FCC Reaches $950K Settlement with Verizon Wireless

The Enforcement Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission has entered into a Consent Decree to resolve its investigation into whether Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless (Verizon Wireless) constructed wireless facilities without complying with the Commission’s environmental and historic preservation rules, including rules implementing the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) and the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). The FCC's rules also direct these entities to coordinate with relevant state governments and tribal nations. To settle this matter, Verizon Wireless (i) admits that it violated the FC’s environmental and historic preservation rules by prematurely constructing wireless facilities prior to completing the required environmental or historical reviews and by constructing wireless facilities without onsite monitoring as requested by the affected tribes, (ii) will implement a robust compliance plan to ensure that it does not violate these rules in the future, and (iii) will pay a $950,000 civil penalty.