The Federal Communications Commission's revised roaming rules may have exacerbated an already divisive industry issue, with warring carriers challenging new guidelines and feuding over the possibility of their extension to wireless broadband service providers. The FCC's Aug. 7 decision concluded automatic roaming is...
With the wireless sector the most competitive in the telecom industry, it is hard to imagine that company executives can simultaneously beat each other's brains out in the marketplace and work in harmony on issues of common interest. But they do for the most...
LAS VEGAS-Universal Service Fund concerns and access to 700 megahertz spectrum topped the list of legislative concerns for Rural Cellular Association members during a discussion of the organization's Washington, D.C., lobbying efforts. Members were given an update on the status of various issues during...
LAS VEGAS-Apple Inc.'s influence has apparently spread far and wide as various speakers at the Rural Cellular Association's annual convention cited the company and its products as something to aspire to.Consultant Mark Landiak of Corporate Dynamics Inc. urged small carriers to think about maximizing...
LAS VEGAS-New technologies and trends are trickling down to impact the businesses of rural carriers, bringing with them a host of new opportunities and challenges. The common theme among sessions at the Rural Cellular Assocation annual convention in Las Vegas last week was how...
The word that Alltel Corp. is putting itself up on the auction block sparked speculation about who a buyer might be-but generated little surprise in an industry where mergers and acquisitions are par for the course. For rural carriers that have watched their...
The Federal Communications Commission rejected the mobile-phone industry's petition for regulatory relief from an already one-year-old deadline for meeting enhanced 911 handset-based location requirements, sending non-compliance cases of Sprint Nextel Corp. and other carriers to the agency's enforcement bureau for possible fines.The FCC said...
WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission rejected the mobile-phone industry's petition for regulatory relief from the recently passed deadline for meeting enhanced 911 handset-based location requirements, sending non-compliance of Sprint Nextel Corp. and other carriers to the agency's enforcement bureau for further action.The FCC, agreeing with...
WASHINGTON—An influential House Democrat said policy-makers should consider requiring wireless carriers and other communications service providers to participate in any overhaul of a Cold War-era emergency alert system. At a hearing last Thursday, Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.), ranking member of the House telecom and...
Although much attention has been focused on the network transitions and upgrades of national carriers, many regional operators around the country also are deciding how to implement new technologies and whether to spend money to upgrade infrastructure. Those technology decisions are typically driven by...
WASHINGTON—Verizon Wireless announced that 95 percent of its customers are now using location-capable handsets. Verizon Wireless is the first carrier using a handset-based approach to E-911 to meet the FCC’s 95-percent threshold. However, it did so six months after the Federal Communications Commission’s deadline...
PALM SPRINGS, Calif.-Data holds the promise of new services and new revenues, and speakers at last week's Rural Cellular Association conference emphasized the importance of those revenues-and the importance of small carriers not falling behind as national operators turn to ever-faster technology. CTIA President...
PALM SPRINGS, Calif.-Alltel Corp. last week expanded its role as the go-to roaming carrier, announcing major reciprocal roaming agreements with Cingular Wireless L.L.C. and Sprint Nextel Corp. that put the nation's fifth-largest operator in a position to provide voice and data roaming for as...
WASHINGTON-The telecom industry gathered last week in Las Vegas for a convention sponsored by the United States Telecommunications Association. Next week, many of the same people will visit Sin City again to attend CTIA's annual gathering. Against the backdrop of major telecom carriers consolidating...
WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission picked up support from the Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission to employ blind bidding at June's advanced wireless services auction. But outside of government the proposal has set off a storm of controversy that has wireless carriers largely opposed...
WASHINGTON—The Rural Cellular Association this morning came out against a proposal by the Federal Communications Commission to keep spectrum auction information secret. "A ‘blind bidding’ process would deter participation by RCA members who want to know, round by round in the bidding, what other...
WASHINGTON-Small rural carriers argued that they are treated unfairly by the four nationwide carriers when it comes to automatic roaming, an accusation disputed by their larger counterparts. Because mergers have reduced the number of nationwide wireless carriers from six to four, the Federal Communications...
WASHINGTON-Verizon Wireless has asked the Federal Communications Commission to waive its rules requiring location technology to be embedded in 95 percent of a carrier's handset base by the end of the year. However, Verizon said it can meet the requirement by June-much earlier than...
WASHINGTON-Verizon Wireless late Monday asked the Federal Communications Commission to waive its rules requiring location technology to be embedded in 95 percent of a carrier's handset base by the end of the year, but Verizon Wireless said it can meet the requirement by June-much...
WASHINGTON-Alltel Corp. said it will not meet the Dec. 31 enhanced-911 handset deadline and asked the Federal Communications Commission for a year-and-a-half extension. "Alltel has initiated numerous marketing and communications campaigns encouraging consumers to upgrade their handsets, including eliminating fees, reducing prices for handsets,...
WASHINGTON-Living up to a warning it made in 2004, Sprint Nextel Corp. asked for a waiver for its iDEN network of the enhanced 911 rules requiring some carriers to have 95 percent of their in-use handsets capable of locating 911 callers by the end...
WASHINGTON-Living up to a warning it made in 2004, Sprint Nextel Corp. asked for a waiver for its iDEN network of the enhanced 911 rules requiring some carriers to have 95 percent of their in-use handsets capable of locating 911 callers by the end...
WASHINGTON-Internet-based telephone companies have joined cellular carriers in having difficulty meeting federal enhanced 911 requirements, prompting the Federal Communications Commission to give Voice over Internet Protocol service providers an additional 30 days to come into compliance. The FCC, saying progress is being made on...
WASHINGTON-Internet-based telephone companies have joined cellular carriers in having difficulty meeting federal enhanced 911 requirements, prompting the Federal Communications Commission to give Voice over Internet Protocol service providers an additional 30 days to come into compliance. The FCC, saying progress is being made on...
