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From Saskatoon Star Phoenix ...

First Nations want cash for cellphone airspace
Paul Samyn, CanWest News Service - May 31, 2007

OTTAWA -- The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs wants to charge Manitoba Telecom Services for cellphone signals that pass through the airspace of the province's reserves.

Earlier this month, the province's chiefs passed a resolution calling on MTS to pay for using First Nations airspace, which the AMC believes is a resource no different than its land or waterways.

First Nations don't charge airlines for flying through their airspace, nor do they bill owners of satellites for orbiting above their reserves.

The chiefs want to share in the revenues for the "transmission of signals (inclusive of phones -- land/cellular, information technology access, etc.) that cross the land, water and air space of our reserves."

The AMC resolution may be a legal long shot, but also in its motion was another demand echoed by the Assembly of First Nations that may have a fighting chance: Ottawa is preparing to auction off more airwaves for cellphone coverage and the country's First Nations want a piece of the action to ensure that reserves get better cell phone service.

In its federal submission last week, the AFN said a lack of cell phone coverage for rural and remote First Nations is hurting the economic prospects of reserves.

"Some First Nations communities do not have equal opportunity to participate in the new economy because they do not have access to wireless service. . . . First Nations peoples and communities are disadvantaged from realizing the benefits of participating in the new economy," the AFN said.

University of Manitoba law professor Bryan Schwartz said there appears to be a clear role for the federal government to ensure First Nations interests and needs are reflected in its upcoming auction of additional wireless bandwidth.

AMC Grand Chief Ron Evans won't be commenting on the revenue-sharing proposal until he has had a chance to discuss the matter with MTS.

MTS officials could not be reached for comment.

(Winnipeg Free Press)