1 Exhibit 23.1 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS We hereby consent to the use in this Registration Statement on Form S-1 of our report dated February 1, 2000 relating to the financial statements of Lexent, Inc., which appear in such Registration Statement. We also consent to the references to us under the headings "Experts" in such Registration Statement. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP New York, NY February 17, 2000