Petition to Adopt LO

PETITION submitted by U.S. Department of Justice

Petition to Adopt Conditions

2018-05-18

This document pretains to ITC-T/C-20180131-00020 for Transfer of Control on a International Telecommunications filing.

IBFS_ITCTC2018013100020_1399180

                                      Before the
                        FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
                                 Washington, D.C. 20554

In the Matter of                                )
                                                )
Horizon Acquisition Parent, LLC and             )
Horizon Telcom, Inc.                            )           ITC-T/C-20180131-00020
Applications for Transfer and Control of        )           WC Docket No. 18-017
Chillicothe Telephone Company and               )
Horizon Technology pursuant to Section 214      )
of the Communications Act of 1934, as           )
amended

                            PETITION TO ADOPT CONDITIONS TO
                             AUTHORIZATIONS AND LICENSES


           The U.S. Department of Justice (“USDOJ”), to include its components, the National

Security Division (“NSD”) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), submits this

Petition to Adopt Conditions to Authorizations and Licenses (“Petition”), pursuant to Section

1.41 of the Federal Communications Commission (“Commission”) rules.1 Through this

Petition, the USDOJ advises the Commission that it has no objection to the Commission

approving the authority sought in the above-referenced proceeding, provided that the

Commission conditions its approval on the assurance of Horizon Acquisition Parent, LCC,

and Horizon Telcom, Inc. ( collectively, “Horizon”) to abide by the commitments and

undertakings set forth in the May 17, 2018 Letter of Agreement (“LOA”), a copy of which is

attached hereto.


           The Commission has long recognized that law enforcement, national security, and public

safety concerns are part of its public interest analysis, and has accorded deference to the views of

other U.S. government agencies with expertise in those areas. See In the Matter of Comsat

Corporation d/b/a Comsat Mobile Communications, etc., 16 FCC Rcd. 21,661, 21707 ¶ 94

(2001).


1
    47 C.F.R. § 1.41.


       After discussions with representatives of Horizon in connection with the above-referenced

proceeding, the USDOJ, NSD and FBI have concluded that the additional commitments set forth

in the LOA will help ensure that the FBI, which has the responsibility of enforcing the law,

protecting the national security, and preserving public safety, can proceed appropriately to satisfy

those responsibilities. Accordingly, the USDOJ advises the Commission that it has no objection to

the Commission granting the application in the above-referenced proceeding, provided that the

Commission conditions its consent on compliance with the LOA.



       Respectfully submitted,



                                                            Bermel R. Paz
                                                            U.S. Department of Justice
                                                            National Security Division
                                                            Foreign Investment Review Staff
                                                            3 Constitution Square
                                                            175 N St NE, Suite 12-1805
                                                            Washington, D.C. 20002

                                                            May 18, 2018




                                                  2


                                                   May 17, 2018

Assistant Attorney General for National Security
United States Department of Justice
National Security Division
950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20530

Subject:       FCC # ITC—T/C—20180131—00020 and WC Docket No. 18—17
               Applications by Horizon Telcom, Inc. and Horizon Acquisition Parent, LLC (collectively,
               "Horizon") for transfer and control of Chillicothe Telephone Company and Horizon Technology,
               Inc. pursuant to Section 214 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.

Dear Sir/Madam:

        This Letter of Agreement ("LOA" or "Agreement") outlines the commitments being made by Horizon to
the U.S. Department of Justice ("USDOJ"), including the National Security Division ("NSD") and the Federal
Bureau of Investigation ("FBI"), in order to address national security, law enforcement, and public safety
concerns raised with regard to Horizon‘s application to the Federal Communications Commission ("FCC" or
"Commission") for transfer and control of Chillicothe Telephone Company pursuant to Section 214 of the
Communications Act of 1934, as amended.

       Horizon adopts as true and correct all representations made by each party to USDOJ through the Team
Telecom process, whether such representations were made directly by Horizon or through counsel.

