Nextel Partners petitioned the FCC for status as an eligible tele...

gain universal service funding in high-cost areas. Arguing that it met all the requirements for ETC designation for parts of the state, Nextel Partners told the FCC it had “sufficient wireless network infrastructure facilities and capacity to provide support services” throughout the designated areas at issue. It also said it was offering, or would offer, all services required of ETC status, including voice grade access to the public switched telephone network, local usage, dual tone multifrequency signaling, single party access and E911 or 911 access. Nextel Partners said as of Feb. 1, it had launched Phase 1 of E911 in 4 N.Y. counties and Phase 2 in 2. Although a carrier seeking ETC designation typically must seek approval from a state PUC, Nextel Partners said the N.Y. Dept. of Public Service didn’t regulate commercial mobile radio service carriers for the purpose of making such status determinations. The company said its designation as an ETC in rural, and in some cases remote, parts of N.Y. that largely weren’t served by competitive wireline carriers “could provide an alternative to the incumbent LEC.” The April 3 filing said: “Designation of Nextel Partners as an ETC will provide a valuable alternative to the existing telecommunications regime in these areas, including a larger local calling area, the benefits of mobile telephony service and, where requested by the PSAP [public service answering points] GPS location assistance for customers calling 911.” Nextel Partners said a favorable ETC decision also would give ILECs in the designated areas incentive to upgrade their networks to remain competitive. The carrier said it would provide all the supported services required by the FCC, participate in the LifeLine and Link-Up programs and “otherwise comply with all FCC rules governing universal service.” It said that allowing it access to universal service subsidies would “allow Nextel Partners to continue to enhance and expand its network infrastructure to better serve consumers in underserved, high-cost areas of the state of New York and to compete with other carriers on a level regulatory playing field.”