Exhibit 23.1

                     CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

     We hereby consent to the use in the Prospectus constituting part
     of this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form SB-
     2 (No. 333-16055) of our report dated March 29, 1996 relating to
     the financial statements of PhoneTel Technologies, Inc., which
     appears in such Prospectus.  We also consent to the reference to
     us under the heading "Experts" in such Prospectus.

     /s/ PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP
     PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP
     Cleveland, Ohio
     January 23, 1997