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                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1

                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

     We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration
Statements on Form S-3 (No. 333-44748) and Form S-8 (No. 333-43160) of Harmonic
Inc. of our report dated March 30, 2001 relating to the financial statements,
which appears in this Form 10-K.

/s/ PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP
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PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

San Jose, California
March 30, 2001