Federal Communications Commission	DA 26-236



     DA 26-236
Released: March 12, 2026

DOMESTIC SECTION 214 APPLICATION GRANTED FOR THE ACQUISITION OF CERTAIN ASSETS OF DELTA COMMUNICATIONS, L.L.C. D/B/A
CLEARWAVE FIBER BY METRO CW HOLDINGS, LLC 

WC Docket No. 25-323

By this Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) grants, pursuant to section 214 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (Act), 47 U.S.C. § 214, and section 63.04 of the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR § 63.04, the domestic section 214 wireline application (Application) filed by Delta Communications, L.L.C. d/b/a Clearwave Fiber (Clearwave), MCC Network Services, LLC (MCC) and MCC’s subsidiary, Metro CW Holdings, LLC (Metro CW) (collectively, Applicants), pursuant to section 214(a) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and section 63.04 of the Commission’s rules, See 47 U.S.C. § 214(a); 47 CFR § 63.04.
 requesting Commission approval to transfer certain assets of Clearwave to Metro CW. Domestic Section 214 Application for the Acquisition of Certain Assets of Delta Communications, L.L.C. d/b/a Clearwave Fiber by MCC Network Services, LLC and Metro CW Holdings, LLC, WC Docket No. 25-323 (filed Nov. 14, 2025) (Application).  Applicants filed a supplement to their Application on December 12, 2025.  Letter from Matthew A. Brill et al., Counsel for Clearwave, and Patricia Cave et al., Counsel for MCC and Metro CW, to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, FCC, WC Docket No. 25-323 (filed Dec. 12, 2025) (Supplement).  Applicants also filed a letter providing voluntary commitments on March 6, 2026.  Letter from Matthew A. Brill et al., Counsel for Clearwave, and Patricia Cave et al., Counsel for MCC and Metro CW, to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, FCC, WC Docket No. 25-323 (filed Mar. 6, 2025) (Voluntary Commitment Letter).  Clearwave is an applicant in another pending domestic 214 transfer of control application.  See Application for the Transfer of Control of Clearwave Fiber LLC to Point Broadband Holdings, LLC, WC Docket No. 26-14 (filed on Jan. 16, 2026).  Any action on the application that is the subject of this Public Notice is without prejudice to Commission action on other related, pending applications or proceedings.  Applicants state that Clearwave provides communications services and other services as a competitive local exchange carrier (LEC) in Illinois and Missouri.  Application at 2.  Applicants assert that the assets MCC would acquire from Clearwave in the proposed transaction have only a “minimal overlap” with the MCC competitive LEC service area in “discrete segments of the MCC network in Southern Illinois.”  Supplement at 1.  Applicants clarify that there is no geographic overlap between the transferring Clearwave assets and the network assets and service territories served by Metamora Telephone Company or The Marseilles Telephone Company of Marseilles Illinois, incumbent LECs that are affiliated with MCC.  Supplement at 1.  
 On January 28, 2026, the Bureau released a public notice requesting comment on the Application. Domestic Section 214 Application Filed for the Acquisition of Certain Assets of Delta Communications, L.L.C.  d/b/a Clearwave Fiber by Metro CW Holdings, LLC, WC Docket No. 25-323, Public Notice, DA 26-93 (WCB 2026).
  No comments were filed in opposition to a grant of the Application.

The Bureau finds, upon consideration of the record, that grant of the Application, will serve the public interest, convenience, and necessity, and therefore grants the requested authorization. See 47 U.S.C. § 214(a); 47 CFR § 63.04.  Applicants state that Clearwave is designated as an eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) in Illinois and acknowledge that some of Clearwave’s assets that are part of the proposed transaction were supported by the Rural Broadband Experiments (RBE) program.  Supplement at 2.  Applicants maintain that “Clearwave has deployed an all-fiber network capable of providing service meeting the broadband service requirements of the RBE program to 103 USAC-verified RBE locations.  Clearwave’s funded network was constructed to be able to meet the 10 business-day window for new installations upon customer request.”  Clearwave states that “after the closing of the proposed Transaction, it will continue to exist and would continue to be subject to any compliance obligations under the Rural Broadband Experiments (“RBE”) program that remain following the expiration of Clearwave’s support term under the program.”  Supplement at 2.  Specifically, Clearwave voluntarily commits that “after the closing of the proposed Transaction, Clearwave (and its successors in interest) will remain responsible for compliance with any continuing RBE program compliance obligations.  Further, Clearwave commits to responding to any Commission audits or other inquiries pursuant to the Commission’s rules and appropriately resolving any outstanding issues relating to its participation in the RBE program after the closing of the proposed Transaction.  Post-Transaction, Clearwave will remain the party responsible for any restitution, forfeiture, or other obligations that may be imposed by the Commission or the Universal Service Administrative Company (“USAC”) in any action brought to recover RBE program support with respect to the previously-funded assets.”  Voluntary Commitment Letter at 1.  MCC voluntarily commits that “As the purchaser of the assets that previously were supported by RBE funding, MCC agrees that, post-Transaction, it will continue to make service available to existing customers at the RBE-funded locations and to provide the Commission or the USAC (or their respective auditors) with physical access to the assigned RBE-funded facilities as may be needed in connection with any field audit or other investigation of Clearwave’s participation in the RBE program.  MCC also agrees that, after the completion of the proposed Transaction, it will be responsible for any restitution, forfeiture, or other obligation that may be imposed by the Commission or the USAC as a result of Clearwave’s participation in the RBE program, to the extent that such liability has not been resolved by Clearwave at the time of such action.”  Voluntary Commitment Letter at 2.  As part of our public interest analysis, we accept the Applicant’s voluntary commitments as firm and definite.  The proposed transaction will not alter the Applicants’ continuing obligations and responsibilities under the Communications Act and related Commission rules, in addition to their voluntary commitments, including obligations associated with participation in the RBE program, and Clearwave’s obligations as an ETC. 
  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.  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 Acquisition of Certain Assets of Delta Communications, L.L.C. d/b/a Clearwave Fiber by MCC Network Services, LLC and 
Metro CW Holdings, LLC, WC Docket No. 25-323 (filed Nov. 14, 2025).

For further information, please contact Dennis Johnson at 202-418-0809, Competition Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau.




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