US Cellular gets a wrist slap for violating FCC environmental rules

In Featured News by Wireless Estimator

US-Cellular-FCC
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) notified United States Cellular Corporation (USCC) last Thursday that it had failed to comply with the Commission’s regulations regarding the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) and other federal statutes when it constructed a tower in Harvey, Ill., and New Buffalo, Mich, in 2007 and 2008.

The agency said the carrier did not file environment assessments and improperly certified on its applications for registration that the towers would have no significant effect on the environment, when one was to be sited in a wetland and one was to be sited in a floodplain.

According to the FCC document, USCC did not inform the Commission of the premature construction until December of 2012.

On Feb. 2, 2015, the Commission was notified that the ownership of the Harvey tower was transferred to Vertical Bridge, LLC.

On Nov. 13, 2015, the Commission was also informed that Vertical Bridge had also acquired the tower, but it had been dismantled.

The FCC said that USSC violated its environmental, licensing, and ASR regulations, as well as the regulation requiring truthful and accurate statements.

But the agency didn’t fine USSC, instead, stating “Future violations may result in additional action, including the imposition of monetary penalties.”

The violations came to the FCC’s attention by USCC, “specifically by its own admission,” the notification said.

Other FCC Releases and Actions (June 20, 2016)

Henderson Elcock, Brooklyn, New York
Released Date: 06/20/2016
Description: The New York Office received information that an unlicensed broadcast radio station on 106.3 MHz was allegedly operating in Brooklyn, New York.
Documents:
Word : DOC-340193A1.docx
PDF : DOC-340193A1.pdf
Text : DOC-340193A1.txt
Luis Camacho, Bronx, New York
Released Date: 06/20/2016
Description: The New York Office received information that an unlicensed broadcast radio station on 89.7 MHz was allegedly operating in Bronx, New York.
Documents:
Word : DOC-340028A1.docx
PDF : DOC-340028A1.pdf
Text : DOC-340028A1.txt
Ray Bruington, Winterville, North Carolina
Released Date: 06/20/2016
Description: The Norfolk Office received information that an unlicensed broadcast radio station on 100.1 MHz was allegedly operating in Winterville, North Carolina.
Documents:
Word : DOC-340027A1.docx
PDF : DOC-340027A1.pdf
Text : DOC-340027A1.txt
Robert Heiney, The Woodlands, Texas
Released Date: 06/20/2016
Description: The Houston Office received information that an unlicensed broadcast radio station on 94.9 MHz was allegedly operating in The Woodlands, Texas.
Documents:
Word : DOC-340026A1.docx
PDF : DOC-340026A1.pdf
Text : DOC-340026A1.txt
Prepared Remarks of FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, ‘The Future of Wireless: A Vision for U.S. Leadership in a 5G World’, National Press Club, Washington, D.C
Released Date: 06/20/2016
Description: .
Documents:
Word : DOC-339920A1.docx
PDF : DOC-339920A1.pdf
Text : DOC-339920A1.txt
Adopts Order and Consent Decree Enterted into with R&F Broadcasting, Inc
Released Date: 06/20/2016
Description: Adopts Order and Consent Decree Enterted into with R&F Broadcasting, Inc., licensee of Station WRFB(TV), Carolina, Puerto Rico
Documents:
Word : FCC-16-78A1.docx
PDF : FCC-16-78A1.pdf
Text : FCC-16-78A1.txt
Application for Consent to the Assignment of License of Station KUDL(FM), Sacramento, CA, from Royce International Broadcasting Co. to Entercom Communications Corp
Released Date: 06/20/2016
Description: Denied Royce’s AFR seeking reconsideration of its Oct. 19, 2015, PFR dismissed under Section 1.106(p)(1) of the Rules as plainly not warranting Commission consideration
Documents:
Word : FCC-16-76A1.docx
PDF : FCC-16-76A1.pdf
Text : FCC-16-76A1.txt
Reminder to States and Interstate Telecommunications Relay Services Providers that the Annual Summary of Consumer Complaints is due by July 1, 2016; Reminder of Ongoing Obligation to Report Contact Information and Substantive Changes in TRS Programs
Released Date: 06/20/2016
Description:
Documents:
Word : DA-16-702A1.docx
PDF : DA-16-702A1.pdf
Text : DA-16-702A1.txt
Notice of Domestic Section 214 Authorization Granted
Released Date: 06/20/2016
Description:
Documents:
Word : DA-16-701A1.docx
PDF : DA-16-701A1.pdf
Text : DA-16-701A1.txt
Ex Parte Presentations And Post-Reply Comment Period Filing In Permit-But-Disclosure Proceedings Received on 6/13/2016
Released Date: 06/20/2016
Description:
Documents:
PDF : DOC-339901A1.pdf
Text : DOC-339901A1.txt
Broadcast Actions
Released Date: 06/20/2016
Description:
Documents:
PDF : DOC-339884A1.pdf
Text : DOC-339884A2.txt
Broadcast Applications
Released Date: 06/20/2016
Description:
Documents:
PDF : DOC-339883A1.pdf
Text : DOC-339883A2.txt