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                                                                    EXHIBIT 24.2



                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

                          NEXTEL COMMUNICATIONS, INC.


     The undersigned, a director and/or officer of Nextel Communications, Inc., 
a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), which Company intends to file with the
Securities and Exchange Communication under the provisions of the Securities Act
of 1933 a post-effective amendment on Form S-4 or other appropriate form (the 
"Registration Statement") to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-4 
pursuant to which the Company may from time to time issue shares of its Class A
Common Stock or warrants to purchase such shares in connection with certain
acquisitions does hereby constitute and appoint Steven M. Shindler, Thomas D. 
Hickey, Gary D. Begeman and Thomas J. Sidman, and each of them, each with full 
power to act without the other and with full power of substitution and 
resubstitution, as attorneys or attorney to sign and file in his or her name, 
place and stead, in any and all capacities, such Registration Statement, any and
all amendments and exhibits thereto, and any and all other documents to be filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission pertaining to or relating to such
Registration Statement, or any other document with any state securities 
commission or other regulatory authority with respect to the securities covered
by such Registration Statement, with full power and authority to do and perform 
any and all acts and things whatsoever required and necessary to be done, hereby
ratifying and approving the acts of said attorneys and each of them and any 
substitute or substitutes.


     December 31, 1997


                                     /s/ Steven M. Shindler
                                     ---------------------------------------
                                     Steven M. Shindler
                                     Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
                                     (Principal Financial Officer)


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                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

                          NEXTEL COMMUNICATIONS, INC.


     The undersigned, a director and/or officer of Nextel Communications, Inc., 
a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), which Company intends to file with the
Securities and Exchange Communication under the provisions of the Securities Act
of 1933 a post-effective amendment on Form S-4 or other appropriate form (the 
"Registration Statement") to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-4 
pursuant to which the Company may from time to time issue shares of its Class A
Common Stock or warrants to purchase such shares in connection with certain
acquisitions does hereby constitute and appoint Steven M. Shindler, Thomas D. 
Hickey, Gary D. Begeman and Thomas J. Sidman, and each of them, each with full 
power to act without the other and with full power of substitution and 
resubstitution, as attorneys or attorney to sign and file in his or her name, 
place and stead, in any and all capacities, such Registration Statement, any and
all amendments and exhibits thereto, and any and all other documents to be filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission pertaining to or relating to such
Registration Statement, or any other document with any state securities 
commission or other regulatory authority with respect to the securities covered
by such Registration Statement, with full power and authority to do and perform 
any and all acts and things whatsoever required and necessary to be done, hereby
ratifying and approving the acts of said attorneys and each of them and any 
substitute or substitutes.


     December 31, 1997


                                     /s/ William Arendt
                                     ---------------------------------------
                                     William Arendt
                                     Controller (Principal Accounting Officer)