Leap gains FCC OK on license transfers
SAN DIEGO-Leap Wireless International Inc. announced the Federal Communications Commission issued a Memorandum Opinion and Order, which conditionally grants Leap’s applications to transfer four F-block personal communications services licenses from AirGate Wireless L.L.C. to Cricket Holdings.
The order also grants Leap’s application to acquire 36 C-block PCS licenses it bid on in the recent license re-auction and paves the way for the company to acquire certain Chase Telecommunications Holdings Inc. assets.
Five entities had filed comments or petitions to deny Leap’s qualification as a designated entity earlier this year with the FCC. They argued the Qualcomm spinoff company was too closely tied with Qualcomm Inc.
The FCC’s order includes L.M. Ericsson’s acquisition of Qualcomm’s infrastructure division-which already has occurred-adjusting Qualcomm’s potential equity holdings in Leap, reducing the level of reliance on its Qualcomm credit line within 18 months, removing certain Leap commitments to use Code Division Multiple Access technology in the United States market and altering the equipment procurement agreement between Leap and Qualcomm.
Leap’s U.S. subsidiary, Cricket Communications, launched service in March in Chattanooga, Tenn., under a management agreement with Chase.
Town fines users at pump
CICERO, Ill.-The Chicago suburb of Cicero became the first city in the country to pass a law prohibiting the use of cellular phones at gas stations. Violators could be fined $50 to $500.
The measure went into effect after Town President Betty Loren-Maltese heard about explosions at gas pumps being triggered by cellular phones, although there has yet to be a documented case of such an occurrence.
Many cellular phone manufacturers-in response to a now-obsolete regulation in the United Kingdom-include in their manuals a warning to consumers to turn off their phones at gas stations in the unlikely event the phone’s battery causes a spark. Without any solid evidence or documented incidents though, Motorola Inc. said it is considering deleting the reference from its manuals.
Within a month, signs will go up alongside warnings not to smoke at all Cicero gas stations.
BT group wins Italian permit
NEW YORK-British Telecommunications plc announced its Blutel consortium won a national Digital Cellular System 1800 license in Italy, the country’s fourth mobile license.
Blutel services will be available nationwide in Italy beginning in the first quarter of 2000 through agreements with current operators, said BT.
Blutel-comprised of Autostrade, Mediaset, Benetton, Distacom, Banca Nazionale de Lavoro, the Caltagirone Group and ENI-said it plans to invest more than $1.8 billion during the next 10 years to meet Italy’s telecommunications demands.
