Wilkinson Barker Knauer Memo
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1800 M S TREET, NW S UITE 800N W ASHINGTON, DC 20036 T EL 202.783.4141 F AX 202.783.5851 WWW. WBKLAW. COM WMAHER@ WBKLAW. COM April 30, 2020 VIA ECFS Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 Re: Notification of Pro Forma Transfer of Control of Certain Domestic Operating Subsidiaries of Frontier Communications Corporation, Debtor-in-Possession Dear Ms. Dortch: On behalf of Frontier Communications Corporation, Debtor-in-Possession (“Frontier”), and pursuant to Section 63.03(d)(2) of the Commission’s rules,1 the Commission is hereby notified of the pro forma transfer of control of the Frontier subsidiaries listed in Attachment 1 (the “Frontier Subsidiaries”). The Frontier Subsidiaries provide domestic common carrier telecommunications services in the United States pursuant to Section 214 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 63.01(a) of the Commission’s rules.2 On April 14, 2020, Frontier and all of its affiliates, including the Frontier Subsidiaries, filed a Petition under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, in Case No. 20-22476. The filing of the Petition served to convert the legal status of Frontier and the Frontier Subsidiaries to debtors- in-possession (“DIP”) that will continue to operate the business during the court-supervised reorganization process.3 The bankruptcy filing did not result in any change to the current 1 47 C.F.R. § 63.03(d)(2). 2 47 U.S.C. § 214; 47 C.F.R. § 63.01(a). 3 The Commission previously approved the sale of Frontier’s operations across Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington to Northwest Fiber, LLC (“Northwest Fiber”), including the following Frontier Subsidiaries: (i) Citizens Telecommunications Company of Idaho, (ii) Citizens Telecommunications Company of Montana, (iii) Citizens Telecommunications Company of Oregon, and (iv) Frontier Communications Northwest Inc. (collectively, the “Transferring Companies”). See Applications Filed for the Transfer of Control of Certain Subsidiaries of Frontier Communications Corporation to Northwest Fiber, LLC, Memorandum Opinion and Order and Declaratory Ruling, WC Docket No. 19-188, DA 19- 1302 (rel. Dec. 19, 2019). As a result of the Chapter 11 filing, the Transferring Companies also became DIPs. Frontier anticipates that the transaction with Northwest Fiber will close on May 1, 2020. Effective Marlene Dortch April 30, 2020 Page 2 operations and Frontier continues to operate as normal without any expected interruption to its valued customers. The reorganization of Frontier through the bankruptcy process is expected to improve the company’s financial and operational status to the benefit of its customers. Upon the Chapter 11 filing, the Frontier Subsidiaries underwent a pro forma transfer of control to Frontier as DIP. The bankruptcy filing did not otherwise change the ownership or control of the Frontier Subsidiaries. The Chapter 11 filing will not interrupt any service to residential, business or wholesale consumers, will not impact Frontier’s ability to provide voice, data or video services, and will not impact Frontier’s provision of 911 services throughout its service territory. Further, the Chapter 11 filing will not result in a change to the rates or terms of service provided to customers or offered to prospective customers in the normal course of business. Frontier intends to continue its existing operations and to comply with existing regulatory obligations and commitments without any change as a result of the filing of the Petition. Frontier will obtain all necessary consents from the Commission prior to effecting any restructuring. Additional information related to Frontier’s restructuring and the Chapter 11 process is available to the Commission and Frontier’s customers via a dedicated web page at www.frontierrestructuring.com, which Frontier will update periodically as the process progresses. The information required by Section 63.03(d)(2) of the Commission’s rules is provided in Attachment 2. If you have any questions regarding this notification, please contact the undersigned. Very truly yours, /s/ William F. Maher, Jr. William F. Maher, Jr. Jennifer L. Kostyu [email protected] [email protected] Counsel to Frontier Communications Corporation, Debtor-in-Possession Attachments immediately prior to closing, the Transferring Companies will be dismissed from the bankruptcy proceeding, and they no longer will be deemed to have DIP status. Upon closing, ownership and control of the Transferring Companies will be assumed by Northwest Fiber. See Letter from William F. Maher and Jennifer L. Kostyu, Counsel to Frontier, to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, FCC, WC Docket No. 19- 188 (filed