RCN announced today that Casimir Skrzypczak, 68, and Kurt Cellar, 39, were named independent members of its board of directors, increasing the size of the board to eight seats.

"The board joins me in welcoming these two respected executives as independent directors,” said Lee Hillman, chairman of RCN's board. “Skrzypczak is a recognized expert on telecommunications network planning and architecture, and Cellar brings extensive capital markets and finance experience . We look forward to the benefit of their insights and judgment."

Skrzypczak is the former senior vice president of customer advocacy for Cisco Systems. Prior to that position, he was corporate vice president and group president of professional services at Telcordia Technologies. He was formerly president of Nynex Science & Technology and vice president of network and technology planning. He serves on the board of directors of RF Microdevices and JDSU.

Since January of last year, Cellar has been a consultant to companies in the telecommunications, retail and insurance industries. RCN said he has extensive experience in telecommunications as both an investor and board member. As the lead director in TelCove, formerly Adelphia Business Solutions, he was instrumental in the company's turnaround, growth and eventual sale to Level 3 Communications.

Cellar was a partner and portfolio manager with the hedge fund Bay Harbour Management from 1999 to 2008. Prior to Bay Harbour, he was with the private equity firm Remy Investors.

RCN is a provider of all-digital and high-definition video, high-speed Internet and voice services to residential and small- to medium-size business customers in Philadelphia, Lehigh Valley, Pa., New York, Boston, Chicago and Washington, D.C., as well as high-capacity transport services to carrier and large enterprise customers.