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

**Federal Communications Commission**

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

**Washington, D.C. 20554**

**DA 00-1714**

> **August 1, 2000**
>
> **MaineCom Services, New England Investment Corporation, New England
> Business Trust, and New England Security Corporation Seek Commission
> Determination of \"Exempt Telecommunications Company\" Status Under
> the Public Utility Holding Company Act**
>
> **MaineCom Services --NSD File No: ETC 00-28**
>
> **New England Investment Corporation --NSD File No: ETC 00-29**
>
> **New England Business Trust --NSD File No: ETC 00-30**
>
> **New England Security Corporation -- NSD File No: ETC 00-31**
>
> **Pleading Cycle Established**

**Comments Due: August 22, 2000** **Reply Comments Due: August 29,
2000**

> On July 21, 2000, MaineCom Services, New England Investment
> Corporation, New England Business Trust, and New England Security
> Corporation ("Applicants"), 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
> a joint application requesting a Commission determination that each is
> an exempt telecommunications company (\"ETC\").
>
> The application states that all applicants will be engaged (as defined
> in PUHCA section 2(a)(11)(B)) directly, or indirectly through one or
> more affiliates, and exclusively, in the business of providing (a)
> telecommunications services, (b) information services, (c) other
> services or products subject to the jurisdiction of the Federal
> Communications Commission, or (d) products or services that are
> related or incidental to the provision of a product or service
> described in paragraphs (a) through (c) above.
>
> The application states that MaineCom Services ("MaineCom") is a Maine
> corporation and a subsidiary of CMP Group, also a Maine corporation,
> and is also an affiliate of Central Maine Power Company, an exempt
> public utility holding company under section 3 of PUHCA. It further
> states that MaineCom provides a variety of telecommunications services
> to retail, wholesale, and carrier customers. These services include
> point-to-point fiber optic or other facilities-based connections,
> private networking, telecommunications consulting, and intrastate
> private voice and data transport for other telecommunications
> carriers. The application states that in the future, MaineCom may also
> provide telecommunications services, information services, or other
> "related and incidental" products and services as permitted by section
> 103 of the 1996 Act, when such opportunities arise and in a manner
> consistent with PUHCA, as amended, and other applicable laws and
> regulations.
>
> The application states that New England Investment Corporation
> ("NEIC") is a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of
> MaineCom. As a consequence, NEIC, like MaineCom, is an affiliate of
> Central Maine Power Company, an exempt public utility holding company
> under section 3 of PUHCA, as amended. It further states that NEIC
> invests, either directly or indirectly, in companies that provide
> telecommunications services to retail, wholesale, and carrier
> customers. It states that these services include fiber optic or other
> facilities-based connections and intrastate private voice and data
> transport for other telecommunications carriers. The application
> states that in the future, NEIC may also invest, either directly or
> indirectly, in companies providing other types of telecommunications
> services, information services, or other "related and incidental"
> products and services as permitted by section 103 of the 1996 Act,
> when such opportunities arise and in a manner consistent with PUHCA,
> as amended, and other applicable laws and regulations.
>
> The application states that New England Business Trust ("NEBT") is a
> Massachusetts business trust and a wholly-owned subsidiary of NEIC
> (which in turn, is a subsidiary of MaineCom). NEBT, like MaineCom and
> NEIC, is an affiliate of Central Maine Power Company, an exempt public
> utility holding company under section 3 of PUHCA. It further states
> that NEBT invests, either directly or indirectly, in companies that
> provide telecommunications services to retail, wholesale, and carrier
> customers. These services include fiber optic or other
> facilities-based connections and intrastate private voice and data
> transport for other telecommunications carriers. The application
> states that in the future, NEBT may also invest, either directly or
> indirectly, in companies providing other types of telecommunications
> services, information services, or other "related and incidental"
> products and services as permitted by section 103 of the 1996 Act,
> when such opportunities arise and in a manner consistent with PUHCA,
> as amended, and other applicable laws and regulations.
>
> The application states that New England Security Corporation ("NESC")
> is a Massachusetts corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of NEBT
> (which, in turn, is a subsidiary of NEIC, which is a subsidiary of
> MaineCom). NESC, like MaineCom, NEIC, and NEBT, is an affiliate of
> Central Maine Power Company, an exempt public utility holding company
> under section 3 of PUHCA. It further states that NESC invests, either
> directly or indirectly, in companies that provide telecommunications
> services to retail, wholesale, and carrier customers. These services
> include fiber optic or other facilities-based connections and
> intrastate private voice and data transport for other
> telecommunications carriers. The application states that, in the
> future, NESC may also invest, either directly or indirectly, in
> companies providing other types of telecommunications services,
> information services, or other "related and incidental" products and
> services as permitted by section 103 of the 1996 Act, when such
> opportunities arise and in a manner consistent with PUHCA, as amended,
> and other applicable laws and regulations.
>
> 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 application, in this case, July 21, 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, July 21, 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
> each 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 Applicants' application
> requesting status as an ETC, must do so no later than **August 22,
> 2000**. All comments should also be served on the Applicants. Reply
> comments must be filed no later than **August 29, 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 the NSD file
> number assigned: **MaineCom Services, ETC 00-28; New England
> Investment Corporation, ETC 00-29; New England Business Trust, ETC
> 00-30; and New England Security Corporation, NSD-L-00-31**.
>
> The full text of this document is available for public inspection and
> copying during regular business hours at the FCC Reference Information
> Center, Portals II, 445 12^th^ Street, SW, Room CY-A257, Washington,
> DC 20554. This document may also be purchased from the Commission's
> copy contractor, International Transcription Service, Inc. (ITS), 1231
> 20^TH^ Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036, telephone 202-857-3800,
> facsimile 202-857-3805, TTY 202-293-8810.
>
> For further information, contact Al McCloud, (202) 418-2499 (voice),
> [**amccloud@fcc.gov**](mailto:amccloud@fcc.gov) or Marty Schwimmer,
> (202) 418-2320 (voice),
> [**mschwimm@fcc.gov**](mailto:mschwimm@fcc.gov), of the Network
> Services Division, Common Carrier Bureau. The TTY number is (202)
> 418-0484. You may also find more information about Exempt
> Telecommunications Companies at our website:
> [**http://www.fcc.gov/ccb/nsd/documents/ETC.html**](http://www.fcc.gov/ccb/nsd/documents/ETC.html).
>
> **-FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION-**