Acquisition: FCC Clears Way for MCI WorldCom Acquisition of CAI Wireless - Government Activity

Cambridge Telcom Report, July 12, 1999

CAI Wireless Systems, Inc. (OTC BB: CWSS)("CAI") Wednesday announced that the Federal Communications Commission ("FCC") has approved the transfer of control of various licenses for wireless spectrum controlled by CAI to MCI WORLDCOM, Inc. CAI and MCI WorldCom jointly submitted transfer applications relating to multichannel multipoint distribution service and multichannel distribution service ("MMDS") channels, the wireless communications service ("WCS") channels and auxiliary point-to-point spectrum in connection with MCI WorldCom's pending acquisition of CAI common stock.

MCI WorldCom, which currently holds approximately 48% of CAI's common stock, now is expected to acquire additional shares following this FCC action, resulting in ownership of more than 50% of CAI's common stock. Subject to shareholder approval, CAI also expects to merge with a wholly-owned subsidiary of MCI WorldCom during the third quarter of the 1999 calendar year.

The FCC granted the MMDS application with one condition. On June 30, 1999, the FCC announced that the condition had been fulfilled by CAI. The FCC unconditionally granted several auxiliary applications and issued special temporary authority ("STA") for MCI WorldCom to acquire control of CAI with respect to the WCS and certain other auxiliary spectrum applications. The STAs will remain in effect until the FCC processes and grants the applications to which they apply.

Under FCC rules, interested parties may file a petition for reconsideration of any license grant at any time up to 30 days after public notice of the grant. The filing of a reconsideration petition does not stay the effectiveness of the grant, but would require the FCC to review its initial decision granting the application. To date, no parties have opposed the applications.

Under the merger agreement, FCC approval must be obtained or made by a final order of the FCC, subject to MCI WorldCom's right to waive this condition. Final order means, among other things, that such approval is no longer subject to appeal, or a petition to reconsider. While the FCC approvals permit MCI WorldCom to acquire additional shares, the merger agreement condition has not yet been satisfied.

CAI also announced that the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, expired on May 30, 1999.

COPYRIGHT 1999 EDGE Publishing
COPYRIGHT 2000 Gale Group
 

BNET TalkbackShare your ideas and expertise on this topic

Please add your comment:

  1. You are currently: a Guest |
  2.  

Basic HTML tags that work in comments are: bold (<b></b>), italic (<i></i>), underline (<u></u>), and hyperlink (<a href></a)

advertisement
Click Here
CXO UnpluggedSmart Business interviews on BNET

See and hear how senior level executives across the Asia Pacific are developing smart business ideas across a variety of sectors. The focus is on the future, and on how businesses need to evolve.

advertisement
  • Click Here
  • Click Here
  • Click Here
advertisement

Content provided in partnership with Thompson Gale