FCC Fri. upheld Common Carrier Bureau’s designation of Western Wi...
FCC Fri. upheld Common Carrier Bureau’s designation of Western Wireless as eligible telecom carrier (ETC) in Wyo. ETC status enables carrier to receive federal universal service support. Commission denied petitions for reconsideration filed by rural telcos Golden West Telephone…
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Co-op, Project Telephone Co., Range Telephone Co-op, Chugwater Telephone Co., RT Communications. Comr. Martin “concurred” on part of order, saying he was concerned about FCC’s “policy of using universal [service] support as a means of creating competition in high-cost areas.” Martin said he was “hesitant to subsidize multiple competitors to serve areas in which costs are prohibitively expensive for even one carrier.” Bureau had concluded that Western Wireless would provide service throughout required geographic area and would promote competition and new technology. Petitioners said: (1) State regulators were better suited to deal with ETC request. (2) Rural telcos would suffer harm. (3) Final FCC order included exchanges not mentioned in original Western Wireless petition. (4) Western Wireless’s service area impermissibly crossed state boundaries.