The Federal Communications Commission ruled earlier this month that state public utilities commissions can no longer regulate local rates of commercial wireless carriers. This ruling affects not only the cellular industry, but the paging, specialized mobile radio and new personal communications services industries as...
Bell Atlantic Mobile and Racotek Inc. have signed a multiyear marketing and technology agreement to integrate BAM's cellular digital packet data and circuit-switched data capabilities with Racotek's KeyWare product.KeyWare is mobile networking software that operates on network servers and within portable computers. It allows...
To comprehend the scope of what happened (and didn't happen) on Capotol Hill last week, one needs to appreciate history. For history repeated itself. Some new ground was broken, too. Call this cahpter "A Tale of Two Toms."Tom Wheeler, who in 1993 as president...
With all the recent regulatory changes from the Federal Communications Commission, mobile service providers now, more than ever, need to keep abreast of new rules and regulations affecting their services.Most private carriers and specialized mobile radio operators do just fine without consulting attorneys and...
WASHINGTON-House and Senate Republican budget bills envision billions of dollars in telecommunications revenue from expanded auctions, higher user fees and additional pioneer's preference license payments in coming years.Both chambers intend to balance the U.S. budget by 2002, a lofty goal requiring federal spending cuts...
Federal regulators overseeing the fast-growing paging industry these days have a "good problem" that could easily turn into a bad problem with a few missteps by Washington officials in the coming months.Here's the good problem: Paging, the most competitive sector of the wireless telecommunications industry,...
WASHINGTON-Industry negotiations aimed at clearing fixed microwave licensees off the 2 GHz band that next-generation pocket telephone systems will soon occupy have begun with a bang.Personal Communications Industry Association President Jay Kitchen fired the opening discharge late last month, stating in a letter to...
Reports are circulating that some within the Republican Party are organizing to dismantle the Federal Communications Commission, citing there is no longer a need for a government organization to regulate spectrum and communications services. I hope those who agree with them will take the...
WASHINGTON-In a major setback for states, the Federal Communications Commission ruled public utility commissions cannot regulate local rates of commercial wireless carriers.The FCC on May 11 rejected petitions from Arizona, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Louisiana, New York and Ohio seeking to retain rate regulation of...
Punctuating the onset of narrowband personal communications services, Motorola Inc.'s new InFLEXion messaging protocol is among a family of protocols the company expects to become the new paging standard.Distinguished by its voice and two-way data capabilities, speed, capacity and frequency reuse, InFLEXion reportedly is...
WASHINGTON-Federal Communications Commission Chairman Reed Hundt said the agency will not halt the licensing of personal communications services systems that use the Global System for Mobile communications standard because "we don't believe there is a serious risk of interference to hearing aids" from the...
While the two-month delay of the entrepreneur block auction gave some designated-entity companies more time to wheel and deal for funding and allies, one businesswoman said investors slipped away from her in favor of small-business designated companies."The auction stay diverted attention away from women...
The Federal Communications Commission set an Aug. 2 date to begin the proceedings when Telephone Electronics Corp.-after aligning itself with PCS PrimeCo L.P., the consortium of three Baby Bells and AirTouch Communications-dropped its lawsuit challenging FCC rules that give bidding preferences to women and...
In the wake of the Oklahoma city bombing, the Clinton adminstration and Congress are pressing for changes on telecommunications laws to combat terrorism. Clinton ans Senate Majority Leader Robert Doyle, R-Kan., likely combatants in nexy year's presidental race, each gave preposed to expand the...
Cellular telephones improved communications at the Oklahoma City tragedy when public-safety groups' two-way radios-all on different frequencies-couldn't connect."At the site of a disaster, radio channels max out immediately with just tactical communication," said Ron Baker, director of wireless services for McCaw Cellular Communications Inc.'s...
WASHINGTON-A new government study says minorities may have to adopt nontraditional financing strategies to break into the telecommunications market. The report, issued by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, concludes accessing capital through traditional sources, like banks, continues to be the major barrier to...
After much trepidation, you have just purchased a new luxury vehicle. The first few moments with the car are spent testing the sun roof, the stereo and envisioning just where you will go in your sleek new automobile. In the excitement of your first...
WASHINGTON-The big budget battle of 1995 now unfolding in Congress will shape wireless telecommunications policy in a fierce debate expected to test the resolve of the new Republican majority and the resiliency of the sputtering Clinton presidency.Budget politics will touch almost everything in sight,...
WASHINGTON-A government plan limiting bidding credits in 900 MHz specialized mobile radio auctions to small businesses has drawn the wrath of Federal Communications Commission member Andrew Barrett."It appears the commission is abandoning its policy and rules designed to enhance ownership opportunities in other technologies...
The decision by the California Public Utilities Commission to allow bundling of cellular telephones gives the commission a card to play as it seeks permission from the Federal Communications Commission to maintain control of cellular rates."It is one way we can show that California...
Many a garried employee trying to fill out paterwork to comply with Federa Communications Commission regulations probably agrees wholeheartedly with the Progress & Freedom Foundation, a high-tech think tank studying a plan to replace the FCC with a drastically scaled-down version of the agency....
WASHINGTON-Telephone Electronics Corp., prompted by a deal with PCS PrimeCo L.P., last week dropped its legal challenge to auction rules, clearing the way for the sale of digital pocket telephone system licenses to women, minorities, small businesses and rural telephone companies this summer.The surprising...
Culminating seven years of development and fine-tuning, American Mobile Satellite Corp. has launched the country's first satellite for mobile communications, giving lift-off to a new form of wireless services.Hughes Communications Inc., a division of GM Hughes Electronics, built AMSC's geostationary satellite, supporting mobile voice...
With the heavy lifting on telecommunicatins reform legislation nearly complete, it's all politics from here on out.The Senate bill, engineered by Commerce Committee Chairman Larry Pressler, R-S.D., is ripe for floor action as early as next week. In the House, Telecommunications Subcommittee Chairman Jack...
