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If you need the complete document, download the Word or WordPerfect version or Adobe Acrobat version (above). ***************************************************************** Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, D.C. 20554 In the Matter of ) ) ENTERGY SECURITY CORPORATION ) File No. 920EF0059 ) Operator of Fixed Microwave Service Stations ) WNEP492 and WNEH696 in Metarie and New ) Orleans, Louisiana ) MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER Adopted: December 6, 1999 Released: December 7, 1999 By the Chief, Enforcement Bureau: I. Introduction 1. In this Memorandum Opinion and Order, we grant a request, filed on October 29, 1999, by Entergy Security Corporation (``Entergy''), operator of Fixed Microwave Service Stations WNEP492 and WNEH696, Metarie and New Orleans, Louisiana, to reduce the forfeiture proposed in Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture, DA 99-1936, (Wireless Tel. Bureau, released October 1, 1999) (``NAL''). We find that Entergy acquired control of those two stations without prior Commission consent, in violation of Section 310(d) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (``Act'')1 and former Section 101.53(a) of the Commission's Rules.2 We conclude, based upon the information presented by Entergy, that a forfeiture in the amount of $9,000 is appropriate in this instance. II. Background 2. In 1997, Entergy, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Entergy Corporation,3 was engaged in ``the business of providing remote alarm monitoring services . . . utiliz[ing] telephone landlines and/or wireless facilities to receive, process and transmit emergency and other information.''4 Entergy merged with Armor Systems, Inc. (``Armor''), another alarm monitoring service provider, and the parties ``closed the transaction on October 15, 1997.''5 Prior to the merger, the stations in question were licensed to Armor.6 3. Entergy acquired control of the two stations as a result of the October 1997 merger. On January 4, 1999, Entergy filed an FCC Form 415 to assign Armor's two stations to Entergy.7 Entergy also filed a request for special temporary authority (``STA'') to operate the stations during the pendency of the assignment application.8 In response to a Commission letter9 seeking more information regarding the assignment, Entergy explained that the merger ``had inadvertently closed without prior FCC approval because of [Armor's and Entergy's] unfamiliarity with the approval requirement.''10 Entergy further stated that it ``did not learn of the prior approval requirement resulting from the merger until approached about a subsequent transaction11 involving an acquisition of the merged entity.''12 The Commission granted the STA on January 15, 1999. Entergy's assignment application remains pending. III. Discussion 4. In its response to the NAL, Entergy does not deny acquiring control of these stations without obtaining prior Commission approval.13 It argues, however, that the proposed forfeiture should be reduced because of Entergy's record of compliance with the Commission's Rules. In that regard, Entergy represents: For many years, Entergy, through its subsidiaries, has held numerous radio licenses issued by the Commission to utilize radio facilities necessary for the conduct of its business operations. These facilities have been operated for many years in compliance with the Commission's rules and regulations, and Entergy has not received any violation notices or fines from the Commission for rules violations.14 Entergy cites several cases for the proposition that the Commission will reduce forfeitures when a licensee has a record of compliance with the Commission's Rules.15 Entergy specifically asks that the forfeiture amount be reduced to $9,000.16 5. Our records show that Entergy has been a Commission licensee since 1994, and there is no record of Entergy having been previously cited for violating the Commission's rules with respect to its Title III licenses. We note that Entergy Services, Inc., a company commonly owned with Entergy, was recently found to have violated certain Commission rules with respect to the rates charged for pole attachments.17 While we believe this finding is relevant to an evaluation of Entergy's record of compliance with the Commission's Rules, the types of violations found in that proceeding could not take place at the stations involved in this case, and there is no evidence that Entergy's violations were deliberate. Under these circumstances, we believe its overall record of compliance with the Commission's Rules should be viewed positively. Section 503(b)(2)(D) of the Act requires us to consider, inter alia, ``any history of prior offenses'' in setting a forfeiture amount. In light of Entergy's general record of compliance with the Commission's Rules, we agree that a reduction of the proposed forfeiture amount from $12,000 to $9,000 is appropriate. Accordingly, we will impose a $9,000 forfeiture. IV. Conclusion and Ordering Clauses 6. ACCORDINGLY, IT IS ORDERED that the ``Request for Reduction or Remission of Forfeiture'' filed October 29, 1999, by Entergy Security Corporation IS GRANTED to the extent Entergy seeks a reduction of the proposed forfeiture amount from $12,000 to $9,000. 7. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, pursuant to Section 503(b) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended,18 and Section 1.80 of the Commission's Rules,19 that Entergy SHALL FORFEIT to the United States the sum of nine thousand dollars ($9,000)20 for willfully and repeatedly violating Section 310(d) of the Communications of Act of 1934, as amended, and former Section 101.53(a) of the Commission's Rules. 8. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that a copy of this Memorandum Opinion and Order shall be sent, by Certified Mail/Return Receipt Requested, to Denise C. Redmann, Esq., Senior Counsel, Entergy Services, Inc., 639 Loyola Avenue, 26th Floor, New Orleans, Louisiana 70113, and to Entergy's counsel, John A. Prendergast, Esq., Blooston, Mordkofsky, Jackson & Dickens, 2120 L Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION David H. Solomon Chief, Enforcement Bureau _________________________ 1 47 U.S.C. § 310(d). 2 47 C.F.R. § 101.53(a). That rule was replaced by Section 1.948 of the Commission's Rules on February 12, 1999. In the Matter of Biennial Review - Amendment of Parts 0, 1, 13, 22, 24, 26, 27, 80, 87, 90, 95, 97, and 101 of the Commission's Rules to Facilitate the Development and Use of the Universal Licensing System in the Wireless Telecommunications Services, 13 FCC Rcd 21027 (1998). Section 101.53 is applicable here because Entergy filed its authorization request prior to the February 12, 1999, effective date. 3 See Application of Sonitrol Southeast, Inc. for a Determination of Exempt Telecommunications Status Under Section 34 of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as Added by Section 103 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, 12 FCC Rcd 10429 (OGC 1997). 4 Application of Entergy ETHC Merger Company for a Determination of Exempt Telecommunications Status Under Section 34 of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as Added by Section 103 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, 12 FCC Rcd 10427, 10428 (OGC 1997). See also Letter Dated June 15, 1999, from Glenn L. Schroeder, Authorized Employee of Entergy at the Time of Merger, to Sharon C. Bowers, Informal Complaints & Public Inquiry Branch, Federal Communications Commission (``Schroeder Letter''). 5 See Schroeder Letter. 6 See Application for Authorization for Microwave Services, Exhibit, filed January 4, 1999, by Entergy Security. 7 Id. 8 See Request for STA, filed January 14, 1999, by Entergy. 9 See Letter Dated May 17, 1999, from Sharon C. Bowers, Chief, Informal Complaints & Public Inquiry Branch, Enforcement & Consumer Information Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, to John A. Prendergast of Blooston, Mordkofsky, Jackson & Dickens, counsel for Entergy. 10 See Schroeder Letter, supra. 11 See Application for Authorization in the Microwave Services filed January 4, 1999, by ADT Security Services, Inc., for assignment of stations WNEP492 and WNEH696 from Entergy to ADT. 12 See Schroeder Letter, supra. 13 See ``Request for Reduction or Remission of Forfeiture'' filed October 29, 1999 by Entergy (``Entergy Response''), pp. 2-4. 14 Id., p. 2. 15 Id., pp. 2-4, citing Courtesy Communications, Inc., 14 FCC Rcd 4198 (1999), Liberty Communications, Inc., DA 94-648 (Com. Car. Bureau 1994), David L. Hollingsworth, 7 FCC Rcd 6640 (Com. Car. Bureau 1992). 16 Id., p. 6. Entergy also argues that a $12,000 forfeiture would be unnecessarily punitive. Entergy Response, pp. 4-5. In light of our action reducing the forfeiture, we need not address that argument. 17 Texas Cable and Telecommunications Association, et al. v. Entergy Services, Inc., 14 FCC Rcd 9138 (Cable Bureau 1999). 18 47 U.S.C. § 503(b). 19 47 C.F.R. § 1.80. 20 Payment of the forfeiture may be made by credit card through the Commission's Billings and Collections Branch at (202) 418-1995 or by mailing a check or similar instrument, payable to the order of the Federal Communications Commission, to the Federal Communications Commission, P.O. Box 73482, Chicago, Illinois 60673-7482. The payment should note the file number 920EF0059.