Attachment STSJ SCL STA.pdf

This document pretains to SCL-STA-20090615-00016 for Special Temporal Authority on a Submarine Cable Landing filing.

IBFS_SCLSTA2009061500016_717404

Catherine Wang
Danielle Burt
Katie Besha
Phone:        202.373.6000
Fax:          202.373.6001
catherine.wang@bingham.com
danielle.burt@bingham.com
katie.besha@bingham.com

June 15, 2009

Via Hand Delivery

Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary
Office of the Secretary
Federal Communications Commission
c/o Natek, Inc.
236 Massachusetts Avenue, N.E.
Suite 110
Washington, DC 20002

          Re:    The St. Thomas and San Juan Telephone Company, Inc. and Primus
                 Telecommunications Group, Incorporated, Debtor-in-Possession
                 Request for Special Temporary Authority With Respect to Certain
                 Submarine Cable Interests

Dear Ms. Dortch:

         The St. Thomas and San Juan Telephone Company, Inc. (“STSJ Telephone” or
“Licensee”), along with its ultimate parent company, Primus Telecommunications Group,
Incorporated, Debtor-in-Possession (“PTGI”; and with Licensee, “Applicants”), pursuant
to 47 U.S.C. §§ 34-39 and 47 C.F.R. § 63.25, respectfully request expedited Special
Temporary Authority (“STA”) for a period of 60 days, or until the Commission acts on
the transfer of control application filed in connection with a planned consensual financial
restructuring (“Restructuring”) of PTGI under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code.1
Applicants respectfully request that the Commission grant an STA as soon as possible,
but in any event not later than July 1, 2009, the date on which PTGI is scheduled to
emerge from bankruptcy.


1
 Applicants are filing the Application concurrent with this Request for Special Temporary
Authority for the transfer of control.




A/73064440.1


Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary
June 15, 2009
Page 2



        As described more fully in the Application, Licensee holds an interest in the
AMERICAS-I Cable System, FCC File No. SCL-LIC-19921110-00002;2 the
AMERICAS-II Cable System, FCC File No. SCL-LIC-19980101-000363 ANTILLAS I
Cable System, FCC File No. SCL-LIC-19951013-00002;4 the BAHAMAS II Cable
System, FCC File No. SCL-LIC-19960329-001285 and FCC File No. SCL-LIC-
19960329-00130;6 the COLUMBUS II Cable System, FCC File No. SCL-LIC-
19921110-00004;7 the COLUMBUS-III Cable System, FCC File No. SCL-LIC-
19980527-00007;8 the Pan American Cable System, FCC File No. SCL-LIC-19970421-
00002; 9 and the TAINO-CARIB cable system, FCC File No. SCL-LIC-19920107-
0000510 In addition, STSJ Telephone has international authorization pursuant to File No.
ITC-214-19941018-00324.11 PTGI does not hold any FCC authorization nor does it
provide any telecommunications service.

         On March 16, 2009, PTGI and certain of its non-operating holding company
affiliates (not including Licensee) filed petitions with the United States Bankruptcy Court
for the District of Delaware (“Bankruptcy Court”), to reorganize under Chapter 11


2
    The old file number was SCL-93-002.

3
    The old file number was SCl-98-003.

4
    The old file number was SCL-95-012.

5
    The old file number was SCL-96-003.

6
    The old file number was ITC-96-234.

7
    The old file number was SCL-93-001.

8
    The old file number was SCL-98-005.

9
    The old file number was SCL-97-001.

10
     The old file number was SCL-92-002.

11
   Applicants, and their affiliated entities, filed an Application for the indirect transfer of control of
its 214 licensees on May 18, 2009, which has been docketed as WC Docket No. 09-75 and File
Nos. ITC-T/C-20090515-00224, ITC-T/C-20090515-00226, and ITC-T/C-20090515-00227.
Additionally, PTGI and its subsidiary, Interisland Telephone Corporation (“Interisland”),
submitted an application on May 19, 2009, requesting consent for the transfer of control of the
wireless licenses held by Interisland. See File No. 0003840311.




A/73064440.1


Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary
June 15, 2009
Page 3


(hereinafter, PTGI and the other Debtors will be referred to as the “Debtors”).12 The
Debtors, along with certain secured creditors and note holders, have agreed on a proposed
Plan of Reorganization (“Plan”), which, among other things, provides that (1) the
common stock now held by the equity holders of PTGI will be extinguished as of the
effective date of the Plan and (2) certain note holders will receive substantially all the
new common stock of the reorganized PTGI in exchange for releasing their claims.
Currently, the equity ownership of PTGI (and, indirectly, of Licensee) is widely held
such that no entity wields legal, majority control or exercises actual working control over
PTGI’s voting stock. Following consummation of the Plan, it is expected that
reorganized PTGI’s equity will also be held by diverse and unaffiliated entities, such that
after the Plan is consummated, no entity is expected to hold legal majority control or
actual working control of PTGI’s voting stock.

         The proposed ownership changes to the holding company are an integral part of a
series of carefully negotiated transactions among multiple parties in the context of the
Bankruptcy Court proceedings. When implemented, the Plan will materially improve the
capital structure and liquidity of the company to ensure that its operating subsidiaries,
including the Licensee, will have access to sufficient financial resources needed to meet their
working capital, debt service and capital expenditure needs. As a result of the
Restructuring, Applicants will emerge from bankruptcy as stronger companies and
competitors. The Bankruptcy Court held a confirmation hearing on the proposed Plan on
June 12, 2009. At that hearing, the plan was confirmed and PTGI and the other Debtors
expect to emerge from Chapter 11 by July 1, 2009. The Applicants therefore request this
STA so that the Debtors may promptly proceed with the Plan and emerge from bankruptcy.
Failure to obtain any necessary regulatory approvals for the indirect transfer of the
Applicants has the potential to disrupt implementation of the Plan, which in turn could
potentially disrupt service to Licensees’ customers.

         Accordingly, Applicants urgently need the necessary regulatory approval for the
Restructuring as soon as possible but prior to July 1, 2009. Applicants acknowledge that
grant of this request will not prejudice action by the Commission on the underlying
Application and that any authority granted pursuant to this request is subject to
cancellation or modification upon notice but without a hearing.




12
  See Primus Telecommunications Group Incorporated, et. al., Debtors, Case Nos. 09-10867 (KG)
through 09-10970 (KG), U.S. Bankruptcy Court (DE filed Mar. 16, 2009).




A/73064440.1


Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary
June 15, 2009
Page 4


         Should you have any questions or require further information, please do not
hesitate to contact us.


Respectfully submitted,



/s/ Danielle Burt
Catherine Wang
Danielle Burt
Katie Besha




A/73064440.1


                                                                Verification



                                  I, John F. DePodesta, state that I am Executive Vice President of Primus

                         Telecommunications Group, Incorporated, the ultimate parent of the St. Thomas and San

                         Juan Telephone Company, Inc.; that the foregoing filing was prepared under my direction

                         and supervision; and that the contents are true and correct to the best of my knowledge,

                         information, and belief.

                                  I declare under penalty ofperjury that the foregoing is trueand correct. Executed

                         this 15Hay ofJune, 2009.



                                                                           " 3 hn DePodesta
                                                                       '       xecutive Vice President
                                                                             rimus Telecommunications Group,
                                                                            Incorporated




Bingharm McCutchen LLP
                         AFT3064440.1
         bingham.com



Document Created: 2009-06-15 18:49:24
Document Modified: 2009-06-15 18:49:24

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