black line

AAPC Wireless Messaging News

black line

FRIDAY — MARCH 25, 2011 - ISSUE NO. 450

black line

Paging and Wireless Messaging Home Page image Newsletter Archive image Carrier Directory image Recommended Products and Services
imageimageimageimage
Reference Papers Consulting Glossary of Terms Send an e-mail to Brad Dye

black line

Greetings Loyal Readers, and Friends of Wireless Messaging,

Analyst: Apple Will Be Bigger than IBM, HP in Two Years

Reports by Bryan Chaffin
6:39 PM, Mar. 24th, 2011

Apple is going to be a bigger company than IBM next year, and it will grow enough to be bigger than HP a year after that, according to George Colony, the founder of Forrester Research. In an interview with Bloomberg, Mr. Colony said that Apple’s mobile empire could fuel growth of 50% per year for the next two years, and said that, “they’re going to be a $200 billion revenue company.”

Longtime Apple watches will already know that Apple is the largest tech company in the world by market capitalization, which makes Apple a $317.8 billion company. Indeed, this makes Apple the second most valuable company of any classification, behind only #1 Exxon Mobil.

HP and IBM , however, both do more in sales (much of Apple’s stock price/market cap is fueled by the company’s potential, not its realized sales). IBM turned in $99.9 billion in sales in 2010, while HP turned in sales of $126 billion. Apple’s sales in 2010 were $63.5 billion, representing 52% growth over 2009.

Mr. Colony believes that Apple is going to continue growing at a rapid pace, and already the company’s off to a good start with $26.74 billion in revenue during the December quarter, the company’s first fiscal quarter. The Forrester founder said that Apple will turn in sales of $100.3 billion for the full fiscal year, representing 54% growth over 2010.

In MY day….

Fueling all this growth is Apple’s app ecosystem, which Mr. Colony sees as a virtuous circle that propels new sales of Apple’s mobile devices (iPhone, iPod touch, iPad), which in turn fuels growth of the app ecosystem.

He also said that this represents a sea change of sorts, and one that de-emphasizes the traditional Web. To that end, he said that companies like Google that are “too Web-centric,” adding that being too Web-centric is going to lead to trouble for those companies that can’t change.

Steve Jobs

On a cautionary note, Mr. Colony said that Steve Jobs has been a big part of Apple’s product cycle. He believes Apple’s product pipeline has already been developed enough to provide new products for three-to-four years after Mr. Jobs leaves.

That’s a speculative thought, however, as no one knows when Mr. Jobs might leave as the CEO battles health issues. Implicit in the comment on Apple’s product pipeline is that Mr. Jobs would leave his company in the near future.

Be that as it may, and whenever Mr. Jobs steps down from Apple, Mr. Colony said that his departure will make for a tough transition for Apple.

“Remember, every two years they have to fill [its fleet of Apple Stores] with new stuff,” he said. “Without Steve Jobs as the CEO, I think it will be much harder for them to do that. That would be a massive, massive hit to the valuation.”

Apple shares closed higher Thursday, ending the day at $344.97, up $5.78 (+1.70%), on moderate volume of 14.4 million shares trading hands.

In the interest of full disclosure, the author holds a small share in AAPL stock that was not an influence in the creation of this article.

[source]

Now on to more news and views.

aapc logo
Wireless Messaging News
  • Emergency Radio Communications
  • Wireless Messaging
  • Critical Messaging
  • Telemetry
  • Paging
  • VoIP
  • Wi-Fi
  • WiMAX
  • Location-Based Services
WIRELESS
wireless logo medium
MESSAGING

black line

This is the AAPC's weekly newsletter about Wireless Messaging. You are receiving this because I believe you have requested it. This is not a SPAM. If you have received this message in error, or you are no longer interested in these topics, please click here, then click on "send" and you will be promptly removed from the mailing list.

black line

iland internet sulutions This newsletter is brought to you by the generous support of our advertisers and the courtesy of iland Internet Solutions Corporation. For more information about the web-hosting services available from iland Internet Solutions Corporation, please click on their logo to the left.

black line

A new issue of The Wireless Messaging Newsletter is posted on the web each week. A notification goes out by e-mail to subscribers on most Fridays around noon central US time. The notification message has a link to the actual newsletter on the web. That way it doesn't fill up your incoming e-mail account.

