Let's go on the record. This is the time set for hearing on the application of California Internet LP DBA GeoLinks, docket number TDash21136ADash25Dash0113 for approval of a CCNN to provide facilities based inter exchange, facilities based local exchange, and wholesale services to telecommunications carriers in Arizona. The application also seeks a determination that the company's proposed services are competitive.
I'm administrative law judge Brian Schneider, and I'll be presiding over this hearing today. We'll start by, taking appearances for the record, and we'll, start with the applicant. Good morning, your honor. Elias Sanchezki with the law firm Osborne Malinon representing California Internet LP doing business as GeoLynx. With me on the Webex is mister Mark Funaki, general counsel for GeoLynx. And I know we both appreciate the opportunity to appear, via Webex. I know my my wife taking care of our newborn and two two year old downstairs certainly appreciates that as well.
So thank you. Alright. Well, of course, and congratulations, and good morning. Thank you. And for staff. Good morning, your honor. Robert Reitnauer for staff. Also with me is Ross Nemeth with the utilities division. Good morning. Alright. We'll start off by, if there's any public comments to be taking for this, hearing. I don't see, anyone in the audience in front of me nor do I see anyone on computer screens in front of me. Taking that as a sign that there's nobody here for public comment, so that part of the hearing is now closed.
We can begin with the evidentiary part of the hearing. If the parties wanna make, well, let me ask if there's any either either procedural issues or an opening statement, and I'll just kinda go in the in the same order. So, mister Ancharski, any any procedural issues or opening statement you'd like to make? No procedural issues at this time, your honor, but I do have a few, opening remarks if that's alright. It is, but I guess I should just make sure. Any procedural orders from staff? No, sir. Good. Let's get that out of the way. Alright. You can take it away with your opening statement. Thank you, sir. Thank you,
your honor. Just a few remarks. First, we would like to thank staff and your honor for your work on this case. Before we begin, there's one administrative item that I did want to discuss, that we will discuss as part of the evidentiary hearing in this matter, but thought it would it was pertinent to, address it upfront, just so we're all on the same page. So recently, GeoLynx executed a corporate conversion from a limited partnership to a limited liability company. GeoLynx is a California entity and the conversion was finalized on 01/28/2026. GeoLynx is in the process of filing for its certificate of registration in Arizona and
we anticipate that that will be approved in short order. As it relates to this matter, the minor change in name and corporate entity type from a limited partnership to a limited liability corporation is the only updates that that is required to reflect the conversion. Mister Mark Funaki, the company's witness, will provide additional testimony on the conversion that I just discussed as well as the steps we believe are necessary to ensure the change is reflected in the Commission's record, including the present docket. You will hear Mr. Furnacci testify that nothing else in the record will change as a result of this conversion aside from the change in name.
You will also hear that the company reached out to staff prior to this hearing to inform them of the change and we outlined several steps that GeoLynx intends to take to address the conversion in this docket as well as all commission dockets. With that, we respectfully request that the commission approve GeoLynx CCNN application to provide competitive service in Arizona. Thank you. We'll waive our opening statement, your honor. My mic was not on for any of that. So, I asked I asked mister Ridenour if he had any he had any opening statement. Now it's an echo. Code. Okay. Not like any echo. Nonetheless,
no opening statements by staff. We're gonna we're gonna go ahead go ahead, you, mister Call your first witness first witness. Alright. Your honor, GeoLynx calls mister Mark Furnaki as first witness and only witness. Perfect. Perfect. I can have him, raise you right here. It could be sworn in sworn in by the quarter. Court. Sir, do you sort of affirm the testimony you're about to give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? I do. Thank you. Thank you. Big brother came in and saved the day. Thank you. No more echo. Alright. Take it away with your questions. Alright. Miss mister Funaki,
please state your name, employer, and business address for the record, please. Mark Funaki, California Internet LLC, formerly LP. Our address is 251 Camarillo Ranch Road, Camarillo, California 93012. What is your title with GeoLynx? I'm the general counsel and corporate secretary. Are you authorized to testify here today on behalf of GeoLynx? Yes. I am. And could you please briefly describe your role and involvement with GeoLynx? As the general counsel, I oversee all legal and regulatory matters for the company nationwide and including Arizona.
And, mister Furnacci, were you present for my opening remarks just a few moments ago? Yes. I was. And did you hear me discuss the conversion that resulted in a limited partnership becoming a limited liability corporation? Yes. I did. Alright. Please briefly explain the conversion. The conversion was as you stated it was a conversion from a limited partnership to a limited liability corporation in California. It closed or was officially accepted by the State of California on January 28 and no other organizational or structural changes were made.
