INDIAN TRIBE SEEKS HOLD UP OF SPECTRUM TRANSFER FROM AT&T TO VERIZON

摘要

The Oglala Sioux asked the FCC to hold off on approving the transfer of spectrum covering thenPine Ridge Indian Reservation from AT&T to Verizon until a dispute between the tribe andnVerizon Wireless is resolved. The tribe said in a letter that Verizon has gone back on a 2000nagreement in which the Oglala agreed to support Western Wireless' designation as an eligiblentelecommunications carrier. In return, the carrier committed to "providing a specified level ofnservice on the Reservation, would share some revenues with the Oglala Sioux Tribe, andnultimately would turn over the network and spectrum" used to provide the service at PinenRidge to the tribe. Western Wireless later was bought by Alltel, which was acquired by Verizon.n"The Tribe has attempted for months to negotiate with Verizon, to no avail,?the letter said. 揌naving no other option, the Tribe is now attempting to schedule a hearing in Tribal Court tonresolve the issue. Verizon is using every tactic it can to delay a Tribal Court hearing.?