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THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 2002

The Federal Communications Commission is refunding $2.8 billion in down payments to several telecommunications companies who bought wireless licenses in a disputed auction that has reached the Supreme Court.

Eligible for refunds is Alaska Native Wireless, a joint venture of three Alaska Native corporations and AT&T Wireless. Together, Sealaska Corp., Doyon Ltd., Arctic Slope Regional Corp. and AT&T spent $2.9 million on the contested licenses.

The venture put $555 million in a down payment, according to The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Of this amount, 85 percent will be returned.

The Supreme Court has agreed to consider whether it was appropriate for the FCC to hold the auction. NextWave bought the licenses but due to bankruptcy proceedings has been unable to pay for them all.

A court date has not been set.

Get the Story:
FCC to return millions to Native partnerships (The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner 4/4)

Related Documents:
Press Release (3/27) | FCC Order (3/27)

Get the Case:
NEXTWAVE PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS INC. v. FED. COMMUNICATIONS COMM'N, No 00-1402 (D.C. Cir June 22, 2001)

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

Related Stories:
Wireless ventures to get refunds (3/29)
Supreme Court to rule on wireless auction (3/5)
Supreme Court takes Native wireless case (3/4)
Report: FCC refunding Native investment (1/25)
Native venture seeks wireless refund (1/9)
Congress fails to act on Native deal saver (12/21)
Alaska Native settlement killed (12/13)
Native venture pleas to Supreme Court (8/31)
Native Corps want investment protected (7/26)
Alaska Native venture placed in doubt (6/29)