Editor’s Note: The RCR Wireless News Time Machine is a way to take advantage of our extensive history in covering the wireless space to fire up the DeLorean and take a trip back in time to re-visit some of the more interesting headlines from this week in history. Enjoy the ride!
Martin eyes changes to open access: VZW’s lobbying may indicate desire for C-Block spectrum
DEMOCRATS WARNED FCC CHAIRMAN KEVIN MARTIN not to cripple the open-access stipulation on the 700 MHz spectrum up for auction early next year, following the agency chief’s failed attempts to revise the rule through a procedural maneuver shortly after Verizon Wireless lobbied on the issue. Martin’s attempts to revise open access also preceded the agency’s consideration of regulatory challenges to the ruling. “Chairman Markey would be concerned with any ruling that weakened or diluted the effectiveness of the open-access rule,” said an aide to House telecom subcommittee Chairman Edward Markey (D-Mass.). … Read More
Clouds gather over LNP: Critics argue that current contract is burning consumers
The nation’s top consumer group urged the Federal Communications Commission to consider eliminating provisions in the local number portability administration contract that critics view as anti-competitive and costly to consumers, wireless carriers and other telecom service providers. “These clauses impose a $30 million annual penalty simply for making a statement that the industry intends to seek lower rates or competitive alternatives,” stated Consumers Union. “We question the purpose of these contract provisions, which essentially block the negotiation of lower rates, and mean that carriers-and therefore consumers-are locked into paying higher rates.” … Read More
11 years later, FCC still toiling through PCS auction litigation: Agency wins ruling against Magnacom, but case may be headed to Supreme Court
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the trustee of bankrupt Magnacom Wireless L.L.C. is not entitled to proceeds from the reauction of the company’s cancelled wireless licenses, a legal victory for the Federal Communications Commission on the losing end of a 2003 Supreme Court decision that held bankruptcy code trumped the agency’s regulatory authority. “We conclude that the FCC’s cancellation of Magnacom’s licenses extinguished Magnacom’s interest in those licenses and the underlying spectrum,” stated the 9th Circuit in affirming a lower court ruling. “Such cancellation did not result in any traceable proceeds, and did not constitute a lien-enforcement remedy. Therefore, Magnacom is not entitled to such proceeds.” … Read more
Apple, unlockers grapple in cyberspace
The good news is that Apple Inc. has a lot of fans. The news that’s too fresh to characterize as “good” or “bad” is that Apple fans include inspired hackers and mere meddlers who seek to break the tenuous bond between Apple and its exclusive iPhone customer in the United States, AT&T Mobility. The reasons appear to include fun, profit and the pursuit of a sense that they are smarter than Apple CEO Steve Jobs and his cadre of software engineers. A wave of iPhone unlocking-scale unknown-appears to be sweeping over the U.S. with enough force that Apple has broken its “no comment” stance on the practice. … Read More
Mousetrapped: Disney shuts down MVNO
The Walt Disney Co. is shutting down its remaining mobile virtual network operator, Disney Mobile, as of Dec. 31. The company announced this morning that it would dismantle Disney Mobile and would explore “a new business model for its content and services that might include offering its popular Family Center product through a partnership with a major U.S. carrier.” Disney’s former Mobile ESPN MVNO now exists as an application available through Verizon Wireless. The company pulled the plug on Mobile ESPN after less than a year of operations; Disney Mobile launched in June 2006, and runs its service over Sprint Nextel Corp.’s network. … Read More
Xohm readies for the revolution
“The horse is out of the stable, it’s running around the track and there isn’t another one in sight,” Barry West, president of Xohm and CTO of Sprint Nextel Corp., said in his Wednesday morning keynote at WiMAX World USA. “There is really only one other horse. It’s called LTE. It’s not out of the stable.” West is thrilled with the remarkable time-to-market advantage that Sprint currently holds in the race to deploy 4G networks. LTE could come as early as 2009 or as late as 2015; West says he’ll take any of those numbers. “To make a new service work you’ve got to be at the right place at the right time,” he said, adding that Sprint already owns the spectrum required to roll out its next-generation network. “We’ll be running at full speed when the next network occurs.” … Read More
WiMAX and the Wild, Wild West : Chip vendors bullish, few may succeed
Intel Corp. has a vision for portable, personal broadband that will ensure the company transitions from “Intel Inside” to “Intel on the Internet.” Mobile WiMAX plays a big role in chip vendor’s vision, according to Intel’s Ron Peck. Intel is prepared to turn out WiMAX chips “abysmally cheap, abysmally fast.” The mobile WiMAX phase is ramping now, and Intel said it plans to be shipping PC cards in the fourth quarter for laptops to enable Wi-Fi/WiMAX connectivity, Peck said. … Read More
Martin working to revise 700 MHz open-access provisions
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin is aggressively pushing for prompt revisions to the 700 MHz open-access rule-even before the agency completes a review of the various regulatory challenges to the full 700 MHz decision, according to industry sources who suggest the behind-the-scenes activity is tied to Verizon Wireless’ lobbying. Martin, according to sources, failed late last week to make changes to the 700 MHz open-access conditions after a backlash from one or more of his FCC colleagues. Sources said Martin is now attempting to use a different policymaking vehicle-a declaratory ruling-to modify the auction’s open-access guidelines in a way that responds to concerns raised by Verizon Wireless executives at a Sept. 17 meeting with Martin, his staff and Fred Campbell, chief of the FCC’s wireless bureau. … Read More
WiMAX vs. LTE: Let the battle begin
For plenty the debate is over, they’ve already committed to WiMAX or HSPA leading to LTE. But that never stops the larger, ongoing discussion. Wireless carriers and others are ramping up plans to upgrade or deploy entirely new networks to meet the ever-insatiable thirst for richer media. They have to make choices, of which there are plenty, that will take them well into the next decade. “The constant demand for data is going to continue to grow and that’s going to be an important asset,” said Jerold Givens, general manager of the wireless infrastructure group at Texas Instruments Inc. … Read More
700 MHz: Land of opportunity
The upcoming auction of 700 MHz could give birth to an unprecedented infrastructure that could serve countless rural consumers as it provides a crucial boost to the nation’s public-safety industry.
Or it could be a debacle. The winner of the highly prized chunk of spectrum will own a tremendous resource: the low frequency is unusually efficient, allowing for a network that doesn’t require a dense buildout and better in-building penetration. And the Federal Communications Commission has adopted limited open-access laws, leading to speculation that Google Inc. or another well-heeled outsider will join the ranks of mobile network operators. … Read More
