WASHINGTON-Nextel Communications Inc. is charging that private wireless receives a subsidy because it does not pay for its licenses. The enhanced specialized mobile radio operator made the remarks in reply comments filed at the Federal Communications Commission.The FCC is establishing a record on what...
WASHINGTON-The pace of technological change-rapid and frenzied-will have an impact on regulation, and in turn, how regulation impacts the wireless industry in the next millennium, most policy makers agree.The Federal Communications Commission already is changing the way it conducts business; that is, the way...
WASHINGTON-Associations representing private wireless users do not see a need for the petition, filed late Friday by the American Mobile Telecommunications Association, urging the Federal Communications Commission to auction large chunks of spectrum in the 450-470 MHz band." does not favor auctioning 450-470 MHz...
WASHINGTON-Nextel Communications Inc. was dealt a major blow last week by the Federal Communications Commission, which told the nation's top dispatch operator it cannot use private wireless spectrum to build out its nationwide network."This portion of Nextel's request would require a fundamental change...
ALEXANDRIA, Va.-"Which comes first, the chicken or the egg?" asked Alan Shark, president of the American Mobile Telecommunications Association, at the group's annual leadership conference last week. In Shark's reference, the chicken is specialized mobile radio and the egg is spectrum.SMR operators believe they...
SAN DIEGO-If you are a small specialized mobile radio operator, which trade association, if any, should you belong to?Three trade associations, all based in the Washington, D.C., area, purport to represent the SMR industry: the American Telecommunications Mobile Association, the Personal Communications Industry Association and...
SAN DIEGO-Contrary to persistent rumors, Nextel Communications Inc.-the largest specialized mobile radio operator-will remain a member of the American Mobile Telecommunications Association for at least another year, AMTA board members said following the 1999 Specialized Wireless Management Conference last week."They never said they were...
WASHINGTON-The future of the American Mobile Telecommunications Association has become clouded by the anticipated departure of Nextel Communications Inc., the nation's top dispatch radio operator and a major underwriter of the trade association."We're reshaping things," said AMTA President Alan Shark.Shark last week confirmed speculation...
WASHINGTON-The Industrial Telecommunications Association warned the Federal Communications Commission not to use a pending proceeding involving Nextel Communications Inc. to make a de facto ruling that private wireless spectrum should be auctioned."Saia argues that the policy behind the prohibition against intercategory sharing will...
The main goal for the American Mobile Telecommunications Association is regulatory flexibility or more accurately-one-size-does-not-fit-all. AMTA President Alan Shark has been fighting the good fight with the Federal Communications Commission to convince it traditional specialized mobile radio is not the same thing as commercial...
WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission is preparing to vote this month to resolve most of the remaining issues regarding the tortured refarming docket.The refarming docket began several years ago as a way of consolidating and better coordinating private wireless spectrum usage. Refarming allows for more...
WASHINGTON-The Land Mobile Communications Council has set up new criteria for monitoring interference in the shared business pools."It is something we need to do to make sure the spectrum environment doesn't get gummed up ... You have to be a good spectrum neighbor," said...
WASHINGTON-The American Mobile Telecommunications Association filed comments with the Federal Communications Commission requesting a forbearance for non-commercial wireless from the type of regulation imposed upon mass-market communications.The request was made in response to an FCC notice of proposed rule making asking whether the agency...
WASHINGTON-Key lawmakers are expected soon to ask Federal Communications Commission Chairman Bill Kennard to lift burdensome common carrier regulations off the backs of specialized mobile radio operators, something the agency has the power to do but has not done to the extent desired by...
WASHINGTON-The Department of Justice and the FBI filed with the Federal Communications Commission a legal analysis of the controversial punch-list items law enforcement says are necessary to maintain electronic surveillance capabilities. The punch list refers to nine capabilities the telecommunications industry and privacy advocates...
WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission has scheduled the auction of licenses for the 220-222 MHz service band for Sept. 15. The announcement follows the release last month of service rules following the reconsideration of concerns expressed in 16 petitions.FCC Commissioner Susan Ness voted for the...
WASHINGTON-Federal Communications Commission Chairman Bill Kennard told Congress last week that public-safety wireless systems are at risk of succumbing to the Year 2000 computer bug, a problem that will cost the private sector an estimated $50 billion to fix and one the Clinton administration...
To the Editor: Before the advent of the brave new wireless world, I used to regularly read and identify with the opinion offered by Jeff Silva on numerous topics surrounding wireless regulation and the politics that control many of our futures. I quit paying attention...
WASHINGTON-The wireless industry again has told the Federal Communications Commission that mandatory automatic roaming agreements between commercial mobile radio services carriers are unnecessary at this time, due to cooperation between those that are offering such service and to the nature of the business itself.In...
WASHINGTON-The wireless industry accomplished much last year on the regulatory road to competition, but the task of creating parity with wireline services and eliminating old monopoly-related regulations is far from complete.Cellular carriers, personal communications services licensees, private radio providers, messaging companies and other wireless...
As 1998 begins and a new century beckons, the wireless industry finds itself riding the wave of landmark free trade agreements that will open telecom and information technology markets and force countries to address the far-reaching implications of the Digital Age.What worldly thinkers have...
WASHINGTON-Comments regarding the Federal Communications Commission's notice of proposed rule making on the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act have one thing in common-moving the compliance date back two years, to Oct. 25, 2000.The Telecommunications Industry Association, the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association, the American...
Almost everywhere you look is an example of a little guy trying to compete with a big guy-your local neighborhood video store competing with Blockbuster, David taking on Goliath or traditional specialized mobile radio carriers trying to find a way to keep up with...
WASHINGTON-The June 23 adoption of the Second Report and Order regarding the Phase II rules governing the future of 800 MHz specialized mobile radio and related auctions by the Federal Communications Commission was received on two levels by the wireless industry. On one level,...
