2

DA 20-379
Released: April 3, 2020

DOMESTIC SECTION 214 APPLICATIONS GRANTED FOR THE TRANSFER OF CONTROL OF JAGUAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND 
ITS ACQUISITION OF CERTAIN ASSETS OF ST. OLAF COLLEGE

WC Docket Nos. 20-47, 20-48, 20-49
By this Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) grants a series applications filed by Jaguar Communications, Inc. (Jaguar) requesting approval for three transactions, Domestic Section 214 Application Filed to Transfer Control of Jaguar Communications, Inc. to Provincial Real Estate Holdings, LLC, WC Docket No. 20-47 (filed Feb. 28, 2020); Domestic Section 214 Application Filed to Transfer Control of Jaguar Communications, Inc. to James T. Ward, WC Docket No. 20-48 (filed Feb. 28, 2020); Domestic Section 214 Application Filed For the Acquisition of Certain Assets of St. Olaf College by Jaguar Communications, Inc., WC Docket 20-49 (filed Feb. 28, 2020) (together, Applications).  
 pursuant to section 214 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (Act), and sections 63.03-04 of the Commission’s rules, See 47 U.S.C. § 214; 47 CFR §§ 63.03-04.    

 which Jaguar consummated without prior authorization from the Commission. On February 25, 2020, the Bureau granted requests by Jaguar for Special Temporary Authority for a period of 60 days to allow it to provide uninterrupted service to customers during the pendency of these Applications.  A grant of the Applications is without prejudice to any enforcement action by the Commission for non-compliance with the Act or the Commission’s rules.  
  The Bureau received no comments in opposition to a grant of the Applications.

Jaguar, a Minnesota corporation, currently provides competitive local exchange carrier (LEC) services in Minnesota and is also authorized as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier to provide lifeline-support residential telephone services to qualifying low-income residential consumers in Minnesota.  On January 8, 2013, Provincial Real Estate Holdings, LLC (Provincial), a Minnesota limited liability company, acquired 100% of the shares of Jaguar.  At the time of closing of that transaction, the following U.S. citizens held a 25% interest in Provincial:  James T. Ward, Mark E. Davis, M. Mitchell Davis, and Martin E. Davis.  On January 1, 2018, James T. Ward acquired the ownership/voting interests in Provincial held by M. Mitchell Davis and Martin E. Davis, resulting in James T. Ward holding 75% of the ownership/voting interest of Provincial, the owner of Jaguar. On February 27, 2020, the Bureau accepted for filing a separate application filed by James T. Ward, as the representative of all of the interest holders of Provincial, and MetroNet Holdings, LLC (MetroNet Holdings), pursuant to section 214 of the Act and sections 63.03-04 of the Commission’s rules, requesting approval to transfer control of Jaguar to MetroNet Holdings, a competitive telecommunications provider operating in several states.  Domestic Section 214 Application Filed for the Transfer of Control of Jaguar Communications, Inc. to MetroNet Holdings, LLC, WC Docket No. 20-37, Public Notice, DA 20-198 (WCB 2020).  A grant of the Applications is without prejudice to our review of the application involving MetroNet Holdings.
  Separately, on December 31, 2014, Jaguar acquired certain telecommunications assets of St. Olaf College (St. Olaf), a non-profit liberal arts college that held a certificate to provide competitive LEC services in Northfield Minnesota.  Jaguar provides services to the same exchanges as St. Olaf using the transferred assets.
The Bureau finds, upon consideration of the record, that the transactions serve the public interest, convenience, and necessity and, therefore, grants the Applications. Implementation of Further Streamlining Measures for Domestic Section 214 Authorizations, CC Docket No. 01-150, Report and Order, 17 FCC Rcd 5517, 5533, para. 30 (2002).  
  Pursuant to section 1.103 of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR § 1.103, the consent granted herein is effective upon the release of the Public Notice.  For purposes of computation of time when filing a petition for reconsideration or application for review, or for judicial review of the Commission's decision, the date of “public notice” shall be the release date of this notice. 47 CFR § 1.4 (Computation of time).
    
For further information, please contact Dennis Johnson, Wireline Competition Bureau, Competition Policy Division, (202) 418-0809.

- FCC -