FCC Seeks Comment on UP Fiber's Buy of Michigan Bell Assets
The FCC Wireline Bureau is seeking comment on a waiver allowing the creation of a study area for UP Fiber as part of the company’s proposed acquisition of 40 wire centers in 42 exchanges and the associated customers from AT&T’s Michigan Bell. Comments are due Sept. 2, replies Sept. 17 in docket 25-181, said a notice Thursday. The companies said in a May application that the assets in the deal include more than 9,000 miles of copper lines and 1,500 miles of business fiber and network infrastructure providing voice and internet service to more than 9,000 residential and business customers.
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The bureau earlier sought comment on the overall acquisition. Those comments are due Aug. 8, replies Aug. 15. UP Fiber is a privately held company established for the transaction, said the July 25 notice. “Applicants state that UP Fiber will deploy new technologies to enhance and expand services available to customers served by the Wire Centers,” it said. “According to the Applicants, UP Fiber’s owners have substantial experience investing in communications infrastructure assets and, therefore, the affected customers will benefit from the financial and operational expertise of UP Fiber’s owners.” The name of the company is tied to its proposed service to the sparsely populated Upper Peninsula of Michigan.