The FCC Wireless Bureau gave most, but not...
The FCC Wireless Bureau gave most, but not all, carriers with licenses in the 700 MHz B block a six-month extension of the June 13 interim four-year construction benchmark deadline. As expected, AT&T and Verizon Wireless don’t get the same…
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relief (CD April 9 p1). To get an extension, carriers had to have signed a petition asking the commission to address interoperability issues in the Lower 700 MHz band “asserting that the development of two distinct band classes within the Lower 700 MHz band has hampered their ability to have meaningful access to a wide range of advanced devices,” the order said. In addition, carriers that filed notifications of construction for the interim construction benchmark on or before April 9 did not get an extension. The four carriers not entitled to relief because they didn’t complain about interoperability are Verizon Wireless, AT&T Mobility Puerto Rico, Red WL Corp. and New Cingular Wireless PCS. Five carriers aren’t entitled to a waiver because records show they notified the FCC they had started to build out their licenses -- AT&T, Bend Cable Communications, Choice Phone, Glenwood Telephone Membership Corp. and King Street Wireless. “The extension granted in this Public Notice is non-transferrable, and any proposed assignee or transferee seeking Commission approval to acquire a 700 MHz band B Block license subject to the extension granted herein may independently seek relief justifying an extension of the Interim Construction Benchmark Deadline,” the order said. “Because we take this action on our own motion, all previous requests for extension or waiver of the Interim Construction Benchmark Deadline filed by Lower 700 MHz band B Block licensees remain pending.” The Competitive Carriers Association has led advocacy on a 700 MHz interoperability mandate and President Steve Berry said the order is helpful. “It is clear the FCC recognizes the challenges smaller carriers face in accessing devices and utilizing existing 700 MHz licenses, yet there is still work to be done to get to the heart of the problem -- interoperability,” Berry said.