The Federal Communications Commission last week upheld the rejection of 15 spectrum licenses after finding the license holder did not meet the requirements for providing service in the 220 MHz band.
According to the order, the mobility division of the FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau originally denied renewal applications for 35 licenses filed by Cornerstone SMR in 2009.
FCC rules stipulate that license holders in the 220 MHz band must demonstrate construction progress at five- and 10-year benchmarks. Licenses are to be terminated if the holders fail to meet coverage or “substantial service” requirements within that timeframe.
The mobility division found that construction “without providing actual service” did not meet that standard, but Cornerstone — described by Law360 as an Internet of Things wireless network provider and “spectrum aggregator” — asked the commission to reconsider 16 renewal applications and argued that its facilities in those areas were capable of providing service.
The bureau, the order continued, sought additional information from the company about how customers were using its facilities, but officials reported that Cornerstone was only able to produce invoices from a Cincinnati-based company operating on one call sign.
That license was renewed, but the remaining decisions were upheld by the bureau.
“The commission has repeatedly made clear that, for purposes of the requirements for license renewal, service cannot be regarded as ‘substantial’ without some degree of actual service,” the agency wrote in its decision.
Filed Under: Telecommunications (Spectrum)
