGE>   4

                           SPECIFIC POWER OF ATTORNEY

      KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, Alfred Fasola do make, constitute
and appoint Timothy J. Stoklosa, RCN Corporation's Chief Financial Officer, as
my true and lawful attorney for me and in my name:

      1.    I authorize said attorney in fact to specifically execute in my name
            and on my behalf the RCN Corporation Form 10-K for the fiscal year
            ended December 31, 2000, and to file said form to the Securities and
            Exchange Commission, 450 5th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549,
            and relative instruments in writing which I deem requisite or proper
            to effectuate specifically the execution and delivery of the
            above-mentioned form with the same validity as I could, if
            personally present, and I hereby ratify and affirm that my said
            attorney as I may deem to act for me, shall do, by virtue of these
            presents, herein set forth by me.

      2.    All rights, powers and authority of said attorney in fact to
            exercise any and all of the specific rights and powers herein
            granted shall commence and be in full force and effect as of the
            date hereof, and such specific rights, powers and authority shall
            remain in full force and effect thereafter until termination in
            writing by me.

      3.    I give to said attorney in fact full power and authority to appoint
            a substitute to perform all such of the acts that said attorney in
            fact is by this instrument authorized to perform, with the right to
            revoke such appointment of substitute at pleasure.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand and seal this __ day of
      ___________, 2001.


                                        /s/ Alfred Fasola
                                        ______________________(SEAL)
                                        Alfred Fasola

Witness:


----------------------
<PAGE>   5

                           SPECIFIC POWER OF ATTORNEY

      KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, James Q. Crowe do make, constitute
and appoint Timothy J. Stoklosa, RCN Corporation's Chief Financial Officer, as
my true and lawful attorney for me and in my name:

      1.    I authorize said attorney in fact to specifically execute in my name
            and on my behalf the RCN Corporation Form 10-K for the fiscal year
            ended December 31, 2000, and to file said form to the Securities and
            Exchange Commission, 450 5th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549,
            and relative instruments in writing which I deem requisite or proper
            to effectuate specifically the execution and delivery of the
            above-mentioned form with the same validity as I could, if
            personally present, and I hereby ratify and affirm that my said
            attorney as I may deem to act for me, shall do, by virtue of these
            presents, herein set forth by me.

      2.    All rights, powers and authority of said attorney in fact to
            exercise any and all of the specific rights and powers herein
            granted shall commence and be in full force and effect as of the
            date hereof, and such specific rights, powers and authority shall
            remain in full force and effect thereafter until termination in
            writing by me.

      3.    I give to said attorney in fact full power and authority to appoint
            a substitute to perform all such of the acts that said attorney in
            fact is by this instrument authorized to perform, with the right to
            revoke such appointment of substitute at pleasure.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand and seal this __ day of
      ___________, 2001.


                                        /s/ James Q. Crowe
                                        ______________________(SEAL)
                                        James Q. Crowe

Witness:


----------------------
<PAGE>   6

                           SPECIFIC POWER OF ATTORNEY


      KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, Michael B.Yanney do make,
constitute and appoint Timothy J. Stoklosa, RCN Corporation's Chief Financial
Officer, as my true and lawful attorney for me and in my name:

      1.    I authorize said attorney in fact to specifically execute in my name
            and on my behalf the RCN Corporation Form 10-K for the fiscal year
            ended December 31, 2000, and to file said form to the Securities and
            Exchange Commission, 450 5th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549,
            and relative instruments in writing which I deem requisite or proper
            to effectuate specifically the execution and delivery of the
            above-mentioned form with the same validity as I could, if
            personally present, and I hereby ratify and affirm that my said
            attorney as I may deem to act for me, shall do, by virtue of these
            presents, herein set forth by me.

      2.    All rights, powers and authority of said attorney in fact to
            exercise any and all of the specific rights and powers herein
            granted shall commence and be in full force and effect as of the
            date hereof, and such specific rights, powers and authority shall
            remain in full force and effect thereafter until termination in
            writing by me.

