*Pages 1--8 from Microsoft Word - 37267* PUBLIC NOTICE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 445 TWELFTH STREET, S. W. WASHINGTON, D. C. 20554 DA 04- 932 News media information 202/ 418- 0500 Fax- On- Demand 202/ 418- 2830 Internet: http:// www. fcc. gov ftp. fcc. gov Released: April 2, 2004 AT& T WIRELESS SERVICES, INC. AND CINGULAR WIRELESS CORPORATION SEEK FCC CONSENT TO TRANSFER CONTROL OF LICENSES AND AUTHORIZATIONS WT Docket No. 04- 70 PLEADING CYCLE ESTABLISHED Petitions to Deny Due: May 3, 2004 Oppositions Due: May 13, 2004 Replies Due: May 20, 2004 I. INTRODUCTION AT& T Wireless Services, Inc. (“ AT& T Wireless”) and Cingular Wireless Corporation (“ Cingular”) (collectively, “the Applicants”) have filed a series of applications pursuant to Sections 214 and 310( d) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended. 1 In these applications, the Applicants seek Commission approval of the transfer of control of licenses and authorizations held by AT& T Wireless and its subsidiaries to Cingular. This transfer of control will take place as a result of a proposed merger whereby AT& T Wireless will become an indirect, wholly- owned subsidiary of Cingular. These transfer of control applications pertain to licenses for the Part 22 Cellular Radiotelephone Service, the Part 24 Personal Communications Service, the Part 27 Wireless Communications Service, the Part 90 Industrial/ Business Pool Service, the Part 101 Private Operational Fixed Point- to- Point Microwave Service, the Part 101 Common Carrier Fixed Point- to- Point Microwave Service, the Part 101 Local Multipoint Distribution Service, and the Part 5 Experimental Radio Service, as well as an international Section 214 authorization. Additionally, various entities in which AT& T Wireless holds non- controlling interests have filed applications for pro forma transfers of control. 2 1 47 U. S. C. §§ 214, 310( d). Most of the applications were amended subsequent to their initial submission. When searching for these applications on the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau’s Universal Licensing System (“ ULS”) at http:// wireless. fcc. gov/ uls/, the amended versions of the applications will appear with an “AM” as the purpose code. 2 In addition, Cingular will acquire from AT& T Wireless other non- controlling ownership interests in entities holding Commission licenses and authorizations. These non- controlling interests are included in the Cingular’s Form 602. See Cingular Wireless Corporation, FCC Ownership Disclosure Form 602 (filed Mar. 30, 2004) (“ Post-Transaction Form 602”). 1 2 II. DESCRIPTION OF TRANSACTION These transfer of control applications were filed in connection with a proposed transaction pursuant to which each share of AT& T Wireless stock will be converted into a right to receive cash and then canceled. 3 Post- transaction, the Applicants state SBC Communications Inc. and BellSouth Corporation will hold 60 percent and 40 percent, respectively, of Cingular’s economic ownership interests, but each will continue to have negative control of and continue to exercise de facto control over Cingular by virtue of holding 50 percent of Cingular’s voting interests. Post- transaction, the Applicants state AT& T Wireless and its licensing subsidiaries will become indirect, wholly- owned subsidiaries of Cingular. 4 Cingular requests a waiver of the cellular cross- interest rule contained in section 22.942 of the Commission’s rules, 5 which generally limits the ability of a licensee, or an entity with a controlling or attributable interest in the cellular licensee, for one channel block to have more than a five percent ownership interest in the cellular licensee for the other channel block in an overlapping portion of the same Rural Service Area (“ RSA”). 6 As a result of the proposed merger, Cingular would be acquiring an interest in the cellular A Block licensee from AT& T Wireless in eleven RSAs where Cingular currently holds an attributable interest in the cellular B Block licensee. 7 III. SECTION 310( d) APPLICATIONS A. Non- Pro Forma Applications The following applications for consent to the transfer of control of the licenses from AT& T Wireless to Cingular have been assigned the file numbers listed below. File No. Licensee Lead Call Sign 3 Application, ULS File No. 0001656065, Exhibit 1, at 8 (filed Mar. 19, 2004) (“ Application”). The Applicants state that, as a result of this conversion, NTT DoCoMo’s ownership interests in AT& T Wireless will be extinguished. Id. at 8 n. 9. 