NOTICE OF UTILITY APPLICATION TO ACQUIRE A CONTROLLING INTEREST
The REGULATORY COMMISSION OF ALASKA (Commission) gives notice that on August 28, 2020, Liberty Broadband Corporation (Liberty Broadband) and GCI Liberty, Inc. (GCI Liberty), filed a joint application for Liberty Broadband to acquire a controlling interest in United Utilities, Inc. (UUI), United-KUC, Inc.(United-KUC), and Yukon Telephone Company, Inc. (Yukon), [collectively, the United LECs] through the merger of GCI Liberty, the United LECs’ ultimate parent, into a subsidiary of Liberty Broadband. Docket No. U-20-069 was opened to address this matter.
UUI holds both Certificate No. 249, authorizing local exchange telephone service, and No. 558, authorizing private pay telephone service, in each of the following Alaskan communities: Akiachak, Akiak, Alakanuk, Arctic Village, Atmautluak, Beaver, Birch Creek, Central/Circle Hot Springs, Chalkyitsik, Chefornak, Chenega Bay, Chevak, Chuathbaluk, Eek, Emmonak, Gambell, Goodnews Bay, Hooper Bay, Kasigluk, Kipnuk, Kongiganak, Kotlik, Kwethluk, Kwigillingok, Lake Minchumina, Lime Village, Livengood, Manley Hot Springs, Marshall, Mekoryuk, Minto, Mountain Village, Napakiak, NapaskiaklOscarville, Newtok, Nightmute, Nikolai Village, Nunam Iqua, Nunapitchuk, Pilot Station, Platinum, Quinhagak, Rampart, Russian Mission, Saint Mary's/Pitka Point, Savoonga, Scammon Bay, Stevens Village, Takotna, Togiak, Telida, Toksook Bay, Tuluksak, Tuntutuliak, Tununak, Twin Hills, and Venetie.
United-KUC holds Certificate No. 629, authorizing local exchange telephone service in Bethel, McGrath, and Unalakleet.
Yukon holds Certificate No. 213 for authority to provide local exchange telephone service in Ruby, Tanana, and Whittier.
GCI Liberty states that through the proposed transaction Liberty Broadband will acquire control of GCI Liberty, and its certificated subsidiaries, with the end result that GCI Liberty will merge into a wholly-owned subsidiary of Liberty Broadband. GCI Liberty’s communications operating businesses will operate as indirect, wholly-owned subsidiaries of Liberty Broadband. The leadership team, brand, operations, and products and services for its operating companies will not change as a result of the proposed transaction.
Finally, GCI Liberty states that while the proposed transaction transfers control of the United LECs the transaction does not transfer or consolidate any of the United LECs’ facilities or plant in Alaska used to provide certificated services to subscribers.
The Commission has not assessed the completeness of the application. The Commission may determine whether the application is complete by September 21, 2020.
You may obtain more information about this filing by contacting either John P. Wood, Dillon & Findley, P.C., 1049 W. 5th Avenue, Suite 100, Anchorage, AK 99501; phone: (907) 277-5400, or Michael S. McLaughlin, Guess & Rudd P.C., 1029 W. 3rd Avenue, Suite 400, Anchorage, AK 99501; phone: (907) 793-2200. The complete filing is also available for inspection at the Commission's office, 701 W. 8th Avenue, Suite 300, Anchorage, AK 99501; phone: (907) 276-6222, or may be viewed at the Commission’s website, http://rca.alaska.gov by typing Docket No. “U-20-069” in the Find a Matter search box.
To comment on these filing, please file your comments by 5:00 p.m., October 5, 2020, at the Commission's address above or via our website at:
https://rca.alaska.gov/RCAWeb/WhatsNew/PublicNoticesComments.aspx.
Please reference Docket No. U-20-069 and include a statement that you have filed a copy of the comments with Liberty Broadband and GCI Liberty at the address given above. Individual or groups of people with disabilities, who require special accommodations, auxiliary aids or service, or alternative communications formats, please contact Valerie Fletcher-Mitchell at (907) 276-6222, toll-free at (800) 390-2782, or TTY (907) 276-4533, or send a request via electronic mail to rca.mail@alaska.gov by September 28, 2020.
REGULATORY COMMISSION OF ALASKA
David Parrish
Common Carrier Section Manager