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Exhibit 99.1--906

                        CERTIFICATION OF PERIODIC REPORT


     I, Thomas M.  Dougherty  of AirGate PCS,  Inc.  (the  "Company"),  certify,
pursuant to Section 906 of the  Sarbanes-Oxley  Act of 2002,  18 U.S.C.  Section
1350, that:

     (1) the Annual  Report on Form 10-K of the  Company  for the annual  period
ended September 30, 2002 (the "Report") fully complies with the  requirements of
Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m or
78o(d)); and

     (2) to the best of my knowledge,  the  information  contained in the Report
fairly presents,  in all material respects,  the financial condition and results
of operations of the Company.

Dated:    January 15, 2003


                             /s/ Thomas M. Dougherty
                            -----------------------------
                                 Thomas M. Dougherty
                                 Chief Executive Officer