4 See Post- Transaction Form 602, Exhibit 1 and Ownership Chart. The Applicants state that, since AT& T Wireless will continue to exist post- transaction, the relationship between AT& T Wireless and its subscribers will continue unchanged and that there is no need to transition these customers to Cingular. Application, Exhibit 1, at 8. 5 47 C. F. R. § 22.942. 6 See Application, Exhibit 1, at 43- 58. 7 See id. at 43. Cingular is requesting a waiver of the cellular- cross interest rule for the following RSAs: Connecticut 1 – Litchfield (KNKN833, Litchfield Acquisition Corporation); Florida 1 – Collier (KNKN555, AT& T Wireless Services of Florida, Inc.); Florida 2 – Glades (KNKQ386 and KNKQ421, AT& T Wireless Services of Florida, Inc.); Florida 4 – Citrus (KNKN738, AT& T Wireless Services of Florida, Inc.); Florida 5 – Putnam (KNKN550, AT& T Wireless PCS, LLC; KNKQ422, AT& T Wireless Services of Florida, Inc.); Oklahoma 3 – Grant (KNKN627, OK- 3 Cellular, Inc.); Texas 6 – Jack (KNKN472, McCaw Communications of Gainesville, TX, LLC); Texas 11 – Cherokee (KNKN428, Northeast Texas Cellular Telephone Company); Texas 18 – Edwards (KNKN456, Texas Cellular Telephone Company, L. P.); Texas 19 – Atascosa (KNKN525, Texas Cellular Telephone Company, L. P.); Texas 20 – Wilson (KNKN452, Texas Cellular Telephone Company, L. P.). See id. at 52- 57. 2 3 File No. Licensee Lead Call Sign 0001656065 8 AT& T Wireless PCS, LLC KNLF216 0001656135 AB Cellular LA, LLC KNKA351 0001656139 AirCom PCS, Inc. KNLF606 0001656142 AMT Cellular, LLC KNLF256 0001656149 AT& T Wireless Acquisition I, Inc. KNLB279 0001656154 AT& T Wireless IDGAR, LLC WPLM278 0001656157 AT& T Wireless PCS of Cleveland, LLC WPOK794 0001656162 AT& T Wireless PCS of Philadelphia, LLC WPOI416 0001656170 AT& T Wireless Services of Alaska, Inc. KNKN295 0001656178 AT& T Wireless Services of California, LLC KNKN337 0001656190 AT& T Wireless Services of Colorado, LLC KNKN453 0001656198 AT& T Wireless Services of Florida, Inc. KNKA749 0001656204 AT& T Wireless Services of Hawaii, Inc. KNKN203 0001656207 AT& T Wireless Services of Idaho, Inc. KNKN253 0001656212 AT& T Wireless Services of Minnesota, Inc. KNKA247 0001656214 AT& T Wireless Services of Nevada, Inc. KNKA657 0001656221 AT& T Wireless Services of Oregon, Inc. KNKN309 0001656240 AT& T Wireless Services of San Antonio, Inc. KNKA386 0001656246 AT& T Wireless Services of San Diego, LLC KNKA341 0001656252 AT& T Wireless Services of Tulsa, Inc. KNKA356 0001656255 AT& T Wireless Services of Utah, Inc. KNKQ313 0001656258 AT& T Wireless Services of Washington, LLC KNKA304 0001656270 AT& T Wireless WCS License Corporation KNLB268 0001656274 Atlantic Cellular Telephone of Delaware, LLC KNKA708 0001656282 Bakersfield Cellular, L. L. C. KNKR221 0001656289 Bay Area Cellular Telephone Company KNKA274 0001656298 Bellingham Cellular Partnership KNKA572 0001656304 Binghamton CellTelCo KNKA486 0001656310 Boise City Cellular Partnership KNKA774 0001656314 Bradenton Cellular Partnership KNKA647 0001656320 Bremerton Cellular Telephone Company KNKA679 0001656338 Cagal Cellular Communications Corp. KNKA697 0001656350 Cellular Telephone Company KNKA310 0001656352 Comet Wireless, Inc. KNLG956 0001656353 DigiCall, Inc. KNLG908 0001656355 DigiCom, Inc. KNLG923 0001656356 Eclipse PCS of Indianapolis, LLC WPQP644 0001656359 First Cellular Group of Shreveport, Inc. KNKA434 0001656364 Fort Collins- Loveland Cellular Telephone Company KNKA720 0001656366 Greeley Cellular Telephone Company KNKA649 0001656368 Hood River Cellular Telephone Company, Inc. KNKQ392 8 ULS File No. 0001656065 has been designated as the lead application, and all pleadings and other submissions filed in this matter that pertain generally to the transaction and not to a particular application will be available through this file number in ULS at http:// wireless. fcc. gov/ uls/. 