RWA Asks FCC to Make Carriers Keep 3G Operating For Now

 By Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief The Rural Wireless Association (RWA) urged the FCC to require the three major nationwide carriers — AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile — to delay the shutdown of their 3G networks. Each carrier has announced plans to sunset 3G service on dates ranging from December 31, 2021, (T-Mobile) to mid-2022 (Verizon and AT&T).

The RWA told the agency its rural member carriers need more time to transition to VoLTE (Voice over LTE) roaming before 3G is shut down nationwide. Rural Americans served by RWA members are already experiencing the effects of these shutdowns, the association told the Commission. “RWA carrier members across the country are receiving reports from their rural customers of degraded or nonexistent 3G coverage in advance of these 3G sunset deadlines announced by the nationwide carriers,” said RWA attorneys in an FCC filing. Continue Reading