Length of Operations Led to Significantly Increased Proposed Fine for AT&T, FCC Says

The FCC released the notice of apparent liability against AT&T approved by commissioners Thursday after a contentious debate at the commission's open meeting (see 1501290062). The NAL said AT&T violated agency rules on 34 microwave licenses the carrier bought from other companies between 2009 and 2012. The commission approved a proposed $640,000 fine, an amount adjusted upward 400 percent to reflect alleged bad behavior on AT&T’s part, an allegation denied by the carrier. “We are particularly concerned that AT&T’s apparent unauthorized operations continued for an extended period of time,” the NAL said. “The unauthorized operations involved a large number of stations. Of the 59 licenses for which AT&T filed, has yet to file, or canceled in lieu of filing major modification applications, AT&T operated 26 of the stations at variance from the stations’ authorizations for more than four years, 26 stations for approximately four years, and seven stations for approximately three and a half years.”