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 13-1369 Released: June 14, 2013 DOMESTIC SECTION 214 APPLICATION FILED FOR THE ACQUISITION OF CERTAIN ASSETS OF ERNEST COMMUNICATIONS, INC. BY BIRCH COMMUNICATIONS, INC. STREAMLINED PLEADING CYCLE ESTABLISHED WC Docket No. 13-146 Comments Due: June 28, 2013 Reply Comments Due: July 5, 2013 On June 5, 2013, Birch Communications, Inc. (Birch) and Ernest Communications, Inc. (Ernest) (together, Applicants) filed an application pursuant to section 63.03 of the Commission’s rules1 to transfer certain Ernest assets to Birch. Ernest, a Georgia corporation, offers or is certificated to offer competitive local exchange and interexchange services in the District of Columbia and all 50 states. Joseph Ernest, a U.S. citizen, owns a 70 percent equity and voting interest in Ernest. Paul Masters, a U.S. citizen, owns a 30 percent equity and voting interest in Ernest. Birch, a Georgia corporation, offers or is certificated to offer through its operating subsidiaries competitive local exchange and interexchange services in the District of Columbia and 48 states with applications pending in Arizona and West Virginia. Birch Communications Holdings, Inc. (Birch Holdings), a Georgia corporation, owns a 100 percent equity and voting interest in Birch. Applicants state that Holcombe Green, a U.S. citizen, holds a 66 percent equity and voting interest, and R. Kirby Godsey, a U.S. citizen, holds a 32 percent equity and voting interest in Birch Holdings. Applicants further state that these individuals hold interests in Tempo Telecom, LLC, a reseller of prepaid wireless voice and data services in 18 states. Pursuant to the terms of the proposed transaction, Birch will purchase certain assets from Ernest, including customer accounts and contracts in the District of Columbia and all 50 states in which Ernest operates. Applicants assert that the proposed transaction is entitled to presumptive streamlined treatment under section 63.03(b)(2)(i) 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 Certain Assets of Ernest Communications, Inc. by Birch Communications, Inc., WC Docket No. 13-146 (filed June 5, 2013). 1 47 C.F.R § 63.03; see 47 U.S.C. § 214. 2 47 C.F.R. § 63.03(b)(2)(i). GENERAL INFORMATION The transfer of control identified herein has been found, upon initial review, to be acceptable for filing as a streamlined application. The Commission reserves the right to return any transfer 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 CFR § 63.03(a), interested parties may file comments on or before June 28, 2013, and reply comments on or before July 5, 2013. Unless otherwise notified by the Commission, the Applicants may transfer control on the 31st day after the date of this notice.3 Comments should be filed using the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS). See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 FR 24121 (1998). § Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically using the Internet by accessing the ECFS: http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs2/. 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, Competition Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, tracey.wilson@fcc.gov; 3) Jodie May, Competition Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, jodie.may@fcc.gov; 4) Jim Bird, Office of General Counsel, jim.bird@fcc.gov. 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 at (202) 418-1394 or Jodie May at (202) 418-0913. - FCC - 3 Such authorization is conditioned upon receipt of any other necessary approvals from the Commission in connection with the proposed transaction.