1921
Detroit Police Department begins first mobile telephone service.
1928
Edwin Armstrong invents
Frequency Modulation.
1946
The Bell System introduces first Public Land Mobile Communications System service in St. Louis at 150 MHz (FM).
1948
Bell Labs invents transistors.
1956
The Federal Communications Commission opens the 450 MHz band for PLMCS service (FM) to common carriers.
1958
The Bell System proposes a 75 megahertz band system at 800 MHz to the FCC. This is the basis of modern cellular.
1964
Automatic operation is developed and put into service, through the use of Improved Mobile Telephone Service technology. IMTS eliminates the need for push-to-talk operation and allows users to do their own
dialing (FM).
1968
The FCC opens docket 18262 to the public to resolve mobile communications traffic congestion and inquire into systems that would use spectrum more efficiently.
1970
The FCC allocates 75 megahertz for common carrier cellular systems.
1971
In response to the FCC’s inquiry, AT&T-Bell Labs files a proposal to develop cellular technology.
1975
The FCC modifies its 1974 decision to let radio common carriers develop cellular systems, saying wirelines and nonwirelines will compete for the single license per market.
1977
The FCC grants permission to Illinois Bell Telephone Co. for a cellular trial in Chicago and to American Radio Telephone Service Inc. for a trial in Washington, D.C./Baltimore.
1978
The Bell System begins its Chicago trial, serving about 2,000 users.
1980
The FCC issues a Notice of Inquiry and Proposed Rule making for cellular services, emphasizing a need to expedite the rule-making process so the public can be served as soon as possible.
1981
The FCC adopts final cellular rules, providing for two licenses in every market. The agency also decides one of the licenses will be set aside for the local wireline carrier.
1983
Commercial cellular service begins in Chicago and in Washington D.C./Baltimore.
1984
The first nonexperimental systems goes online in Indianapolis. Commercial service starts in major cities across the United States. The Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association is incorporated. The FCC decides to use a lottery system for all cellular markets beyond the Top 30.
1986
The FCC conducts the first lottery for a block of metropolitan statistical area markets. The agency also establishes rules for rural service areas. The last regular MSA lottery is held.
1992
The cellular subscriber count hits 10 million in less than a decade.
July 1993
Final specifications are released for Cellular Digital Packet Data technology.
August 1993
AT&T Corp. announces plans to acquire all of McCaw Cellular Communications Inc. in a $12.6 billion deal rather than just a stake in McCaw, as previously planned.
September 1993
FCC opens 2 GHz band for personal communications services.
July 1994
Bell Atlantic and Nynex Corp. announce plans to wed cellular systems.
December 1994
Broadband PCS auction begins.
July 1995
American Personal Communications places first PCS call in the United States.
November 1995
APC turns on first PCS system in the United States.
February 1996
President Clinton signs historic Telecommunications Act of 1996.
April 1996
SBC Communications Inc. and Pacific Telesis enter first merger of Baby Bells.
July 1997
BCP consortium pays $2.5 billion for Sao Paulo, Brazil, cellular license, the most expensive mobile phone permit ever granted.
August 1997
Cellular subscribers reach 50 million in United States.
May 1998
Wireless subscribers top 59 million in the United States, according to the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association.
