**PUBLIC NOTICE**![](media/image1.png){width="0.6541666666666667in"
height="0.6604166666666667in"}

**Federal Communications Commission**

**445 12th St., S.W.**

**Washington, D.C. 20554**

**DA 00-1038**

> **May 10, 2000**
>
> **Usource, Inc. Seeks Commission Determination of**
>
> **\"Exempt Telecommunications Company\" Status Under the**
>
> **Public Utility Holding Company Act**
>
> **NSD File No: ETC 00-19**
>
> **Pleading Cycle Established**

**Comments Due: May 31, 2000** **Reply Comments Due: June 7, 2000**

> On April 17, 2000, Usource, Inc. ("Usource" or "Applicant"), 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, Pub. L. No. 104-104, filed an application requesting a
> Commission determination that it is an exempt telecommunications
> company (\"ETC\").
>
> Usource is a Delaware corporation and is a wholly subsidiary of Unitil
> Resources, Inc., and an indirect subsidiary of Unitil Corporation
> ("Unitil", a New Hampshire corporation and a public utility holding
> company registered pursuant to PUHCA. Usource is an associate company,
> within the meaning of PUHCA, Section 2(a)(10), of the following public
> utility companies: Concord Electric Company; Exeter & Hampton Electric
> Company; Fitchburg Gas and Electric Light Company; and Unitil Power
> Corp.
>
> Usource states it will be engaged (as defined in PUHCA Section
> 2(a)(11)(B)) directly or indirectly through one or more "affiliates",
> 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).
>
> Usource states that it provides an Internet-based energy marketplace
> that allows energy consumers access to a customer-driven auction
> process for energy commodities and to a suite of value-added energy
> products, services, and tools. Usource states it runs on the
> transactional-based software and retail energy commodity Exchange
> developed and licensed by Enermetrix.com to assist customers with
> their energy procurement process and to ensure highly competitive,
> time-sensitive bids from energy suppliers. Through the Usource
> homepage, energy consumers and energy suppliers are able to conduct
> transactions involving energy commodities using the advantages of
> transactional e-commerce. Usource states it will provide energy
> service providers with an Internet based energy marketplace to offer
> energy consumers products and services and will also provide data and
> information service to commercial and industrial customers desiring to
> control their energy procurement process and manage their energy
> usage.
>
> In accordance with 47 C.F.R. Section 1.5004, if the Commission does
> not issue an order denying an ETC application within 60 days of
> receipt of the applications, in this case, April 26, 2000, the
> application will be deemed granted as a matter of law. In accordance
> with 47 C.F.R. Section 1.5003, a person applying in good faith for a
> Commission determination of ETC status is deemed to be an ETC from the
> date of receipt of the application, in this case, April 26, 2000,
> until the date of Commission action pursuant to 47 C.F.R. Section
> 1.5004. In accord with 47 C.F.R. Section 1.5005, the Secretary of the
> Commission is now notifying the Securities and Exchange Commission
> (SEC) that the Applicant is deemed to be exempt telecommunications
> company. In the event that the Commission issues an order within 60
> days of receipt of the application denying the application, the
> Secretary will so notify the SEC. Otherwise, the Commission will take
> no further action to grant this application.
>
> This proceeding is considered a \"permit but disclose\" proceeding for
> purposes of the Commission\'s *ex parte* rules. *See generally* 47
> C.F.R. Sections 1.1200 ‑ 1.1206. Persons wishing to file comments,
> regarding the adequacy or accuracy of the Applicant's application
> requesting status as an ETC, must do so no later than **May 31,
> 2000**. All comments should also be served on the Applicant. Reply
> comments must be filed no later than **June 7, 2000.**
>
> Interested parties should file an original and four copies of their
> comments with the Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications
> Commission, 445 Twelfth St., SW, Room TW-A325, Washington, D.C. 20554.
> In addition, parties should send one copy to ITS, at 1231 20th Street,
> NW, Washington, D.C. 20036 and two copies to Al McCloud, Common
> Carrier Bureau, Network Services Division, FCC, 445 12th Street, SW,
> Room 6-A320, Washington, D.C. 20554. All filings concerning any of the
> matters referenced in this Public Notice should refer to NSD File No.
> **ETC 00-19**. The application will be available for public inspection
> Monday through Friday in the FCC Reference Center, Portals II, 445
> 12th Street, SW, Suite CY-A257, Washington, D.C., 20554, (202)
> 418-0267.
>
> For further information, contact Al McCloud, (202) 418-2499 (voice),
> <amccloud@fcc.gov> or Marty Schwimmer, (202) 418-2320 (voice),
> <mschwimm@fcc.gov>, of the Network Services Division, Common Carrier
> Bureau. The TTY number is (202) 418-0484.
>
> **-FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION-**