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                                                                     Exhibit 5.1

                       [LETTERHEAD OF HADDAN & ZEPFEL LLP]

                               September 22, 1999

Franklin Telecommunications Corp.
733 Lakefield Road
Westlake Village, California 91361

Dear Sirs:

        You have requested our opinion with respect to certain matters in
connection with the filing by Franklin Telecommunications Corp. (the "Company")
of a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement") with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, covering the registration of up to 4,264,736
shares of the Company's Common Stock, without par value (the "Shares"), for
issuance pursuant to a Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of August 30,1999
between the Company and Crescent International Ltd., as amended by an Amendment
to Stock Purchase Agreement dated September 15, 1999 (the "Stock Purchase
Agreement"), and upon exercise of Stock Purchase Warrants issued pursuant to the
Stock Purchase Agreement (the "Warrants").

        In connection with this opinion, we have examined and relied upon the
Registration Statement, the Company's Amended and Restated Articles of
Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws, the Stock Purchase Agreement, as
amended, the Warrants, and the originals or copies certified to our satisfaction
of such records, documents, certificates, memoranda and other instruments as in
our judgment are necessary or appropriate to enable us to render the opinion
expressed below. We have assumed the genuineness and authenticity of all
documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to originals of all
documents submitted to us as copies thereof and the due execution and delivery
of all documents where due execution and delivery are a prerequisite to the
effectiveness thereof.

        On the basis of the foregoing, and in reliance thereon, we are of the
opinion that the Shares, when sold and issued in accordance with the Stock
Purchase Agreement, as amended, and the Warrants, are or will be validly issued,
fully paid, and nonassessable shares of Common Stock of the Company.

        We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement.

                                                 Very truly yours,


                                                 /s/ Haddan & Zepfel LLP
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                                                 Haddan & Zepfel LLP