Wright Petitioners A

Ex PARTE PRESENTATION NOTIFICATION LETTER submitted by c/o Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP

Wright Petitioners August 23 Ex Parte Presentation

2017-08-23

This document pretains to ITC-T/C-20170511-00095 for Transfer of Control on a International Telecommunications filing.

IBFS_ITCTC2017051100095_1265560

                                                                                     Lee G. Petro
                                                                                     202-230-5857 Direct
                                                                                     202-842-8465 Fax
                                                                                     Lee.Petro@dbr.com


           Law Offices                                     August 23, 2017
   1500 K Street N. W.
            Suite 1100
    Washington, D.C.      By ECFS
           20005-1209     Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary
        (202) 842-8800
                          Federal Communications Commission
    (202) 842-8465 fax    445 12th Street, S.W.
www.drinkerbiddle.com
                          Washington, DC 20554
          CALIFORNIA
                                        RE:    Ex Parte Submission
           DELAWARE

             ILLINOIS
                                               WC Docket No. 17-126
          NEW JERSEY                           ITC-T/C-20170511-00094, ITC-T/C-20170511-00095
           NEW YORK

      PENNSYLVANIA        Dear Ms. Dortch:
    WASHINGTON D.C.

          WISCONSIN              The Wright Petitioners, by and through their counsel, and pursuant to
                          Section 1.1206(b) of the Commission's rules, hereby submit this Ex Parte
                          Presentation regarding the above-referenced transfer of control applications (the
                          “Transaction”).
                                 On August 11, 2017, 1 August 14, 2017, 2 and August 21, 2017, 3 Securus and
                          Platinum Equity submitted new information, at the request of Commission staff, in
                          order to demonstrate that their past statements presented to Chairman Pai and
                          Commission staff on July 27, 2017, were not false and misleading. 4


                          1       See Ex Parte Presentation of Securus Investment Holdings, LLC, Securus
                          Technologies, Inc., T-NETIX, Inc., T-NETIX Telecommunications Services, Inc.,
                          SCRS Acquisition Corporation, August 11, 2017 (https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/
                          filing/10811968808568).
                          2       See Ex Parte Presentation of Securus Investment Holdings, LLC, Securus
                          Technologies, Inc., T-NETIX, Inc., T-NETIX Telecommunications Services, Inc.,
                          SCRS Acquisition Corporation, August 14, 2017 (https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/
                          filing/10814021513439).
                          3       See Ex Parte Presentation of Securus Investment Holdings, LLC, Securus
                          Technologies, Inc., T-NETIX, Inc., T-NETIX Telecommunications Services, Inc.,
                          SCRS Acquisition Corporation, August 21, 2017 (https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/
                          filing/10821148008814).
                          4     See Ex Parte Presentation of Securus Investment Holdings, LLC, Securus
       Established 1849
                          Technologies, Inc., T-NETIX, Inc., T-NETIX Telecommunications Services, Inc.,
                          SCRS Acquisition Corporation, July 31, 2017 (https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filing/
                          10731024012148).


Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary
August 23, 2017
Page 2

      Previously, the Wright Petitioners addressed the incorrect and misleading
information provided to Commission staff members regarding the status of
Securus’ state PUC approvals for the Transaction and the participation of at least
one Securus employee in a criminal trial centered on the apparent misuse of
Securus’ THREADS™ database and Location Based Service in Missouri. 5
       The requests by the Commission’s staff for information on Securus and
Platinum Equity’s attempts to obtain state PUC approval, Hart-Scott Rodino
clearance, and the acquisition of state approvals for Securus’ money transfer
authorizations, demonstrates that the Commission’s staff has concerns – similar to
those first raised by the Wright Petitioners – about the information provided to the
Commission on July 27, 2017, from Securus, Deutsche Bank, and Platinum Equity.
        To the extent that the information submitted in response to the
Commission’s repeated request for additional information from Securus and
Platinum Equity has addressed the Commission staff’s concerns regarding the
false and misleading information presented on July 27, 2017, it is useful to
remember that the Transaction still raises unresolved “complex factual issues”
that require a full examination. 6
       In particular, the June 16, 2017 Petition to Deny filed in these proceedings
raised serious and material issues regarding Securus’ violation of Section 64.6080
and Section 64.6090 of the Commission’s rules by charging first-minute rates for
intrastate calls that were the same or higher than the flat-rate and/or per-
connection fees Securus previously charged.
       Further, the Wright Petitioners provided information demonstrating that
Securus’ rates in Sanilac County, Michigan were not “cherry-picked,” but instead
represented one of:
    • 24 correctional facilities serviced by Securus where the rate by which the
      intrastate ICS call increases by less than 1%;

5        See Wright Petitioners Ex Parte Presentation, July 31, 2017 (https://www.fcc.gov/
ecfs/filing/107312104209329). See also Wright Petitioners Ex Parte Presentation, August
3, 2017 (https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filing/1080366266219). See also Wright Petitioners
Ex Parte Presentation, August 4, 2017 (https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filing/
10804689721322). See also Wright Petitioners Ex Parte Presentation, August 5, 2017
(https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filing/10805871110099).
6        See Radioactive, LLC, FCC 17-106, MB Dkt. 17-198 (rel. Aug. 3, 2017)(citing
Statement of Commissioner Michael P. O’Rielly).


Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary
August 23, 2017
Page 3

     • 47 correctional facilities serviced by Securus where the rate by which the
       intrastate ICS call increases by less than 5%; and
     • 200+ correctional facilities serviced by Securus where the rate by which the
       intrastate ICS call for the 2nd minute increases by less than 10% of the first
       minute. 7
Moreover, the Wright Petitioners demonstrated that the information provided by
Securus and Platinum Equity regarding the rates charged by Securus for video
calling services was false and misleading.
       Specifically, in a July 21, 2017, letter to Commissioner Mignon Clyburn,
Securus’ Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board asserted that Securus
“charge[s] only $.24 per minute” for video calling. 8 The Wright Petitioners
obtained the video calling rate information from Securus’ website, and
demonstrated in its July 29, 2017 Ex Parte Presentation that the average rate for
remote video calling for families was $.35 and the remote video calling rate for
attorneys is $.38. 9 Because this letter was directed to Commissioner Clyburn,
Securus might attempt to invoke the self-decreed “personal and informal note”
exception announced on August 11, 2017, 10 but Securus has yet to demonstrate
how Mr. Smith’s claim of a $.24 per minute video calling rate was even close to
being accurate.
      In sum, Securus and Platinum Equity have repeatedly provided false,
inaccurate and/or misleading information in order to secure quick approval of the
Transaction. The only justifications provided for approval is that Platinum Equity
apparently has deeper pockets that ABRY Partners, and that the current
management of Securus will remain in place post-Transaction.

7       Petitioners’ Reply, filed July 3, 2017, pg. 17.
8       See Ex Parte Presentation of Securus Investment Holdings, LLC, Securus
Technologies, Inc., T-NETIX, Inc., T-NETIX Telecommunications Services, Inc.,
SCRS Acquisition Corporation, July 24, 2017, Attachment (https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/
filing/10724069236360).
9        See Ex Parte Presentation, filed July 29, 2017 (https://www.fcc.gov/
ecfs/filing/10730231310201).
10      See Ex Parte Presentation of Securus Investment Holdings, LLC, Securus
Technologies, Inc., T-NETIX, Inc., T-NETIX Telecommunications Services, Inc.,
SCRS Acquisition Corporation, August 11, 2017 (https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/
filing/10811968808568).


Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary
August 23, 2017
Page 4

       The Wright Petitioners respectfully submit that these justifications are
woefully inadequate in light of the clear evidence of statutory and rule violations,
and lack of candor exhibited in this proceeding. Moreover, prior to finding that its
approval of the Transaction is in the public interest, convenience and necessity,
the Commission must address Securus’ violation of Section 64.6080 and Section
64.6090 of the Commission’s rules, Securus’ inaccurate and misleading
statements involving its audio and video calling rates, 11 its finances, its role in
seeking relief from state regulatory agencies, 12 and the false and misleading
information provided by Securus and Deutsche Bank in the “personal and
informal note” delivered to Chairman Pai on July 27, 2017.
      Should there be any questions regarding this submission, please contact
undersigned counsel.
                                             Respectfully submitted,



                                             Lee G. Petro
                                             Counsel for the Wright Petitioners

cc (by/email):

Chairman Ajit Pai
Commissioner Mignon Clyburn
Commissioner Michael O’Rielly
Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel
Commissioner Brendan Carr
Jennifer Tatel, Acting General Counsel
Kris Monteith, Chief, Wireline Competition Bureau
Tom Sullivan, Chief, International Bureau
Rosemary Harold, Chief, Enforcement Bureau
Nicholas Degani, Office of Chairman Pai
Jay Schwarz, Office of Chairman Pai

11       See Ex Parte Presentation, filed July 29, 2017 (https://www.fcc.gov/
ecfs/filing/10730231310201). See also Reply, filed July 3, 2017.
12       See Ex Parte Presentation, filed July 14, 2017) (https://www.fcc.gov/
ecfs/filing/1071454262147).


Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary
August 23, 2017
Page 5

Jim Bird, Office of General Counsel
Madeline Findley, Wireline Competition Bureau
Daniel Kahn, Wireline Competition Bureau
Jodie May, Wireline Competition Bureau
Sherwin Siy, Wireline Competition Bureau
Tracey Wilson, Wireline Competition Bureau
David Krech, International Bureau
Richard Hindman, Enforcement Bureau
Sumita Mukhoty, International Bureau
Paul C. Besozzi, Counsel for Transferor and Licensees
William B. Wilhelm, Jr., Counsel for the Transferee



Document Created: 2017-08-23 17:20:15
Document Modified: 2017-08-23 17:20:15

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