PCIA vs. CTIA: An update on the battle for the heart, soul and wallets of the wireless telecom industry.
The nod for last week goes to CTIA, somewhat by default.
PCIA President Jay Kitchen may have inadvertently rubbed NextWave Telecom Inc., Pocket Communications Inc. and General Wireless Inc. the wrong way with his reaction to the FCC’s C-block debt restructuring ruling. Not that any of the three firms have any cash for dues. But that’s another story.
In a Sept. 25 press release titled, “PCIA: FCC’s C-Block Decision Benefits Consumers Most,” Kitchen cheered, “PCIA is pleased that the FCC has finally acted to resolve the contentious issues surrounding the C-block. C-block buildout must resume as soon as possible to ensure that consumers have more widely available and affordable wireless choices than ever before.”
Problem is, the FCC decision was a disaster for NextWave, Pocket, GWI and other big C-block auction winners. The ruling could be overturned by the new FCC under a browbeating Congress.
As such, was it wise for PCIA to put out a gratuitous press release?
I give CTIA credit, it didn’t put out any press statement or even return my call for comment on the C-block ruling.
Granted, many smaller C-block auction licensees believe debt-ridden PCS firms deserve no help, let alone “limited relief.” But if NextWave, Pocket and GWI survive, they’ll become major wireless forces with perhaps a lot of $ to offer in the way of membership dues and lobbying clout.
PCIA struck again, following CTIA President Tom Wheeler’s congratulatory statement on the Senate Commerce Committee’s approval of the four FCC nominees. Wheeler says he and Kennard go way back.
Not to be outdone, PCIA trumpeted, “Kennard Offers Bright Future for FCC,” with Kitchen praising the FCC general counsel’s “talent, intellect and professionalism.”
That’s all real nice, but Kennard was not PCIA’s choice for FCC chairman. Ex-Hollings aide Ralph Everett, currently a lobbyist for PCIA, was.
… There is a God after all.
Answering the call to a late beer bash invite hosted by the info superhighway’s top cop and his lieutenant, RCR’s Washington bureau made outgoing FCC Chairman Reed Hundt Honorary Major League Baseball commissioner and Chief of Staff Blair Levin new basketball coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels by virtue of namesake baseball caps.
Washington Post telecom reporter Mike Mills, meanwhile, gave Hundt copies of Resume Maker and Goldmine (organizes biz contacts) software from Microsoft.
Never let it be said that Hundt didn’t go to bat for Bill Gates.