       1.      For purposes of this LOA, the following definitions apply:

               a.      "Horizon" means Horizon Telcom, Inc., and Horizon Acquisition Parent, LLC or their
       successors—in—interest.

               b.     "Chillicothe" or "CTC" means Chillicothe Telephone Company or its successors—in—
       interest.

               c.     "Access" or "Accessible" means the ability to physically or logically undertake any of
       the following actions: (a) to read, copy, divert, or otherwise obtain non—public information or technology
       from or about software, hardware, a database or other system, or a network; (b) to add, edit, delete,
       reconfigure, provision, or alter information or technology stored on or by software, hardware, a system
       or network; and (c) to alter the physical or logical state of software, hardware, a system or network.

               d.     "Classified Information" shall have the meaning indicated by Executive Order 13526 and
       the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, or any subsequent Executive Orderor statute regarding the same.

               e.     "Customer Proprietary Network Information" (CPNT) shall mean as defined in 47 U.S.C.
       §222(B)(1).

horizontel.com                                                      68 E. Main St., Chillicoths, OH 45601 | 866.436.7163


       £.       "Date of this LOA" shall mean the date on which the Letter of Agreement is executed by
Horizon.

       g.     "Domestic Communications," as used herein, means: (1) Wire Communications or
Electronic Communications (whetherstored or not) from one U.S. location to another U.S. location; and
(b) the U.S. portion of a Wire Communication or Electronic Communication (whether stored or not) that
originates or terminates in the United States.

        h.      "Domestic Communications Infrastructure" (DCI) means any systems, equipment,
hardware, software or applications that capture or control, or transmit the flow of Domestic
Communications on behaif of Horizon, including information technology supporting such networks.

        i.      "Electronic Communication" has the meaning provided in 18 U.S.C. § 2510(12).

        j       "Electronic Surveillance" means: (a) the interception of wire, oral, or electronic
communications as defined in 18 U.S.C. § 2510(1), (2), (4) and (12), respectively, and electronic
surveillance as defined in 50 U.S.C. § 1801(f); (b) Access to stored wire or electronic communications,
as referred to in 18 U.S.C. § 2701 et seq.; (c) acquisition of dialing, routing, addressing, or signaling
information through pen register or trap and trace devices or other devices or features capable of
acquiring such information pursuant to law as defined in 18 U.S.C. § 3121 et seq. and 50 U.S.C. § 1841
et seq.; (d) acquisition of location—related information concerning a subscriber or facility; (¢)
preservation of any of the above information pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 2703(f); and (f) access to or
acquisition, interception, or preservation of, wire, oral, orelectronic communications or information as
described in (a) through (e) above and comparable state laws.

        k.      "Foreign" means non—United States.

       1.      "Geolocation Data" means any information collected by Horizon from its customers
regarding a customer or the customer‘s device location.

         m.      "Government" means any government, or governmental, administrative, or regulatory
entity, authority, commission, board, agency, instrumentality, bureau or political subdivision, and any
court, tribunal, judicial or arbitral body.

        n.     "Internet Search Information" includes any data collected by Horizon about its
customer‘s internet browsing or online purchasing activities through any mechanism permitted by the
services offered by Horizon.

        0.     "Lawful U.S. Process" means U.S. federal, state, orlocal court orders, subpoenas,
warrants, processes, directives, certificates or authorizations, and other orders, legal process, statutory
authorizations and certifications for electronic surveillance, physical search and seizure, production of
tangible things or access to or disclosure of Domestic Communications, call—associated data,
transactional data, subscriber information, or associated records.


       p—      "Managed Network Service Provider" means any third party using an end—to—end or
managed services platform that has the ability to access or control Domestic Communications to or from
Horizon‘s customers or users.

       q.      "Network Elements" means a facility, equipment, software, hardware or applications
used in the provision of telecommunications services, including features, functions and capabilities that
are provided by means of such facility or equipment, including subscriber numbers, databases, signaling
systems, and information sufficient for billing, receiving and/or aggregating customer data, and
collection or used in the transmission, routing, or other provision of telecommunications services.

       r.      "Network Management Capabilities" means software or applications used to manage or
monitor network operations.

