The FCC’s Enforcement Bureau and an Alaska-based carrier reached an agreement to resolve a tower violation case.
Arctic Slope Telephone Association Cooperative, Inc. admits it failed to inspect its tower lights and didn’t display the correct Antenna Structure Registration number (ASR) at the base of one of its towers. Arctic Slope will pay a civil penalty of $45,000 and implement a compliance plan in exchange for the agency dropping the investigation.
Arctic Slope is a member-owned telephone cooperative providing communications services to customers living on the North Slope of Alaska. In July 2018, the bureau asked the carrier to provide information regarding potential violations of the Antenna Structure Signage and Inspection Rules.
In its response, Arctic Slope told the agency that in 2017, a company employee notified management of the company’s failure to either remotely monitor the tower lights or conduct daily visual inspections, as spelled out in FCC rules. Specifically, Arctic Slope told the agency it failed to meet either of these requirements at ASR No. 1237624, in Deadhorse; ASR No. 1023084, in Nuiqsut; and ASR No. 1023087, in Wainwright — all in Alaska.
The carrier said it began to make daily visual inspections in August 2018, and planned to install automatic alarm systems for remote monitoring. Arctic Slope also stated it posted an incorrect ASR number at the antenna structure located in Nuiqsut, Alaska, and subsequently informed the bureau that it had installed the correct signage on November 14, 2018.
Arctic Slope agreed to designate a compliance officer within 30 days and develop a compliance plan within 60 days to prevent a re-occurrence. The carrier agreed to report any noncompliance with the Antenna Structure Signage and Inspection Rules and with the terms and conditions of this consent decree within 15 days. The report will detail each instance of noncompliance and steps the company has taken, or will take, to remedy the problems, and a timetable.
October 8, 2019
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