BROWSING: WCA

WCA announces LMDS membership count

WASHINGTON-The Wireless Communications Association announced its membership of local multipoint distribution services and other millimeter wave licensees has reached 71.The WCA reported that millimeter wave licensee members include the top six operators/licensees in the United States as suggested by such factors as amount of...

Industry employs multi-pronged approach to liability protection

WASHINGTON-At the same time the wireless industry was telling Congress and the Federal Communications Commission that it could not deploy enhanced 911 without liability protection, it was developing and implementing wireless arbitration rules designed to keep wireless carriers out of court.Congress bought the industry's...

U.S. faces challenges on global 3G position

WASHINGTON-The `consensus' reached by a government-industry panel on a third-generation mobile phone position that the Clinton administration can take to the World Radiocommunication Conference this spring underscores the complexities faced by the United States in trying to craft a strategy that advances international business...

FCC OKs Nokia’s alternative 911 solution

WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission's decision to grant Nokia Corp.-the world's largest mobile phone vendor-a four-month extension to comply with new 911 call-processing rules prompted protests last week by the Wireless Consumers Alliance, which vowed to challenge the ruling and to fund independent testing of...

Wireless not exempt from consumer fraud laws

WASHINGTON-In a ruling both beneficial and potentially devastating for industry, the Federal Communications Commission ruled wireless carriers are not exempt from all state contractual and consumer fraud laws.The Nov. 24 ruling was prompted by a 1997 petition for declaratory ruling from Southwestern Bell Mobile...

FCC SAYS PRE-EMPTION POWERS MAY NOT APPLY TO COMPETITIVE MARKETS

WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission, which has been asked to declare whether federal law pre-empts state courts from awarding monetary damages against wireless carriers in consumer fraud cases, may have tipped its hand on how the matter might be decided.In an amicus (friend of the...

WIRELESS 911 BILL HITS LIABILITY, PRIVACY OBSTACLES

WASHINGTON-The wireless 911 bill, once assumed a sure bet for congressional approval this year, has hit snags over liability, privacy and other issues that threaten passage of the legislation in 1999.Failure to pass the 911 bill-the centerpiece of the wireless industry's lobbying campaign in...

WIRELESS ON VERGE OF LIABILITY VICTORY

WASHINGTON-The wireless industry is on the verge of arguably its biggest victory since congressionally mandated state deregulation in 1993: liability protection.Congress is poised this fall to give wireless carriers liability protection on par with wireline carriers across the country.In California state court, carriers have nearly...

REAL ESTATE COMMUNITY WEIGHS IN AGAINST MANDATORY ACCESS

WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission this week is expected to start struggling with the definition of competition as it reviews comments submitted in its competitive networks docket.Is it competition that allows a renter to choose between different apartment buildings based on what telecommunications services are...

WCA LIKELY HEADED TO COURT OVER STRONGEST SIGNAL REGULATIONS

WASHINGTON-The consumer group fighting for specific E911 call-completion regulations vowed to take its case to court if the Federal Communications Commission adopts a technology-neutral rule this week.When it became apparent last week that the Wireless Consumers Alliance had lost its battle with the cellular...

HOLLINGS MAY HALT 911 BILL

WASHINGTON-The recent rash of violent events-highlighting both the life-saving capabilities and limitations of wireless technology-will serve as a powerful backdrop to this Wednesday's Senate Commerce Committee hearing on 911 wireless legislation.The committee will hear from Mark Wildey, an emergency 911 dispatch official from Littleton,...

FCC INCHES TO STRONGEST SIGNAL DECISION

WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission could make a decision on the strongest-signal debate as early as this month at the public meeting, said senior FCC officials last week.While the details of the decision are still uncertain, it seems the cellular industry's efforts to convince the...

LMDS RE-AUCTION OFF TO A ROARING START

WASHINGTON-Perhaps denoting that local multipoint distribution service and the tremendous data possibilities it affords may be the wave of the future, the LMDS re-auction already seems more successful than the recently concluded PCS re-auction.While the PCS sale left some licenses still unclaimed after many...

DECISION ON STRONGEST SIGNAL EXPECTED IN MAY

WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission in May likely will complete rules to address wireless 911 calls in areas where only one cellular carrier provides service coverage-an issue that has pitted the cellular industry against two consumer groups.The Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association and the consumer groups...

CONSUMER GROUP FEARS STRONGEST SIGNAL TO BE AXED

WASHINGTON-Consumer advocates are opposed to the "policy goals" approach government appears to have embraced to solve the wireless 911 dead-zone problem and have raised concerns about the decision-making process associated with the emotionally charged issue.The Wireless Consumers Alliance, which advocates the strongest-signal approach to...

FCC LOOKS FOR POLICY GOALS TO SOLVE ‘DEAD ZONE’ ISSUE

WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission appears to be attempting to develop policy goals to solve the "dead zone" problem.The FCC then would leave it to the cellular industry to come up with technical solutions that meet its policy goals. "We are at our best...

PCIA EMBRACES LMDS CONTINGENT

WASHINGTON-The Personal Communications Industry Association last week announced it is creating a new membership council to represent local multipoint distribution services operators.PCIA said it plans to represent fixed, broadband wireless interests on Capitol Hill, at the Federal Communications Commission and before other federal, state...

CALENDAR

Mobile & Fixed Wireless Networks and Services SeminarJuly 6-7Alexander Resources. Marriott Courtyard Crystal City, Washington, D.C. (800) 948-8225 or (972) 818-8225.Signalling System 7 and Intelligent NetworksJuly 6-8IBC UK Conferences Ltd. The Rutherford Conference Centre, London.(+44) 171-453-2700.Cellular and PCS RadioJuly 7-10The University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department...

CALENDAR

Exploiting CostAllocation Strategies In TelecommunicationsJune 22-23Institute for International Research. Westin Horton Plaza, San Diego. (888) 670-8200 or (941) 365-2914.Wireless Local LoopJune 22-24IBC USA Conferences Inc. The Worthington Hotel, Fort Worth, Texas. (508) 481-6400.TDMA Technology Latin America '98June 22-24AIC Conferences. Hyatt Regency, Coral Gables, Fla....