      3.    I give to said attorney in fact full power and authority to appoint
            a substitute to perform all such of the acts that said attorney in
            fact is by this instrument authorized to perform, with the right to
            revoke such appointment of substitute at pleasure.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand and seal this __ day of
      ___________, 2001.


                                        /s/ Michael B. Yanney
                                        ______________________(SEAL)
                                        Michael B. Yanney

Witness:


----------------------
<PAGE>   7

                           SPECIFIC POWER OF ATTORNEY

      KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, Thomas P. O'Neill, III do make,
constitute and appoint Timothy J. Stoklosa, RCN Corporation's Chief Financial
Officer, as my true and lawful attorney for me and in my name:

      1.    I authorize said attorney in fact to specifically execute in my name
            and on my behalf the RCN Corporation Form 10-K for the fiscal year
            ended December 31, 2000, and to file said form to the Securities and
            Exchange Commission, 450 5th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549,
            and relative instruments in writing which I deem requisite or proper
            to effectuate specifically the execution and delivery of the
            above-mentioned form with the same validity as I could, if
            personally present, and I hereby ratify and affirm that my said
            attorney as I may deem to act for me, shall do, by virtue of these
            presents, herein set forth by me.

      2.    All rights, powers and authority of said attorney in fact to
            exercise any and all of the specific rights and powers herein
            granted shall commence and be in full force and effect as of the
            date hereof, and such specific rights, powers and authority shall
            remain in full force and effect thereafter until termination in
            writing by me.

      3.    I give to said attorney in fact full power and authority to appoint
            a substitute to perform all such of the acts that said attorney in
            fact is by this instrument authorized to perform, with the right to
            revoke such appointment of substitute at pleasure.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand and seal this __ day of
      ___________, 2001.


                                        /s/ Thomas P. O'Neill, III
                                        ______________________(SEAL)
                                        Thomas P. O'Neill, III

Witness:


----------------------
<PAGE>   8

                           SPECIFIC POWER OF ATTORNEY

      KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, Walter Scott, Jr. do make,
constitute and appoint Timothy J. Stoklosa, RCN Corporation's Chief Financial
Officer, as my true and lawful attorney for me and in my name:

      1.    I authorize said attorney in fact to specifically execute in my name
            and on my behalf the RCN Corporation Form 10-K for the fiscal year
            ended December 31, 2000, and to file said form to the Securities and
            Exchange Commission, 450 5th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549,
            and relative instruments in writing which I deem requisite or proper
            to effectuate specifically the execution and delivery of the
            above-mentioned form with the same validity as I could, if
            personally present, and I hereby ratify and affirm that my said
            attorney as I may deem to act for me, shall do, by virtue of these
            presents, herein set forth by me.

      2.    All rights, powers and authority of said attorney in fact to
            exercise any and all of the specific rights and powers herein
            granted shall commence and be in full force and effect as of the
            date hereof, and such specific rights, powers and authority shall
            remain in full force and effect thereafter until termination in
            writing by me.

      3.    I give to said attorney in fact full power and authority to appoint
            a substitute to perform all such of the acts that said attorney in
            fact is by this instrument authorized to perform, with the right to
            revoke such appointment of substitute at pleasure.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand and seal this __ day of
      ___________, 2001.


                                        /s/ Walter Scott, Jr.
                                       ______________________(SEAL)
                                       Walter Scott, Jr.

Witness:


----------------------
<PAGE>   9

                           SPECIFIC POWER OF ATTORNEY

      KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, Eugene Roth do make, constitute
and appoint Timothy J. Stoklosa, RCN Corporation's Chief Financial Officer, as
my true and lawful attorney for me and in my name:

      1.    I authorize said attorney in fact to specifically execute in my name
            and on my behalf the RCN Corporation Form 10-K for the fiscal year
            ended December 31, 2000, and to file said form to the Securities and
            Exchange Commission, 450 5th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549,
            and relative instruments in writing which I deem requisite or proper
            to effectuate specifically the execution and delivery of the
            above-mentioned form with the same validity as I could, if
            personally present, and I hereby ratify and affirm that my said
            attorney as I may deem to act for me, shall do, by virtue of these
            presents, herein set forth by me.

