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If you need the complete document, download the WordPerfect version or Adobe Acrobat version, if available. ***************************************************************** DA 96-951 Before the FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20554 In the Matter of ) ) Applications of Southern Information ) Holding Company, Inc., Southern Information ) File No. ETC-96-5 1, Inc., and Southern Information 2, Inc., ) File No. ETC-96-6 for Determination of Exempt Telecommunication ) File No. ETC-96-7 Company Status under Section 34 of the Public ) Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as added by ) Section 103 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 ) ORDER Adopted: June 14, 1996 Released: June 14, 1996 By the General Counsel: 1. This Order grants the applications of Southern Information Holding Company, Inc. ("Southern Information Holding"), and two subsidiary companies, Southern Information 1, Inc. ("Southern Information 1"), and Southern Information 2, Inc. ("Southern Information 2"), for a determination as to each that it is an "exempt telecommunication company" pursuant to section 34(a)(1) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 ("PUHCA"), as added by section 103 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. The three companies will become direct or indirect subsidiaries of The Southern Company, a registered public utility holding company under PUHCA. All three applications were filed on April 16, 1996, and were placed on public notice on April 17 for comments on their adequacy and accuracy. No comments were filed as to any of the applications. The applicants filed "Supplemental Information" as to these applications on May 13, 1996. 2. According to its application, Southern Information Holding will, through its two subsidiaries, engage in a variety of businesses and activities permitted for such entities by the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Specifically, Southern Information 1 will operate customer calling centers, which will take calls from new customers for traditional telecommunications, video, utility or other services. Southern Information 1 contemplates, for example, that new entrants in the wireless market who may lack many of the facilities needed to establish a local presence, such as Personal Communications Service ("PCS") providers, will use this service to sign up new customers. The calling centers would place an order for the requested service (via computer) directly with the service provider in question. In addition, consumers will also have the ability to contact the calling centers to request emergency or repair service for the service ordered. In these cases, the call centers would report (via computer or telephone) the customer problem to the utility or other service provider so that the provider could dispatch work crews. Finally, Southern Information 1 explains that these calling centers could also process billing and other customer information including preparing and sending bills, or providing "back office" operations. 3. Southern Information 2 states that it will engage, first, in the collection and management of information regarding utility usage. This would involve remote meter reading of utility meters via radio or landlines, and providing associated support services and equipment. This information would then be transmitted by the calling centers to the appropriate service provider for billing purposes. This information collection will also be used to provide "demand- side" management services to maximize the efficient operation of The Southern Company's core electric business. 4. Southern Information 2 will also engage in developing and marketing software and hardware for management of energy usage and load control services. These services would involve the use of telecommunications infrastructure (either radio spectrum, landlines or fiber networks) to collect information on energy use and market conditions and be offered to customers interested in closely managing their own energy usage. This service would involve two-way communications links between customers and energy management databases which would allow the customer to control its energy usage or to take advantage of real-time pricing. Southern Information 2 and its affiliates intend to develop and market software/hardware to provide energy brokering services. Southern Information 2 anticipates that in a de-regulated energy environment, customers may need immediate access to energy market information. This service would provide that access, by developing appropriate databases and allowing customers to access databases for energy sales and purchase transactions. 5. Each of the activities described in the foregoing paragraphs fits within at least one of the following categories, within the meaning of PUHCA section 34(a)(1): (A) telecommunications services; (B) information services; (C) other services or products subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission; or (D) products or services that are related or incidental to the provision of a product or service described in (A), (B), or (C). 6. Therefore, based upon the representations contained in the above-referenced applications, the Commission determines that Southern Information Holding Company, Inc., Southern Information 1, Inc., and Southern Information 2, Inc., is each an exempt telecommunication company as that term is defined in PUHCA section 34(a)(1), as amended. 7. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that the applications of Southern Information Holding Company, Inc., Southern Information 1, Inc., and Southern Information 2, Inc., ARE GRANTED. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Securities and Exchange Commission SHALL BE NOTIFIED of these determinations. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION William E. Kennard General Counsel