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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/A 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 16, 2003


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


