Media Contact: 
Will Wiquist, (202) 418-0509
will.wiquist@fcc.gov
For Immediate Release
FCC SETTLES WITH SPRINT & MOBILITIE FOR $11.6 MILLION 
REGARDING WIRELESS STRUCTURES BUILT WITHOUT 
REQUIRED REVIEW
  -- 
WASHINGTON, April 10, 2018—The Federal Communications Commission today 
announced settlements with Sprint and Mobilitie in two separate but related investigations into 
whether the companies completed proper tower registration as well as environmental and 
historic impact reviews prior to construction of wireless infrastructure facilities.  
“The law was clear and it is vital that carriers and infrastructure companies alike never duck 
their responsibilities,” said Christopher Killion, acting deputy chief of the Enforcement Bureau.  
“Even as our rules are updated over time, companies must abide by the law as it stands 
whenever they are building infrastructure, operating wireless facilities, or taking other actions 
under FCC jurisdiction.”  
Sprint, a mobile voice and data service provider, contracted with Mobilitie, a 
telecommunications infrastructure company, to deploy wireless network equipment.  Last year, 
the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau began investigations into whether the parties had met certain 
regulatory requirements before constructing wireless infrastructure facilities.  Under the rules 
in effect at that time, deploying wireless infrastructure facilities, such as communications 
towers and structures for small cell systems, required environmental and historic preservation 
reviews, including Tribal consultation, prior to construction of certain facilities.  In addition, 
certain facilities were required to be registered with the FCC prior to construction.  
To settle the investigations, Sprint agreed to pay $10 million and Mobilitie agreed to pay $1.6 
million to the U.S. Treasury.  In addition to the settlement amounts, Sprint and Mobilitie have 
committed to enhancing their environmental and historic preservation review compliance 
procedures going forward.
Under FCC rules and orders implementing the National Environmental Policy Act and the 
National Historic Preservation Act, applicants and licensees are required to assess whether 
certain proposed facilities may significantly affect the environment or historically significant 
properties.  Environmental and historic impact reviews include reviewing possible impacts on 
wildlife, flood plains, Tribal historic sites, and other sites of historic or cultural significance.  
The Sprint settlement, formally known as a Consent Decree, is available at: 
https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-18-193A1.pdf. 
The Mobilitie settlement is available at: https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-18-
194A1.pdf.
###
Office of Media Relations: (202) 418-0500
ASL Videophone: (844) 432-2275
TTY: (888) 835-5322
Twitter: @FCC
www.fcc.gov/office-media-relations
This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action.  Release of the full text of a Commission order 
constitutes official action.  See MCI v. FCC, 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974).