Rural carriers vow to continue USF fight

Rural wireless carriers put the Federal Communications Commission on notice they intend later this month to ask as a federal appeals court to stay a decision capping government subsidies primarily benefiting rural wireless deployment if the agency does not grant a pending motion to put the ruling on hold. The latest FCC filing by small cellular entities follows on the heels of a legal challenge they recently filed at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. The litigation is being pursued by the Rural Cellular Association, Cellular South Licenses Inc., N.E. Colorado Cellular Inc., the Cellcom Companies, Smith Bagley Inc., Carolina West Wireless Inc., Bluegrass Cellular Inc., MTPCS L.L.C. and Leaco Rural Telephone Cooperative. The group told the FCC it would ask the court to stay the universal service wireless cap decision if the agency does not do so itself by Sept. 22. Hundreds of millions of dollars are at stake for the cellphone industry, which has leveraged high-cost universal-service funds to help bankroll the cost of wireless construction in rural areas.