2 DA 24-409 April 30, 2024 DOMESTIC 214 APPLICATION GRANTED FOR THE TRANSFER OF CONTROL OF BUCKLAND TELEPHONE COMPANY TO HANSON COMMUNICATIONS, INC. WC Docket No. 24-57 By this Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau grants an application filed by Buckland Telephone Company (Buckland) and Hanson Communications, Inc. (HCI) (together, Applicants), pursuant to section 214(a) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and sections 63.03-04 of the Commission’s rules, See 47 U.S.C. § 214(a); 47 CFR §§ 63.03-04. requesting consent for the transfer of control of Buckland to HCI. Domestic Section 214 Application Filed for the Transfer of Control of Buckland Telephone Company to Hanson Communications, Inc., WC Docket No. 24-57 (filed Feb. 27, 2024) (Application). On March 22, 2024 Applicants filed a supplement to their domestic section 214 application. Letter from Salvatore Taillefer, counsel to Hanson Communications, Inc., to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, FCC, WC Docket No. 23-401 (filed Mar. 22, 2024) (Supplement). Any action on this domestic section 214 application is without prejudice to Commission action on other related, pending applications. On March 29, 2024, the Bureau released a public notice seeking comment on the Application. Domestic Section 214 Applications Filed for the Transfer of Control of Buckland Telephone Company to Hanson Communications, Inc., WC Docket No. 24-57, Public Notice, DA 24-314 (WCB 2024). No party filed comments in opposition to a grant of the Application, and the Bureau finds, upon consideration of the record, that granting the Application will serve the public interest, convenience, and necessity. Buckland, an Ohio corporation, provides service as a rural incumbent local exchange carrier (LEC) to approximately 378 access lines in the Allen and Auglaize counties of Ohio. Application at 5; Supplement at 5. Buckland also provides other communications services in the same service area and has been designated as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier in Ohio. Application at 5. HCI, a Minnesota corporation, does not directly offer domestic telecommunications services but, through eight wholly-owned incumbent LECs, provides service to approximately 10,500 access lines in Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Ohio. Id. These eight incumbent LECs are: Clara City Telephone Company, Sacred Heart Telephone Company, Fort Randall Telephone Company d/b/a Mt. Rushmore Telephone Company, Hanson Communications of Ohio, LLC, Starbuck Telephone Company, Telephone Service Company (TSC), The Middle Point Home Telephone Company, and Zumbrota Telephone Company. Application at Exh. C (Hanson Communications, Inc. ILEC Affiliate Chart); Supplement at 2 (providing the service area for each of HCI’s wholly-owned incumbent LECs). Applicants state that neither HCI nor any of its affiliates holding at least a 10% or greater interest in HCI hold a 10% or greater interest in any other provider of telecommunications services. Supplement at 1. The following U.S. citizens hold a ten % or greater interest in HCI: Bruce Hanson (20.51%); Mark Hanson (23.18%); and Susan Anderson (20.51%). Application at 4. Applicants note that there is an adjacency of service areas between Buckland’s service area and HCI’s affiliate, TSC. Application at 5; id. at Exh. B (Buckland Telephone Service Company Study Area Adjacency). We conclude that there will be efficiencies that result from these adjacent exchanges and find the proposed transaction in the public interest. See Joint Applications of Global Crossing Ltd. and Citizens Communications Company for Authority to Transfer Control of Corporations Holding Commission Licenses and Authorizations Pursuant to Sections 214 and 310(d) of the Communications Act and Parts 20, 22, 63, 78, 90, and 101 of the Commission's Rules, File Nos. ITC-T/C-20000828-00530, CCBPol No. 00-1 20001005AD-09 0000209675 et al., Memorandum Opinion and Order, 16 FCC Rcd 8507, 8510-11, paras. 7-9 (CCB, IB, CSB, WTB 2001) (granting transfer of control involving incumbent LECs with adjacent exchanges where merger would provide service efficiencies); Applications of Level 3 Communications, Inc. and CenturyLink for Consent to Transfer Control of Licenses and Authorizations, Memorandum Opinion and Order, 32 FCC Rcd 9581, 9606, para 54 (2017) (finding that the transaction would advance the public interest by expanding the reach and service capacity of the combined entity). Pursuant to section 1.103 of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR § 1.103, the grant is effective upon release of this Public Notice. Petitions for reconsideration under section 1.106 or applications for review under section 1.115 of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR §§ 1.106, 1.115, may be filed within 30 days of the date of this Public Notice. Domestic Section 214 Application Filed for the Transfer of Control of Buckland Telephone Company to Hanson Communications, Inc., WC Docket No. 24-57, Public Notice, DA 24-314 (WCB 2024). For further information, please contact Gregory Kwan, Competition Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau (202) 418-1191. -FCC- 3