        8.     "Network Operations Center" means any locations and facilities performing network
management, monitoring, accumulation of accounting and usage data, maintenance, user support, or
other operational functions for Domestic Communications.

        t.    "Non—US Government" means any government, including an identified representative,
agent, component or subdivision thereof, that is not a local, state, or federal government in the United
States.

       u.     "Offshoring" means performing obligations of this Agreement through the use of entities
and personnel outside of the territorial limits of the United States, whetherthose entities or personnel are
employees of Horizon orits subsidiaries, or third parties.

       v.      "Outsource" or "Outsourcing" means, with respect to Domestic Communications,
supporting the services and operational needs of Horizon at issue in this LOA through the use of
contractors or third parties.

        w.      "Principal Equipment" means any equipment, hardware, software, or applications capable
of controlling Domestic Communications, as well as device controllers, signal routing and transfer
routers, devices that perform network or element management, fiber optic line termination and
multiplexing, core and edge routing, network protection, radio network control, mobility management,
or lawfulintercept functions, and non—embedded software necessary for the proper monitoring,
administration and provisioning of any such equipment. This definition may be modified from time to
time by DOJ as may be necessary due to changes in technology, business model, management, structure
of services offered, or governance of the Domestic Communications.

        x.      "Security Incident" means (a) any known breach or suspected breach of the Agreement,
including a violation of any Network and Systems Security Plan or use of Outsourced or Offshore
service providers or Network equipment (b) any known exploitation or suspected exploitation of a
security vulnerability.


                y.      "U.S. Records" means Horizon‘s customerbilling records, subscriber information, text,
        Internet Search Information online purchasing information, or Geolocation Information, CPNI, and any
        other related information used, processed, or maintained in the ordinary course of business relating to
        the services offered by Horizon in the United States, including information subject to disclosure to a
        U.S. federal or state governmental entity under the procedures specified in 18 U.S.C. § 2703(c) and (d)
        and 18 U.S.C. §2709.

                Z.     "Wire Communication" has the meaning provided in 18 U.S.C. § 2510(1).

       2.      Horizon confirms that it will comply with all applicable lawful interception statutes, regulations,
and requirements, including the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act ("CALEA®), 47 U.S.C.
1001 et seq., and its implementing regulations, as well as comply with all court orders and other Lawful U.S.
Process for lawfully authorized Electronic Surveillance.

        3.      Upon receipt of any Lawful U.S. Process, Horizon shall place within the territorial boundaries of
the United States any and all information requested by the Lawful U.S. Process within the period of time for
response specified in the Lawful U.S. Process, or as required by law, and shall thereafter comply with the
Lawful U.S. Process.

        4.      Horizon agrees to notify USDOJ, at least 30 days in advance, on any change to its current
services portfolio or any peering relationships or joint ventures with foreign companies providing data
aggregation or reselling services.

        5.      Horizon agrees that it will not, directly or indirectly, disclose or permit disclosure of or Access to
U.S. records or domestic communications or any information (including call content and call data) pertaining to
a wiretap order, pen/trap and trace order, subpoena, or any other Lawful U.S. Process demand if the purpose of
such disclosure or access is to respond to the legal process or request on behalf of a non—U.S. Government entity
without first satisfying all pertinent requirements of U.S. law and obtaining the express written consent of
USDOJ, or the authorization of a court of competent jurisdiction in the United States. Any such requests for
legal process submitted by a non—U.S. Government entity to Horizon shall be referred to USDOJ as soon as
possible, but in no event laterthan five (5) business days after such request or legal process is received by or
made known to Horizon, unless disclosure of the request or legal process would be in violation of U.S. law or
an order of a court of competent jurisdiction in the United States.

       6.      Horizon agrees to draft: (1) a NIST—Compliant Cyber Security Plan; and (2) Network Systems
Security Plan ("NSSP"), which will be forwarded to USDOJ/NSD/FBI within 60 days of the Date of this LOA
for objection or non—objection. The NSSP shall address, but not be limited to, information security, remote
access, physical security, cyber—security, third—party contractors, Outsourcing and Offshoring, system logs,
protection of Lawful U.S. Process and protection of U.S. Records obtained by Horizon from their customers or
through the provision of services.

        7.      Horizon agrees to require any third—party provider of services to disclose any data breach of any
U.S. Records, or any loss of U.S. Records, whether from a data breach or other cause, within 48 hours of the
third party discovering the breach or loss. To the extent that Horizon has current agreements with any third—


party providers of services with access to U.S. Records, Horizon agrees to amend those agreements to require
those third parties to make disclosure of breaches or loss of U.S. Records consistent with this paragraph, and
shall forward copies of those amended agreements to USDOJ points of contacts listed in paragraph 15 within
five (5) business days of executing those amendments.

