2 DA 19-237 March 29, 2019 DOMESTIC SECTION 214 APPLICATION FILED FOR THE TRANSFER OF CONTROL OF PRICE COUNTY TELEPHONE COMPANY TO CHEQUAMEGON COMMUNICATIONS COOPERATIVE, INC. D/B/A NORVADO STREAMLINED PLEADING CYCLE ESTABLISHED WC Docket No. 19-72 Comments Due: April 12, 2019 Reply Comments Due: April 19, 2019 By this Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment from interested parties on an application filed by the shareholders of Price County Telephone Company (PCTC) and Chequamegon Communications Cooperative, Inc. d/b/a Norvado (Norvado) (together, Applicants), pursuant to section 214 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and sections 63.03-04 of the Commission’s rules, requesting consent to transfer control of PCTC and its wholly owned subsidiary, Price County Information Systems, LLC d/b/a Price County Telcom (PCIS), from PCTC’s current shareholders to Norvado. See 47 U.S.C. § 214; 47 CFR §§ 63.03-04. Applicants also filed applications for the transfer of authorizations associated with international and wireless services. Any action on the domestic section 214 application is without prejudice to Commission action on other related, pending applications. PCTC, an incumbent local exchange carrier (LEC), serves approximately 3,242 access lines in Price and Sawyer Counties, Wisconsin. PCTC wholly owns PCIS, a competitive LEC serving approximately 253 access lines in Price County, Wisconsin. PCIS also resells interstate and international toll services to customers located in the service areas of PCTC and PCIS. Norvado, a Wisconsin telephone cooperative, wholly owns Chequamegon Telecommunications Company, Inc. (Chequamegon Tel), an incumbent LEC serving approximately 7,814 voice lines in Bayfield County, Wisconsin. Norvado also wholly owns Norvado, Inc., a competitive LEC serving approximately 991 voice lines in Bayfield, Sawyer, and Ashland Counties, Wisconsin. Applicants further state that neither Norvado nor any of its subsidiaries hold interests in any other telecommunications provider. Applicants state that, as a membership telephone cooperative, no single person or entity owns 10 percent or more of Norvado. Applicants state that all of the officers and directors of Norvado are U.S. citizens. Pursuant to the terms of the proposed transaction, Norvado will purchase all the issued and outstanding stock of PCTC from its current shareholders. Applicants state that the service areas of PCTC do not overlap, nor are they adjacent to, the service areas of Chequamegon Tel or Norvado, Inc. Applicants assert the proposed transaction is entitled to presumptive streamlined treatment under section 63.03(b)(2)(iii) of the Commission’s rules and that a grant of the application will serve the public interest, convenience, and necessity. 47 CFR § 63.03(b)(2)(iii). Domestic Section 214 Application Filed for the Transfer of Control of Price County Telephone Company to Chequamegon Communications Cooperative, Inc. d/b/a Norvado, WC Docket No. 19-72 (filed Mar. 21, 2019). 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 April 12, 2019, and reply comments on or before April 19, 2019. Pursuant to section 63.52 of the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR § 63.52, commenters must serve a copy of comments on the Applicants no later than the above comment filing date. Unless otherwise notified by the Commission, the Applicants may transfer control on the 31st day after the date of this notice. Pursuant to section 63.03 of the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR § 63.03, parties to this proceeding should file any documents using the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS): http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/. In addition, e-mail one copy of each pleading to each of the following: 1) Tracey Wilson, Competition Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, tracey.wilson@fcc.gov; 2) Gregory Kwan, Competition Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, gregory.kwan@fcc.gov; 3) David Krech, International Bureau; david.krech@fcc.gov; 4) Sumita Mukhoty, International Bureau; sumita.mukhoty@fcc.gov; and 5) Jim Bird, Office of General Counsel, jim.bird@fcc.gov. 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), 1-888-835-5322 (tty). The proceeding in this Notice shall be treated as a “permit-but-disclose” proceeding in accordance with the Commission’s ex parte rules. Persons making ex parte presentations must file a copy of any written presentation or a memorandum summarizing any oral presentation within two business days after the presentation (unless a different deadline applicable to the Sunshine period applies). Persons making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda summarizing the presentation must (1) list all persons attending or otherwise participating in the meeting at which the ex parte presentation was made, and (2) summarize all data presented and arguments made during the presentation. If the presentation consisted in whole or in part of the presentation of data or arguments already reflected in the presenter’s written comments, memoranda or other filings in the proceeding, the presenter may provide citations to such data or arguments in his or her prior comments, memoranda, or other filings (specifying the relevant page and/or paragraph numbers where such data or arguments can be found) in lieu of summarizing them in the memorandum. Documents shown or given to Commission staff during ex parte meetings are deemed to be written ex parte presentations and must be filed consistent with rule 1.1206(b), 47 CFR § 1.1206(b). Participants in this proceeding should familiarize themselves with the Commission’s ex parte rules. For further information, please contact Tracey Wilson at (202) 418-1394 or Gregory Kwan at (202) 418-1191. FCC 3