SAN FRANCISCO-The California Public Utilities Commission recently approved an $800,000 settlement between its Consumer Services Division and GTE Mobilnet Inc. to end its investigation into GTE’s compliance with CPUC rules governing cell sites.
GTE Mobilnet will pay $800,000 to the State of California’s General Fund over the next two years, and hire an independent consultant to review the company’s compliance with CPUC General Order 159. If any sites are found in violation of the order, the commission says that GTE Mobilnet will need to obtain permits and make the necessary modifications.
A report from Oct. 11, 1995, alleges that GTE was not in compliance with California law by beginning construction of at least 55 cellular sites without first obtaining CPUC approval. CPUC staff began investigating cell site compliance after the law became effective in 1990.
Under the agreement, the independent consultant will review 172 sites to confirm to the commission that GTE obtained all the required permits.