3 4 File No. Licensee Lead Call Sign 0001656371 Houston MTA, L. P. WPQL238 0001656373 LA- 1 Joint Venture KNKQ371 0001656374 Litchfield Acquisition Corporation KNKN833 0001656377 Longview Cellular, Inc. KNKA560 0001656378 MC Cellular Corporation KNKN433 0001656379 McCaw Communications of Gainesville, TX, LLC KNKA623 0001656381 McCaw Communications of Johnstown, Inc. KNKA470 0001656382 McLang Cellular, Inc. KNKA820 0001656384 Medford Cellular Telephone Co., Inc. KNKA722 0001656386 Melbourne Cellular Telephone Company KNKA617 0001656387 Metroplex Telephone Company KNKA400 0001656422 Midwest Cellular Telephone Limited Partnership KNKA369 0001656423 Monroe Cellular, Inc. KNKA810 0001656424 Napa Cellular Telephone Company KNKN757 0001656425 Nevada County Cellular Corporation KNKN250 0001656427 NJ- 2 Cellular Company, Inc. KNKN740 0001656429 Northeast Texas Cellular Telephone Company KNKA591 0001656431 Ocala Cellular Telephone Company, Inc. KNKA753 0001656433 OK- 3 Cellular, Inc. KNKN627 0001656434 OK- 5 Cellular, Inc. KNKA759 0001656443 Olympia Cellular Telephone Company, Inc. KNKA589 0001656532 Orange County Cellular Telephone Corp. KNKN851 0001656534 Piscataqua Cellular Telephone of Delaware, LLC KNKA452 0001656536 Pittsburgh Cellular Telephone Company KNKA261 0001656538 Provo Cellular Telephone Company KNKA704 0001656540 QuinCom, Inc. KNLG914 0001656542 Redding Cellular Partnership KNKA540 0001656544 Reno Cellular Telephone Company KNKA516 0001656545 Rochester CellTelCo Partnership KNKA667 0001656547 Salem Cellular Telephone Company KNKA754 0001656548 Salinas Cellular Telephone Company KNKA587 0001656549 Santa Barbara Cellular Systems, Ltd. KNKA493 0001656550 Sarasota Cellular Telephone Company KNKA494 0001656551 Spokane Cellular Telephone Company KNKA755 0001656552 St. Cloud Cellular Telephone Company, Inc. KNKA808 0001656560 TeleCorp Communications, Inc. WPOJ806 0001656562 TeleCorp Holding Corp. II, L. L. C. WPTL470 0001656563 TeleCorp PCS, L. L. C. KNLG500 0001656565 Texarkana Cellular Partnership KNKA645 0001656568 Texas Cellular Telephone Company, L. P. KNKA706 0001656570 Tritel A/ B Holding Corp. WPUE309 0001656571 Tritel C/ F Holding Corp. WPTJ404 0001656572 Vanguard Binghamton, Inc. KNKA694 0001656573 Vanguard Cellular Pennsylvania, LLC KNKN719 4 5 File No. Licensee Lead Call Sign 0001656574 Vanguard LMDS Corp. WPLM279 0001656575 Visalia Cellular Telephone Company KNKA781 0001656577 West Virginia Cellular Telephone Corp. KNKN847 0001656578 Wheeling Cellular Telephone Company KNKA550 0001656580 Wisconsin Acquisition Corp. KNLF581 0001656581 Yakima Cellular Telephone Company KNKA700 0001656583 Yuba City Cellular Telephone Company KNKA622 B. Pro Forma Applications The following applications for consent to the pro forma transfer of control of non- controlling interests held by AT& T Wireless to Cingular have been assigned the file numbers listed below. File No. Licensee Lead Call Sign 0001661707 ABC Wireless, L. L. C. WPOK608 0001661719 Arnage Wireless, L. L. C. KNLG714 0001661730 Cascade Wireless, LLC KNLG842 0001676547 Cordova Wireless WPOL372 0001661732 Indiana Acquisition, L. L. C. WPQY739 0001661737 Lone Star Wireless, L. L. C. WPOJ700 0001681257 Muskegon Cellular Partnership KNKA552 0001661741 Panther Wireless, L. L. C. KNLG251 0001681215 Pittsfield Cellular Telephone Company KNKA691 0001661752 Royal Wireless, L. L. C. KNLF456 0001661756 Sabre Wireless, L. L. C. KNLG243 0001661759 Southwest Wireless, L. L. C. KNLF761 0001681235 St. Joseph CellTelCo KNKA772 0001661766 THC of Houston, Inc. KNLH625 0001661769 THC of Melbourne, Inc. KNLH627 0001661778 THC of Orlando, Inc. KNLH630 0001661780 THC of San Diego, Inc. KNLG655 0001661784 THC of Tampa, Inc. KNLH631 0001661786 Wireless Acquisition LLC KNLF587 0001661820 Zuma/ Lubbock, Inc. WPOJ840 0001661808 Zuma/ Odessa, Inc. WPOJ842 C. Part 5 Experimental Radio Service The following applications for consent to the transfer of control of Experimental Radio Service authorizations from AT& T Wireless to Cingular have been assigned the file numbers listed below. File No. Licensee Call Sign 5 6 0008- EX- TC- 2004 AT& T Wireless PCS, LLC WA2XIG 0011- EX- TC- 2004 AT& T Wireless PCS, LLC WC2XUG 0015- EX- TC- 2004 AT& T Wireless Services, Inc. KA2XAC IV. SECTION 214 AUTHORIZATION The following application for consent to the transfer of control of AT& T Wireless’s international Section 214 has been assigned the file number listed below. File No. Authorization Holder Authorization Number ITC- T/ C- 20040318- 00126 AT& T Wireless Services, Inc. ITC- 214- 20011031- 00547 V. EX PARTE STATUS OF THIS PROCEEDING Pursuant to section 1.1200( a) of the Commission’s rules, 9 the Commission may adopt modified or more stringent ex parte procedures in particular proceedings if the public interest so requires. We announce that this proceeding will be governed by permit- but- disclose ex parte procedures that are applicable to non- restricted proceedings under section 1.1206 of the Commission’s rules. 