AT&T Fined $640,000 By The FCC

Telecommunications companies such as AT&T happen to operate wireless stations which serves its purpose for mobile communications – in addition to connect stations in fixed point-to-point, and point-to-multipoint systems. Such wireless systems would operate under similar as well as, more often than not, stricter regulations from the FCC so that the frequencies will not end up interfering with other wireless communications, and also for the logical reason that they happen to cover additional distances compared to what a traditional cell-site is capable of covering. As AT&T operates hundreds of similar microwave sites, it seems that the mobile operator has approximately 26 of such sites operating outside of specified parameters by the FCC, resulting in a fine of $640,000. Ouch!

This was discovered as the FCC looked into AT&T’s operations and licensing history that concerned around 250 sites, and it was further discovered that AT&T failed to notify the FCC concerning several modifications which were made concerning a handful of the cited stations in the previous year. Amazingly enough, AT&T was already informed of the investigation beforehand, not to mention served notices concerning variance issues. Perhaps nothing was done out of indifference? Who knows?

Edwin Kee
Categories: Cellphones
Tags: AT&T, FCC