T-Mobile Gets FCC Waiver to Expand Coverage in Wyoming, Montana
The Wireless Bureau approved a waiver of FCC 700 MHz buildout rules requested by Bresnan Communications, which plans to assign the three licenses, covering parts of Montana and Wyoming, to T-Mobile. Bresnan is a subsidiary of Charter Communications. “Grant will…
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serve the public interest by enabling T-Mobile to rapidly bring new and advanced wireless services to the citizens of Montana and Wyoming, many of whom reside in remote areas where the entry of a new wireless carrier will increase competition and consumer choice,” the bureau said in a Wednesday letter to T-Mobile approving the request. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., lauded the FCC action. Daines and Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., wrote the FCC in October pressing for approval of the waiver (see 1610070024). “Today’s announcement that T-Mobile will be able to expand their coverage to the underserved part of our state is great news for connectivity and the safety of Montanans on our roadways,” Daines said in a statement Wednesday. His office cited “months of hard work by Daines” to this end and the Nov. 30 meeting Daines had in Washington with T-Mobile CEO John Legere (see 1612020036). “T-Mobile is grateful to Senator Daines and the FCC for giving us the opportunity to expand broadband across Montana,” said Senior Vice President-Government Affairs Kathleen Ham in the statement. The Rural Wireless Association slammed the waiver, saying it was “baffled” by the decision. “In completely ignoring the purpose of the Acceleration Rule, the Bureau has established dangerous and harmful precedent for those living in rural areas by effectively negating the 700 MHz construction requirements and allowing speculators to obtain FCC licenses for the sole purpose of warehousing them until they are able to profit from a sale to an entity like T-Mobile that will then be given additional time to actually buildout the license,” RWA said in a news release.