10 Parties making oral ex parte presentations are directed to the Commission’s statement re-emphasizing the public’s responsibility in permit- but- disclose proceedings and are reminded that memoranda summarizing the presentation must contain the presentation’s substance and not merely list the subjects discussed. 11 More than a one- or two- sentence description of the views and arguments presented is generally required. 12 Other rules pertaining to oral and written presentations are set forth in section 1.1206( b) as well. 13 We urge parties to use the Electronic Comment Filing System (“ ECFS”) to file ex parte submissions. 14 VI. GENERAL INFORMATION The transfer of control applications referenced herein have been found, upon initial review, to be acceptable for filing. The Commission reserves the right to return any application if, upon further examination, it is determined to be defective and not in conformance with the Commission’s rules or policies. Final action on these applications will not be taken earlier than thirty- one days following the date of this Public Notice. 15 Interested parties must file petitions to deny no later than May 3, 2004. Persons and entities that file petitions to deny become parties to the proceeding. They may participate fully in the proceeding, 9 47 C. F. R. § 1.1200( a). 10 Id. § 1.1206. 11 See Commission Emphasizes the Public’s Responsibilities in Permit- But- Disclose Proceedings, Public Notice, 15 FCC Rcd. 19,945 (2000). 12 See 47 C. F. R. § 1.1206( b)( 2). 13 Id. § 1.1206( b). 14 See discussion infra Part V. 15 See 47 U. S. C. § 309( b). 6 8 susan. singer@ fcc. gov, or (202) 418- 7447 (facsimile); (4) Kathy Harris, Mobility Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, at kathy. harris@ fcc. gov, or (202) 418- 7447 (facsimile); (5) Linda Ray, Broadband Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, at linda. ray@ fcc. gov, or (202) 418- 7447 (facsimile); (6) Jeff Tobias, Public Safety and Critical Infrastructure Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, at jeff. tobias@ fcc. gov, or (202) 418- 2643 (facsimile); (7) David Krech, Policy Division, International Bureau, at david. krech@ fcc. gov or (202) 418- 1460 (facsimile); (8) Neil Dellar, Office of General Counsel, at neil. dellar@ fcc. gov, or (202) 418- 1234 (facsimile); and (9) Donald Stockdale, Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Division, at donald. stockdale@ fcc. gov, or (202) 418- 2807 (facsimile). Copies of the applications and any subsequently- filed documents in this matter may be obtained from Qualex International, in person at 445 12th Street, S. W., Room CY- B402, Washington, D. C. 20554, via telephone at (202) 863- 2893, via facsimile at (202) 863- 2898, or via e- mail at qualexint@ aol. com. The applications and any associated documents are also available for public inspection and copying during normal reference room hours at the following Commission office: FCC Reference Information Center, 445 12th Street, S. W., Room CY- A257, Washington, D. C. 20554. The applications are also available electronically through the Commission’s ECFS, which may be accessed on the Commission’s Internet website at http:// www. fcc. gov. In addition, applications filed under Parts 22, 24, 27, 90, and 101 of the Commission’s rules are available electronically through ULS, which may be accessed on the Commission’s Internet website. Additional information regarding the transaction will be available on the FCC's Office of General Counsel's website, http:// www. fcc. gov/ ogc, which will contain a fully indexed, unofficial listing and electronic copies of all materials in this docket. Alternate formats of this public notice (computer diskette, large print, audio recording, and Braille) are available to persons with disabilities by contacting Brian Millin at (202) 418- 7426 (voice), (202) 418- 7365 (TTY), or send an e-mail to access@ fcc. gov. For further information, contact Erin McGrath, Spectrum and Competition Policy Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, at (202) 418- 2042, or Susan Singer, Spectrum and Competition Policy Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, at (202) 418- 1340. -FCC- 8