WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission's proposed microwave relocation cost-sharing plan would free personal communications services operators of their financial obligation to 2 GHz fixed users by 2005, a policy shift that could hit rural microwave licensees hard.The PCS industry and microwave advocates each found reason...
WASHINGTON-The regulatory environment for personal communications services is still evolving as policymakers try to determine how next-generation pocket telephone systems fit into a telecommunications industry undergoing historic change and evaluate what that means to society.The issues are complex, with advocacy groups on all sides...
Wireless operators continue to line up behind one of the seven technologies that will be used for personal communications services, solidifying the formation of PCS technology camps and leading to several arms-length partnerships.The most recent protocol announcement came from Southwestern Bell Mobile Systems Inc.,...
SEOUL, South Korea-The Republic of Korea has postponed selection of licensees for seven new telecommunications services including personal communications services, second-generation cordless telephony and trunked radio services until after the general election for members of the National Assembly-scheduled for April..The selection of 30 new...
Globalstar L.P. has landed three separate agreements to deliver mobile satellite service in 18 African nations. The company expects its global roaming services will benefit intercontinental travelers and rural fixed-site and mobile users in areas lacking landline or mobile coverage.Warwickshire, U.K.-based Globaltouch Communications Holdings...
WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission early next year will hold a spectrum summit as policymakers rethink fundamental programs that have governed the airwaves for a half century, instead turning to the marketplace for answers.The all-day conference, inspired and organized by Commissioner Susan Ness, will address...
On a recent trip across Europe to visit some of the major operators and manufacturers of the blossoming cellular industry there, I was asked to describe the state of the industry in the United States. Of course I spoke of the great advancements we...
Telecommunications officials in India are set to issue the remaining licenses for cellular service in the next few weeks, just as initial licensees are beginning to launch their systems in four metropolitan areas in the country.India's Department of Telecommunications (DoT) accepted technical bids in...
WASHINGTON-Congress' desire to raise $14 billion over the next seven years from expanded spectrum auctions has turned into a fierce debate about whether that goal can be attained without auctioning digital TV broadcast channels.The controversy has major economic and a competitive implications for the...
I hereby nominate NBC President Robert Wright official spokesman of the cellular telephone industry. That's right, the same Bob Wright who warned lawmakers on the Senate Commerce Committee last week the equivalent of `The Russians are coming! The Russians are coming!'"If you auction off...
WASHINGTON-The GOP-led Congress this fall will tackle landmark budget and telecommunications bills as part of a legislative agenda so sweeping and historic in scope that the outcome may well determine the success or failure of the year-old Republican revolution and provide an early barometer...
Hindsight is best. Had I been able to anticipate what I call the Greed Factor-the behavior of a growing number of microwave incumbents in the 1.8 to 2.2 GHz band who seek to profit unreasonably from their relocation-at the time I participated in crafting...
WASHINGTON-Congress, in a move that has raised constitutional questions, is pushing legislation that would end entrepreneur block auction litigation and open the way for the sale of more personal communications services licenses in early December.A provision in a House Commerce Committee plan to raise...
American Paging Inc. is restructuring three of its key operating areas - sales and marketing, administration and customer service - to achieve an improved customer mix, reduced administrative costs and improved customer service."Our plan is simple - to add and retain high-quality customers and...
WASHINGTON-The U.S. Secret Service arrested six alleged computer hackers and seized more than 20 computer systems during an undercover fraud investigation that encompassed seven states.Agents targeted people using the Internet and a private bulletin board system to allegedly deal in stolen cellular phone and...
GREENVILLE, S.C.-Dial Page Inc. has closed the sale of its paging business to MobileMedia Corp. for $188.5 million consisting of cash and the assumption of Dial Page's $85 million in senior notes.MobileMedia gains about 365,000 pagers in service in seven southern states through the...
Westlink Paging has acquired the assets of Telecomm Systems Inc., a paging firm based in Portland, Ore., representing 85,000 additional paging units in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Utah, Nevada and Colorado. The purchase of Telecomm Systems brings Westlink's total subscribers to 430,000, said Daniels &...
German powerhouse RWE Energie AG has its telecom engine revving, awaiting a license to drive. The diversified conglomerate has an extensive telecom network already in place and is gearing up to compete head-to-head with Deutsche Telekom, currently the monopoly telephone operator.As a European Union...
WASHINGTON-Is this the future?The Progress & Freedom Foundation, the libertarian think tank of House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., that wants to abolish the Federal Communications Commission, would be proud.But more likely, it would scoff, and call it a meager effort at reform.Whatever, the FCC...
WASHINGTON-A campaign that officially kicks off this week to fight the planned giveaway of digital TV channels to broadcasters is partially funded by the cellular telephone industry, which fears any such giveaway will mean increased fees for cellular operators.Specifically, the cellular industry is worried...
NEW YORK-PriCellular Corp. announced it entered into an agreement to sell about $60 million aggregate principal amount of PriCellular's senior subordinated convertible discount notes to an institutional investor at an issue price of about $35 million.In addition, PriCellular's wholly owned subsidiary, PriCellular Wireless Corp.,...
Final tender documents for two Global System for Mobile communications licenses in Poland will be available next month, and several U.S. firms intend to figure prominently in the deal.Bids will be accepted until the end of October. Both licenses should be awarded by the...
An AirTouch Communications Inc. consortium is scheduled to launch Spain's first private cellular system on Oct. 3, on the heels of the government operator's launch of a similar service.The Airtel consortium defeated at least five other consortia last fall, paying $705 million to win...
After a majority vote Aug. 2 by Metrocall Inc.'s board of directors not to reappoint Harry L. Brock Jr. as president of the company, Brock filed a lawsuit in Delaware Chancery Court seeking his reinstatement.According to the Alexandria, Va.-based company, seven of nine members...
