MTA pulls rural service shutdown request

PALMER — Rather than shut down a service that provides phone connections for a small number of rural Alaskans, Matanuska Telephone Association (MTA) will instead let the aging equipment fail — and then not replace it, according to a recent letter from the company’s lawyer to federal officials.

“Matanuska Telephone Association, Inc. (“MTA”) formally withdraws the Section 63.71

Application to Discontinue BETRS Service filed on December 17, 2017,” the letter states.

The Fixed Wireless Service, officially known as the Base Exchange Telecommunications Radio Service (BETRS) currently serves customers in a 2,000 square-mile portion of the Mat-Su and Denali Boroughs with no road system.

But the equipment that runs the service is aging and, because of its location, it is expensive and difficult to maintain or replace, MTA told the FCC. Rather than perform upkeep, MTA had asked the FCC to allow them to end the service. They said customers could instead use satellite or cell service.

Some customers, however, said those options do not work at their homes or businesses because of topography or proximity to towers. Ending the service, they said, would leave them stranded with no communication options.

Now, MTA says they will allow customers to continue using the service, but do not plan to perform upkeep on the towers that make offering it possible.

“MTA will not repair or replace any failing equipment. MTA continues to believe it was better to course to discontinue BETRS service with a clear and predictable end, but MTA also appreciates the feedback it has received during this process,” says the letter, signed by MTA’s attorney Shannon Heim. “When the equipment fails, there will be a sudden failure of service. To the extent that customers are willing to assume the risk, MTA is willing to facilitate the continuation of this service.”

Heim is with the law firm Moss and Barnett, which is based in Minneapolis. MTA had given customers $400 to discontinue the service. The several hundred customers who were still signed up in early December when MTA first sent its application to the FCC can opt to reconnect by repaying that. What the monthly fee for the service will be is under examination, the letter states.

“MTA is evaluating the appropriate cost-based price for this service,” it says.

As of June 1 27 customers were using the service.

“MTA is pleased to announce that the majority of Fixed Wireless customers have found alternative service providers and are enjoying more features and more reliable service with the updated technology,” Jackie Kenshalo, an MTA spokesman said in a statement. “The MTA team continues to stand ready to answer questions or provide technical assistance to those Fixed Wireless (BETRS) customers that request it.”