Western Wireless Poised to Serve Crow Reservation

Last month, Western Wireless signed a joint statement of interest with the Crow Indian Nation signifying its intention to expand its rural services and become a reservation service provider.

Gene DeJordy, Western Wireless executive of regulatory affairs, said Western Wireless is entering this new arena because it is an opportunity to provide service to an under-served area and begin a new tract of competition.

According to Woodrow Plain-feather, Crow Nation procurement officer, if wireless service were affordable, it probably would attract customers. Currently, less than half of those living on reservations have any kind of telecommunications service simply because they cannot afford it. Western Wireless is proposing to offer service for $15 a month.

Western Wireless' service would include making the southeastern Montana reservation a local calling area and offering data services such as fax and text messaging.

But for Western Wireless to be able to offer service at such rates, it will need to acquire universal-service funds first.

The joint statement of interest is part of the FCC's requirements for eligible telecommunications company status, the first step to receiving universal-service funds, DeJordy said. He added that in the past, non-tribally owned wireless companies could not access universal-service funds and were effectively barred from offering service on reservations.

Herschel Schosteck, Herschel Schosteck and Associates president, agreed, adding that the real mark of success for Western Wireless will be its ability to handle the work load and prove that fixed wireless is a reliable, inexpensive alternative to wireline.