Frontier and Northwest Fiber Seek Declaratory Ruling on Indirect Foreign Ownership
The FCC should grant, through a declaratory ruling, approval for investors in Canada, Germany and the Cayman Islands to take equity and voting control of certain common-carrier radio licenses held by Frontier Communications, said a petition from Frontier, Citizens Telecommunications…
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Co. of Montana and Northwest Fiber, posted Monday without a docket. In a deal valued at $1.35 billion announced May 28 (see 1905290042), Northwest Fiber would acquire 56 fixed point-to-point microwave licenses subject to FCC Communications Act Section 310(b)(4) foreign ownership restrictions. The deal would result in aggregate foreign ownership of roughly 90 percent voting and 85 percent equity of Northwest Fiber and its licenses. The petition said the identified foreign owners involved in the deal "are well known to the FCC and national security agencies." Northwest said the declaratory ruling would be in the public interest because the company plans to complete any buildout obligations the licensees hold under the Connect America Fund Phase II program, and it plans additional investments that would bring 1 Gbps service to some markets.