Rural Telecom Group (RTG) told FCC it was ready to take Commissio...

planned for Ch. 52-59 “will slow the delivery of spectrum-based services to rural America.” FCC now plans to auction both upper and lower bands of 700 MHz starting June 19. Earlier this month, Wireless Bureau turned down request by CTIA to postpone date. RTG said that for first time many rural phone companies are preparing to participate in auction because FCC has decided to auction portions of 700 MHz spectrum in metropolitan statistical areas as well as rural service areas (RSAs). “The use of RSAs will enable rural telecommunications carriers, who are committed to building out and serving less densely populated regions, to concentrate their attention on rural regions,” RTG wrote to FCC Chmn. Powell on April 22. “RTG members plan to use the 700 MHz spectrum to augment their current cellular systems for 3G capability and/or for wireless broadband applications and are anxious to acquire spectrum.” RTG said in letter that it suspects that calls by larger carriers for delay in auction “stem from financial concerns rather than spectrum clearing concerns.” RTG noted that in many areas of lower band of 700 MHz, particularly rural markets, spectrum is unencumbered by analog broadcasters, meaning spectrum could be used immediately for wireless applications. Group noted that FCC faces statutory mandate to deposit proceeds from auction in U.S. Treasury by Sept. 30 for lower band. “Even a slight delay in the auction to give Congress more time to pass legislation delaying the auction makes no sense when there is no clear consensus in Congress for a delay,” RTG wrote: “Last-minute legislation is speculative.”