WASHINGTON-A group of telecom and oil companies has stepped up calls for the Federal Communications Commission to reject the extension of developmental wireless local licenses held by PetroCom License Corp. in the Gulf of Mexico.
The coalition, in an FCC filing, accused PetroCom of making false and erroneous statements to the agency and trying to commercialize its WILLNet64 system without having to compete in an auction for a license.
“PetroCom previously attempted this same ruse when it sought to operate a cellular system in the Gulf of Mexico under the cover of developmental authority,” said Shell Offshore Services Co., Rig Telephones Inc., Bachow/Coastel Operations L.L.C., Sola Communications Inc. and IWL Communications Inc. “The commission stopped PetroCom then, and should do so now.”
PetroCom says it has invested millions of dollars in the developmental system and plans to seek a Gulf license via auction. The challenge to renewing the developmental wireless local loop permit, according to PetroCom, is driven by Shell and wireless communications firms in the Gulf that are trying gain an unfair advantage through frivolous FCC filings.
Not so, the Gulf group replied.
“There are no remaining technical issues with WLL system on offshore platforms that might justify continuing the developmental authorizations,” said the Shell-telecom coalition. “The technology and the service are proven. The commercial viability of a WLL system in the Gulf of Mexico has been demonstrated. It is time to cancel PetroCom’s developmental licenses. Failure to do so will only allow PetroCom to continue building a full commercial system under the guise of developmental authority.”
