Bluesky American Samoa’s sale to Fiji-based telecom approved by FCC

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The US Federal Communication Commission (FCC) has approved the acquisition of Bluesky assets in American Samoa by Fiji-based telecom Amalgamated Telecom Holdings Limited (ATH), which is now awaiting approval of the proposed trasaction from the Committee of Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).

The FCC’s action was made on Nov. 16th with the public notice issued Nov. 21st, according to FCC public records. ATH issued a separate brief statement announcing the FCC approval, which came after federal authorities, such as the US Department of Justice and US Department of Homeland Security, gave their endorsement a few days ago.

Through the Granting of Authority public notice, the FCC says that AST Telecom, LLC d/b/a Bluesky (AST) and ATH - the petitioners - had filed a petition for declaratory ruling pursuant to federal rules in which that ATH's proposed 100% investment in AST through a newly formed, wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary of ATH.

Additionally, AST and ATH filed the Petition in connection with applications for consent to transfer control of licenses and authorizations held by AST and affiliated entities from Spain-based Amper, S.A.

Following consummation of the proposed transaction, ATH's newly formed, wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary, Amalgamated Bluesky Telecom Holdings Incorporated (ABT Holdings), will own all of AST's member interests.

In a Nov. 20th statement, ATH announced that the FCC has granted ATH and Amper’s joint application on Nov. 17 for transfer - control of AST, dba Bluesky; American Samoa Hawaii Cable LLC; and Samoa American Samoa Cable LLC - from Amper to ATH.

ATH also explained briefly the telecom services included under the FCC approval, which are the same one that were listed under the FCC public notice.

“With these approvals from FCC, ATH is now expecting the remaining approvals from the CFIUS to come through shortly, to enable it to conclude the Bluesky transaction with Amper S.A.,” said ATH.

Specific details of the FCC approval of this transfer on <www.fcc.gov>.

See Samoa News edition Monday for updated information.