-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 BY/B5l9Y+qeKbdoFhpEmy2lFaXMwg+WcdJQv0YqukBcTyQ9UFoHZzBXSbUIh7cQs
 tPlX18wqq8dLKOPe0vLkEg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001086844-03-000046.txt : 20030905
<SEC-HEADER>0001086844-03-000046.hdr.sgml : 20030905
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030905190403
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001086844-03-000046
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030904
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030905

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ROBERTS DAVID C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001186428

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-27455
		FILM NUMBER:		03884769

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		AIRGATE PCS INC
		STREET 2:		233 PEACHTREE ST NE STE. 1700
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30303

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AIRGATE PCS INC /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001086844
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS (NO RADIO TELEPHONE) [4813]
		IRS NUMBER:				582422929
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		233 PEACHTREE ST NE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1700
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30303
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4045257272

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		233 PEACHTREE ST
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1700
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30303
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>dcraug2003_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
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<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
   <periodOfReport>2003-09-04</periodOfReport>
   <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001086844</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AIRGATE PCS INC /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>pcsa.com</issuerTradingSymbol>
   </issuer>
   <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001186428</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ROBERTS DAVID C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>233 PEACHTREE STREET, NE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 1700, HARRIS TOWER</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ATLANTA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>GA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>30303</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
         <isDirector>0</isDirector>
         <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
         <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
         <isOther>0</isOther>
         <officerTitle>VP Engineering and Network Ops</officerTitle>
      </reportingOwnerRelationship>
   </reportingOwner>
 <derivativeTable>
   <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Employee Stock Option</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
         <value>14.00</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-09-04</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>37501</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>0</value>
            <footnoteId id="F4"/>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>D</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
         <value>2000-07-22</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
         <value>2009-06-30</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
         <underlyingSecurityTitle>
           <value>Common Stock</value>
         </underlyingSecurityTitle>
         <underlyingSecurityShares>
           <value>37501</value>
         </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>0</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
           <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeTransaction>
   <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Employee Stock Option</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
         <value>36.75</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-09-04</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>13521</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>0</value>
            <footnoteId id="F4"/>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>D</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
         <value>2001-11-15</value>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
         <value>2010-11-15</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
         <underlyingSecurityTitle>
           <value>Common Stock</value>
         </underlyingSecurityTitle>
         <underlyingSecurityShares>
           <value>13521</value>
         </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>0</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
           <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeTransaction>
   <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Employee Stock Option</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
         <value>46.66</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-09-04</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>18000</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>0</value>
            <footnoteId id="F4"/>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>D</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
         <value>2002-12-18</value>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
         <value>2011-12-18</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
         <underlyingSecurityTitle>
           <value>Common Stock</value>
         </underlyingSecurityTitle>
         <underlyingSecurityShares>
           <value>18000</value>
         </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>0</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
           <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeTransaction>
   <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Employee Stock Option</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
         <value>60.00</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-09-04</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>9000</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>0</value>
            <footnoteId id="F4"/>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>D</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
         <value>2002-12-18</value>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
         <value>2011-12-18</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
         <underlyingSecurityTitle>
           <value>Common Stock</value>
         </underlyingSecurityTitle>
         <underlyingSecurityShares>
           <value>9000</value>
         </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>0</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
           <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeTransaction>
 </derivativeTable>
   <footnotes>
      <footnote id="F1"> The options became exercisable as to 25% on 7/22/00 and an additional 6.25% each three month anniversary thereafter.</footnote>

      <footnote id="F2"> The options vest in four equal annual installments beginning on November 15, 2001.</footnote>

      <footnote id="F3"> The options vest in four equal annual installments beginning on December 18, 2002.</footnote>

      <footnote id="F4"> The options were canceled for no consideration by mutual agreement of the reporting person and AirGate PCS, Inc.</footnote>
   </footnotes>
   <ownerSignature>
      <signatureName>David C. Roberts</signatureName>
      <signatureDate>2003-09-05</signatureDate>
   </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----