A profound -- but predictably understandable -- policy shift has been evolving since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and horrific hurricanes four years later. Public safety, organically ingrained in and the higher calling component of the Communications Act, already had sacred cow status before...
TerreStar Corp. said it received $300 million in investor commitments through the launch of its hybrid mobile satellite, with the transaction also giving the company access to additional frequencies to improve North American coverage.The funding will be provided by EchoStar Corp., Harbinger Capital Partners...
The Bush administration proposed imposing spectrum fees on the cellular element of hybrid mobile satellite service networks as part of s $3.1 trillion budget sent to Congress. MSS operators are banking on the ancillary terrestrial component, or ATC, to revive an industry sector that...
Globalstar Inc.'s bid to secure additional mobile satellite service spectrum for land-based networks - including a possible WiMAX system covering hundreds of rural communities - is drawing criticism based on fears of interference to wireless broadband licensees. Competitive concerns could be at work as...
The pieces continue to fall in and out of place in the ever-evolving wireless world, but it now appears the many changes - from the subtle to the spectacular emergence of Apple Inc.'s iPhone, Google Inc. and open access - have unwittingly joined in...
SkyTerra Communications Inc., Mobile Satellite Ventures L.P. and Inmarsat plc said they reached a major pact to resolve complex technical, regulatory and business issues, a move they believe will better enable each to offer L-band hybrid mobile satellite services in North America. ...
Hello!And welcome to a special edition of our Thursday column, Worst of the Week. As 2007 draws to a close and we take stock of all the changes that have happened in the wireless industry, we can't help but wonder how things will look...
Sprint Nextel Corp. and broadcast groups told federal regulators that 2 GHz relocation challenges associated with the 800 MHz rebanding effort can be resolved five months sooner than expected.The Federal Communications Commission last month directed stakeholders-including Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile USA Inc., broadcasters and mobile...
Mobile Satellite Ventures said the Federal Communications Commission waived a requirement that it build a ground-based spare satellite in the event of satellite failure.FCC rules require mobile satellite service licensees, like MSV, to build an on-the-ground spare satellite within one year of the company...
Welcome to our Friday feature, Week in Review. Every Friday, RCR Wireless News runs through the major events of the past week, outlining what happened and speculating on what to look for in the coming weeks, months and years. Check below for news about...
The Federal Communications Commission agreed to divide mobile satellite service L-band spectrum between CDMA operator Globalstar Inc. and TDMA operator Iridium Satellite L.L.C., while soliciting public comment on a plan to give Globalstar ancillary terrestrial component authority on most of its MSS frequencies.The agency's...
Federal regulators appear poised to take actions that could enable Globalstar Inc. to integrate terrestrial wireless facilities in most of its mobile satellite service frequencies and allow Iridium Satellite L.L.C. to share more of Globalstar's MSS frequencies, possible outcomes that could bolster both companies-as...
The Federal Communications Commission approved the use of small antennas by 11 GHz fixed licensees, a ruling that could indirectly help 3G and wireless broadband operators via lower and more competitive wireless backhaul offerings.The FCC's action was in response to a petition field by...
TerreStar Networks Inc. defended its request to the Federal Communications Commission to delay its mobile satellite launch, claiming that the 10-month postponement "is in the public interest."The Reston, Va.-based firm in late May asked the FCC for permission to extend the launch of the...
Inmarsat Global Ltd. has challenged TerreStar Networks Inc.'s request to delay for nearly a year its mobile satellite launch currently scheduled for November.TerreStar in late May asked the Federal Communications Commission for permission to extend the launch until September 2008 for its planned 2...
THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION LAST WEEK approved 700 MHz rules to foster the creation of a nationwide public-safety/commercial broadband network and introduce new devices and applications in a wireless space tightly controlled by four national operators.The FCC designated for auction a nationwide 10-megahertz spectrum...
The wireless broadband industry opposes on interference grounds Globalstar Inc.'s push to have federal regulators consider an ancillary terrestrial component rule change that the mobile satellite service operator claims would put it on equal footing with competitors. Globalstar last year petitioned the Federal Communications...
The Bush administration is expected to push for international recognition of emerging wireless broadband and hybrid mobile satellite service services at this fall's World Radiocommunication Conference, a position that the U.S. delegation head said is attracting support even as opposition from the European bloc...
Remember James D. Dondero, the Highland Capital Management L.P. honcho who made Motient Corp. want to forget 2006 and all the fun that comes with nasty proxy fights and lawsuits? Dondero has some folks scratching their heads about why he sold 93,000...
The Bush administration, seeking to make more efficient use of the nation's dwindling supply of airwaves, took another step toward creating a test bed for sharing spectrum among federal agencies, commercial users and state and local governments.
But even with an advisory committee's...
The Federal Communications Commission agreed to reserve a spectrum block for mobile satellite services provider TerreStar Networks Inc., one of a handful of firms trying to avoid past mistakes that nearly wiped out the MSS sector in the previous decade.How does TerreStar expect to...
The Federal Communications Commission agreed to reserve a large chunk of frequencies for TerreStar Networks Inc., a firm that plans to provide wireless service throughout North America using a hybrid satellite-terrestrial cellular network. The news essentially gives TerreStar direct ownership of spectrum covering all...
ORLANDO, Fla.-A quick evaluation of the comments and announcements streaming from the world's largest infrastructure providers offers evidence that the market is getting wider and more complicated-and that the field may belong to only the largest contenders."This is exciting times," said L.M. Ericsson CEO...
President Bush's 2008 budget plan would allow the Federal Communications Commission to assess fees on un-auctioned wireless licenses and to auction domestic satellite licenses, including future mobile satellite service spectrum used for supplemental land-based cellular networks.The ad-ministration would need congressional legislation for expanded auction...
