1997

WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission has proposed a rulemaking that would allow almost limitless foreign ownership of U.S.-based telecommunications carriers. The commission, however, vowed to retain certain safeguards that would restrict …

CHARLOTTE, N.C.-Glenayre Technologies Inc.’s Integrated Network Group signed a letter of intent with Northern Telecom Ltd. to jointly market Glenayre’s MVP modular voice processing system with Nortel’s new DMS-Programmable Services …

Euristix Ltd. and Tellabs are working together to develop Tellabs’ Titan 550 Element Management System using the Euristix Raceman EMSX platform development toolkit based on Windows NT. The companies said …

MCLEAN, Va.-Nextel Communications Inc. rolled out its enhanced all-digital wireless network in Dallas/Fort Worth. The company also recently launched service in Kansas City, Wichita and Topeka, Kan. Nextel said it …

WASHINGTON-According to a June 3 petition filed at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland, C-block personal communications services licensee Pocket Communications Inc. is courting a white knight …

NEW YORK-PriCellular Corp. announced June 3 that it acquired the Wisconsin 5 RSA, which consists of three eastern Wisconsin counties. The Wisconsin 5 RSA borders PriCellular’s Eau Claire, Wis., MSA; …

TORONTO-Qualcomm Inc. said it signed an 18-month contract to supply Code Division Multiple Access digital handsets to Bell Mobility, a Canadian wireless services provider. Qualcomm values the agreement at $70 …

NEW YORK-After more than two years of effort, standards for interoperability of smart cards for U.S.-based personal communications services received approval May 30. “It represents a breakthrough. This is one …

Smartalk Teleservices Inc. rocketed into the prepaid calling card big leagues last week, virtually doubling in size with the acquisitions of GTI Telecom Inc. and SmarTel Communications Inc. “The purchase …

NEW ORLEANS-Now that all three of soon-to-be-former Federal Communications Commission Chairman Reed Hundt’s Telecommunications Act of 1996 implementation goals-universal service, access-charge reform and interconnection-have been completed in at least bare-bones …

SINGAPORE-An air of triumph permeated last week’s second annual CDMA World Congress as the supporters of Code Division Multiple Access celebrated the past year’s network launches, announced a unified branding …

WASHINGTON-A major fracas erupted in the House telecommunications subcommittee last week when lawmakers rebelled against congressional budget instructions to raise $26.3 billion from spectrum auctions during the next five years. …

NEW YORK-Like late night talk show host David Letterman, Jerome Lucas, president of Telestrategies Inc., McLean, Va., has a top 10 list-this one for wireless telecommunications industry trends. In the …

AUSTIN, Texas-Qualcomm Inc. donated 125 Code Division Multiple Access digital phones to aid in relief efforts after tornadoes destroyed neighborhoods in Jarrell, Texas, in a joint effort with Sprint PCS. …

WASHINGTON-The Communications Workers of America last week launched a full-scale campaign to unionize employees of AirTouch Communications Inc. and acquisition target U S West Cellular, blaming management neglect for “record …

WASHINGTON-Personal Communications Industry Association President Jay Kitchen last week blasted the new universal service structure, urging Senate lawmakers to send the Federal Communications Commission “a clear message that existing injustices …

WASHINGTON-Sen. Ernest Hollings (D-S.C.), top Democrat on the Senate Commerce Committee, last week signaled his opposition to Justice Department antitrust nominee Joel Klein and added to growing congressional concern about …

New York investment banker Lehman Brothers Inc. filed a class action lawsuit against ProNet Inc. in Supreme Court for the state of New York, seeking participation in ProNet’s proposed settlements …

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.-California Microwave Inc. announced it will sell its Satellite Transmission Systems and Microwave Networks business units. The company will retain its satellite modem and other wireless radio divisions. …

MobileMedia Corp. delisted its Class A common stock from the Nasdaq National Market June 3 because it cannot meet certain financial reporting requirements of securities laws, which are necessary to …

NEW YORK-Incumbent and new carriers in Europe, the world’s third- largest telecommunications market, are in reasonably good shape to meet competitive pressures despite uncertainties posed by pending deregulation, according to …

Motorola Inc.’s European Paging Subscriber Division said Deutsche Funkruf Gesellschaft of Germany plans to deploy a FLEX-based paging network this summer, breaking from European Union recommendations for using a different …

WASHINGTON-The Federal Commissions Commission, in a stunning reversal, agreed last week to grant 19 rural cellular applications that an administrative law judge previously dismissed for being part of “a massive …

NEC Corp.’s Wireless Message Terminals division recently reduced its sales staff, an action the company and some carriers say reflects the paging industry’s changing structure. “We’re changing internally to better …

Southern California’s emergence as a burgeoning wireless hub was reinforced when yet another new telecom company, Kokusai Communications Systems Inc., opened its world headquarters last month in San Diego. Kokusai …