      2.    All rights, powers and authority of said attorney in fact to
            exercise any and all of the specific rights and powers herein
            granted shall commence and be in full force and effect as of the
            date hereof, and such specific rights, powers and authority shall
            remain in full force and effect thereafter until termination in
            writing by me.

      3.    I give to said attorney in fact full power and authority to appoint
            a substitute to perform all such of the acts that said attorney in
            fact is by this instrument authorized to perform, with the right to
            revoke such appointment of substitute at pleasure.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand and seal this __ day of
      ___________, 2001.


                                        /s/ Eugene Roth
                                        ______________________(SEAL)
                                        Eugene Roth

Witness:


----------------------
<PAGE>   10

                           SPECIFIC POWER OF ATTORNEY

      KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, David C. McCourt do make,
constitute and appoint Timothy J. Stoklosa, RCN Corporation's Chief Financial
Officer, as my true and lawful attorney for me and in my name:

      1.    I authorize said attorney in fact to specifically execute in my name
            and on my behalf the RCN Corporation Form 10-K for the fiscal year
            ended December 31, 2000, and to file said form to the Securities and
            Exchange Commission, 450 5th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549,
            and relative instruments in writing which I deem requisite or proper
            to effectuate specifically the execution and delivery of the
            above-mentioned form with the same validity as I could, if
            personally present, and I hereby ratify and affirm that my said
            attorney as I may deem to act for me, shall do, by virtue of these
            presents, herein set forth by me.

      2.    All rights, powers and authority of said attorney in fact to
            exercise any and all of the specific rights and powers herein
            granted shall commence and be in full force and effect as of the
            date hereof, and such specific rights, powers and authority shall
            remain in full force and effect thereafter until termination in
            writing by me.

      3.    I give to said attorney in fact full power and authority to appoint
            a substitute to perform all such of the acts that said attorney in
            fact is by this instrument authorized to perform, with the right to
            revoke such appointment of substitute at pleasure.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand and seal this __ day of
      ___________, 2001.


                                        /s/ David C. McCourt
                                        ______________________(SEAL)
                                        David C. McCourt

Witness:


----------------------
<PAGE>   11

                           SPECIFIC POWER OF ATTORNEY


      KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, Michael A. Adams, do make,
constitute and appoint Timothy J. Stoklosa, RCN Corporation's Chief Financial
Officer, as my true and lawful attorney for me and in my name:

      1.    I authorize said attorney in fact to specifically execute in my name
            and on my behalf the RCN Corporation Form 10-K for the fiscal year
            ended December 31, 2000, and to file said form to the Securities and
            Exchange Commission, 450 5th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549,
            and relative instruments in writing which I deem requisite or proper
            to effectuate specifically the execution and delivery of the
            above-mentioned form with the same validity as I could, if
            personally present, and I hereby ratify and affirm that my said
            attorney as I may deem to act for me, shall do, by virtue of these
            presents, herein set forth by me.

      2.    All rights, powers and authority of said attorney in fact to
            exercise any and all of the specific rights and powers herein
            granted shall commence and be in full force and effect as of the
            date hereof, and such specific rights, powers and authority shall
            remain in full force and effect thereafter until termination in
            writing by me.

      3.    I give to said attorney in fact full power and authority to appoint
            a substitute to perform all such of the acts that said attorney in
            fact is by this instrument authorized to perform, with the right to
            revoke such appointment of substitute at pleasure.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand and seal this __ day of
      ___________, 2001.


                                        /s/ Michael A. Adams
                                        ______________________(SEAL)
                                        Michael A. Adams

Witness:


----------------------
<PAGE>   12

                           SPECIFIC POWER OF ATTORNEY

      KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, Michael J. Levitt do make,
constitute and appoint Timothy J. Stoklosa, RCN Corporation's Chief Financial
Officer, as my true and lawful attorney for me and in my name:

      1.    I authorize said attorney in fact to specifically execute in my name
            and on my behalf the RCN Corporation Form 10-K for the fiscal year
            ended December 31, 2000, and to file said form to the Securities and
            Exchange Commission, 450 5th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549,
            and relative instruments in writing which I deem requisite or proper
            to effectuate specifically the execution and delivery of the
            above-mentioned form with the same validity as I could, if
            personally present, and I hereby ratify and affirm that my said
            attorney as I may deem to act for me, shall do, by virtue of these
            presents, herein set forth by me.

