Let's go ahead and go on the record. Good morning, everyone. This is the time set for the hearing and public comment in the matter of the application of Fiber Asset Co, LLC for a certificate of convenience and necessity to provide interstate, telecommunication services in Arizona. Docket number T21356A250110. I am administrative law judge Elizabeth Beatty, and I've been assigned to preside over this matter. We'll go ahead and, take formal appearances on the record, and we'll go ahead and begin with the company. Good morning,
your honor. This is Catherine Hoonfoji on behalf of Fiber Asset Co, LLC. I'm gonna pass it to my colleague, Danielle Burt, who's been admitted ProHawk CJ for this matter. Good morning. This is Danielle Burt on behalf of Fiber Asset Co, LLC. Great. Thank you. Good morning, everyone. And then from staff? Eli Golub, staff attorney. Thank you. Great. Thank you. Before we move, to the public comment portion of the the proceeding, are there any procedural matters that we need to address? And I'll start with the company. No, your honor. Okay. And from staff? I don't believe so,
your honor. Okay. Great. Alright. We'll go ahead and proceed to public comment. This is the time for any member of the public to provide comment in this matter. Are there any members from the public either, in person or online? Alright. Seeing none, in person and, no one online, requesting to speak, let the record reflect that nobody has, spoken to provide public comment in this matter. Alright. So we'll go ahead and move on to opening statements. Does Fiber Asset Co have an opening statement they'd like to provide? Your honor, we'll waive that today. Okay. And from staff?
Yes, your honor. We'll waive as well. I I just like to state that staff supports this application. Great. Thank you. That makes this proceeding a little bit faster. So we'll go ahead and go to the evidence portion of the hearing. Is fiber asset co ready to call their first witness? Yes, your honor. We'd like to call Scott Longhurst. Okay. Good morning, mister Longhurst. And we'll have, the court reporter swear you in. Thank you. You may be trying. Good morning. Do you solemnly swear or affirm that the testimony you're about to give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? Yes. I do.
Thank you. Thank you. Would you please provide your name and business address for the record? Yes. My name is Scott Longhurst. My business address is 624 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, California. And what is your title and your current job responsibilities? My title is, senior external affairs manager for Crown Castle, and I, oversee the external affairs, efforts of the company, primarily in the Western Portion of The United States. Could you tell us a little bit about your background and experience in the telecommunications
industry? Certainly. I have been in the telecommunications industry for a little over thirty years. I started here in Southern California, and and I've done work throughout primarily the Southwestern United States, focusing on the development of both wireless and wireline telecommunications networks. So for today, we've marked four exhibits, exhibits a one, a two, a three, and a four. Exhibit a one is Fiber Asset Co LLC's application. Do you have that exhibit with you? Yes. I do. Exhibit a two is the applicant's response to the commission utility division's first set of
data request. Do you have that exhibit with you? Yes. I do. Exhibit a three is applicant's response to response to the commission utility division second set of data request responses. Do you have that with you? Yes. And exhibit a four is applicant's waiver of a contract filing requirement. Do you have that exhibit with you? Yes. I do. Do you have any material updates to any of these exhibits? Yes. I'd like at this time to, advise the commission that since, submitting the application and the company's responses to the commission's first and second set of
data requests, the company has been granted authorization to provide intrastate health communication services in the District Of Columbia in all states except for here in Arizona and Kansas, which remain pending. We expect the Kansas application to be granted before the February. The applicant did not apply for authorization in Alaska and no application or registration has been denied to date. Applicant's affiliate, Fiber Asset Co. California LLC, has an application pending to provide intrastate telecommunication services in California.
