Early 3G Sunset Harms Rural Americans

The Rural Wireless Association (RWA) filed an ex parte to apprise the Federal Communications Commission of the results of RWA’s member survey concerning the ongoing impact of the 3G sunset on rural consumers, and of the need for the carriers to implement Voice over Long-Term Evolution (VoLTE) roaming before 3G is shut down nationwide. RWA carrier members across the country are receiving reports from their rural customers of degraded or nonexistent 3G coverage in advance of the 3G sunset deadlines announced by nationwide carriers. RWA’s survey found that these 3G shutdowns have a particularly harmful impact on certain categories of subscribers, namely, ranchers and farmers traveling to larger market areas outside of their home carrier’s service areas, and senior citizens who have not upgraded their handsets due to fixed incomes when they travel beyond the reach of their home carrier’s network. RWA supports the relief requested in the Alarm Industry Communications Committee’s (AICC) emergency petition and adds that the FCC mandate that all three nationwide carriers delay their planned 3G sunset until December 31, 2022.  By granting AICC’s request, both the alarm industry and rural carriers serving rural Americans will have more time to transition.