Exhibit 32.1


                        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 Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarterly  period
     ended June 30, 2003 (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.

A signed  original of this  written  statement  required by Section 906 has been
provided to AirGate  PCS,  Inc.  and will be retained by AirGate  PCS,  Inc. and
furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.


Dated: August 14, 2003


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