Arch Wireless subsidiary AWI Spectrum and Nextel subsidiary ACI filed application for FCC approval to assign 150 licenses in 900 MHz specialized mobile radio service to Nextel from Arch. Agency is seeking comments by March 21, with replies April 2.
Group representing wireless providers criticized Multi-Assn. Group (MAG) plan for reforming rural telephony regulation Mon. but gave slightly more favorable review to another plan proposed by Rural Task Force (RTF). In comments to FCC Mon., Competitive Universal Service Coalition (CUSC) said much of MAG plan failed to “satisfy the access charge and universal service guiding principles of competitive neutrality, economic efficiency and transparency.” CUSC said 2 parts of MAG were consistent with those principles -- proposed increase in subscriber line charges in rural areas and plan to make universal service funding portable. However, most parts of MAG proposal raise “policy pitfalls that the Commission should avoid,” CUSC said. On other hand, it said it “generally supports the RTF recommendations which will advance the goal of competitive neutrality and will prevent excessive growth in the size of the fund.” However, CUSC said some parts of RTF plan should be rejected, such as “safety value” adjustment that would permit increases in amount of funding in some study areas. FCC took comments on 2 plans separately but on same schedule.
FTC appointed ex-FCC official Dale Hatfield as its monitor trustee to oversee AOL-Time Warner merger, as expected. Monitor authority was part of consent decree companies signed in Dec. (CD Dec 15 p1), which requires merged entity to add at least one independent ISP to its cable systems before adding AOL, and 2 more after. Trustee also will deal with other technical issues, such as capacity constraints. Hatfield recently restarted his Boulder, Colo., consulting business after retiring as chief of FCC Office of Plans & Policy. He’s also ex-staffer of Commerce Dept.
Pricing study conducted by Teligen research company said international voice and data calls using Inmarsat satellite communications were cheaper than cellular phones or international hotel phones in several markets. Price of one minute call to U.K. from 26 selected locations averaged $2.25 on Inmarsat mini-M compared with $2.48 for same call on Cellnet, $3.18 on Vodafone and $3.68 on international hotel phone, study said.
Qwest CEO Joseph Nacchio told state regulators fastest way to develop local competition was to “give competitors the freedom to take risks and enjoy the reward.” In keynote speech Mon. at NARUC winter committee meetings in Washington, he called himself “unabashed capitalist” willing to put money at risk where there’s best possibility of return. Talk came just one day before NARUC decision on its policy toward 2 federal-level deregulation proposals.
In $230 million deal, Nokia will supply equipment to China’s Fujian Mobile Communications Co. to expand its GSM 900 MHz and 1800 MHz network to handle additional 3 million subscribers. (Fujian now has network capacity for 4.2 million.) Equipment includes mobile switching centers and high-capacity base stations, with deliveries expected to be completed early next year. Nokia said it would provide base station solution to support General Packet Radio Service, Enhanced Data for Global Evolution, Wideband CDMA.
Comcast had $777.7 million profit in 4th quarter ended Dec. 31, reversing $181.6 million loss year ago, primarily because of $1.7 billion gain on cable system exchanges with AT&T, company said. Revenue grew to $1.3 billion from $943.3 million on acquisitions and cash flow to $675 million from $534 million.
House Commerce Committee plans to mark up several bills Wed. including: (1) HR-90, Know Your Caller Act, introduced by Rep. Frelinghuysen (R-N.J.), to prohibit telemarketers from masking their identity by interfering with caller ID service. (2) HR-496, Independent Telecom Consumer Enhancement Act, by Rep. Cubin (R- Wyo.) to deregulate small telcos serving fewer than 2% of nation’s access lines. Markup begins 10 a.m., Rm. 2123 Rayburn Bldg.
Disney Internet Group said it was eliminating 135 staff positions as part of streamlining, with most coming from ABCNEWS.com and ABC.com. Employees will receive severance packages, company said.
There is “a business in the business of new business,” Belo CEO Robert Decherd said late Fri. in bullish speech on traditional media’s future in Internet-related activities. Speaking in Dallas to Interactive Newspapers Conference, he said consumers increasingly were turning to Internet for their news and information, confirming media’s role in advancement of interactive and online information: “We brought content to the radio spectrum and consumers followed. We brought content to the television spectrum and consumers followed. We are bringing content to the Internet and consumers are following.”