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                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1


                       Consent of Independent Accountants


We hereby consent to the use in this Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File
No. 333-91469) of our report dated February 22, 2000, relating to the
consolidated financial statements of Pathnet, Inc. and Subsidiaries (a
development stage company), which appear in such Registration Statement. We also
consent to the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in such Registration
Statement.

                                                  /s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

McLean, Virginia
February 22, 2000