The governance of the business it was an entity change primarily for tax purposes. Is GeoLynx in the process of filing its Certificate of Registration to transact business in Arizona? It is. That was actually, overnighted by FedEx yesterday. Is it GeoLynx intent to file the California Certificate of Conversion as well as the Arizona Authority to Transact Business in this docket as soon as it is available? Yes. And will GeoLynx also file a separate notice to ensure that the Commission's records reflect the change in entity type? Yes, it will. And to confirm,
the only change necessary to reflect this change is to update the name and entity type in this docket, correct? That is correct. Yes. And Mr. Furnacci, would any of the company's responses to prompts in the CCNN application or various staff data requests differ as a result of this conversion? It would not. K. Simply, this is just a change in name. Correct? Correct. And all other aspects of this present matter remain unchanged? Correct. And did you direct counsel to provide an update to commission staff before this hearing? I did. And so it's your understanding that staff is at least aware of the conversion. Correct.
Thank you, Mr. Furnacci. I'd like to turn to GeoLynx's CCNN application which is the purpose of today's hearing. Please briefly describe the products or services that GeoLynx will be providing in Arizona and throughout the country. We provide Internet Internet service connectivity, including voice services and lifeline. Great. And has the Arizona Corporation Commission previously approved GeoLynx application for designation as an eligible telecommunications carrier? Yes. Was that approval issued in decision number 78000004 on 05/18/2021?
Yes. And your honor, I just ask that you take judicial notice of decision number seven eight zero zero four. Okay. Any objection? No, your honor. Thank you. And I guess maybe just a little bit more of that. That is that is the commission's approval of for GeoLink's, authority as an eligible telecommunications carrier to provide lifelink cert or lifeline services in Arizona. So certainly a separate a separate approval than the CCNN, but one that has already been approved by this commission. Thank you. And, mister Panaki, are you familiar with the application for a CCNN that GeoLynx filed in this matter? Yes. I am.
And do you have in front of you today what is marked as exhibit a one, which is a copy of the application? Yes. Do you have any corrections or revisions you would like to make to Exhibit A1? Yes. Please explain. GeoLynx inadvertently left off the checkbox for authority to provide private line service in section a1 of the application. GeoLynx updated its application to include a request to provide private line service or we, GeoLynx, would like to update the application to do that. Is it a copy of the notice of filing the amendment to the application that you just described marked as Exhibit A2?
Yes. Does GeoLynx have any other corrections it would like to make to the application? No. Are you adopting Exhibit A1 as amended as your primary testimony with the amendment you just discussed? Yes. Alright. Your honor, I would move for admission of exhibit a one. Any objection? No objection, your honor. A one as admitted. I would also move for admission of exhibit a two, which is the notice of filing of amendment to the application. Any objection to that? No, your honor. A two is also admitted. Mister Funaki, on 10/09/2025, GeoLynx filed a copy of its responses to staff's first, second, and third data requests,
which were previously submitted to Commission staff. Correct? Correct. Is Exhibit A3 a copy of that filing? Yes. Do you have any corrections or revisions you would like to make to exhibit a three? No. Alright, your honor. I would move for admission of exhibit a three. Any objection? No, your honor. A three is admitted. Mister Funaki, in response to staff's first data request, did GeoLynx update the tariff that it proposes to use in Arizona? Yes. Is a copy of that tariff included in attachment f to the response to staff's first data request? Yes. It is. And is that the tariff that GeoLink seeks approval of in this matter with an
update to the entity name to reflect the conversion that we discussed earlier? Yes. Alright. And, mister Funaki, have you had a chance to review the staff report marked as exhibit s one? Yes. I have. Have you reviewed have you reviewed the recommendations in that staff report? Yes. I have. And does GeoLynx agree to abide by all recommendations in the staff report? Yes. We do. And does GeoLynx support the staff report? Yes. We do. Did GeoLynx file any proposed corrections to the staff report? If so, please explain. Yes. GeoLynx, generally agrees with the staff recommendations and conclusions and subject to one one minor correction.
On page 11, the staff report states that the applicant indicated that it anticipates that at the end of the first twelve months of operation, the estimated network value of all Arizona assets to be used in provision of telecommunications service to Arizona customers will be $15,000 As stated in its application, GeoLynx estimates that its net book value will be $3,200,000 not $15,000 With that correction, GeoLynx supports the staff report and respectfully requests that any decision issued in this matter
reflect this minor clarification. Sufunaki, on 07/14/2025, GeoLynx filed a request for waiver of the the contract filing requirement found in Arizona Administrative Code R14-two-eleven 15 c three. Is it still GeoLink's request to waive that rule as confirmed by the staff report? Yes. Alright. And does that company have any objections to producing contracts at the request of the commission? No. Alright. And is a copy of that waiver request marked as exhibit a four? Yes. It is. Alright. And is exhibit a four true and accurate copy of the waiver request? Yes. Alright. And your honor,
I would move for admission of exhibit a four. Any objection. No objection, your honor. A four is admitted. And, mister Funaki, finally, pursuant to the procedural order dated 11/21/2025, GeoLynx was required to publish the notice of hearing in a newspaper of general circulation. Did GeoLynx provide such notice? Yes. And what date was notice published? 12/11/2025. Great. Your honor, that's that's all the questions that I have for mister Funaki at this time. He's available for cross examination. Thank you. Let's see if there is any. Any cross examination? Maybe just a couple, your honor. Mister Funaki, basically,
you you said that there would be no changes to the business organization other than the name. Is that correct? That is correct. Well, name name and entity type. Right? Correct. Name and entity type. Going from an LP to an LLC. Correct. Is the LLC a subsidiary of another corporation or another entity? It is. Will that remain the same also? That is also converting from an LP to an LLC. Okay. Will will the employees that are in Arizona remain the same, just convert from one from the LP to the LLC? We do not have employees in Arizona at this time,
but no employee the the employees that are the current employees of the LP will remain the same employees of the LLC. No organizational changes. Okay. Thank you. I have no further questions, your honor. Thank you. And you've covered everything off my checklist, so I have no, questions for you. I will let, any redirect if if if you have any. I'll redirect, your honor. Perfect. And, you are excused as a witness, sir. Thank you very much. And I'll ask, the applicant I have to look for your name every time and it's hard, so I can't remember things.