        8.     Horizon agrees to notify the FBI within seven (7) days upon learning that a person orentity
without authorization, or in exceeding their or its authorization, has intentionally gained access to, used, or
disclosed any of its customer‘s CPNI or that of a third party used by Horizon, and shall report the matter to the
central reporting facility through the following portal:

         https://www.cpnireporting.gov/cpni/content/disclaimer.seam

       9.      Horizon agrees to designate and maintain a U.S. law enforcement point of contact ("LEPOC") in
the United States who will be subject to prior approval by the FBI. The LEPOC shall be a U.S. citizen residing
in the United States unless USDOJ agrees in writing otherwise, and the LEPOC must be approved by the FBI to
receive service Lawful U.S. Process for U.S. Records and, where possible, to assist and support lawful requests
for surveillance or production of U.S. Records by U.S. federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. This
LEPOC and his/her contact information will be provided to USDOIJ within 15 days from the date Horizon
receives the FCC‘s approval of the transfer. Horizon also agrees to provide USDOJ at least 30 days prior
written notice of any change in its LEPOC, with all such changes subject to the approval of USDOJ, including
the FBI. In addition, Horizon will give USDOJ, including the FBI, at least 30 days prior written notice of any
change to its LEPOC, and Horizon‘s nominated replacement shall be subject to USDOJ, including the FBI,
review and approval. Horizon also agrees that the designated LEPOC will have access to all U.S. Records, and,
in response to Lawful U.S. Process, will make such records available promptly and, in any event, no later than
five (5) business days after receiving such Lawful U.S. Process unless granted an extension by NSD.

        10.     Horizon agrees to notify USDOJ/NSD/FBI at least 30 days in advance, of any introduction of
new Principal Equipment or changes/modification to any of its Principal Equipment, including the names of
providers, suppliers, and entities that will perform any maintenance, repair, or replacement that may result in
any material modification to its Principal Equipment or systems or software used with or supporting the
Principal Equipment. USDOJ/NSD/FBI shall object or non—object to such new Principal Equipment or
change/modification to the Principal Equipment within 30 days of receipt of notice.

        11.     Horizon agrees to notify the points of contact (POC) listed in paragraph 15, of any breaches of
this agreement, as well as any other Security Incidents such as,. but not limited to cyber—security incidents,
intrusions or breaches of Network Elements. The notification shall take place no later than 15 days after
Horizon or any third party providing Outsource or Offshore services to Horizon discovers the incident, intrusion
or breachtakes place, or sooner when required by statute or regulations.

        12.     Horizon agrees to permit USDOJ requests for site visits and approve all requests to conduct on—
site interviews of Horizon employees.

       13.    Horizon further agrees that it will provide USDOJ notice at least 30 days in advance of all
Outsourced or Offshore service providers, including but not limited to services provided in relation to:


              Network operation center(s) ("NOC");
              Network maintenance services;
              Customer support services;
              Any operation/service that could potentially expose U.S. domestic telecommunications
              infrastructure, U.S. customer data and records, call detail records ("CDRs"), or CPNI; and
              Deployment of any network elements, hardware, software, core network equipment, and network
              management capabilities that are owned, managed, manufactured or controlled by a foreign
              government or non—public entities.
USDOJ/NSD/FBI shall object or non—object to Outsourced or Offshore service providers, within 30 days of
receipt of notice.

       14.    Horizon agrees to provide USDOJ/NSD/FBI with notice of any material changes to its business,
including but not limited to corporate structure changes, ownership changes, corporate name changes, business
model changes, corporate headquarter location changes, or business operation location changes within 30 days
in advance of such change.

        15.   Horizon agrees to provide an annual report to USDOJ regarding the company‘s compliance with
this Agreement, to include:
              Certifications that there were no material changes (where no changes were reported to
              USDOJ/NSD/FBI during the preceding year);
              Certification that Horizon has been in material CALEA compliance;

              Notice(s) regarding the company‘s handling of U.S. Records, Domestic Communications, and
              Lawful U.S. Process (i.e., whether handled properly and in accordance with the assurances
              contained herein) including list of individuals with access to U.S. CDRs;

              Recertification on any changes in the services that Horizon provides or confirmation that no
              additional services are being offered;

              Notification(s) of any relationships with foreign—owned telecommunications partners, including
              any peer relationships;

