BROWSING: FCC

In the nation's capital, where I work, it's not uncommon to be approached on the sidewalk by strangers handing out leaflets. Typically, these are advertisements for coupons for local restaurants, delis and shops. I know this because I never refuse to accept one of...

udith St. Ledger-Roty and Lee Rau Inherent in the co-carrier status the Federal Communications Commission has expressly granted the wireless industry, including paging, cellular and personal communications services, is the right to fair and reasonable interconnection with the local exchange carriers.Among other things, this...

The latest step in the continuing march toward ever higher radio frequencies, 38 GHz point-to-point digital services, is providing a set of interesting, unique products.The 38 GHz technology has been proven in Europe and now a few American companies are introducing it and a...

WASHINGTON-All the turmoil, chaos and confusion of merging two major trade associations and sponsoring a huge industry conference in a year's time might drive one to write one of those heart-felt country and western songs that Personal Communications Industry Association President Jay Kitchen likes...

The road to launching the first commercial personal communications services network in the United States, which American Personal Communications plans to do this fall, began at the Personal Communications Industry Association (then called Telocator) annual convention in Washington, D.C., in 1989. It is fitting...

On a recent trip across Europe to visit some of the major operators and manufacturers of the blossoming cellular industry there, I was asked to describe the state of the industry in the United States. Of course I spoke of the great advancements we...

For more than 30 years, microwave communications systems have been used by utilities, oil and gas pipeline companies, railroads and municipalities to provide basic services to the American public including energy and transportation services, heating, air conditioning, power and fuel. Even public-safety agencies rely...

Nearly half of the 20 companies holding licenses for broadband personal communications services have made firm technology decisions, but others continue the difficult task of weighing options."It is like building 10 years of cellular all at once," said Jack Finlayson, vice president and general...

ierre Dogan, David Patton and Ray Nettleton Two observations can be drawn from the recent personal communications services license auctions. First, PCS participants are willing to assume enormous financial risk, on the order of tens of billions of dollars-an unprecedented level of risk-taking by...

When the Federal Communications Commission began the "finder's preference" program late in 1991, it was hailed by the industry as a win-win situation. The FCC would receive help in the enforcement of its rules and the members of the industry would receive badly needed...

WASHINGTON-Congress, in a move that has raised constitutional questions, is pushing legislation that would end entrepreneur block auction litigation and open the way for the sale of more personal communications services licenses in early December.A provision in a House Commerce Committee plan to raise...

WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission said it will concentrate on making wireless regulations more flexible and streamlining licensing procedures in the coming months.The emphasis on the two areas will be seen in new service rules and administrative procedures, according to the agency."I believe is...

Hindsight is best. Had I been able to anticipate what I call the Greed Factor-the behavior of a growing number of microwave incumbents in the 1.8 to 2.2 GHz band who seek to profit unreasonably from their relocation-at the time I participated in crafting...

WASHINGTON-The GOP-led Congress this fall will tackle landmark budget and telecommunications bills as part of a legislative agenda so sweeping and historic in scope that the outcome may well determine the success or failure of the year-old Republican revolution and provide an early barometer...

WASHINGTON - MCI Communications Corp. filed with the Federal Communications Commission protesting a proposed investment by France Telecom and Deutsche Telekom AG in rival telecommunications provider Sprint Corp. until French and German telecom markets are opened to competition."Allowing foreign monopolists preferential access to the...

WASHINGTON, D.C.-A committee under the Industry Carriers Compatibility Forum submitted to federal authorities a plan for providing personal communications services users with number portability.The Industry Numbering Committee's proposal would allow PCS subscribers to keep one non-geographically assigned phone number, even if they change service...

WASHINGTON-Congress' desire to raise $14 billion over the next seven years from expanded spectrum auctions has turned into a fierce debate about whether that goal can be attained without auctioning digital TV broadcast channels.The controversy has major economic and a competitive implications for the...

Federal regulators late last week approved final rules for the 900 MHz specialized mobile radio service auction on Nov. 28.The Federal Communications Commission said 1,020 licenses, or 20 1-channel blocks in 51 major trading areas, will be sold in a simultaneous multiple round auction.The...

Safety and security may be among the top reasons people buy cellular phones, but these features often fall short in one area: 911 service. But the state of Washington is hoping to remedy that situation with a new law that makes cellular carriers offer enhanced...

WASHINGTON-A campaign that officially kicks off this week to fight the planned giveaway of digital TV channels to broadcasters is partially funded by the cellular telephone industry, which fears any such giveaway will mean increased fees for cellular operators.Specifically, the cellular industry is worried...

Paging Network Inc. completed the purchase of the paging assets of California-based International Paging Corp. effective Sept. 1. PageNet said it will acquire 50,000 IPC paging customers in California, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, Washington and Utah for a cash purchase price of $15 million. "We...

WASHINGTON-Increased competition among commercial wireless carriers-owing to deregulation, more spectrum and technical flexibility-could lead to the formation of a single telecommunications market for "people on the move."The trend is cited in the Federal Communications Commission's first competitive analysis of commercial mobile radio services.The annual...

WASHINGTON-Is this the future?The Progress & Freedom Foundation, the libertarian think tank of House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., that wants to abolish the Federal Communications Commission, would be proud.But more likely, it would scoff, and call it a meager effort at reform.Whatever, the FCC...

I don't envy FCC Chairman Reed Hundt.Yes, only a few short months ago he was the golden boy of Washington, as should be anyone who delivers the president a check for $7.7 billion to be used to reduce the nation's budget deficit.In fact, the...