Native corporations withdraw FCC bids

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2002

With a Supreme Court decision pending, three Alaska Native corporations are formally withdrawing their billion dollar investment in a series of wireless licenses.

Doyon Ltd., Arctic Slope Regional Corp. and Sealaska Corp. joined with AT&T to form Alaska Native Wireless. The venture purchased 29 licenses worth $2.9 billion and now wants to abandon the claim.

The legality of the purchase is up in the air because the licenses were sold at an FCC auction. The FCC had seized them from a bankrupt company and the Supreme Court is deciding who is the rightful owner.

Separately, the company will keep 15 licenses that are not part of the dispute.

Get the Story:
Alaska Native Wireless asks FCC to abandon 29 licences (The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner 12/5)

Relevant Links:
Federal Communications Commission - http://www.fcc.gov
Arctic Slope Regional Corp - http://www.asrc.com
Sealaska Corp - http://www.sealaska.com
Doyon Ltd - http://www.doyon.com
NextWave Telecom - http://www.nextwavetel.com

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