The Federal Communications Commission late last week was expected to allocate 24 megahertz for public safety communications and reserve 36 megahertz in the same 800 MHz band for commercial wireless license auctions. The 1997 budget bill requires the reallocation of TV channels 60-69 to be completed by Jan. 1, 1998, and the licensing of new public safety systems to begin by Sept. 30. The 36 megahertz cannot be auctioned until after Jan. 1, 2001.
Advanced Telecommunications Inc. acquired Electro-Tel Inc., a Denver-based telephone equipment and service company. Originally a division of Electro-Media, Electro-Tel was purchased in 1980 by its president, Bill Shanley, who will retain his present position. Through the next year, Electro-Media said it will enter the telemanagement segment of the industry, expanding its product line to include local, long distance, voice messaging, paging and cellular services.
Glenayre Technologies Inc. confirmed a shareholder class action lawsuit filed against it and certain of its officers and directors has been refiled in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. The suit claims Glenayre and its executive officers and directors misrepresented the finances of the company by claiming there was “firm backing” of product orders.
Metrocall Inc. completed its merger with ProNet Inc., also announcing that significant integration actions are scheduled to begin in the coming weeks, eliminating duplicate back office functions. Metrocall will issue 0.9 shares of Metrocall common stock for each share of Pronet stock.
Qualcomm Inc. plans to develop an interface between India’s Centre for Development of Telematics’ switching platform and its Code Division Multiple Access base station controllers.