Thank you. With with that update, do you adopt exhibits a one, a two, a three, and a four as part of your direct testimony today? Yes. I do. Your honor, at this time, I ask that exhibits a one, a two, a three, and a four be admitted. Okay. And does staff have any objections to exhibits a one, a two, a three, and a four? No, your honor. Okay. Without any objections, exhibits a one, a two, a three, and a four are all admitted. Thank you. Mister Longhurst, have you had a chance to review the staff report that was docked in this
proceeding as been marked as exhibit s one? Yes. I have. And do you have that in front of you as well? I do. Yes. Within the staff report, have you reviewed staff's recommended conditions to the granting of the certificate? Yes. And fiber asset co agrees with the recommendation of granting a certificate and will abide by the conditions proposed by staff. And do you agree with staff's recommendation regarding grant of the requested waiver? Yes. Fiber Asset also agrees with the recommendation of granting the requested waiver and will abide by the staff's recommendation to produce,
ICP's individual At this time, your honor, mister Longhurst is available for cross examination. Great. Thank you. Does staff have any cross? No, your honor. Okay. Good morning, mister Longhurst. I do have a few questions, and, I apologize if they're a little all over the place. Not a problem. Thank you, your honor. Alright. So I believe in the I don't know whether it was the first or second. I'll apologize. I'm referring to the staff report, and I believe it's page I can get that for you here in just a moment. Right. I believe it is, staff report page three,
if that's helpful. It references that the company, indicated that it's expected to be acquired by a subsidiary of Front Range, Intermediate Inc. Is that correct? Yes. It is. That's correct. Okay. And is there any update or is that I guess my question excuse me. Let me rephrase. Is that still the case? Yes. It is. Okay. And is there any update on that proceeding? Not at this time. Nope. Okay. And then can you just tell me a little bit about, Front Range Intermediate and whether it has any sort of connection with Vibra Asset Co,
or the Crown Crown Castle? Well, Front Range, is an entity. I don't believe it has a direct relation with Crown Castle Fiber, your honor. I'm looking for that right now. I apologize. Just looking at page three here on the report. Let me just pull that up. Oh, I may have referenced the wrong page. It's, I believe it's page one of the staff report. And, it is the, I guess, last full paragraph. Spall in page of contents. Okay. Oh, okay. Yeah. Frontfront Wage is a new entity,
that would be purchasing the assets that would be transferred from Crown Castle Fiber, over to Fiber Asset Co. And those would be inclusive of the assets that are outlined in the staff report and would include approximately 54 active customers, in Arizona. Okay. And, does the company believe that this would have any sort of negative impact on, Fiber Asset Co's ability to provide services in Arizona? No. It would not. Okay. Does it believe it would have a positive impact?
Yes. It would. We think it would have a positive impact and and and result in, competitive, rates and, competitive services, to constituents in the in the state of Arizona. Okay. Thank you. Next question is, let's see here. Oh, so I believe this is in, included in the proposed tariff in the application, and it had a portion in there regarding grandfathered rate schedules for prior customers of Crown Castle NG West LLC. And I wasn't able to find in the record who that was, so I guess I'm looking for an explanation as to who that is.
Crown Castle, n g? Yes. Yes. Can I ask my attorney for clarification on that as well? Of course. Yes. Yes. Danielle, do you have some additional information? Thank you. Crown Castle NG West is a predecessor company to Crown Castle Fiber, which is the current licensed entity in Arizona that is transferring, fiber customers and assets to the current applicant fiber asset code. Okay. Understood. And, mister Longhurst, just to confirm that, does that sound correct to you?
That is correct. Yes. I just wanna make sure that we gave you the correct information. Okay. Great. Thank you. Let's see here. Actually, I believe those are all the questions, that I have for you, mister Longhurst, and I will, go back to the company to see if they have any follow-up. Thank you. Just one redirect question, your honor. In regards to the pending transaction to is it the case, mister Longhurst, that there are other regulatory approvals that are being, requested and sought in order to get to that transaction close that may still be pending today? Yes. There are.
Yes. And once those are obtained, will it be the intent to proceed with that transaction following said regulatory approvals? Yes. Correct. Yes. That's all I had is returned to you. Alright. Thank you, miss Burt. Does staff have anything else to add at this time? No, your honor. Okay. And does fiber asset co have, any other witnesses to call? No, your honor. Alright. Well, thank you, mister Longhurst. We will go ahead and move on to staff's testimony. Is staff ready to call their first witness? Yes,
your honor. Staff calls Ross Nemeth. Alright. Good morning, mister Nemeth. And if you can take a seat up here, we'll have you sworn in as well. Good morning. Please raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear or affirm that the testimony you're about to give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? I do. Thank you. Can you please state your name for the record? Ross Nemeth, n e m e t h. H. And can you tell us your employer and business address? It's, 1200 West Washington Street, Phoenix, Arizona. And that's theirs on a corporation commission. Okay. And you are an employee?
Yes. Okay. Thank you. And what is your position at the corporation commission? I'm a public utility analyst in the telecom and energy division. Okay. And, how long have you been with the commission? Been a little over five months. Okay. And and and you've received training, from the commission for your position. Correct? Correct. K. And as part of your employment, were you asked to review the subject application? I was. Thank you. And can you describe what you did as well as what you reviewed in this case? Yes. I reviewed their, tariff and application and made sure that it met everything we needed to compile a
staff report. Okay. Thank you. You have in front of you, do you have in front of you a staff report exhibit labeled, s one? I yes. You may have a copy that's not labeled yet. Yeah. Okay. I saw him take a copy up. That's why I okay. Thank you, your honor. Yes. I do. And was s one prepared by you or at your direction? That's correct. Okay. Thank you. And, do you have any changes, modifications, or corrections to, that you'd like to make to exhibit s one? I do not. Okay. Are you adopting exhibit proposed exhibit s one as part of your testimony today?
