GCI Defends Request for Alaska Data Waiver
GCI slammed comments by the Alaska Remote Carrier Coalition and OptimERA opposing GCI’s request for modification or waiver of the Alaska population-distribution model to utilize the broadband serviceable location fabric and of the mobile “waterfall” methodology (see 2504140020).
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“Without any basis, ARCC and OptimERA assume GCI’s petition is a thinly veiled attempt to dodge its Alaska Plan commitments,” GCI said in comments posted Wednesday in docket 16-271. “This disappointing conjecture serves no purpose and certainly does not further the discussion of appropriate policymaking by the FCC. GCI is on track to meet its population-based Alaska Plan commitments to increase service to close to 140,000 Alaskans, contrary to suggestions otherwise by ARCC and OptimERA.”
OptimERA said in initial comments that the waiver would “result in lower quality service to Alaska without good cause and contrary to the public interest.” It's “elementary that the Commission ‘is bound to adhere to its own rules and procedures.’”
ARCC said in reply comments that it has been in discussion with GCI and now better understands some of its issues, but ARCC still disagrees with other GCI arguments. “We assume that GCI has been following the applicable FCC rules and that no cross-subsidization occurs between the various programs,” ARCC said. “If we find that this is not the case, we will change our view on this portion of the issue. We are initiating some steps to better understand this aspect of the debate.”