AT&T to be fined by FCC $640,000 for fixed wireless violations

Telecommunications companies operate wireless stations not only for mobile communications, but also to connect stations in fixed point-to-point, and point-to-multipoint systems.

These wireless systems operate under similar, and often more strict regulations from the FCC to ensure the frequencies do not interfere with other wireless communications, and because they will also cover much longer distances than a traditional cell-site would cover.

AT&T operates hundreds of such microwave sites (as do other traditional telcos like Verizon and TDS). Many of these sites connect mobile base stations, or provide high-bandwidth data backbone service in areas where running fiber or even traditional copper facilities is just not feasible.

The FCC was investigating AT&T’s operations and licensing history of about 250 sites, and found 26 of them were operating out of specified parameters. Moreover, AT&T did not notify the FCC over some modifications that were made to some of the cited stations over the past year.

Even as AT&T was informed of the investigation, and notified of some variance issues, the FCC found that several of the stations were still operating out of spec. The bottom line? The FCC will levy a fine of $640,000 against AT&T. A drop in the bucket given the size of the company, but such measures show the granularity that the regulatory body reaches when it is scrutinizing the companies that carry all our wired, and wireless data.

sources: FCC (PDF) via PhoneScoop