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                                                       FCC 96-162


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



In the Matter of                             )
                                        )
Application of Entergy Technology                 )
Holding Company for Determination of Exempt       )
Telecommunications Company Status            )    File No. ETC-96-3
under Section 34 of the Public Utility            )
Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended by        )
Section 103 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 )    


                              ORDER


     Adopted:  April 9, 1996                 Released:  April 12, 1996


By the Commission:


I.   Introduction

     1.   On February 16, 1996, Entergy Technology Holding Company ("Entergy
Holding") filed an application with the Commission for a determination of "exempt
telecommunication 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.  On February 22, 1996, Entergy Holding filed a certification
stating that it complied with section 47 C.F.R.  1.2002, regarding the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of
1988, 21 U.S.C.  862.  As explained below, Entergy Holding satisfies the statutory criteria and
applicable Commission regulations to merit a determination of ETC status.  Entergy Holding,
therefore, is granted ETC status.

II.  Background

     A.   Entergy Holding's Application

     2.   Entergy Holding states that it is a Delaware corporation that intends to become a
subsidiary of Entergy Corporation, a registered public utility holding company under PUHCA.

     3.   Entergy Holding 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).

     4.   Specifically, Entergy Holding states that it will, through an affiliate, provide long-
haul fiber capacity on a wholesale basis to non-associate companies.  Entergy Holding further
states that the activities described in its application will be conducted in accordance with the
requirements of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and applicable rules and
regulations of the Commission.  Entergy Holding states that, in the future, it may provide other
telecommunications services, information services or products as permitted by PUHCA section
34(a)(1), and that such activities will likewise be conducted in a manner consistent with the
Communications Act, applicable Commission rules and regulations, and other applicable legal
requirements.

     5.   In a supplemental filing providing further details on its telecommunications
activities, Entergy Holding states that such service consists of providing bulk communications
capacity to other carriers, who in turn resell such capacity to third parties.  According to Entergy
Holding, this long-haul capacity would be used for alternative or extended routing for fiber-based
or wireless telecommunications, or to create backup or other redundancy for carriers'
telecommunications networks.  Entergy Holding states that while it may use unused capacity on
existing fiber or microwave facilities of the Entergy Operating Companies when it is practical or
cost-efficient to do so, Entergy Holding may, in other instances, construct its own facilities for
providing contemplated services or may obtain capacity from other service providers in order to
enhance its ability to offer services.  Finally, Entergy Holding states that while its initial
activities will encompass providing long-haul fiber capacity as described, it may also engage in
providing other permitted services using both wired and wireless technology, including personal
communications services ("PCS"), cable services, and data services.

     6.   Entergy Holding states that it intends to become an "associate company" within
the meaning of PUHCA section 2(a)(10) of the following electric utility operating companies: 
Arkansas Power & Light Company, Gulf States Utilities Company, Louisiana Power & Light
Company, Mississippi Power & Light Company, New Orleans Public Service Inc., System
Energy Resources, Inc., Entergy Operations, Inc., and Entergy Power, Inc. and of the following
gas companies: Gulf States Utilities Company and New Orleans Public Service Inc. ("Entergy
Operating Companies").

     7.   Finally, Entergy Holding states that it will conduct all of the activities described
in its application in conformance with PUHCA section 34(b), as amended by section 103 of the
Telecommunications Act of 1996, all other applicable provisions of PUHCA, and all other
applicable laws and regulations.

     8.   Entergy Technology's application was placed on public notice for comment on the
adequacy and accuracy of the application on February 27, 1996.  Entergy Technology Holding
Company, Public Notice (OGC Released February 27, 1996).  BellSouth Corporation and
BellSouth Telecommunications, Inc. (collectively "BellSouth"), AT&T Corporation ("AT&T"),
the City of New Orleans, Louisiana ("New Orleans") and the Mississippi Public Service
Commission ("Mississippi") all filed comments on Entergy Holding's application.

II.  Discussion

     9.   As noted above, concurrent with this application, Entergy Technology Company
("Entergy Technology"), an affiliate of Entergy Holding, filed an application for determination of
ETC status.  See Entergy Technology Company, Public Notice (OGC released February 27,
1996)(File No. ETC-96-2).  We granted Entergy Holding's application for determination of ETC
status in an order adopted concurrently with the instant order.  Because the same parties filed
substantially identical pleadings in both proceedings, we believe our disposition of these issues
in the concurrent proceeding also disposes of the issues raised in this proceeding.  Accordingly,
for the reasons set forth in our determination of ETC status for Entergy Technology Company,
File No. ETC-96-2, we reject the arguments raised by commenters in this proceeding.

IV.  Conclusion

     10.  Based upon the representations contained in Entergy Holding's application and its
supplemental filings, the Commission determines that Entergy Holding is an exempt
telecommunications company as that term is defined in PUHCA section 34(a)(1), as amended.

     11.  Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that the application of Entergy Holding IS
GRANTED.  IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Secretary notify the Securities and Exchange
Commission of this determination.

     12.  IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that all motions to file the above-referenced
supplementary or out-of-time comments or additional information are hereby GRANTED. 


                         FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION




                         William F. Caton
                         Acting Secretary