NOTICE OF UTILITY APPLICATIONS 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 GCI Fiber Communication Co., Inc. (GCIFCC) and GCI Cable, Inc. (GCI Cable) through the merger of GCI Liberty, GCIFCC and GCI Cable’s ultimate parent, into a subsidiary of Liberty Broadband. Docket Nos. U-20-065 (GCIFCC) and U-20-066 (GCI Cable) were opened to address this matter.
GCIFCC holds Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (Certificate) No. 634, authorizing intrastate interexchange telecommunications service in locations throughout the state.
GCI Cable holds Certificate Nos. 261 (Anchorage); 246 (Bethel); 157 (Cordova); 252 (Fairbanks); 336 (Girdwood); 401 (Homer); 156 (Juneau); 287 (Kenai/Soldotna); 144 (Ketchikan); 168 (Kodiak); 245 (Kotzebue); 164 (Nome); 367 (Seward); 143 (Sitka); 187 (Utqiagvik); 191 (Valdez); 378 (Whittier, Ruby, Tanana); and 158 (Wrangell/Petersburg), authorizing the provision of cable television service in the above noted locations.
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 GCIFCC and GCI Cable, the transaction does not transfer or consolidate any of GCIFCC and GCI Cable’s facilities or plant in Alaska used to provide certificated services to subscribers.
The Commission has not assessed the completeness of the applications. The Commission may determine whether the applications are 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 West 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 West 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-20-065" (GCIFCC) or “U-20-066” (GCI Cable) in the Find a Matter search box.
To comment on these filings, 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 Nos. U-20-065 and/or U-20-066 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