Telcordia Says Corporate Change Renders a 'Primary' Neustar Court Argument Moot
Telcordia said a change in its ownership mooted a key Neustar argument against an FCC decision to replace Neustar with Telcordia as local number portability administrator. In a letter (in Pacer) Thursday to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the…
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D.C. Circuit, Telcordia said its parent Ericsson announced March 7 that affiliates of U.S.-based private-equity firm Francisco Partners will become a minority investor in Telcordia. "Telcordia will no longer be a wholly owned subsidiary of Ericsson, thereby rendering moot one of Petitioner [Neustar's] primary arguments once the transaction closes," said the letter, which noted the transaction is subject to FCC approval and other customary conditions. "Neustar has argued extensively that Telcordia is not 'impartial' as required by law, because a wholly owned subsidiary shares a complete unity of interest with its parent company," Telcordia wrote. "Neustar misreads the relevant law. Nevertheless, Neustar’s argument has no application to a non-wholly owned subsidiary such as Telcordia." Neustar didn't comment. A D.C. Circuit panel heard oral argument Sept. 13 in Neustar v. FCC, No. 15-1080.