AT&T

BETHESDA, Md.-Comsat Corp. filed with the Federal Communications Commission for relief from what it calls outdated regulatory burdens. “Comsat is the only U.S. international communications carrier that is still regulated by the FCC as a dominant carrier and required to …

WAYNE, N.J.-AT&T Corp. appointed Daniel Somers chief financial officer to replace Richard Miller, who left the company last month. Most recently, Somers was chairman and chief executive officer of Bell Cablemedia plc, Bell Canada’s British unit. Somers will be charged …

GREENSBORO, N.C.-Blue Ridge Investors L.P. completed a management-led buyout of Cherokee Wireless Services Inc., which provides program and contract management services for tower and antenna needs. Based in Cornelia, Ga., Cherokee Wireless has six branch offices throughout the Southeast. The …

More than a year after the Internet burst into the wireless space, the big story in mobile data continues to be how the industry is responding to this communications phenomenon. While circuit-switched cellular still is the standard for wireless data …

DENVER-Personal communications services operator Western Wireless Corp. launched its VoiceStream service last Thursday in Denver, promising rates at least 20 percent lower than AT&T Wireless Services Inc.’s digital cellular rates. The company said it’s Global System for Mobile communications network, …

AT&T Wireless Services Inc. and Bloomberg Financial Markets announced they will begin offering financial news and market updates to users of AT&T’s PocketNet phone this summer. Information available from Bloomberg will include daily financial, general and company news and market …

WASHINGTON-Joel Klein, the Clinton administration’s choice for Justice Department antitrust czar, appears headed for Senate confirmation despite mild grilling at last week’s hearing for approving the Bell Atlantic Corp.-Nynex Corp. merger without the kinds of conditions imposed by some New …

Cellular carriers in the city of Grand Forks, N.D., said their systems are faring well despite massive flooding that has forced most of the city’s 50,000 residents to leave their homes for higher and dryer ground. Western Wireless Corp., operating …

DENVER-Western Wireless Corp. said it plans to launch personal communications services based on Global System for Mobile communications technology May 1 in Denver. The company plans to open several VoiceStream Wireless retail outlets along the Front Range. Western Wireless will …

Editor’s Note: The companies listed below represent the 20 largest cellular carriers in the United States. Company rankings are based on the total number of subscribers for their majority-held or controlled markets. All subscriber numbers reflect year-end 1996 figures reported …

Wireless pricing in competitive markets with at least one personal communications services operator on average is 18 percent lower than in markets with no PCS competitors, reported the Yankee Group. More than 40 markets in North America have three broadband …

Billing and customer care are hailed by industry analysts, vendors and service providers as keys to success in a highly competitive wireless market. The recent focus in this area has been on making better software, training personnel, integrating systems and …

A C-block enterprise created by two Alabama telephone companies is methodically slipping into position to rival big-name wireless players in the Gulf Coast area. The telephone companies believe if they are going to lose landline customers to wireless offerings, they …

SAN ANTONIO-ATX Technologies Inc. selected AT&T Wireless Services Inc.’s Wireless Data Division to provide the wireless communications for its OnGuard product. OnGuard uses wireless communications and Global Positioning System technology to provide vehicle tracking and directional assistance, the company said. …

NEW YORK-Wall Street, once ebullient about wireless stocks, is somewhat gloomy these days about the prospects for new personal communications services carriers to raise public equity. A convergence of global and local factors is at play in a situation that …

Oh, the C-block PCS auction is becoming one of life’s little ironies. Consider this: Congress in 1993 demanded that spectrum be set aside for smaller companies that want to participate in the nation’s wireless telecommunications business. The C-block auction is …

The Federal Communications Commission announced three appointments in the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau. David Horowitz was named chief of the Private Wireless Division of the Bureau, which he joined in 1995 as deputy chief. He joined the commission in 1998 as …

Tough competition from other operators has led to increased costs for cellular carrier Palmer Wireless Inc., fueling speculation that the carrier is up for sale. Fort Myers, Fla.-based Palmer won’t comment on what it calls “a market rumor” that it …

Comsat Corp. said its offer to repurchase 8.13 percent debentures due April 1, 2004, was concluded April 9. The company repurchased $89.5 million of the $160 million in principal amount of debentures outstanding. Globalstar Telecommunications Ltd.’s board of directors declared …

DENVER-In concert with the company’s previous digital cellular launches, AirTouch Cellular announced it is offering its high-end business users in Denver and Detroit Powerband service. “In the past, we have launched new services to business and retail customers simultaneously,” said …

WASHINGTON-In the early to mid-1980s, the rush was on at the Federal Communications Commission to get cellular licenses in major metropolitan and rural areas issued as quickly as possible to get the new service operating. Because of the time element …

Antenna placement at the new Denver International Airport is on hold until carriers can convince airport authorities that additional sites won’t cause interference. “We didn’t spend $8 million building a radio system for this airport to have anyone come in …

Ireland’s second mobile phone operator has launched service with two compact packages and a goal of acquiring 50,000 customers by the end of the year. Dublin-based Esat Digifone had hoped to be online by the end of 1996 with its …

A Western Wireless Corp. subsidiary has filed a lawsuit in Arizona U.S. district court against the city of Tucson, claiming the city’s new zoning ordinance discriminates against the company and favors existing wireless providers. Western PCS BTA 1 Corp., which …

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil-About 15 companies submitted bids last week for ten B-band cellular licenses in Brazil. One source reported that bids ranged from $200 million for more desolate Amazon basin states to at least $600 million for Sao Paulo …