Apr. 30, 2020). Marlene Dortch April 30, 2020 Page 3 ATTACHMENT 1 THE FRONTIER SUBSIDIARIES1 Licensee (each currently a Debtor-in-Possession) Place of Organization Citizens Telecommunications Company of California Inc. California Citizens Telecommunications Company of Idaho* Delaware Citizens Telecommunications Company of Illinois Illinois Citizens Telecommunications Company of Minnesota, LLC Delaware Citizens Telecommunications Company of Montana* Delaware Citizens Telecommunications Company of Nebraska Delaware Citizens Telecommunications of Nevada Nevada Citizens Telecommunications Company of New York, Inc. New York Citizens Telecommunications Company of Oregon* Delaware Citizens Telecommunications Company of Tennessee L.L.C. Delaware Citizens Telecommunications Company of the White Mountains, Inc. Delaware Citizens Telecommunications Company of Utah Delaware Citizens Telecommunications Company of West Virginia West Virginia Citizens Utilities Rural Company, Inc. Delaware Commonwealth Telephone Company LLC Pennsylvania CTE Telecom, LLC Pennsylvania CTSI, LLC Pennsylvania Frontier California Inc. California Frontier Communications – Midland, Inc. Illinois Frontier Communications Northwest Inc.* Washington Frontier Communications of America, Inc. Delaware Frontier Communications of Ausable Valley, Inc. New York Frontier Communications of Breezewood, LLC Pennsylvania Frontier Communications of Canton, LLC Pennsylvania 1 As noted above, the Transferring Companies – identified with an asterisk – are being acquired by Northwest Fiber. Effective immediately prior to closing, the Transferring Companies will be dismissed from the bankruptcy proceeding, and they no longer will be deemed to have DIP status. Marlene Dortch April 30, 2020 Page 4 Licensee (each currently a Debtor-in-Possession) Place of Organization Frontier Communications of DePue, Inc. Illinois Frontier Communications of Georgia, LLC Georgia Frontier Communications of Illinois, Inc. Illinois Frontier Communications of Indiana LLC Indiana Frontier Communications of Iowa, LLC Iowa Frontier Communications of Lakeside, Inc. Illinois Frontier Communications of Lakewood, LLC Pennsylvania Frontier Communications of Michigan, Inc. Michigan Frontier Communications of Minnesota, Inc. Minnesota Frontier Communications of Mississippi, LLC Mississippi Frontier Communications of Mt. Pulaski, Inc. Illinois Frontier Communications of New York, Inc. New York Frontier Communications of Orion, Inc. Illinois Frontier Communications of Oswayo River, LLC Pennsylvania Frontier Communications of Pennsylvania, LLC Pennsylvania Frontier Communications of Rochester, Inc. Delaware Frontier Communications of Seneca-Gorham, Inc. New York Frontier Communications of Sylvan Lake, Inc. New York Frontier Communications of the Carolinas LLC Delaware Frontier Communications of the South, LLC Alabama Frontier Communications of the Southwest Inc. Delaware Frontier Communications of Thorntown LLC Indiana Frontier Communications of Virginia, Inc. Virginia Frontier Communications of Wisconsin LLC Wisconsin Frontier Communications Online and Long Distance Inc. Delaware Frontier Communications – Prairie, Inc. Illinois Frontier Communications – Schuyler, Inc. Illinois Frontier Florida LLC Florida Frontier Midstates Inc. Georgia Marlene Dortch April 30, 2020 Page 5 Licensee (each currently a Debtor-in-Possession) Place of Organization Frontier North Inc. Wisconsin Frontier Southwest Incorporated Delaware Frontier Telephone of Rochester, Inc. New York Frontier West Virginia Inc. West Virginia Navajo Communications Company, Inc. New Mexico Ogden Telephone Company New York SNET America, Inc. Connecticut Southern New England Telephone Company Connecticut Marlene Dortch April 30, 2020 Page 6 ATTACHMENT 2 The information required by Section 63.04(a)(1)-(4) of the Commission’s rules is set forth below. The address and telephone number of each entity: The address and telephone number for Frontier Communications Corporation, on behalf of the Frontier Subsidiaries, is 401 Merritt 7, Norwalk, CT 06851, 1-800-921-8101. The place of organization of each entity: The place of organization of each Frontier Subsidiary is listed in Attachment 1. Contact information: All communications in connection with this notification should be directed to the following: William F. Maher Kevin Saville Jennifer L. Kostyu Sr. Vice President & General Counsel Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP Frontier Communications Corporation 1800 M Street, N.W. 401 Merritt 7 Suite 800N Norwalk, CT 06851 Washington, D.C. 20036 Phone: 203.614.5030 Phone: 202.783.4141 Fax: 203.614.4661 Fax: 202.783.5851 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Ownership information: The Frontier Subsidiaries are all direct or indirect wholly-owned