TDS TELECOMMUNICATIONS, LLC,
AMELIA TELEPHONE CORPORATION,
NEW CASTLE TELEPHONE COMPANY,
RIVERSTREET MANAGEMENT SERVICES, LLC
AND WILKES TELEPHONE MEMBERSHIP
CORPORATION, FOR APPROVAL OF A TRANSFER
OF CONTROL PURSUANT TO THE UTILITY
TRANSFERS ACT, VA. CODE § 56-88 et seq.
CASE NO. PUR-2024-00136
On July 23, 2024, Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (“TDS”), TDS Telecommunications,
LLC (“TDS Telecom”), Amelia Telephone Corporation (“Amelia”), New Castle Telephone Com
pany (“New Castle”), RiverStreet Management Services, LLC (“RiverStreet”), and Wilkes Tele
phone Membership Corporation (“Wilkes TMC”) (collectively, “Joint Petitioners”) filed a Joint Pe
tition (‘‘Petition”) with the State Corporation Commission (“Commission”) for approval, pursuant
to the Utility Transfers Act, Chapter 5 of Title 56 of the Code of Virginia (“Code”), to transfer con
trol of Amelia and New Castle from TDS Telecom to RiverStreet in connection with RiverStreet’s
proposed acquisition of the outstanding stock of Amelia and New Castle (“Proposed Transfer”).
According to the Petition, the Proposed Transfer will result in Amelia and New Castle each
becoming a direct wholly owned subsidiary of RiverStreet and an indirect subsidiary of Wilkes
TMC. Amelia and New Castle are incumbent local exchange carriers (“ILEC(s)”) authorized to
provide local exchange telephone services in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
In support of the Proposed Transfer, the Joint Petitioners represent that RiverStreet has the
f
inancial, technical, and managerial qualifications to acquire control of Amelia and New Castle.
The Joint Petitioners state that following the Proposed Transfer, the future availability of services
offered by Amelia and New Castle will increase, and that as a result of RiverStreet’s favorable
credit rating and the strength of its parent, Wilkes TMC, RiverStreet will continue to have access
to financing on favorable terms. The Joint Petitioners further state that Amelia and New Castle
will continue to have the managerial, technical, and financial qualifications to provide high quality
telecommunications and related services to consumers under RiverStreet’s ownership. The
Joint Petitioners represent that the Proposed Transfer will also facilitate the deployment of fiber
optic networks in Amelia and New Castle’s service areas, and that local repair and maintenance
personnel will be maintained at both Amelia and New Castle to allow for a seamless transition in
ownership without disruption or interruption in service. The Joint Petitioners assert that the Pro
posed Transfer will not adversely affect subscribers, competitors, or the market for the provision
of communication services.
The Joint Petitioners state that the Proposed Transfer will neither impair nor jeopardize
adequate service at just and reasonable rates and that the quality of service provided by Ame
lia and New Castle will not be adversely affected. The Joint Petitioners further represent that
Amelia and New Castle’s current customers are not expected to experience any disruption of,
or diminishment to, their existing service, and will continue to have the same rates, terms, and
conditions of service as they did prior to the Proposed Transfer.
Copies of the Petition may be downloaded from the Commission’s website: scc.virginia.
gov/pages/Case-Information, or may be obtained by contacting counsel for the Joint Petitioners:
Daniel C. Higgins, Esquire, Burns, Day & Presnell, P.A., P.O. Box 10867, Raleigh, North Caroli
na, 27605, [email protected].
On or before September 27, 2024, any interested person may submit comments on the
Petition electronically by following the instructions on the Commission’s website: scc.virginia.
gov/casecomments/Submit-Public-Comments. Those unable, as a practical matter, to submit
comments electronically may file such comments by U.S. mail to the Clerk of the Commission,
c/o Document Control Center, P.O. Box 2118, Richmond, Virginia 23218-2118. All comments
shall refer to Case No. PUR-2024-00136.
On or before September 27, 2024, any interested person may file a request for a hearing
on the Petition with the Clerk of the Commission at scc.virginia.gov/clk/efiling. Those unable, as
a practical matter, to file electronically may file a request for hearing by U.S. mail to the Clerk of
the Commission at the address listed above. Such request for hearing shall include the email
addresses of such parties or their counsel, if available. Requests for a hearing shall include: (i)
a precise statement of the filing party’s interest in the proceeding; (ii) a statement of the specific
action sought to the extent then known; (iii) a statement of the legal basis for such action; and
(iv) a precise statement why a hearing should be conducted in this matter. All requests for a
hearing shall refer to Case No. PUR-2024-00136. Persons filing a request for hearing shall send
a copy of their request to counsel for the Joint Petitioners at the address above.
TELEPHONE AND DATA SYSTEMS, INC.,
RIVERSTREET MANAGEMENT SERVICES. LLC. et al.
