1999

In the last two weeks alone, Crown Castle International Corp. has more than doubled its tower portfolio in the United States and United Kingdom, securing a top position for itself …

WASHINGTON-A high-tech industry bill to relax export restrictions on encryption products is plodding its way through the legislative process despite opposition from the Clinton administration. On March 11, the House …

DULLES, Va.-Orbcomm Global L.P. announced its South American licensee, Damos SudAmerica, officially has launched commercial data and messaging services there. Damos SudAmerica is a partnership between Telespazio of Italy, Grupo …

Tensions ran high at the International Telecommunication Union two-week meeting on third-generation technology in Fortaleza, Brazil, as the industry waits for an agreement between Qualcomm Inc. and L.M. Ericsson on …

The cry “paging is dead” began once digital cellular and personal communications services providers obtained the ability to offer paging services on their networks and handsets. However, while paging carriers …

Cellular towers ruining America To the Editor: I have two comments regarding your antenna-siting article. (Antenna siting is hot topic for NACo Crowd, March 8.) First, it is my understanding …

WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission has proposed rules to implement mobile satellite service in the 2 GHz band. The notice of proposed rule making reviews service rules and seeks comments on …

NORTHBROOK, Ill.-Motorola Inc. introduced a new global positioning system technology designed to enhance traditional GPS for telematics systems. Called Wireless-Assisted GPS, the system includes a GPS mobile receiver and server, …

WASHINGTON-U.S. District Judge Thomas F. Hogan last week rejected the Justice Department’s motion to deny Nextel Communications Inc.’s lawsuit to vacate a 1995 antitrust consent decree, opening the way for …

To create some excitement before his swing through New Hampshire last week, Al Gore declared he invented the Internet. It worked. A dumbfounded James Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.), chairman of the House …

PRINCETON, N.J.-Nettech Systems Inc. introduced the Nettech Developer Suite, a bundle of all its Software Development Kits to give software developers one complete solution to wirelessly enable their applications. The …

CEDAR KNOLLS, N.J.-Omnipoint Communications announced it is offering the Nokia 5190 and 6190 Global System for Mobile communications handsets. Among other things, the Nokia 5190 features the NaviKey, a one-button …

Omnipoint Corp. said last week it has received proposals from potential strategic equity investors and will be evaluating them shortly. The company in January began a second round of serious …

WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission late Friday adopted proposed rules to implement the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. The long-awaited notice of proposed rule making does not “even render tentative conclusions” …

SAN DIEGO-Qualcomm Inc. announced Qualcomm Personal Electronics, a joint venture between subsidiaries of Qualcomm Inc. and Sony Electronics Inc., shipped its 10 millionth Code Division Multiple Access handset. Initial shipments …

WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission last week established rules that will require long-distance carriers to disclose their rates on the Internet. The rules, however, will not apply to the wireless industry. …

WASHINGTON-Sixty-six bidders are competing for the 356 personal communications services licenses being re-auctioned by the Federal Communications Commission. Bidders include Omnipoint Corp., Cook Inlet/VoiceStream PCS L.L.C., Leap Wireless International Inc., …

FORT WORTH, Texas-The Sabre Group announced it is working with IBM Corp. and Nokia Corp. to create a real-time, interactive flight schedule service for Wireless Application Protocol phones. With it, …

WASHINGTON-The introduction of a wireless E911 bill in the Senate has been complicated by controversy over the ComCare Alliance’s push for federal funding and public-safety provisions stripped out of the …

NEW YORK-A subsidiary of Hong Kong-based Hutchison Whampoa Ltd., which holds a minority stake in both Orange plc and Western Wireless Corp., plans to issue $547 million in Euro-denominated bonds …

DENVER-Telecom Italia Spa has received permission from its board of directors to merge with its mobile phone operator subsidiary, Telecom Italia Mobile, as a defensive measure against a hostile takeover …

NEW YORK-L-3 Communications signed an agreement to acquire Aydin Corp., under which L-3 Communications will purchase all of the outstanding common stock of Aydin for $13.50 per share in cash. …

WASHINGTON-Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and James Jeffords (R-Vt.), reacting to persistent complaints that federal law inadequately addresses the impact of antenna proliferation on property values, aesthetics and health, plan to …

WASHINGTON-The cellular industry apparently knew what it was doing when it waited for Reed Hundt to retire as chairman of the Federal Communications Commission before asking that the spectrum cap …

Polson on target regarding public’s RF perception Thank you for Peter Polson’s excellent article “Public opposition expected to rise about RFR radiation,” Feb. 8 in RCR. I agree that there …