Pocket Communications

WASHINGTON-After being hit with loan-repayment defaults by the top two C-block personal communications services licensees March 31, LCC International Inc. has decided to “reserve with respect to 1996 earnings $30.1 million, pre-tax, against certain receivables from, investments in and costs …

WASHINGTON-Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) has drafted spectrum auction legislation designed to rein in what has become a high-stakes wireless licensing process driven increasingly by budget forces, possibly at the expense of competition. Pete Belvin, a Commerce Committee …

WASHINGTON-Despite the optimism expressed fewer than two weeks ago by Daniel Riker, chairman and chief executive officer of Pocket Communications Inc., regarding the financial future of his C-block personal communications services company, things apparently were not as rosy Riker described …

NEW YORK-Start-up players in personal communications services are at an awkward and critical juncture where riding the accelerator is necessary to roll out service and riding the brake is required to get public financing. “There is a divide right now …

The sixth largest PCS carrier (by pops) went bankrupt long before it ever got to market. Pocket Communications has $1.5 billion in liabilities, most of which is a large debt to the federal government. When people buy a typical business …

WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission last week declared that commercial wireless competition is developing, despite growing indications that funding problems, consolidation, operational snags and regulatory delay may be undermining the robust marketplace envisioned by policymakers. “Our examination of the commercial mobile …

WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission is scheduled to release a public notice that will modify existing C-block personal communications services installment payment plan notes and security agreements by allowing one yearly payment instead of four quarterly payments. At press time, the …

ACT Communications Inc. developed two personal communications services and cellular protection products. The ACT 452-120-400L is a two-line, single phase surge arrestor that provides all-mode protection. The company said it is ideal for cabinet and PCS applications. It is rated …

The separate statement by embattled FCC Commissioner Rachelle Chong on the 2.3 GHz (auction it till it hertz) ruling last week helps explain why President Clinton should reappoint her for a second term. Chong, expressing her support of the agency’s …

WASHINGTON-Mitsubishi Wireless Communications Inc. will provide Pocket Communications Inc. with personal communications services handsets. Pocket values the two-year agreement at $129 million. A custom version of Mitsubishi Wireless’ first Global System for Mobile communications phone will be made available exclusively …

CORAL GABLES, Fla.-When it comes to customer service, Barry Winkle aspires to have the role of the lonely Maytag repairman. Winkle is executive vice president of marketing for Pocket Communications Inc., Washington, D.C., which plans a full-scale commercial launch of …

WASHINGTON-In light of the Federal Communications Commission’s recent finding that NextWave Telecom Inc.’s foreign ownership exceeded the FCC’s 25-percent threshold, forcing a company reorganization of that segment, C-block winner and defaulter National Telecom PCS Inc. has filed yet another pleading …

NEW YORK-If the conventional wisdom holds true that a rising tide lifts all boats, then wireless companies seeking to go public this year can take comfort in the results of the 1997 Super Bowl. For 27 of the 30 previous …

Editor’s Note: The companies listed below are the current holders of A-, B- and C-block licenses for broadband personal communications services in the United States. Some of the companies have not yet received their licenses from the Federal Communications Commission …

WASHINGTON-With net revenues reaching $2.14 billion at the end of Round 100 of the Federal Communications Commission’s D-, E-and F-block personal communications services auction, SprintCom Inc. and AT&T Wireless PCS Inc. continue to solidify their nationwide footprints, even with as …

INDIANAPOLIS-Brightpoint Inc. has signed a letter of intent to provide subscriber product packaging assembly and inventory management and fulfillment services to Pocket Communications Inc. In addition, Brightpoint said it plans to invest up to $5 million in Pocket. Pocket has …

NEW YORK-The good news for emerging personal communications services players is that capital is available, and the investment community is bullish on wireless telephony as a general category. The bad news is that the public and private capital markets are …

WASHINGTON-As expected, DCR PCS Inc., part of Pocket Communications Inc. and the second-largest C-block winner, responded to National Telecom PCS Inc.’s recent second supplement to its petition to deny DCR’s licenses by stating, “once again, there is no affidavit support …

WASHINGTON-In his continued attempt to regain the C-block American Samoa personal communications services license taken back by the Federal Communications Commission due to default, Jack Robinson, president of National Telecom PCS Inc., has charged a financial-fundraiser and a major C-block …

NEW YORK-LCC International Inc., an independent provider of radio frequency network design for wireless telecommunications, went public Sept. 25 with a 5.25 million share offering of Class A common stock at $16 each. The new issue was increased from the …

NEW YORK-LCC International Inc., an independent provider of radio frequency network design for wireless telecommunications, said it plans to go public by early autumn. The road show for the 5-million-share initial public offering of Class A common stock was under …

LAS VEGAS-Russ Burd was named the new vice president and general manager for Pocket Communications Inc.’s Las Vegas market. By the end of March, Pocket expects to begin offering wireless services to the area. Prior to the joining the company, …

Telephone Warehouse, a wireless retailer with stores in Texas, Kansas and Missouri, said it is helping first-time cellular and pager buyers make informed decisions about products with its new mall-based superstore. The store, located in North Dallas’ Valley View Mall, …

WASHINGTON-The U.S. Treasury will be receiving another auction-related windfall payment sometime in the near future when the Federal Communications Commission, AT&T Corp. and the General Accounting Office decide how much money was made from the 900 number that personal communications …

NEW YORK-Never mind the summer sun. When it comes to microwave incumbent relocation, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas to personal communications services providers. By late July, about two-thirds of the incumbents already “are off the system” industrywide, …