The 220 MHz specialized mobile radio industry seems to be gaining strength in numbers. About 40 220 MHz investors and managing partners who represent anywhere from two to four sites met in Las Vegas to form the National Managing Partners 220 MHz Association.
The association will negotiate contracts with management companies on behalf of 220 information on management company and vendor options, give attorney support if necessary and keep members updated on emerging technologies.
“These are small mom-and-pop [organizations], and they know nothing about the telecommunications industry. The investors were sold on the industry as being a profitable one. When managed properly, it can be a very lucrative investment,” said Sonia Novick, co-founder of the association and a director at Emerging Technology Consultants.
Novick, who previously sold 220 MHz partnerships and invested her own money in several sites, and two other investors created the association in response to the frustration of many investors who haven’t been able to load their systems with customers and/or see any revenues, said Novick. Through word-of-mouth and networking, Novick gained enough supporters to vote the association into existence.
“The meeting was about dissatisfaction with managing companies,” Novick said. It was about management companies that have failed to load customers on the systems or bend on their contracts, she added.
“They’re all frustrated that they’re not seeing any revenues or any systems loaded*…*there are several systems up and running and people are getting concerned. We’re wondering why we haven’t gotten any of those results,” Novick said.
David Neibert of Roamer One, a management firm in California, said the investor group is expecting to make money in a short period of time, which is unrealistic for a new and virtually unproven technology. Neibert and representatives from four other management firms attended the meeting to present their services.
