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                                                     DA  96-1780 

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



In the Matter of                             )
                                        )
Application of GPU Telcom Services, Inc. for      )
Determination of Exempt Telecommunications        )    File No. ETC-96-16
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: October 28, 1996                Released: October 28, 1996


By the General Counsel:


     1.   On September 13, 1996, GPU Telcom Services, Inc. ("GPU Telcom") 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.  GPU Telcom's
application was placed on public notice for comment on the adequacy and accuracy of the
application on September 17, 1996.  GPU Telcom Services, Inc., Public Notice, DA No. 96-1548
(OGC released September 17, 1996).  No parties filed any comments.  As explained below, GPU
Telcom satisfies the statutory criteria to merit a positive determination of ETC status and its
application is therefore granted. 

     2.   GPU Telcom represents that it is a Delaware corporation that will be a subsidiary
of GPU Energy Services, Inc., which in turn will be a wholly-owned subsidiary of GPU, Inc.
("GPU"), a registered public utility holding company under PUHCA.  GPU Telcom 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, GPU Telcom intends to engage in the provision of long-haul fiber
capacity on a wholesale basis -- i.e., the provision of fiber optic capacity to serve as routing for
fiber-based or wireless communications, or to provide redundancy for telecommunications
providers' networks.  GPU Telcom also represents that it intends to engage in the provision of
personal communication services, mobile radio services and energy information management
systems to non-associate companies. 

     4.   Based upon the representations contained in GPU Telcom's application, GPU
Telcom merits a determination that it is an exempt telecommunications company as that term is
defined in PUHCA section 34(a)(1), as amended.

     5.   Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that the application of GPU Telcom 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