So, sir, if do you have any other witnesses? No other witnesses, your honor. And then engraved Ancharsky in my head. Thank you, sir. Alright. Excellent. Thank you. Perfect. Alright. I will turn to staff. If you have witnesses to call, now would be the time. Just one witness, your honor. We call Ross Nemeth to the stand, please. Perfect. Come on up and make yourself comfortable. And before you sit down, I'll have you raise your right hand to be sworn in. Sir, would you raise your right hand? Do you swear or affirm the testimony you're about to give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? I do.
Thank you. Alright. Be care comfortable. Make sure the light is on. Microphone's kind of where we can hear it, and, it kinda moves up and down as well if you need it. There you go. Perfect. Take it away. Okay. Thank you, your honor. Can you please state your name and spell your name for the record? Ross Nemeth, r o s s n e m e t h. And who who is your employer and business address? The Arizona Corporation Commission at 1200 West Washington Street. And what is your role at the commission? I'm a public utility analyst in the telecom and energy division.
And how long have you been employed by the commission? Just about six months. Okay. What are your general responsibilities as a utility analyst? I I collect applications for different things in the telecom and energy fields, make sure that they're all, answer any questions that I have and that make sure they answer all the ance all the questions the application has. Thank you. And as part of your employment, were you tasked with reviewing the application for GeoLynx or California Internet LP? I was. K. Can you describe what you did to review this case? Made sure that their application was in line with what was being asked of them
and making sure that all my questions were answered. Okay. In front of you, there's a copy of staff's exhibit s one. Is that correct? Correct. Okay. Did you prepare the staff report? I did. Thank you. You heard mister Fanaki say that he what he that there was an error in it in on page 11 in section six that it should have been $3,200,000 instead of $15,000. Do you agree with that change? I do. Other than that change, do you adopt this staff report as your testimony today?
I do. Thank you. Your honor, the staff requests exhibit s one be admitted? Any objection? No objections, your honor. S one is admitted. K. Based on the company's application, were you able to draw any conclusions regarding the company's fitness to provide private lines, telecom service in the state of Arizona? Yes. And, what was your determination? They they were fit. Okay. Based on your understanding, is the company in compliance with all regulatory agencies that they're that they are required to be in compliance with? Yes. Okay. Is there an established market for competitive CCNN in Arizona?
Yes. Do you believe that California Internet LP or LLC would be should be classified as competitive? I do. Do you support the company's request for oh, excuse me. Said that one already, your honor. Does changing the company from an LP to an LLC, provided everything else remains the same, change anything in your determinations? Does not. Okay. Based on that, the staff support GeoLink's request for waiver regarding the filing of the individual case basis, the ICBs, under the rule? I do. K. In your professional perspective, is the requested application within the public interest?
Yes. Do you have anything you would like to add at this point? No. I do not. With that, your honor, I will make witness available for cross exam. Let's do that. Mister Ancharski, any cross examination? No no questions, your honor, other than than just to thank mister Nemeth for his work on this matter. Perfect. Again, you guys are good. I too have no questions. I assume we can be let's excuse you as a witness. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, your honor. No further questions or no further witnesses. Perfect. Thank you all. Alright. Let's give you guys the opportunity for any, closing arguments or statements.
Mister Ancharski, do you have anything? Just briefly, we'd like to thank your honor, and staff for their work on this application. Please let us know if there's anything that we can do and to assist in processing this matter before the commission. Thank you. Thank you. Is there anything from staff? Just that staff does support this application and with the change of the LP to an LLC, recommend it to be approved. Thank you, your honor. Thank you all. I always feel obliged to say this because I usually work in with security. So having a hearing where everyone's cooperative and professional is very welcome and, appreciated. As you know,
I will take this under advisement, issue a, rule, recommend an order and opinion for, upcoming open meeting, for the commissioners for their, ultimate decision. Again, thank you very much, for your professionalism, cooperation, and all that. The magic words, we are adjourned. Thank you. Thank you, your honor.