WASHINGTON-The FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau Wednesday granted Nextel Partners Inc. eligible telecommunications carrier status, making it eligible to receive universal-service subsidies for the customers it serves in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Virginia.
“Nextel’s universal service offering will provide a variety of benefits to consumers. For instance Nextel has committed to provide customers access to telecommunications and data services where they do not have access to a wireline telephone. In addition, the mobility of Nextel’s wireless service will provide benefits such as access to emergency services that can mitigate the unique risks of geographic isolation associated with living in rural communities. Moreover, Nextel states that it offers larger local calling areas than those of the incumbent local exchange carriers it competes against, which would result in fewer toll charges for Nextel’s customers. Further, Nextel has made service quality commitments including compliance with the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association Consumer Code for Wireless Service,” said WCB Chief Jeffrey Carlisle.
The wireline bureau rejected several arguments against granting Nextel Partners ETC status. “We reject the arguments of certain commenters that Nextel does not offer service throughout the area where it seeks designation and therefore should not be designated in these areas. Specifically, these commenters allege that service is not offered in many of the ZIP codes within the areas where Nextel seeks ETC designation. The Federal Communications Commission has already determined that a telecommunications carrier’s inability to demonstrate that it can provide ubiquitous service at the time of its request for designation as an ETC should not preclude its designation as an ETC. Nextel has committed to improve its network and reach out to areas that it does not currently serve,” said Carlisle.
Nextel Partners said earlier this year that it would use the universal-service subsidies to build 13 cell sites in Alabama, 12 cell sites in Florida, 13 cell sites in Georgia, 19 cell sites in New York, 10 cell sites in Pennsylvania, three cell sites in Tennessee and 16 cell sites in Virginia.
The wireline bureau used criteria established earlier this year by the FCC when it granted Virginia Cellular L.L.C. ETC status to approve the Nextel Partners application.