              Updated list of Horizon‘s Principal Equipment, vendors and suppliers;

              Updated Network and Systems Security Plans and Procedures;
              Updated NIST—Compliant Cyber Security Plan;
              Notification(s) of the installation and/or purchase or lease of any foreign—manufactured
              telecommunication equipment (including, but not limited to, switches, routers, software,
              hardware);


             *   Report(s) of any occurrences of cyber—security incidences, network and enterprise breaches, and
                 unauthorized access to customer data and information;

             e   A re—identification of the name of and contact information of the LEPOC; and

             e   Notifications regarding any other matter of interest to this LOA.
       The annual report will be due every 31" day of January of each calendar year, beginning on January 31,
2019, and will be addressed to:

                        Assistant Attorney General for National Security
                        U.S. Department of Justice
                        National Security Division
                        Three Constitution Square, 175 N Street NE,
                        Washington, DC 20002

                        Attention: FIRS/Team Telecom Staff

        Courtesy electronic copies ofall notices and communications will also be sent to the following or
       individuals identified in the future to Horizon by USDOJ: Bermel Paz, USDOJ (at
       Bermel.Paz@usdoj.gov); Joanne Ongman, USDOJ (at joanne.ongman@usdoj.gov), Loyaan Egal,
       USDOJ (at Loyaan.Egal@usdoj.gov) and FIRS Team (at FIRS—TT@usdoj.gov).

       16.       Horizon agrees that in the event that the commitments set forth in this letter are breached,
USDOJ, including NSD and the FBI, may request the FCC to modify, condition, revoke, cancel, or render null
and void any relevant license, permit, or other authorization granted by the FCC to Horizon orits successors—in—
interest, in addition to any other remedy available at law or equity. Nothing herein shall be construed to be a
waiver by Horizon of, orlimitation on, its right to oppose or comment on any such request.

        17.     Horizon understands that, upon execution of this LOA by an authorized representative or
attorney, or shortly thereafter, USDOJ shall notify the FCC that it has no objection to the FCC‘s consent to
Horizon‘s application.

                                               Sincerely,

                                                 A——34ZP
                                               Horizon Telcom, 4nc.
                                                William McKell, CEO, Horizon Telcom, Inc.


                                               Horizon Acquisition Parent, LLC


             e   Report(s) of any occurrences of cyber—security incidences, network and enterprise breaches, and
                 unauthorized access to customer data and information;
             e   A re—identification of the name of and contact information of the LEPOC; and
             e   Notifications regarding any other matter of interest to this LOA.
       The annual report will be due every 31° day of January of each calendar year, beginning on January 31,
2019, and will be addressed to:

                        Assistant Attorney General for National Security
                        U.S. Department of Justice
                        National Security Division
                        Three Constitution Square, 175 N Street NE,
                        Washington, DC 20002

                        Attention: FIRS/Team Telecom Staff

       Courtesy electronic copies of all notices and communications will also be sent to the following or
       individuals identified in the future to Horizon by USDOJ: Bermel Paz, USDOJ (at
       Bermel.Paz@usdoj.gov); Joanne Ongman, USDOJ (at joanne.ongman@usdoj.gov), Loyaan Egal,
       USDOJ (at Loyaan.Egal@usdoj.gov) and FIRS Team (at FIRS—TT@usdoj.gov).

       16.       Horizon agrees that in the event that the commitments set forth in this letter are breached,
USDOJ, including NSD and the FBI, may request the FCC to modify, condition, revoke, cancel, or render null
and void any relevant license, permit, or other authorization granted by the FCC to Horizon or its successors—in—
interest, in addition to any other remedy available at law or equity. Nothing herein shall be construed to be a
waiver by Horizon of, or limitation on, its right to oppose or comment on any such request.

        17.     Horizon understands that, upon execution of this LOA by an authorized representative or
attorney, or shortly thereafter, USDOJ shall notify the FCC that it has no objection to the FCC‘s consent to
Horizon‘s application.

                                                Sincerely,




                                               Horizon Telcom, Inc.




                                                Horizon Acquisition Parent, LLC
                                                Thadeus Mocarski, President,
                                                Horizon Acquisition Parent, LLC



Document Created: 2018-05-18 10:17:24
Document Modified: 2018-05-18 10:17:24

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