Exhibit 24

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS,  that each person whose  signature  appears
below hereby  constitutes and appoints  Thomas M. Dougherty,  William H. Seippel
and  Barbara L.  Blackford  his true and lawful  attorneys-in-fact,  each acting
alone, with full powers of substitution and re-substitution,  for him and in his
name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to execute and sign the annual
report on Form 10-K of AirGate PCS, Inc.  ("Airgate") and any or all amendments,
including any post-effective  amendments, to the 10-K and to file the same, with
exhibits  thereto,  and  other  documents  in  connection  therewith,  with  the
Securities  and  Exchange  Commission,  and hereby  ratify and confirm that said
attorneys-in-fact  or their  substitutes,  each acting alone, may lawfully do or
cause to be done by virtue hereof.



       Signature                     Title                       Date


/s/ Thomas M.Dougherty
_________________________     President, Chief Executive    January 14, 2003
Thomas M. Dougherty           Officer and Director
                              (Principal Executive
                              Officer)

/s/ Robert A. Ferchat
_________________________    Director                       January 14, 2003
Robert A. Ferchat


/s/ Barry J. Schiffman
_________________________    Director                       January 14, 2003
Barry J. Schiffman