There is no charge for subscription and there are no membership restrictions. Readers are a very select group of wireless industry professionals, and include the senior managers of many of the world's major Paging and Wireless Messaging companies. There is an even mix of operations managers, marketing people, and engineers — so I try to include items of interest to all three groups. It's all about staying up-to-date with business trends and technology. I regularly get readers' comments, so this newsletter has become a community forum for the Paging, and Wireless Messaging communities. You are welcome to contribute your ideas and opinions. Unless otherwise requested, all correspondence addressed to me is subject to publication in the newsletter and on my web site. I am very careful to protect the anonymity of those who request it.

EDITORIAL POLICY

Editorial Opinion pieces present only the opinions of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the views of AAPC, its publisher, or its sponsors.

black line

support

left arrow

Please help support the AAPC Wireless Messaging News by clicking on the PayPal Donate button above.

black line

subscribe

Newspapers generally cost 75¢ a copy and they hardly ever mention paging. If you receive some benefit from this publication maybe you would like to help support it financially? A donation of $25.00 would represent approximately 50¢ a copy for one year. If you are willing and able, please click on the PayPal Donate button above.

black line

CONSULTING ALLIANCE

Brad Dye, Ron Mercer, Allan Angus, and Vic Jackson are friends and colleagues who work both together and independently, on wireline and wireless communications projects. Click here  for a summary of their qualifications and experience. They collaborate on consulting assignments, and share the work according to their individual expertise and their schedules.

black line

pagerman

 

lopok

NEWSLETTER ADVERTISING

If you would like to have information about advertising in this newsletter, please click here. Your support is needed.

black line

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF PAGING CARRIERS

black line

aapc logo American Association of Paging Carriers

black line

aapc

black line

AAPC SEEKS INPUT ON FCC BIENNIAL RULE REVIEW

spacerAAPC is seeking comments from interested members of the paging industry on two rules the FCC has designated for review under the federal Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA). The RFA generally requires the FCC to periodically review rules it has promulgated which have, or might have, a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The RFA requires the FCC in the course of its review to determine whether such rules should be continued without change, or should be amended or rescinded, to minimize any significant economic impact of such rules upon a substantial number of small entities.

spacerTwo FCC rules included within the scope of the current review are Section 1.928, dealing with frequency coordination with Canada, and Section 54.708, defining the de minimis exemption from contribution requirements to the Universal Service Fund. Numerous other rules have also been targeted for review, but AAPC believes that Sections 1.928 and 54.708 may have the most relevance to the paging industry.

spacerSection 1.928 provides that applications for frequency assignments above 30 MHz and above Line A (as well as certain other geographic areas outside the continental United States) must be coordinated with and approved by Canada as well as by the FCC. An exception to the coordination requirement exists in subsection (d) for frequency assignments in any radio service other than domestic public land mobile and domestic public fixed if “a base station assignment has been made previously under the terms of this arrangement . . . in the same radio service and on the same frequency and in the local area, and provided the basic characteristics of the additional station are sufficiently similar technically to the original assignment to preclude harmful interference to existing stations across the border.” AAPC understands that the FCC’s practice under this rule for Part 90 stations is to avoid referring applications to Canada if the interfering contour within Line A does not exceed the interfering contour of a previously approved station on the same frequency. AAPC further understands, however, that the same practice is not followed for Part 22 applications, and that Canada remains extremely restrictive in reviewing coordination requests for Part 22 applications despite the supplanting of VHF and UHF mobile telephone service in Canada by cellular service in the 800 MHz band.

