BROWSING: AWS

Cingular to cut capex spending, but industry as a whole on rise for ’07, Lehman predicts

A recent report from Lehman Brothers Equity Research suggests that Cingular Wireless L.L.C. plans to cut its capital expenditures next year by $1.5 billion, a 20-percent drop from the $7.5 billion the nation's leading carrier is planning to spend this year. However, Lehman Brothers...

Only 81 applicants get green light for AWS auction

The Federal Communications Commission late Friday said 81 applications for the advanced wireless services auction were accepted for filing, while 171 applications were deemed incomplete and must be corrected to remain eligible for the scheduled Aug. 9 start of bidding for 1,122 licenses.Verizon Wireless,...

Consumer lawsuits crop up across nation: Even as FCC gets 22 complaints for every 1M subscribers

WASHINGTON-Two new class-action lawsuits filed against Cingular Wireless L.L.C. and Verizon Wireless, and industry's tax lawsuit loss in Maryland, raise questions about whether wireless carriers would significantly rid themselves of consumer litigation and state and local fees if it won expanded federal pre-emption and...

Adelstein laments BRS interference

WASHINGTON—Federal Communications Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein joined the wireless industry in expressing concern about federal guides for relocating broadband licensees from the 2150-2162 MHz band to make room for advanced wireless services. "I was disappointed … because we were unable to adopt self-relocation procedures that...

AUCTION ON: Appeals court refuses to halt AWS auction, but leaves open questions about DE rules

WASHINGTON—The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals refused to halt the Aug. 9 start of the advanced wireless services auction, but the Federal Communications Commission likely faces continued litigation over small-business bidding rule changes in light of the court's discomfort with the process by...

Court refuses to halt Aug. 9 AWS auction, but leaves questions about DE rules

WASHINGTON—The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals refused to halt the Aug. 9 start of the advanced wireless services auction, but the Federal Communications Commission likely faces continued litigation over small-business bidding rule changes in light of the court’s discomfort with the process the...

Qualcomm to support AWS band in its chips

SAN DIEGO—Qualcomm Inc. announced that its future chipsets would support the AWS band (1700/2100 MHz). The Federal Communications Commission is planning to auction licenses in the AWS band in August. According to Luis Pineda, a marketing and product management vice president at Qualcomm, "Our...

FCC fields 252 applications for AWS auction; more than half seek DE status

WASHINGTON—The Federal Communications Commissions told a federal appeals court more than half of the 252 applicants seeking to participate in the Aug. 9 advanced wireless services auction claim "designated entity" status, a revelation presumably intended to refute arguments that recent changes to bidding rules...

Southern texting conspiracy might explain Idol results

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y.-Text-savvy Southerners may help explain why all five "American Idol" winners hail from south of the Mason Dixon line, according to figures from The NPD Group. Cingular Wireless L.L.C., which sponsors Fox TV's hit reality show, is based in Atlanta and claims...

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...

Stage set for lawsuit against FCC’s AWS auction rulings

WASHINGTON—The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals scheduled oral argument for next week on a challenge of controversial changes to small business bidding rules, a development that may signal that the court sees merit in the suit against the Federal Communications Commission. The issue...

FCC cites ‘public good’ for keeping Aug. 9 auction date

WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission urged a U.S. appeals court in Philadelphia to reject a lawsuit seeking to delay the Aug. 9 advanced wireless services auction and to re-examine news rules designed to close a loophole enabling large wireless carriers to gain access to valuable...

Southern texting conspiracy might explain ‘American Idol’ results

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y.—Text-savvy Southerners may help explain why all five "American Idol" winners hail from south of the Mason Dixon line, according to figures from The NPD Group. Cingular Wireless L.L.C., which sponsors Fox TV’s hit reality show, is based in Atlanta and claims...

Correction

A quote attributed to Federal communications Commission member Michael Copps in the June 5 story "FCC keeps AWS auction rules intact" should have been attributed to Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein.

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...

Justice Dept, Gabelli reach settlement in auction fraud suit

NEW YORK—Lawyers for the Justice Department, Wall Street investor Mario Gabelli and Lynch Interactive Corp. told a federal judge they have settled a suit over spectrum auctions. The suit accuses Gabelli of defrauding the U.S. government of at least $85 million by hiding his...

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...

FCC to revise DE rule changes

WASHINGTON—The Federal Communications Commission as early as today is expected to issue a new ruling addressing controversial changes to small business bidding rules ahead of the scheduled Aug. 9 start of the advanced wireless services auction, according to sources. Sources said a move by...

DEs and don’ts

The Federal Communications Commission likely was wise to postpone the auction of advanced wireless services spectrum in a calculated move that could deflect potential lawsuits from disgruntled designated entities. The DEs charge that changes to rules aimed at closing DE loopholes hurt them too...

Forget dual-band, think septa-band phone

The upcoming AWS auction of 1700 MHz and 2100 MHz spectrum, now slated for August, raises the question of how many frequency bands might be jammed onto a handset and whether that poses technical challenges for component and handset vendors. The answer, at least...

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...