*Pages 1--4 from Microsoft Word - 21276.doc* PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., S. W. Washington, D. C. 20554 DA 02- 2280 September 13, 2002 NGS TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC. SEEKS COMMISSION DETERMINATION OF "EXEMPT TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY" STATUS UNDER THE PUBLIC UTILITY HOLDING COMPANY ACT NSD File No: ETC 02- 05 Pleading Cycle Established Comments Due: September 20, 2002 Reply Comments Due: September 25, 2002 On August 1, 2002, NGS Telecommunications, Inc. (NGS Telecommunications or Company), located at 301 Hammer Mill Road, Rocky Hill, Connecticut 06067, filed an application requesting a determination by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) that it is an “exempt telecommunications company” (ETC), pursuant to section 34( a)( 1) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 (PUHCA), 1 as amended by section 103 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (the Act). 2 The application indicates NGS Telecommunications (to be renamed Woods Network Services, Inc.) is a Connecticut corporation, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of NU Enterprises, Inc., which is itself a wholly owned subsidiary of Northeast Utilities (NU). NU is a registered public utility holding company. The application states NGS Telecommunications was formed to acquire the business assets of Woods Network Services, Inc., a Connecticut corporation located in Farmington, 1 See 15 U. S. C. §§ 79 et seq. 2 See Pub. L. No. 104- 104. News media information 202 / 418- 0500 Fax- On- Demand 202 / 418- 2830 Internet: http:// www. fcc. gov TTY 202 / 418- 2555 1 Connecticut. The transaction is tentatively scheduled to close on July 31, 2002. Simultaneous with or subsequent to the transaction, NGS Telecommunications will change its corporate name to Woods Network Services, Inc. The Company will be engaged in the business of providing the design, hardware, installation, training and maintenance support for computer network and phone system infrastructures. Services include designing the network and phone infrastructure cabling and related software. Hardware sales include peripheral networking hardware including routers, switches, network connections, fiber optic cable and phones. Installation includes installation of all hardware sales as well as T1 lines as well as the software necessary to run the networks including network management and security systems. Maintenance support is provided on all of the previously mentioned products and services. The application indicates NGS Telecommunications will be engaged exclusively in the business of providing telecommunications and information services or products subject to the jurisdiction of the FCC and/ or products or services that are related or incidental to the provision of such products or services within the meaning of section 34( a)( 1) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended by section 103 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. In accordance with section 1.5004 of the Commission’s rules, if the Commission does not issue an order denying an ETC application within sixty (60) days of receipt of an application, in this case September 30, 2002, the application will be deemed granted as a matter of law. 3 In accordance with 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 August 1, 2002, until the date of Commission action pursuant to section 1.5004. 4 In accordance with section 1.5005, the Secretary of the Commission is now notifying the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that the Applicant is deemed to be an Exempt Telecommunications Company. 5 In the event that the Commission issues an order denying the application within sixty (60) days of its receipt, 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. 6 Persons wishing to file comments regarding the adequacy or accuracy of NGS Telecommunications, Inc. ’s application requesting status as an ETC must do so no later than September 20, 2002. Reply comments must be filed no later than September 25, 2002. All filings concerning any of the matters referenced in this Public Notice should refer to NSD file number ETC 02- 05. All comments should also be served on the Applicant. Interested parties should file an original and four (4) copies of their comments with the Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12 th St., SW, Room TW-A325, Washington, D. C. 20554. In addition, parties should send one (1) copy to Qualex 3 See 47 C. F. R § 1.5004. 4 See 47 C. F. R § 1.5003. 5 See 47 C. F. R. § 1.5005. 6 See generally 47 C. F. R. §§ 1.1200 - 1.1216. 2 International, Portals II, 445 12 th Street, SW, Room CY- B402, Washington, DC, 20554, telephone 202- 863- 2893, facsimile 202- 863- 2898, or via e- mail qualexint@ aol. com, and two (2) copies to Carmell Weathers, Wireline Competition Bureau, Competition Policy Division, FCC, 445 12 th Street, SW, Room 6- A207, Washington, D. C. 20554. Commenters are also requested to fax their comments to the FCC at (202) 418- 2345, Attention: Carmell Weathers. Interested parties who wish to file comments via messenger- delivery or hand- delivery are also notified that effective December 18, 2001, the Commission will only receive such deliveries weekdays from 8: 00 a. m. to 7: 00 p. m., via its contractor, Vistronix, Inc., located at 236 Massachusetts Avenue, NE, Suite 110, Washington, DC 20002. The Commission no longer accepts these filings at 9300 East Hampton Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743. Please note that all hand deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners, and envelopes must be disposed of before entering the building. In addition, this is a reminder that as of October 18, 2001, the Commission no longer accepts hand- delivered or messenger- delivered filings at its headquarters at 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20554. Other messenger- delivered documents, including documents sent by overnight mail (other than United States Postal Service (USPS) Express and Priority Mail), must be addressed to 9300 East Hampton Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743. This location is open weekdays from 8: 00 a. m. to 5: 30 p. m. USPS First-Class, Express, and Priority Mail should be addressed to the Commission’s headquarters at 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20554. The following chart summarizes this information: TYPE OF DELIVERY PROPER DELIVERY ADDRESS Hand- delivered or messenger- delivered paper filings 236 Massachusetts Avenue, NE, Suite 110, Washington, DC 20002 (Weekdays - 8: 00 a. m. to 7: 00 p. m.) Other messenger- delivered documents, including documents sent by overnight mail (this type excludes USPS Express and Priority Mail) 9300 East Hampton Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743 (Weekdays - 8: 00 a. m. to 5: 30 p. m.) USPS First- Class, Express, and Priority Mail 445 12 th Street, SW Washington, DC 20554 The application will be available for review and copying during regular business hours at the FCC Reference Center, Portals II, 445 12 th Street, SW, Room CY- A257, Washington, DC 20554, (202) 418- 0270. A copy of the application may also be purchased from the Commission’s copy contractor, Qualex International, Portals II, 445 12 th Street, SW, Room CY- B402, Washington, DC, 20554, telephone 202- 863- 2893, facsimile 202- 863- 2898, or via e- mail at qualexint@ aol. com. For further information, contact Carmell Weathers, (202) 418- 2325 (voice), cweather@ fcc. gov or John Adams, (202) 418- 0394 (voice), jkadams@ fcc. gov, of the Composition Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau. The TTY number is (202) 418- 0484. You may also find more information about Exempt Telecommunications Companies at the Competition Policy Division website: http:// www. fcc. gov/ wcb/ cpd/ other _ adjud. -FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION- 3 4