Staff moves to exhibit s one. Okay. That's okay. I I can do that part. But Cool. Yes. Sure. Sure. Your honor, I move at this point to admit exhibit s one, into the record. Alright. And does the company have any objections to exhibit s one? No, your honor. Okay. With no objections, exhibit s one is hereby admitted. Alright. Thank you. Is there anything else you'd like to add? No. And, just to be clear, does the, does staff still support the application? Yes. Alright. Nothing further, your honor. Okay. Oops.
Excuse me. Great. Does the company have any, cross examination for the witness? No, your honor. Okay. Good morning, mister Nava. I just have a few questions. Excuse me. Let's see. And I I apologize. These kind of might be just procedural, but, does staff believe that, Fiber Asset Co possesses the technical and managerial capabilities to provide service in Arizona? Yes. Okay. And does Fiber Asset Co possess the financial capabilities? Excuse me. Let me rephrase that. Does staff believe that fiber asset co possesses the financial capabilities to provide service in
Arizona? Yes. Okay. And does staff believe that the, rates and charges proposed are for competitive services? Yes. Okay. And, just a few more questions, just for clarification. Mister Nemet, were you here for mister Longhurst's, testimony about the acquisition or potential acquisition of Fiber Asset Co, by a subsidiary of Front Range Intermediate? Yes. Okay. And, is that was mister Longhurst's testimony, is that staff's understanding as well? Yes. It is. Okay. Great. Does staff believe that the acquisition of Fiber Asset Co by Front Range Intermediate would
have a negative impact on Fiber AssetCo's ability to provide services in Arizona? No. Okay. Let's see here. Okay. Just one last thing. On attachments 11 and a 12 to the application, and I'm not sure if you have it with you. I can provide it, actually. Just a moment. And just for the record, I just passed, mister Nemeth what has been marked as exhibit a one, the application. And I just had a question regarding, the attachments, a 11 and a 12 to the application, regarding, the parent company Crown Castle. And, mister Namath,
I'll wait until you're you can indicate that you're ready. Eight you said a eleven and a twelve? Yes. Correct. Yeah. Okay. And, mister Nemeth, did you or did staff review, the information provided, by Crown Castle Co regarding the, informal or formal complaints? Yes. Okay. And did staff have any, concerns with regards to those complaints? No. Okay. I believe those are all of my questions, and I'll, turn back to staff to see if you have any redirect. No, your honor. Okay. And, I'll turn to the company now to see if there's anything else that you would like to add at this time. No? Alright.
Yeah. Alright. Mister Numa, thank you so much. I think that concludes your test testimony, and you can go ahead and take a seat and step down. Thank you. Thanks. Alright. I believe that concludes the testimony portion unless, somebody suggests otherwise. No, your honor. I have no more staff has no more witnesses. Okay. Great. And before we go ahead and move on, I just wanna confirm that for the exhibits admitted, we have exhibit a one, a two, a three, a four, and exhibit s one. And I just wanna confirm that those are all of the exhibits, and no other exhibits need to be addressed at this time.
And I'll turn to the company. That's correct, your honor. Great. And from staff? Correct, your honor. Okay. Alright. Looks like we can go ahead and move on to closing statements, and we'll begin with, Fibro Asset Co if you have a closing statement you like to provide. Thanks, your honor. Fiber Asset Co LLC is committed to providing intrastate telecommunication services in Arizona, and we the company would begin offering these services as soon as practicable after the commission grants the requested certificate. As demonstrated in the submitted materials and in the testimony presented today, FiberAfrica was managerially,
technically, and financially qualified to provide intrastate telecommunications services in Arizona. And in an effort, to allow for the possibility of this application being considered perhaps at the 03/04/2026 open meeting, applicants willing to waive the exception period for your proposed decision to extend it follows staff's recommendation. The company is greatly appreciating any efforts you may be able to take to have the proposed decision prepared and considered at that March 4 open meeting. Thank you, your honor. Alright. Thank you. And does staff have a a closing statement they'd like to provide?
All I want to say, your honor, is that staff supports the application. I'm just reiterating that from earlier. And, beyond that, I don't have a closing statement. Thank you. Thank you. And just one last opportunity, I guess, to address anything procedurally, and I'll turn to the company. It looked like you were muted, but it looked like you're No. No, your honor. Okay. Great. And from staff? No, your honor. Alright. I believe that is everything. I wanna thank everyone for participating this morning, and thank thank you for a a quick proceeding. I will take this matter under advisement, and a recommended opinion and order will be issued,
for the commission to consider at a a future open meeting. And, miss Byrd, I I, take your comments. I will take those into consideration when prep preparing the a recommended opinion and order for the March open meeting, but no promises there. This hearing is adjourned, and we can now go off the record. Thank you again, everyone, and I hope you have a great weekend. Thank you, your honor. Thank you, everyone. Thank you, your honor. Honor. Yep. Have a nice weekend.