EXHIBIT 24
 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
    KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:
 
    WHEREAS, U S WEST Communications, Inc., a Colorado corporation (hereinafter
referred to as the "Company"), proposes to file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, under the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, an annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
1997; and
 
    WHEREAS, each of the undersigned is an Officer, Director, or both, of the
Company and holds the office or offices indicated below his name;
 
    NOW THEREFORE, each of the undersigned constitutes and appoints ALLAN R.
SPIES, JAMES T. ANDERSON and THOMAS O. MCGIMPSEY, and each of them, as attorney
for him and in his name, place, and stead, and in his capacity as an Officer or
Director of the Company, to execute and file such annual report, and thereafter
to execute and file any amendment or amendments thereto on Form 10-K, hereby
giving and granting to said attorneys full power and authority to do and perform
all and every act and thing whatsoever requisite and necessary to be done in and
about the premises as fully, to all intents and purposes, as he might or could
do if personally present at the doing thereof, hereby ratifying and confirming
all that said attorneys may or shall lawfully do, or cause to be done, by virtue
hereof.
 
    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has executed this Power of
Attorney this 25th day of March 1998.
 
                                          /s/ Solomon D. Trujillo
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Solomon D. Trujillo, PRESIDENT AND
                                          CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND DIRECTOR
                                          /s/ Michael P. Glinsky
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Michael P. Glinsky, DIRECTOR
                                          /s/ Oscar X. Munoz
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Oscar X. Munoz, VICE
                                          PRESIDENT--CONTROLLER