2 DA 20-117 January 31, 2020 DOMESTIC SECTION 214 APPLICATION FILED FOR THE TRANSFER OF CONTROL OF ILLINOIS NETWORK ALLIANCE, LLC TO MISSOURI NETWORK ALLIANCE, LLC D/B/A BLUEBIRD NETWORK STREAMLINED PLEADING CYCLE ESTABLISHED WC Docket No. 20-9 Comments Due: February 14, 2020 Reply Comments Due: February 21, 2020 By this Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment from interested parties on an application filed by Adams Telcom, Inc., Alhambra Grantfork Communications, Inc., Egyptian Communication Services, Inc., Hamilton County Communications, Inc., MTC Communications, Inc., Progressive Voice and Data, Inc., Shawnee Communications, Inc., Technology Group, LLC, Wabash Independent Networks, Inc., and WINS, L.L.C. (together, Transferors) and Missouri Network Alliance, LLC d/b/a Bluebird Network (MNA) (collectively, Applicants), pursuant to section 214 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and sections 63.03-04 of the Commission’s rules, requesting approval to transfer control of Illinois Network Alliance, LLC (INA) from Transferors to MNA. See 47 U.S.C. § 214; 47 CFR §§ 63.03-04. Applicants filed a supplement to their application on January 29, 2020. Transferors, which consist of a group of rural incumbent local exchange carrier (LEC) and competitive telecommunications providers, collectively own 90% of INA. Transferors created INA in 2009 to build and operate a fiber network to transport data across their combined service territories. INA’s fiber network currently provides services to customers in Illinois, Kentucky, and Tennessee. MNA, a Missouri limited liability company, provides transport services in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. MNA currently holds a 10% membership interest in INA and manages the day-to-day operations of INA’s business. Bluebird Network, LLC, a Missouri limited liability company, wholly owns MNA. MIP IV Midwest Fiber, LLC (MIP IV MW), a Delaware limited liability company, wholly owns Bluebird Network, LLC. MIP IV MW is indirectly controlled through a number of entities by Macquarie Group Limited (MGL), a publicly-traded Australian company that provides banking and investment services. The Application at Exhibits A and B provides the post-transaction corporate structure for INA and lists MGL’s board of directors and senior management, all citizens of Australia. MIP IV MW wholly owns PEG Bandwidth IL, LLC (PEG IL), which provides competitive telecommunications services in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Missouri. Applicants state that PEG IL and INA have network overlaps in Illinois in areas where both provide competitive service. MIP IV MW is also affiliated with OpenFiber Kentucky, which Applicants state will begin operations to provide middle mile services to carriers in Kentucky. Pursuant to the terms of the proposed transaction, MNA will acquire the remaining 90% interest in INA from Transferors. Applicants assert that the proposed transaction is entitled to streamlined treatment under the Commission’s rules and that a grant of the application would serve the public interest, convenience, and necessity. We accept this application for filing under section 63.03(b)(2)(i) of the Commission’s rules. 47 CFR § 63.03(b)(2)(i). Domestic Section 214 Application Filed for the Transfer of Control of Illinois Network Alliance, LLC to Missouri Network Alliance, LLC d/b/a Bluebird Network, WC Docket No. 20-9 (filed Jan. 7, 2020). 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 February 14, 2020, and reply comments on or before February 21, 2020. 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) Myrva Charles, Competition Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, myrva.charles@fcc.gov; 2) Jodie May, Competition Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, jodie.may@fcc.gov; 3) 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 Myrva Charles at (202) 418-1506 or Jodie May at (202) 418-0913. FCC 3