*Pages 1--2 from Microsoft Word - 2509.doc* PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., S. W. Washington, D. C. 20554 DA 00- 1627 July 21, 2000 Seren Innovations, Inc. Seeks Commission Determination of "Exempt Telecommunications Company" Status Under the Public Utility Holding Company Act NSD File No: ETC 00- 24 Pleading Cycle Established Comments Due: August 11, 2000 Reply Comments Due: August 18, 2000 On July 10, 2000, Seren Innovations, Inc. (“ SEREN” 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"). Seren is a Minnesota corporation headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Seren states that it was formed in 1996 to provide high- speed Internet, cable television, and local and long distance telephone service to residential and business customers through state- of- the- art, hybrid fiber optic and coaxial cable broadband networks. Seren states that it is engaged in the provision of telecommunications and information services or other services and products subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission or products and services that are related or incidental to the provision of the foregoing products and services. The application states that Seren is a wholly- owned, non- regulated subsidiary of Northern States Power Company, also a Minnesota corporation, and that Northern States is not structured as a holding company and therefore is not subject to the Public Utility Holding Company Act. The application further states that Northern States and New Century Energies (a Colorado corporation headquartered in Denver, Colorado and a registered public utility holding company) have agreed to merge to form a new company, Xcel Energy. Xcel Energy will service 4. 5 million electric and gas customers and will be the eighth largest utility company in the United States. It states that the merger has been approved by all required agencies with the exception of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The merger will be complete once approval is secured from the SEC. Following the merger, Xcel Energy will be a registered public utility holding company, and Seren consequently has a need for ETC status to allow it to continue its services in the same manner it does today. News media information 202 / 418- 0500 Fax- On- Demand 202 / 418- 2830 Internet: http:// www. fcc. gov TTY 202 / 418- 2555 1 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 10, 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 10, 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 August 11, 2000. All comments should also be served on the Applicant. Reply comments must be filed no later than August 18, 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- 24. 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 Mart y Schwimmer, (202) 418- 2320 (voice), 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. -FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION- 2