Exhibit 24.1

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS,  that each person whose signature  appears below
hereby  constitutes and appoints  Barbara L. Blackford,  Thomas M. Dougherty and
William H.  Seippel his true and lawful  attorneys-in-fact,  each acting  alone,
with full powers of substitution  and  resubstitution,  for him and in his name,
place and stead,  in any and all  capacities,  to execute and sign the following
and to file the same, with exhibits  thereto,  and other documents in connection
therewith:  (i) the registration statement on Form S-3 relating to the resale of
common  stock and new notes of AirGate  PCS,  Inc.  (the  "Company")  by certain
selling security holders of such restricted securities and other related matters
covered thereby,  and (ii) any amendments or  post-effective  amendments to such
registration statement,  and any and all amendments to any of the foregoing, and
documents in connection therewith,  giving and granting unto said attorneys full
power and  authority  to do and perform such actions as fully as they might have
done or could do if personally present and executing any of said documents.



      Signature                          Title                      Date
     -----------                        -------                    ------

                                President, Chief Executive    February 12, 2004
/s/ THOMAS M. DOUGHERTY            Officer and Director
------------------------       (principal executive officer)
  Thomas M. Dougherty



------------------------          Chairman and Director      February 12, 2004
   Robert A. Ferchat


                                   Vice President and        February 12, 2004
/s/ William H. Seippel           Chief Financial Officer
------------------------         (principal financial and
   William H. Seippel               accounting officer



/s/ Stephen R. Stetz                   Director              February 12, 2004
-------------------------
    Stephen R. Stetz