Carriers Serving Navajos Seek Rip-and-Replace Extensions

Commnet Wireless and NTUA Wireless asked for additional six-month extensions of pending deadlines to remove Huawei and ZTE components from their networks under the FCC’s rip-and-replace program. The carriers, which serve the Navajo Nation, requested the extension in a series of FCC filings, posted Tuesday in docket 18-89. Commnet said in one of the filings it faces a Jan. 27 completion date. “Commnet is unable to meet this deadline due to factors beyond its control, and we thus assert that the grant of a six-month extension as contemplated by the Commission’s rules is warranted and would serve the public interest,” the filing said: “Commnet continues to work diligently to complete its plan to remove, replace and securely dispose of equipment, however, even after receiving our previous extension, we also continue to face challenges with repeated delays caused primarily from zoning and permitting restrictions that have severely delayed our overall progress.”