NetAmerica Unveils Program for 700 MHz Licensees
Posted by Steve Fravel on Friday, May 4, 2012 · 
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NetAmerica Alliance LLC announced in an April 27 press statement the launch of a new program designed to assist those companies that purchased 700 MHz spectrum in Auction 73 to fulfill build-out requirements.
The License Saver Program is an initiative intended to assist in the development of new, immediate revenue generation though the acquisition of IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) services. The program also address three key elements for licensees. It (1) preserves the license, (2) minimizes and conserves both capital and operating expenditures, and (3) minimizes waste while assuring compatibility with future deployment. Read more
Sen. Grassley Lifts Hold on FCC Nominees
Posted by Steve Fravel on Monday, April 30, 2012 · ·
Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) on April 27 released a hold he placed on two nominees for vacant commissioner seats at the FCC. Releasing the hold will allow the senate to proceed with its review and potential confirmation of the two applicants.
Sen. Grassley placed the holds on Ajit Pai (R) and Jessica Rosenworcel (De) four months ago after his request for information from the commission was rebuffed primarily due to Sen. Grassley not holding a leadership position on a committee with jurisdiction over the commission.
In a statement released by his office, Sen. Grassley said that he intends to pursue his inquiry into LightSquared. “The documents I’ve seen so far raise more questions than I had before,” he said. Read more
Dish Chairman Offers Insight into Wireless Business Strategy
Posted by Steve Fravel on Sunday, April 22, 2012 · ·
At an April 17 speaking engagement, a candid presentation at the Silicon Flatirons Center for Law, Technology and Entrepreneurship at the University of Colorado Law School, Dish Network Corp. Chairman Charles Ergen discussed his company’s plans to launch a nationwide Long Term Evolution (LTE) network.
Dish’s plans are subject to a recent FCC notice of proposed rulemaking. The outcome could make way for Dish to deploy wireless services in the newly coined Advanced Wireless System (AWS) 4 band. Ergen acknowledged that there is “no guarantee” that the commission will adopt the ruling. He added, “We’re kind of a one-trick pony as a company. We do fixed video very well, do it economically. It’s a great product.” He went on to describe the addition of an advanced wireless product as being essential to Dish remaining a competitive and an innovative company. Read more
Grassley Stands Firm on Nominee Hold
Posted by Steve Fravel on Friday, April 13, 2012 · ·
April 10 articles in TR Daily and Broadcasting & Cable cover Sen. Charles Grassley’s (R–Iowa) position on documents concerning LightSquared and its stalled attempt to launch a nationwide 4G long term evolution (LTE) network. According to Sen. Grassley, the documents shared with him on April 6 by the House Energy and Commerce Committee appear to be incomplete.
The Iowa senator has requested that additional information from the FCC be made available to the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The senator is maintaining his hold on two nominees for commissioner’s seats at the FCC. A spokesperson for Grassley said in a statement, “According to the FCC, the documents all have been previously released through the Freedom of Information Act.” This point was made in the cover letter accompanying the documents. Read more
LightSquared Headed for Bankruptcy?
Posted by Steve Fravel on Friday, April 6, 2012 · ·
In an April 4 interview with Reuters, Philip Falcone, chief financial officer of Harbinger Capital Partners LLC, the majority owner of LightSquared, said he was “seriously considering” voluntary bankruptcy for LightSquared, although it is one of several options under review. LightSquared reported a net loss of $427 in the first nine months of 2011.
Inmarsat, a British satellite company, was quoted in a separate Reuter’s article saying that LightSquared had missed a second payment, which was due on March 31, for licensing part of its spectrum. The April 3 report listed the unpaid amount at $29.6 million. Inmarsat had earlier reported a $56.25 million payment that LightSquared failed to pay in February. Read more
13,000 FCC Documents to House Committee
Posted by Steve Fravel on Friday, March 30, 2012 · ·
In separate March 29 articles, TR Daily and Broadcasting and Cable reported that the FCC has turned over more than 13,000 documents in response to a request from the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The committee specifically requested documents pertaining to the proposed nationwide LTE network construction and deployment by LightSquared.
In January 2011, the commission approved LightSquared’s request for a conditional waiver and ancillary terrestrial component (ATC) authority. However, the commission stipulated that the LightSquared proposed service would be dependent upon proof that its L-band spectrum devices would not interfere with the global positioning system (GPS) devices in use by government agencies, private organizations and individuals. In February 2012, based upon a report from the NTIA, the International Bureau of the FCC proposed to vacate the LightSquared conditional waiver and ATC authority due to bandwidth interference with GPS device operations. Read more
T-Mobile Reduces Staff
Posted by Steve Fravel on Monday, March 26, 2012 · ·
In a March 22 press release, T-Mobile announced a consolidation plan for its call center operations. According to the release, T-Mobile will reduce its 24 call centers to 17.
“Concentrating call centers is an important step to achieve competitive cost structures to successfully compete as challenger and value player in the wireless market,” said T-Mobile President and CEO Phillipp Humm. “These are not easy steps to take, but they are necessary to realize efficiency in order to invest for growth.”
The list of call centers marked for closing includes Allentown, Pa; Fort Lauderdale, Fl.; Frisco, Texas; Brownsville, Texas; Lenexa, Kan.; Thornton, Colo.; and Redmond, Oreg. Read more