Wireless Services

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

AURORA, Colo.-Key Communications Group Inc. said it completed agreements with Denver-based specialized mobile radio companies Mobile One Communications and Omni Range Communications LLC. Key Communications, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of ComTec International Inc.-previously Nattem USA Inc.-acquired management agreements …

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 …

PCS PrimeCo L.P. has chosen AT&T Network Systems Inc. and Motorola Inc. to be equipment manufacturers for its nationwide personal communications services network. AT&T and Motorola will split the contract equally, with Motorola primarily supplying radio transmitters and receivers. The …

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill.-Pilipino Telephone Corp. awarded Motorola Inc.’s International Cellular Infrastructure Division a $270 million contract to expand and enhance its Mobiline cellular phone system, said Motorola. The initial phase of the multi-year contract will replace metropolitan Manila’s current Advanced …

WASHINGTON – The structure of the wireless telecommunications industry will be in a constant state of flux for the near future due to evolving regulatory, technological and economic changes, according to a new government report. Nevertheless, according to Congress’ Office …

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 …

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 …

SEATTLE-The Aviation Communications Division of AT&T Wireless Services announced the domestic offering of new ground-to-air service on its all-digital, inflight telecommunications system. “Consumers now have the option of being reached in flight for business or personal matters,” said Randy Ottinger, …

Cellular operators may have to continue to price digital service lower than analog to capture and keep customers until digital service matures and can offer advanced features, said cellular phone analyst Herschel Shosteck. But digital service has been accepted by …

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 …

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, …

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 …

WASHINGTON-Stepped-up lobbying by city, state and county officials and support from a top House Republican likely will weaken the Klug-Manton antenna siting amendment in the House-Senate conference on telecommunications reform legislation this fall. Rep. Thomas Bliley, R-Va., chairman of the …

WASHINGTON-The federal government is trying to mend its rocky relationship with the public-safety community, following a series of flare-ups between the two during the past year. Last week, the Federal Communications Commission and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration named …

Launching personal communications services with a multitude of standards may be the way for industry to sort out the benefits of each technology, but it could set consumers up for chaos and confusion, said longtime wireless architect Jesse Russell. The …

Groups battling for unlicensed spectrum at 5 GHz to create a high-speed data system agree there is industry support for such a service, but the details now are in the hands of the Federal Communications Commission. Apple Computer Inc. petitioned …

As major service providers work to gain position for the coming pocket-phone revolution, Sprint Corp. is letting loose of its cellular holdings in order to concentrate on its personal communications services licenses. Sprint has announced it intends to pursue a …

WASHINGTON-Resale could become a powerful force in wireless telephony in the coming years, bringing an odd mix of competition and commerce to facilities-based carriers. Resale has experienced modest success in the 12-year-old cellular industry, but the infusion of more spectrum …

WASHINGTON-Congress is studying different approaches to spectrum reform in light of the $14 billion that lawmakers and the Clinton administration hope to extract from the airwaves during the next seven years. The Federal Communications Commission has raised $9 billion to …

WASHINGTON-MCI Communications Corp. turned itself into a national wireless powerhouse last week by signing cellular resale agreements with AT&T Corp., GTE Corp., BellSouth Corp., Frontier Corp. and the AirTouch Communications Inc.-Cellular Communications Inc. partnership known as New Par. The resale …

A joint venture is underway to deliver “last mile”-or in this case last 20 miles-digital wireless connections for wireline phones in regions worldwide where phone service is costly, inadequate or nonexistent. Together, Granger Telecom, Loral Communications Systems and Unisys Corp. …