Policy

WASHINGTON-Last December, two months after President Clinton ordered government studies on spectrum availability for third-generation wireless systems and at a time when mobile-phone and Pentagon officials were intensely studying the …

Wireless industry insiders increasingly seem to be making the case that governments should consider “rebates” to carriers that bid too much money at spectrum auctions for third-generation wireless services. While …

WASHINGTON-Whether the nation is plagued with daunting deficits or buoyed by gushing surpluses, spectrum auctions remain a lightning rod for controversy as the revenue-generating wireless licensing tool becomes inextricably intertwined …

WASHINGTON-The wireless industry last week received the strongest indication to date that securing third-generation mobile-phone spectrum will be difficult if not impossible, as an eclectic mix of military, educational, religious …

TORONTO-The established Canadian wireless fraternity scooped up most of the available spectrum licenses contested in the February auction. All told, Industry Canada’s auction for wireless spectrum in the 2 GHz …

As the wireless industry is rocked with one huge acquisition, spectrum auction and technological development after another, a small-and often overlooked-market segment continues to operate just below radar. Resellers have …

As wireless carriers began bidding on 422 personal communications services licenses up for grabs in the government auction last week, investors were hoping carriers were not feeling extra generous due …

In stark contrast to the wildly successful Universal Mobile Telecommunications Service auction held in the United Kingdom this spring, the U.K.’s broadband fixed wireless access spectrum auction barely made a …

OTTAWA-Seven companies will participate in a spectrum auction in Canada set to begin 15 January. Forty megahertz of spectrum in the 2 GHz band will be awarded. Mobile incumbent carriers …

MELBOURNE, Australia-The Australian government has raised just more than A$112 million (US$58.7 million) from the first of its third-generation (3G) spectrum auctions. The auction, conducted by the Australian Communications Authority …

The Canadian government delayed its personal communications services spectrum auction for a second time until mid-January, giving officials enough time to respond to concerns about strategic alliances. The auction was …

WASHINGTON-With worries in some quarters that America will lose the third-generation mobile- phone market to Europe and Asia, the blame game has begun. Leading the finger-pointing is John Stanton, chief …

BOSTON-Telecommunications consultant Charles River Associates Inc. was selected to advise Switzerland’s Federal Office of Communications on the implementation of the country’s auction of IMT-2000/UMTS spectrum licenses for third-generation personal communications …

WASHINGTON-A congressional subcommittee and the wireless industry put pressure on the Federal Communications Commission to delay the upcoming 700 MHz auction, while private wireless wants the agency to go ahead …

There’s a virtual reality about government spending these days. Just ask Rep. David Obey (D-Wis.), ranking minority member of the House Appropriations Committee. Faced with GOP cuts in Clinton-proposed budgets …

GENEVA-With auction prices of the United Kingdom’s five third-generation licenses beating even the most inflated analyst forecasts, all eyes are now on Italy, which is set to allocate five 15-year …

A consortium comprised of Telefonica, Orange and Sonera will join U.S.-based MCI WorldCom and 10 other groups in bidding for third-generation (3G) licenses in Germany. The auction is set to …

After eight weeks and 150 rounds, NTL Mobile said enough and dropped out of the U.K. government auction for five Universal Mobile Telecommunications System licenses. The withdrawal left only five …

Was anyone paying attention to the debacle that was the U.S. C-block spectrum auction of 1996? Has anyone been paying attention to what has happened to the C-block “winners” since …

WASHINGTON-The Senate Commerce Committee is expected shortly to approve the renomination of Federal Communications Commission member Susan Ness, but the Clinton Democrat’s future is anything but clear. At last Wednesday’s …

SYDNEY, Australia-Hutchison Telecommunications (Australia) Ltd. joined three Australian mobile phone incumbents in securing spectrum in the 1800 MHz band. Proceeds of the spectrum auction totaled more than $809.5 million for …

PARSIPPANY, N.J.-Metrocall Inc. and Aquis Communications Group Inc. announced results of their respective 900 MHz spectrum auction bids. Aquis said it won licenses in five of the top seven markets …

The Federal Communications Commission on Jan. 7 released its decision establishing a new 700 MHz wireless service, setting the stage for a spectrum auction expected by congressional budget writers to …

WASHINGTON-Federal Communications Commission Chairman William Kennard last week told the House of Representatives’ top telecommunications lawmaker, Rep. Thomas Bliley (R-Va.), that a letter signed by the FCC general counsel does …

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.-The government late Friday was granted a last-minute emergency stay in its appeal against the bankruptcy reorganization of NextWave Personal Communications Inc., despite a stinging rebuke from another …