Fitch: First Phase of FCC's Mobility Fund Set to Begin

  Fitch: First Phase of FCC's Mobility Fund Set to Begin

Business Wire

CHICAGO -- June 27, 2012

Link to Fitch Ratings' Report: Telecommunications Regulatory Register

http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=682119

The first phase of the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Mobility Fund
could represent important capital spending potential for regional operators,
according to a Fitch Ratings report entitled 'Telecommunications Regulatory
Register'.

The report addresses the topics of Phase one of the Mobility Fund, as well as
DISH Network Corp. and the proposed AWS-4 spectrum band and changes at the
FCC.

The goal of the Mobility Fund (a small part of the FCC's larger Connect
America Fund plan) is to ensure availability of wireless broadband to areas
that would not otherwise be served. The first phase of the Mobility Fund is to
provide $300 million of one-time support to accelerate wireless broadband
deployment. Applications to bid on eligible service tracts can be filed
starting June 27 and will be accepted until July 11. Support will be awarded
to winners based on the lowest bid amounts to serve a minimum of 75% of the
road miles in an eligible census tract. Winning bidders must deploy either 3G
service in two years or 4G service in three years of the award.

Fitch's report aims to give the reader an ability to evaluate the potential
effects of regulatory developments on industry participants. In addition, the
report provides a review of important regulatory developments in the U.S.
telecommunications industry over the past six months. The full report can be
found at 'www.fitchratings.com'.

Additional information is available at 'www.fitchratings.com'.

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Contact:

Fitch Ratings
Michael Weaver, +1-312-368-3156
Managing Director
Fitch Inc.
70 West Madison Street
Chicago, IL 60602
or
Media Relations
Brian Bertsch, New York, +1-212-908-0549
brian.bertsch@fitchratings.com