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...
WASHINGTON-Daniel Phythyon, capping a stormy year-and-a-half stewardship of the Federal Communications Commission's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, which had him under constant siege from feisty bankruptcy lawyers, angry lawmakers and high-powered lobbyists, said he will step down Dec. 1."The timing was my decision," said Phythyon. "The...
ITAThe Industrial Telecommunications Association said it appointed Laura Leigh Smith executive director, government relations. She formerly was deputy division chief (legal) in the public safety and private wireless division of the Federal Communications Commission's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau. Smith will be responsible for representing interests...
WASHINGTON-Dan Phythyon, top mobile communications regulator at the Federal Communications Commission, last week cautioned against overreaction to congressionally mandated private wireless auctions and urged licensees to lobby Congress for spectrum lease fee authority as an alternative."I know that many people have taken the impression...
WASHINGTON-At a time other sectors of the telecommunications industry are urging the Federal Communications Commission to go away and leave them alone, Mark Crosby, president of the Industrial Telecommunications Association wants more attention. He wants an advocate fighting for private wireless spectrum inside of...
WASHINGTON-The Automobile Association of America received a powerful push from six U.S. senators last week, who urged the Federal Communications Commission to grant AAA "quasi public-safety" status, a request AAA has long been advocating. This status would allow it "the right of first refusal,"...
WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission is planning to add 82 airports to the airport-frequencies protected list. This list will allow the airports primary access to frequencies specially allocated for airports in the 450-470 MHz range.Airports need this spectrum to accomplish tasks ranging from security checks...
WASHINGTON-The wireless industry has been asked to help the Federal Communications Commission reduce a three-inch thick backlog of work yet to be completed by the FCC's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau. At the urging of congressional staff, the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association, the Industrial Telecommunications Association...
WASHINGTON-The Automobile Association of America said last week it should be given "quasi public-safety" status by the Federal Communications Commission. This status would allow it the right of first refusal when others want to use spectrum formerly in the Automobile Emergency Radio Service (AERS)...
WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission and the Industrial Telecommunications Association have signed a memorandum of understanding that will allow ITA to be the first contact on interference complaints for private wireless users.The MOU originally was announced at the International Wireless Communications Exhibition in Las Vegas...
WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission's long-awaited decision on what should happen with low-power private wireless systems during refarming has been delayed by concerns over interference with heart monitors.The Land Mobile Communications Council submitted a plan last June to deal with low-power systems but operators of...
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...
WASHINGTON-According to a new book on wireless regulations written by former Industrial Telecommunications Association staffer Fred Day, "In 1993, Congress amended the Communications Act to incorporate a new term, `commercial mobile service,' also referred to as `commercial mobile radio service.' This term is essentially...
WASHINGTON-The private radio industry is waiting this week to see if the long-awaited refarming plan, scheduled to be implemented Oct. 17, actually will go into effect as planned. At the 11th hour, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau is continuing to sort out a consensus agreement...
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Bad hair week for the Baby Bells and smut police. A near miss for wireless.The Justice Department last Wednesday recommended against Ameritech's foray into the Michigan long-distance market. So Joel Klein really does want Sen. Hollings' blessing after all.The next day, the FCC blocked...
WASHINGTON-Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) joined the wireless industry in fighting back White House and congressional budgeteer efforts to add spectrum fees and toll-free number auctions to balanced budget legislation last week, while the private wireless sector suffered a major setback when...
WASHINGTON-The Senate Commerce Committee last week rejected spectrum fees and toll-free telephone number auctions, but embraced lease fees for private wireless licensees in budget legislation lawmakers concede will fail to generate $26.3 billion from wireless license sales during the next five years.But spectrum fees...
ARLINGTON, Va.-The Industrial Telecommunications Association Inc. filed a petition on the Second Report and Order in the Federal Communications Commission's refarming proceeding.The association reiterated its support for radio service consolidation, while suggesting substantive changes to the new trunking rules and expressing concerns about speculation...
ARLINGTON, Va.-The Industrial Telecommunications Association Inc. filed comments with the Federal Communications Commission concerning Motorola Inc.'s petition for clarification in the refarming proceeding, the organization said.In the petition filed in February, Motorola supported the commission's efforts to encourage the deployment of new technologies in...
WASHINGTON-Future auctions conducted by the Federal Communications Commission will be run by a standard laundry list of rules instead of a new set of rules formulated auction by auction.The FCC last Thursday adopted competitive bidding rules. The panel also adopted a plan for consolidating...
WASHINGTON-Now that some of the dust has settled following the Federal Communications Commission's Dec. 23 adoption of a memorandum opinion and order regarding private-radio refarming, the Industrial Telecommunications Association has sent Wireless Telecommunications Bureau chief Michele Farquhar a technical blueprint proposal for frequency re-use."The...
WASHINGTON-Commenters on both sides of the issue regarding the Federal Communications Commission's proposal to kill its finder's preference programs have one thing in common-their arguments all come down to money.Many of those who oppose the commission's plan first to do away with the preference...
WASHINGTON, D.C.-A dozen U.S. associations have asked the Federal Communications Commission to grant an exception to the 800 MHz filing freeze for companies asking only to make minor modifications in existing systems.The Request for Limited Exception to Application Freeze was filed Thursday on behalf...
