Exhibit 99.1350CERT

         Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act

      I, Terry K. Glenn, President of Merrill Lynch Utilities and Communications
      Fund, Inc. (the "Fund"), certify that:

            1.    The N-CSR of the Fund (the "Report") fully complies with the
                  requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities
                  Exchange Act of 1934; and

            2.    The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in
                  all material respects, the financial condition and results of
                  operations of the Fund.

      Dated: July 23, 2003


                                                   /s/ Terry K. Glenn
                                                   ------------------
                                                   Terry K. Glenn,
                                                   President of
                                                   Merrill Lynch Utilities
                                                   and Communications Fund, Inc.

      A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906, or
      other document authenticating, acknowledging, or otherwise adopting the
      signature that appears in typed form within the electronic version of this
      written statement required by Section 906, has been provided to Merrill
      Lynch Utilities and Communications Fund, Inc. and will be retained by
      Merrill Lynch Utilities and Communications Fund, Inc. and furnished to the
      Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.



Exhibit 99.1350CERT

         Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act

      I, Donald C. Burke, Chief Financial Officer of Merrill Lynch Utilities and
      Communications Fund, Inc. (the "Fund"), certify that:

            1.    The N-CSR of the Fund (the "Report") fully complies with the
                  requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities
                  Exchange Act of 1934; and

            2.    The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in
                  all material respects, the financial condition and results of
                  operations of the Fund.

      Dated: July 23, 2003


                                                   /s/ Donald C. Burke
                                                   -------------------
                                                   Donald C. Burke,
                                                   Chief Financial Officer of
                                                   Merrill Lynch Utilities
                                                   and Communications Fund, Inc.

      A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906, or
      other document authenticating, acknowledging, or otherwise adopting the
      signature that appears in typed form within the electronic version of this
      written statement required by Section 906, has been provided to Merrill
      Lynch Utilities and Communications Fund, Inc. and will be retained by
      Merrill Lynch Utilities and Communications Fund, Inc. and furnished to the
      Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.