EXHIBIT 12.1
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
RCN Corporation
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
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(Dollars in Thousands)
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For the Quarter
Ended March 31,
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000
---------- ---------- ----------- ------------ ----------- ------------
Income (loss) from continuing
operations before income
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
taxes $ 6,838 $ (4,068) $ (73,522) $ (214,242) $ (367,542) $ (145,571)
---------- ---------- ----------- ------------ ----------- ------------
Minority interest in income of
consolidated entities (144) - - - -
---------- ---------- ----------- ------------ ----------- ------------
Fixed Charges:
Interest on long-term and
short-term debt including
amortization of debt expense 16,517 16,046 25,602 112,239 158,139 53,337
Preferred stock dividend and
accretion requirements 13,350 15,373
----------- ------------
Total fixed charges 16,517 16,046 25,602 112,239 171,489 68,710
---------- ---------- ----------- ------------ ----------- ------------
Earnings before income taxes $ 23,211 $ 11,978 $ (47,920) $ (102,003) $ (196,053) $ (76,861)
and fixed charges
Ratio of earnings to fixed 1.41
charges
</TABLE>
For purposes of computing the ratio, earnings are income from continuing
operations less minority interest in income of consolidated entities and
plus fixed charges. Fixed charges consist of interest on long- and
short-term debt including amortization of debt expense. The ratio of
earnings to fixed charges for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1997, 1998
and 1999 as well as the interim period are less than 1 and therefore the
earnings are inadequate to cover the fixed charges by $4,068, $73,522,
$214,242, $367,542 and $145,571 respectively.
