Waivers Are Frowned Upon — Even North of the Arctic Circle

For some 10 years, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) had granted OTZ Telecommunications numerous extensions of its deadline for construction to bring cellular service to Ambler, Alaska, located in the Northwest Arctic Borough. Recently, however, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) denied OTZ’s latest waiver request to delay the construction of a particular cell site, given the FCC’s present aversion to granting any waivers despite their significance, practicality or substance. Are there entities waiting in line to provide cellular service north of the Arctic Circle? (DA 18-14)