


                                                                     Exhibit 5.1


                         Opinion of Holland & Knight, LLP

May 29, 1997

Able Telcom Holding Corp.
1601 Forum Plance, Suite 1110
West Palm Beach, FL  33401

Re: Able Telcom Holding Corp.(the "Company") Resistration Statement on Form S-3


Gentlemen:

You  have  requested  our  opinion  in  connection  with  the  above  referenced
registration  statement,  (the  "Registration  Statement"),  under which certain
shareholders (the "Selling  Shareholders")  intend to offer and sell in a public
offering,  from time to time,  an aggregate  of  1,600,000  shares of the Common
Stock,  $.001 par value per share,  of the  Company,  consisting  of : (i) up to
1,400,000  shares (the "Series A Shares")  issuable upon the conversion of 1,000
shares of the  Company's  Series A  Convertible  Preferred  Stock (the "Series A
Preferred Stock"); and (ii) up to 200,000 shares (the "Warrent Shares") issuable
upon the exercise of certain outstanding warrants ("Warrants").

We have  reviewed  copies of the  Articles  of  Incorporation  and Bylaws of the
Company  and have  examined  such  corporate  documents  and  records  and other
certificates  and  have  made  such  investigations  of  law as we  have  deemed
necessary in order to render the opinion hereinafter set forth.

Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we render the following opinions:

The Series A Shares are duly authorized,  and when issued in accordance with the
terms of the  Series A  Preferred  Stock,  will be,  assuming  no  change in the
applicable law or pertinent facts, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

The Warrant Shares are duly  authorized,  and when issued in accordance with the
terms of the  Warrents  against  payment  of the  exercise  price  therefor  (as
applicable),  will be,  assuming no change in the  applicable  law or  pertinent
facts, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

We hereby consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Legal Matters"
in the  Registration  Statement  and to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to
the Registration  Statement. In giving this consent, we do not hereby admit that
we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7
of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  or the rules and  regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.


Very truly yours,


/s/ Holland & Knight, LLP

 
