PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov TTY: 1-888-835-5322 DA 10-1670 Released: September 1, 2010 DOMESTIC SECTION 214 APPLICATION FILED FOR THE ACQUISITION OF ASSETS OF THE WORLD COMPANY AND WORLDNET, L.L.C. (KNOWN AS SUNFLOWER BROADBAND) BY KNOLOGY OF KANSAS, INC. STREAMLINED PLEADING CYCLE ESTABLISHED WC Docket No. 10-170 Comments Due: September 15, 2010 Reply Comments Due: September 22, 2010 On August 23, 2010, The World Company (World) and WorldNet, L.L.C. (WorldNet) (World and WorldNet together, Sunflower Broadband) and Knology of Kansas, Inc. (Knology of Kansas) (collectively, Applicants) filed an application pursuant to section 63.03 of the Commission’s rules to transfer assets from Sunflower Broadband to Knology of Kansas.1 World, a Kansas corporation, owns 98 percent of WorldNet, a Kansas limited liability company. Applicants state that, together, WorldNet and World (under the trade name, Sunflower Broadband) offer competitive local exchange carrier (LEC), long distance, and cable TV services in Lawrence, Eudora, Linwood, Tonganoxie, and Basehor, Kansas and in nearby rural areas in Douglas, Leavenworth, and Wyandotte counties in Kansas. Applicants state that Sunflower Broadband currently has no other affiliates that offer domestic telecommunications services outside of Kansas. Knology of Kansas, a Delaware corporation, is a newly-formed subsidiary of Knology, Inc., a publicly traded Delaware based holding company. Knology, Inc’s operating subsidiaries provide competitive LEC, long distance, and cable TV services in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Minnesota, Iowa, and South Dakota. Knology, Inc. also has operating subsidiaries that provide rural, incumbent LEC services in Alabama, Georgia, and South Dakota. Applicants state that the following entities and person collectively own 13.1% of the equity of Knology, Inc.: The Burton Partnership (QP), Limited Partnership (9.7%, U.S.-based); The Burton Partnership, Limited Partnership (3.2%, U.S.-based), and Donald W. Burton (.2%, a U.S. citizen). Mr. Burton is the general or managing partner of the Burton Partnerships. No other person or entity owns 10 percent or more of the voting or equity interests of Knology, Inc. Pursuant to the terms of the proposed transaction, Both World and WorldNet will assign to Knology of Kansas telecommunications assets, including customer contracts. Applicants assert that the 1 47 C.F.R § 63.03; see 47 U.S.C. § 214. Applicants are also filing applications for transfer of control associated with authorizations for international, wireless, and media services. Any action on this domestic 214 application is without prejudice to Commission action on other, pending applications. Applicants filed a supplement to their domestic section 214 application on September 1, 2010. proposed transaction is entitled to presumptive streamlined treatment under section 63.03(b)(2)(ii) of the Commission’s rules and that a grant of the application will serve the public interest, convenience, and necessity.2 Domestic Section 214 Application Filed for the Acquisition of Assets of The World Company and WorldNet, L.L.C. (Known as Sunflower Broadband) to Knology of Kansas, Inc., WC Docket No. 10-170 (filed Aug. 23, 2010). GENERAL INFORMATION The Wireline Competition Bureau finds, upon initial review, that the transfer of control identified herein is acceptable for filing as a streamlined application. The Commission reserves the right to return any transfer of control application if, upon further examination, it is determined to be defective and not in conformance with the Commission’s rules and policies. Pursuant to section 63.03(a) of the Commission’s rules, 47 C.F.R. § 63.03(a), interested parties may file comments on or before September 15, 2010, and reply comments on or before September 22, 2010. Unless otherwise notified by the Commission, the Applicants may transfer control on the 31st day after the date of this notice.3 Comments must be filed electronically using (1) the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) or (2) the Federal Government’s e- Rulemaking Portal. See 47 C.F.R. § 63.03(a) (“All comments on streamlined applications shall be filed electronically . . . .”); Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 FR 24121 (1998). § Comments may be filed electronically using the Internet by accessing the ECFS, http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/, or the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal, http://www.regulations.gov. Filers should follow the instructions provided on the website for submitting comments. § For ECFS filers, if multiple docket or rulemaking numbers appear in the caption of this proceeding, filers must transmit one electronic copy of the comments for each docket or rulemaking number referenced in the caption. In completing the transmittal screen, filers should include their full name, U.S. Postal Service mailing address, and the applicable docket or rulemaking number. Parties may also submit an electronic comment by Internet e-mail. To get filing instructions, filers should send an e-mail to ecfs@fcc.gov and include the following words in the body of the message, “get form.” A sample form and directions will be sent in response. In addition, e-mail one copy of each pleading to each of the following: 1) The Commission’s duplicating contractor, Best Copy and Printing, Inc., fcc@bcpiweb.com; phone: (202) 488-5300; fax: (202) 488-5563; 2) Tracey Wilson-Parker, Competition Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, tracey.wilson-parker@fcc.gov; 3) Jodie May, Competition Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, jodie.may@fcc.gov; 4) David Krech, Policy Division, International Bureau, david.krech@fcc.gov; and 5) Jim Bird, Office of General Counsel, jim.bird@fcc.gov. 2 47 C.F.R. § 63.03(b)(2)(ii). 3 Such authorization is conditioned upon receipt of any other necessary approvals from the Commission in connection with the proposed transaction. Filings and comments are available for public inspection and copying during regular business hours at the FCC Reference Information Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street, S.W., Room CY-A257, Washington, D.C. 20554. They may also be purchased from the Commission’s duplicating contractor, Best Copy and Printing, Inc., Portals II, 445 12th Street, S.W., Room CY-B402, Washington, D.C. 20554; telephone: (202) 488-5300; fax: (202) 488-5563; e-mail: fcc@bcpiweb.com; url: www.bcpiweb.com. People with Disabilities: To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice), (202) 418-0432 (tty). For further information, please contact Tracey Wilson-Parker at (202) 418-1394 or Jodie May at (202) 418-0913 -FCC-