BROWSING: Policy

DEs press case for modified AWS auction rules to appeals court

WASHINGTON-A trio of designated entities claim the Federal Communications Commission grossly mischaracterized to a federal appeals court the regulatory process leading to controversial changes to spectrum auction rules designed to prevent large mobile phone carriers from gaining benefits meant for small business bidders, but...

Leap bags $1.1B for auction

SAN DIEGO—Leap Wireless International Inc. closed on $1.1 billion in loans that the company said would help finance the operator’s bids in the upcoming Advanced Wireless Services spectrum auction scheduled for August. Leap detailed its plans for the money in a filing with the...

Making good on threats: Three DEs sue to stop AWS auction

WASHINGTON-Three groups sued the Federal Communications Commission over changes to small-business bidding rules, asking a federal appeals court in Philadelphia to immediately stay enforcement of new guidelines and delay the scheduled Aug. 9 start of the advanced wireless services auction pending judicial review of...

Ericsson leverages wireless for IPTV

CHICAGO-L.M. Ericsson launched a new end-to-end Internet Protocol TV offering, saying the solution is the first step in the company's long-term plans for TV services. During a press conference at the Globalcomm trade show, the company laid out its IPTV vision, explaining that it...

FCC hit with lawsuit over August AWS spectrum auction

WASHINGTON—Three groups sued the Federal Communications Commission over changes to small-business bidding rules, asking a federal appeals court in Philadelphia to immediately stay enforcement of new guidelines and delay the scheduled Aug. 9 start of the advanced wireless services auction pending juridical review of...

Ericsson leverages wireless plays for IPTV

CHICAGO—L.M. Ericsson launched a new end-to-end Internet Protocol TV offering, saying the solution is the first step in the company’s long-term plans for TV services. During a press conference at the Globalcomm trade show, the company laid out its IPTV vision, explaining that it...

FCC keeps AWS auction rules intact: Rules won’t apply to previous DEs

WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission ruled late Friday to limit controversial small-business bidding changes to the advanced wireless services auction and future license sales, mollifying critics of retroactive provisions while emboldening other opponents to seek relief in court. The FCC's retreat in April from a...

Legal, financial hurdles loom after AWS delay

WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission's delay of the advanced wireless services auction from late June to early August has neither stemmed the controversy over small-business bidding changes nor removed the possibility of litigation for the agency. If anything, the FCC's problems are worse today than...

Data, roaming partnerships key for rural players, USF still stymies

PALM SPRINGS, Calif.-Data holds the promise of new services and new revenues, and speakers at last week's Rural Cellular Association conference emphasized the importance of those revenues-and the importance of small carriers not falling behind as national operators turn to ever-faster technology. CTIA President...

Sprint Nextel 4G decision coming ‘in next several months’

NEW YORK—Lehman Bros. Equity Research analysts said that they expect Sprint Nextel Corp. soon to make public plans for the carrier’s vast 2.5 GHz spectrum holdings, and Sprint Nextel confirmed that the operator is working on making its decision. "We expect to make a...

Vendors hope to ease AWS spectrum transition

As the highly anticipated advanced wireless spectrum auction nears, infrastructure vendors are positioning themselves to reap profits from the auction's aftermath. Both Radio Frequency Systems and Andrew Corp.'s Comsearch subsidiary said they have developed tools to help carriers, enterprises and government agencies plan and...

Gabelli case could impact DE status in future auctions

WASHINGTON-The auction fraud lawsuit against Wall Street investor Mario Gabelli enters a critical juncture this week, as U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty is expected to hear oral argument on the Justice Department's motion to join litigation accusing Gabelli's Lynch Interactive Corp. of defrauding...

3G hype will give way to faster speeds in ’07

LAS VEGAS-The wireless industry has seen some major changes in the past few months, from Cingular Wireless L.L.C.'s launch of the world's first HSDPA high-speed mobile data network to Sprint Nextel Corp.'s announcement to form a joint venture with several cable companies to the...

Verizon Wireless mulls auction plans

LAS VEGAS-Verizon Wireless is still mulling over which spectrum auction to participate in, company officials said at CTIA, and has not yet made a final decision over whether to go after Advanced Wireless Services spectrum in the auction this summer or bide its time...

Verizon Wireless mulling auction plans

LAS VEGAS—Verizon Wireless is still mulling over which spectrum auction to participate in, company officials said at CTIA on Wednesday, and has not yet made a final decision over whether to go after Advanced Wireless Services spectrum in the auction this summer or bide...

Alltel taking breather following ‘busiest year’

Alltel Corp. is on track to complete its wireline spinoff by mid-year, and the company plans to extend CDMA2000 1x EV-DO services to about 60 percent of its potential customers, Chief Financial Officer Sharilyn Gasaway told analysts at the Bank of America Media, Telecommunications...

Congressional Black Caucus argues against bidding discounts for large wireless operators

WASHINGTON—The Congressional Black Caucus has urged Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin to prohibit the awarding of spectrum auction bidding discounts to small business applicants affiliated with the five largest mobile phone carriers in the United States. "We are concerned that the commission’s current...

RCA opposes FCC’s ‘blind bidding’ plan for June spectrum auction

WASHINGTON—The Rural Cellular Association this morning came out against a proposal by the Federal Communications Commission to keep spectrum auction information secret. "A ‘blind bidding’ process would deter participation by RCA members who want to know, round by round in the bidding, what other...

Integration headaches could give competitors short-term advantage

News that AT&T Inc. would acquire BellSouth Corp. quickly sent ripples of rampant speculation through the industry, as observers tried to calculate the implications of the deal. Immediate reactions focused on the response from Verizon Communications Inc. and whether it would seek to bolster...

Government seeks to join auction fraud lawsuit

WASHINGTON-The Justice Department asked U.S. District Judge Paul Crotty to join the spectrum auction fraud lawsuit against Wall Street telecom magnate Mario Gabelli, upping the stakes of the litigation at a time when federal regulators are scrambling to enact reforms that could ban national...

T-Mobile USA relishes AWS auction amid strong 4Q results

T-Mobile USA Inc. recorded a banner 2005 and posted the best overall performance of T-Mobile International's wireless subsidiaries, while parent company Deutsche Telekom AG's full-year profit for the year showed solid gains and the company declared its largest ever dividend. However, DT's fourth-quarter profits...

T-Mobile USA continues as primary driver for DT

BONN, Germany—T-Mobile USA Inc. posted the best overall performance last year among parent company T-Mobile International’s subsidiaries, helping to drive solid gains in parent company Deutsche Telekom AG’s full-year profit for 2005. DT also posted its largest dividend. However, DT’s fourth quarter profits plunged...

IT industry weighs in on spectrum policy

The chief executives of nine of the nation's high-profile, high-tech firms are calling for a complete review of national spectrum policy in order to foster what they characterize as the resource's highest and best use. Through their public-advocacy group, the Technology CEO Council, these...

IT industry weights in on spectrum policy

The chief executives of nine of the nation’s high-profile, high-tech firms are calling for a complete review of national spectrum policy in order to foster what they characterize as the resource’s highest and best use. Through their public-advocacy group, the Technology CEO Council, these...