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                                                                   EXHIBIT 24(A)
 
                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
 
   
     We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Amendment No. 2 to
Registration Statement of General DataComm Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries on
Form S-3 (File No. 333-20569) of our report, which includes an explanatory
paragraph for certain accounting changes, dated October 2l, 1996 on our audits
of the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule of
General DataComm Industries, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of September 30, 1996 and
1995 for the years ended September 30, 1996, 1995 and 1994, which report is
included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K. We also consent to the reference to
our firm under the caption "Experts."
    
 
                                          Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.
 
Stamford, Connecticut
   
March 20, 1997