      2.    All rights, powers and authority of said attorney in fact to
            exercise any and all of the specific rights and powers herein
            granted shall commence and be in full force and effect as of the
            date hereof, and such specific rights, powers and authority shall
            remain in full force and effect thereafter until termination in
            writing by me.

      3.    I give to said attorney in fact full power and authority to appoint
            a substitute to perform all such of the acts that said attorney in
            fact is by this instrument authorized to perform, with the right to
            revoke such appointment of substitute at pleasure.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand and seal this __ day of
      ___________, 2001.


                                        /s/ Michael J. Levitt
                                        ______________________(SEAL)
                                        Michael J. Levitt

Witness:


----------------------
<PAGE>   13

                           SPECIFIC POWER OF ATTORNEY

      KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, William D. Savoy, do make,
constitute and appoint Timothy J. Stoklosa, RCN Corporation's Chief Financial
Officer, as my true and lawful attorney for me and in my name:

      1.    I authorize said attorney in fact to specifically execute in my name
            and on my behalf the RCN Corporation Form 10-K for the fiscal year
            ended December 31, 2000, and to file said form to the Securities and
            Exchange Commission, 450 5th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549,
            and relative instruments in writing which I deem requisite or proper
            to effectuate specifically the execution and delivery of the
            above-mentioned form with the same validity as I could, if
            personally present, and I hereby ratify and affirm that my said
            attorney as I may deem to act for me, shall do, by virtue of these
            presents, herein set forth by me.

      2.    All rights, powers and authority of said attorney in fact to
            exercise any and all of the specific rights and powers herein
            granted shall commence and be in full force and effect as of the
            date hereof, and such specific rights, powers and authority shall
            remain in full force and effect thereafter until termination in
            writing by me.

      3.    I give to said attorney in fact full power and authority to appoint
            a substitute to perform all such of the acts that said attorney in
            fact is by this instrument authorized to perform, with the right to
            revoke such appointment of substitute at pleasure.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand and seal this __ day of
      ___________, 2001.


                                        /s/ William D. Savoy
                                        ______________________(SEAL)
                                        William D. Savoy

Witness:


----------------------
<PAGE>   14

                           SPECIFIC POWER OF ATTORNEY

      KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, Edward S. Harris do make,
constitute and appoint Timothy J. Stoklosa, RCN Corporation's Chief Financial
Officer, as my true and lawful attorney for me and in my name:

      1.    I authorize said attorney in fact to specifically execute in my name
            and on my behalf the RCN Corporation Form 10-K for the fiscal year
            ended December 31, 2000, and to file said form to the Securities and
            Exchange Commission, 450 5th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549,
            and relative instruments in writing which I deem requisite or proper
            to effectuate specifically the execution and delivery of the
            above-mentioned form with the same validity as I could, if
            personally present, and I hereby ratify and affirm that my said
            attorney as I may deem to act for me, shall do, by virtue of these
            presents, herein set forth by me.

      2.    All rights, powers and authority of said attorney in fact to
            exercise any and all of the specific rights and powers herein
            granted shall commence and be in full force and effect as of the
            date hereof, and such specific rights, powers and authority shall
            remain in full force and effect thereafter until termination in
            writing by me.

      3.    I give to said attorney in fact full power and authority to appoint
            a substitute to perform all such of the acts that said attorney in
            fact is by this instrument authorized to perform, with the right to
            revoke such appointment of substitute at pleasure.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand and seal this __ day of
      ___________, 2001.


                                        /s/ Edward S. Harris
                                        ______________________(SEAL)
                                        Edward S. Harris

Witness:


----------------------