<PAGE>

                                                                      Exhibit 24

                          SPECIFIC POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, Thomas P. O'Neill, III do make,
constitute and appoint Bruce C. Godfrey, 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 in my behalf the RCN Corporation Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1997, 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 March 30, 1998 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 26th day of March,
1998.


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


Witness:

/s/ Christine M. Walsh
----------------------------
Christine M. Walsh
<PAGE>

                           SPECIFIC POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, James Q. Crowe do make, constitute
and appoint Bruce C. Godfrey, 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 in my behalf the RCN Corporation Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1997, 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 March 30, 1998, 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 26th day of March,
1998

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


Witness:

/s/ Dinah Sink
-----------------------------
Dinah Sink
<PAGE>

                           SPECIFIC POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, David C. McCourt do make,
constitute and appoint Bruce C. Godfrey,  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 in my behalf the RCN Corporation Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1997, 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 March 30, 1998, 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 26th day of March,
1998.

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

Witness:


/s/ Blair Turner
---------------------------
Blair Turner
<PAGE>

                           SPECIFIC POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, Michael B. Yanney do make,
constitute and appoint Bruce C. Godfrey, 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 in my behalf the RCN Corporation Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1997, 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 March 30, 1998, 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 27th day of March,
1998.

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

Witness:


/s/ C.L. Buckingham
-----------------------------
C.L. Buckingham
<PAGE>

                           SPECIFIC POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, Richard R. Jaros do make,
constitute and appoint Bruce C. Godfrey, 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 in my behalf the RCN Corporation Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1997, 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 March 30, 1998 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 27th day of March,
1998.

                                      /s/ Richard R. Jaros    (SEAL)
                                      ------------------------
                                           Richard R. Jaros

Witness:


/s/ Lori Jaros
---------------------------
Lori Jaros
<PAGE>

                           SPECIFIC POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, Alfred Fasola do make, constitute
and appoint Bruce C. Godfrey, 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 in my behalf the RCN Corporation Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1997, 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 March 30, 1998, 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 26th of
March, 1998.

                                    /s/ Alfred Fasola         (SEAL)
                                    -------------------------
                                    Alfred Fasola

Witness:


/s/ Susan Fasola
--------------------------
Susan Fasola

<PAGE>

                           SPECIFIC POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, Stuart E. Graham do make,
constitute and appoint Bruce C. Godfrey, 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 in my behalf the RCN Corporation Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1997, 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 March 30, 1998 and such spe cific 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 26th day of March,
1998.

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

Witness:


/s/ Camille D'Alessandro
------------------------------
Camille D'Alessandro
<PAGE>

                           SPECIFIC POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, Eugene Roth do make, constitute and
appoint Bruce C. Godfrey, 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 in my behalf the RCN Corporation Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1997, 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 March 30, 1998, 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 24th day of March,
1998.

                                    /s/ Eugene Roth           (SEAL)
                                    -------------------------
                                    Eugene Roth

Witness:


/s/ Janet Kaye
---------------------------
Janet Kaye
<PAGE>

                           SPECIFIC POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, Thomas J. May do make, constitute
and appoint Bruce C. Godfrey, 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 in my behalf the RCN Corporation Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1997, 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 March 30, 1998, 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 27th day of March,
1998.

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

Witness:


/s/ Carol O'Rourke
--------------------------
Carol O'Rourke
<PAGE>

                           SPECIFIC POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, Walter Scott, Jr. do make,
constitute and appoint Bruce C. Godfrey, 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 in my behalf the RCN Corporation Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1997, 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 March 30, 1998, 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 26th day of March,
1998.

                              /s/ Water Scott, Jr.       (SEAL)
                              --------------------------
                              Walter Scott, Jr.

Witness:


/s/ Julie Haack
-----------------------------
Julie Haack
<PAGE>

                           SPECIFIC POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, Michael J. Mahoney do make,
constitute and appoint Bruce C. Godfrey, 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 in my behalf the RCN Corporation Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1997, 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 March 30, 1998, 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 23rd day of March,
1998.

                                    /s/ Michael J. Mahoney      (SEAL)
                                    ---------------------------
                                    Michael J. Mahoney

Witness:


/s/ Kathleen Sparrowe
-------------------------
Kathleen Sparrowe
<PAGE>

                           SPECIFIC POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, Dennis Spina do make, constitute
and appoint Bruce C. Godfrey, 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 in my behalf the RCN Corporation Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1997, 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 m ay 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 March 30, 1998, 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 26th day of March,
1998.

                                    /s/ Dennis Spina            (SEAL)
                                    ---------------------------
                                    Dennis Spina

Witness:


/s/ Taara C. Young
-------------------------
Taara C. Young