RWA Concerned About AT&T Alaska Order
The Rural Wireless Association criticized an order denying the group’s challenge of a January waiver by the FCC Wireless Bureau, giving AT&T extra time to build out facilities offering wireless service using 700 MHz in the cellular market area serving…
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the Wade Hampton, Alaska, market (see 1803050046). But RWA said the order was partially positive. The order “undermines the FCC's rules against spectrum warehousing by allowing AT&T to retain the exclusive right to serve the approximately 90 percent of the geographic area of [the market] that remains unserved more than eight years after the license was granted,” RWA said in a news release. “Thanks to RWA's efforts, however, AT&T must file a marker showing its coverage as of June 13, 2017. This filing will hold AT&T's feet to the fire to meet its obligations for the license.” AT&T didn't comment. In a second order Monday, the full FCC also denied an RWA application for review of the Wireless Bureau granting a waiver to the Alaska Wireless Network of both the interim and final geographic coverage requirements for a single 700 MHz license covering the entire state (see 1708030059). “It is well-established that the Commission may waive a rule where the particular facts make strict compliance inconsistent with the public interest, and it may take into account considerations of hardship, equity, or more effective implementation of overall policy on an individual basis,” the FCC said.