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                           Before the
                      Federal Communications Commission
                          Washington, D.C. 20554

In the Matter of:                    )
                                      )
RCN TELECOM SERVICES OF ILLINOIS, INC.        )
                                      )
Certification to Operate an          )
Open Video System                    )                           
                                     
                                     

                  MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

   Adopted:  January 27, 2000           Released:  January 28, 2000

By the Chief, Consumer Protection and Competition Division, Cable Services Bureau:

I.   INTRODUCTION
               
     1.   On January 19, 2000, RCN Telecom Services of Illinois, Inc. ("RCN Illinois") filed an application
for certification to operate an open video system pursuant to Section 653(a)(1) of the Communications Act of 1934
("Communications Act") and the Commission's rules.  RCN Illinois seeks to operate an open video system in
certain communities in Cook County, Illinois (the "Cook County Area").  In accordance with our procedures, the
Commission published notice of receipt of RCN Illinois' certification application and posted the application on the
Internet.  No parties filed comments in response to this application. 

          2.   Pursuant to Section 653(a)(1) of the Communications Act, any entity meeting
          the requirements may obtain certification to operate an open video system.  In light of the brief
          period (ten days) for Commission review of certification filings, the Commission concluded that
          Congress intended there to be a streamlined certification process.  Open video system operators
          may apply for certification at any point prior to the commencement of service.  Open video
          system operators must obtain certification prior to the commencement of service, allowing
          sufficient time to comply with the Commission's requirements regarding notifications that
          applicants must provide to potential programming providers.
 
     3.   As part of the certification process, the applicant must acknowledge and accept the obligations
associated with operation of an open video system and must provide certain information regarding its proposed
system.  To obtain certification, an applicant must file FCC Form 1275, which requires, among other things: (a)
a statement of ownership, including a list of all affiliated entities; (b) a representation that the applicant will
comply with the Commission's regulations under Section 653(b) of the Communications Act; (c) a list of the
names of the communities the applicant intends to serve; (d) a statement of the anticipated type and amount of
capacity that the system will provide; and (e) a statement as to whether the applicant is a cable operator applying
for certification within its cable franchise area.     

II.  DISCUSSION

     4.   RCN Illinois has submitted an application on FCC Form 1275 for certification to operate an open
video system in the Cook County Area.  We have reviewed the information contained in RCN Illinois' application. 
As required by Form 1275, RCN Illinois' application provides the following: company information and a separate
statement of ownership listing affiliated entities; eligibility and compliance representations; and system information
and verification statements. RCN Illinois also confirmed that it served its application upon the designated
telecommunications officials in each of the communities involved.  We find that RCN Illinois has provided the
requisite facts and representations concerning the open video system it intends to operate and has certified that it
"agrees to comply and remain in compliance with each of the Commission's regulations" under Section 653(b) of
the Communications Act.  We note that if any representation in RCN Illinois' certification filing proves to be
materially false or materially inaccurate, the Commission retains the authority to revoke RCN Illinois' certification
or impose such other penalties it deems appropriate, including forfeiture.  

III. ORDERING CLAUSES

     5.   Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED, that the application of RCN Telecom Services of Illinois, Inc.
for certification to operate an open video system in the Cook County Area IS GRANTED.

     6.   This action is taken by the Chief, Consumer Protection and Competition Division, Cable Services
Bureau, pursuant to the authority delegated by Section 0.321 of the Commission's Rules.



                              FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION



                              Deborah E. Klein
                              Chief
                              Consumer Protection and Competition Division
                              Cable Services Bureau