*Pages 1--1 from Microsoft Word - 57808.doc* Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 84 1 STATEMENT OF COMMISSIONER JONATHAN S. ADELSTEIN Re: In the Matter of Applications of Nextel Partners, Inc., Transferor, and Nextel WIP Corp. and Sprint Nextel Corporation, Transferees, For Consent To Transfer Control of Licenses and Authorizations; File Nos. 0002444650 et al While I support this transfer of control, I am troubled by some of the specific allegations raised in the proceeding regarding the apparent reluctance of the merger parties to enter into reasonable and nondiscriminatory automatic roaming relationships. Consistent with my position in other recent merger proceedings, though, I believe that the discussion of roaming issues are most appropriate in the context of the comprehensive, industry- wide, proceeding that we launched in August 2005. I look forward to a timely resolution of this important inquiry. Pending our next step in the roaming proceeding, however, I do think it is important to remind all CMRS providers that they are subject to certain common carrier provisions of Title II of the Act, in particular Sections 201 and 202. I remain supportive of our request for comment on whether existing remedies under these provisions of the law have been sufficient to ensure the continued development of automatic roaming services, particularly in light of recent industry consolidation. 1