In the summer of 1989, one of my favorite bands, the B-52s, released an album with the big hit-tune "Roam," in which singer Kate Pierson encouraged listeners to "roam around the world." Well, it took me nine years, Kate, but I finally took you...
At any given time, it's hard to say what agenda is being played out by whom in the FCC-Portals fiasco.Let's take a look at the players and their roles.The Justice Department recently decided to investigate, among other things, the illegal $1-million kickback Tennessee developer...
Competition is a mainstay of the wireless industry. While the first decade of cellular service was marked with duopoly service where each carrier could do a poor job and still get a decent share of the marketplace, today nearly 60 markets have five wireless...
To the Editor: I cannot believe the deafening silence from the wireless community with regard to MobileMedia Corp.'s plan to extinguish the equity in the company.If the industry has truly been maligned (which I believe it has been) and the prospects are as good as...
To the Editor: You'll probably get a lot of response on this one.Methanol is derived from wood and is highly toxic. It is not present in hard liquor. Ethanol is the alcohol that is consumed by humans. Both are good fuels for combustion and ethanol...
To the editor: I just read your editorial about bundling and discounting, and, as a consumer, I could not agree more. I also subscribe to your adage to never, never pay retail. I wish I could avoid it where my wired and wireless services apply.On...
These days, the talk of the town alternates between war with Saddam and womanizing with Monica. Day and night. It's overkill, but still quite serious stuff. But those two malcontents aren't the only ones under siege.In a roundabout way, so is FCC Chairman Bill...
"From the mighty pen, true wisdom flows.If it says so, then it is so. If it is so, so it is.A thought's not fit to think 'til it's printed in ink. Then it says so, so it is."-Rabbit, Pooh's Grand Adventure: The Search for Christopher...
STAMFORD, Conn.-Online service subscribers make up a majority of wireless users and are considered top prospects for wireless providers marketing emerging technologies or bundled services, according to a recent survey conducted by Intelligent Information Inc. and Directions for Decisions.The survey targeted home and business...
The interconnection fight between paging carriers and local exchange carriers is far from over. LECs, wounded by a Federal Communications Commission Common Carrier Bureau letter denying them the right to charge paging carriers interconnection fees, have fired the first shots in the next battle...
WASHINGTON-After two years, is the Telecommunications Act of 1996 a success or failure? In the eyes of Washington telecom insiders, is it an industry boon or an industry bust? Right now, it's even money."You need to get some perspective on this," said Kathryn Brown,...
There is little doubt that the telecommunications industry has taken on a global hue. Increasingly, American wireless providers are teaming up with foreign companies to expand their service portfolios across the world.As communications technologies enter these alien markets, it is interesting to see how...
Dear Editor,In regards to the latest and previous articles by Debra Wayne regarding Pocket Communications, as a former Pocket Communications employee (and I in no way represent the company or its interests), I would like to say a few things.Pocket was to pay $1.4...
The state of wireless technology and devices is in good shape today, and should continue to stay healthy well into the future, as long as carriers understand the changing dynamics of wireless users, according to a study presented by the Personal Communications Industry Association.Titled...
Wouldn't it be nice to know if people are actually going to like the holiday gifts you so thoughtfully picked out especially for them?You ponder, prepare and then pray that your choices will be well received. Is the Federal Communications Commission staff any different?...
WASHINGTON-Two new Federal Communications Commissioners are playing their cards close to the vest regarding their regulatory leanings during this honeymoon period of their tenure.Democrat Gloria Tristani and Republican Harold Furchtgott-Roth faced reporters here for the first time last week, and both admitted they are...
WASHINGTON-In a surprisingly candid admission, the head of the cellular industry's cancer research project said he will leave the six-year, $28 million program in mid-1999 without conducting either short-term or long-term animal exposure studies.Last week's revelation, which Wireless Technology Research L.L.C. head Dr. George...
JACKSON, Miss.-The Federal Communications Commission extended the timetable for public comment on WorldCom's application to establish a voting trust in connection with the company's bid to acquire MCI Communications Corp.A voting trust would permit the WorldCom offer to be consummated prior to receiving final...
WASHINGTON-Comments submitted last week by NextWave Telecom Inc. to the Federal Communications Commission regarding proposed changes to the established C- and F-block personal communications services repayment plans smacks of a last-ditch effort to keep a sinking ship afloat.Couched in terms that could be interpreted...
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,...
Now that many personal communications services providers are operating in several cities, most are advertising better call clarity than users received with cellular analog service. But will call clarity remain an issue once cellular carriers begin to aggressively market the same digital features?If customers...
Dear Editor: This is in reference to Tracy Anderson Ford's "Viewpoint" column in the May 19 issue of RCR. In that column, Ms. Ford correctly notes how the spectrum needs of private wireless users, including public safety users, "got trampled over as the nation's leaders...
Dear Editor: In the May 12 issue of RCR, you published an article titled, "Phone shield pamphlet pulled from U.S. shelves," with a picture of our product, the PhoneShield, underneath the headline. We understand the article was referring to another manufacturer, however, your use of...
WASHINGTON-"This is not an inscrutable, hard-to-figure-out issue," said Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) at a hearing last week to discuss problems with his proposed Law Enforcement and Public Safety Telecommunications Empowerment Act. "It ain't over 'til it's over. Simply put, I want to make sure...
