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                                                      DA 96-1307 

                            Before the
                FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
                     Washington, D.C.  20554



In the Matter of                             )
                                        )
Application of Columbia Network Services Corporation   )
for Determination of Exempt Telecommunications         )    File No. ETC- 96-13
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: August 15, 1996                     Released: August 15, 1996


By the General Counsel:


     1.   On June 25, 1996, Columbia Network Services Corporation ("CNSC") filed an
application with the Commission for a determination of "exempt telecommunications company"
("ETC") status 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.  CNSC's
application was placed on public notice for comment on the adequacy and accuracy of the
application on June 25, 1996.  Columbia Network Services Corporation, Public Notice, DA No.
96-1029 (OGC released June 25, 1996).  No parties filed any comments.  As explained below,
CNSC satisfies the statutory criteria to merit a positive determination of ETC status and its
application is therefore granted. 

     2.   CNSC represents that it is a Delaware corporation that will become a subsidiary
of the Columbia Gas System, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a registered public utility holding
company under PUHCA.  CNSC states that it will be engaged, directly or indirectly, through
one or more "affiliates" (as defined in PUHCA section 2(a)(11)(B)), and exclusively in the
business of providing telecommunications services, information services, other services or
products subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission, and/or products or services that are
related or incidental to the provision of such products or services within the meaning of PUHCA
section 34(a)(1).

     3.   Specifically, the application reflects that CNSC intends to offer services to
personal communications service ("PCS") and other microwave radio service licensees relating
to the installation and maintenance of their networks.  These services will include, among other
services, locating and constructing antenna facilities, and maintaining and managing PCS sites
for the licensees.  CNSC also represents that it intends to offer services by means of radio, leased
line and other transmission facilities to third parties and to CNSC's affiliate and associate
companies and their respective customers to enable them to maintain the reliability of their
systems and services.  

     4.   The application further reflects that CNSC may also engage in the collection and
management of information relating to customer energy usage, including the remote reading of
utility meters, that will enable real time pricing, demand management, and efficient load control
and energy coordination.  CNSC may provide these services by means of radio facilities, leased
lines, and other transmission facilities and associated equipment and services.  CNSC's energy
management services may include interactive technology which, among other things, would
enable customers to automatically and remotely control energy usage in response to variable
pricing, thus providing customers with more control over their energy usage and costs.  In
addition, these services would store customer load profile data and allow utilities to remotely
access such data for forecasting and marketing purposes.  Finally, CNSC energy management
services may also provide opportunities for real-time interactive communications with customers
with respect to a wide variety of information, products and services that are not exclusively
energy-related.

     5.   Based upon the representations contained in CNSC's application, we determine
that CNSC is an exempt telecommunications company as that term is defined in PUHCA section
34(a)(1), as amended.

     6.   Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that the application of CNSC IS GRANTED.  IT
IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Securities and Exchange Commission SHALL BE
NOTIFIED of this determination.


                         FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION




                         William E. Kennard
                         General Counsel