spacerAs a result, AAPC believes that in practice it is very difficult, if not nearly impossible, to obtain coordination for sites proposed for Part 22 geographic licenses above Line A. AAPC therefore invites Part 22 licensees to provide it with information concerning their experience, successful or otherwise, in requesting coordination with Canada. Based on the information available to it, AAPC may request that the domestic public land mobile exception be deleted from Section 1.928(d), so that Part 22 and Part 90 applications are subject to the same policy when the FCC decides whether or not to refer an application to Canada for coordination.

spacerSection 54.708 of the FCC’s rules excludes a paging carrier (and other telecommunications carriers) from the requirement to contribute to the federal Universal Service Fund (USF) if its contribution is less than $10,000 during a calendar year. However, there is no similar exemption for contributions to the Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS), North American numbering administration (NANPA) or shared costs of local number portability (LNP); and paging carriers within the de minimis exemption for USF contributions nonetheless must contribute to the costs of TRS, NANPA and LNP.

spacerAAPC believes that the RFA raises two issues in connection with Section 54.708 of the rules. The first issue is whether the $10,000 exemption should be increased. This limit was first adopted in the mid-1990s in the course of implementing the Telecommunications Act of 1996. It has not been modified in the nearly 15 years since it was adopted, despite the economic inflation that has occurred and the growth in the size of the USF and the USF contribution factor that also has incurred. AAPC therefore seeks information from paging carriers about the extent to which, if at all, the $10,000 limit on the de minimis exemption has become or is likely to become burdensome with the passage of time. AAPC also seeks recommendations as to an appropriate exemption level, if the $10,000 limit is increased.

spacerSecond, AAPC seeks information from paging carrier about the extent to which contributions to TRS, NANPA and LNP may have become burdensome over time. AAPC intends to evaluate the information it receives to determine whether to request that carriers exempt from USF contributions as a result of the de minimis exemption likewise should be exempt from TRS, NANPA and LNP contributions.

spacerThe date for comments to the FCC has not been set as of this writing. However, AAPC requests that any information related to these issues be submitted to it not later than Friday, April 15, 2011. Information should be submitted to AAPC’s counsel at kenhardman@att.net.

Thanks to our Premier Vendor!

prism paging
Prism Paging

Thanks to our Silver Vendors!

methodlink
Method Link, LLC
unication
Unication USA

Thanks to our Bronze Vendors!

AAPC Executive Director
441 N. Crestwood Drive
Wilmington, NC 28405
Tel: 866-301-2272
E-mail: info@pagingcarriers.org
Web: www.pagingcarriers.org
AAPC Regulatory Affairs Office
Suite 250
2154 Wisconsin Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20007-2280
Tel: 202-223-3772
Fax: 202-315-3587

black line

ADVERTISERS SUPPORTING THE NEWSLETTER

black line

Advertiser Index

AAPC—American Association of Paging Carriers Northeast Paging
CVC Paging Paging & Wireless Network Planners LLC
Daviscomms USA Preferred Wireless
Hahntech-USA Prism Paging
Hark Technologies Ron Mercer
HMCE, Inc. TC Promotion GmbH
Ira Wiesenfeld, P.E. UCOM Paging
 Unication USA
Ivycorp United Communications Corp.
Leavitt Communications WiPath Communications

black line

UNICATION USA

black line

 

unication

• With Standard Two-year Warranty

alpha legend

The New Alpha Legend +
Automatically Transitions From
Wideband Today to Narrowband Tomorrow

 

web: www.unication.com red spacer e-mail: sales@unication.com red spacer tel: 954-333-8222

 

black line

RIM says PlayBook tablet will run Android apps

March 24, 2011 | 5:00 pm

playbookLess than a month before its first tablet computer goes on sale, BlackBerry maker Research in Motion announced that its PlayBook tablet will support applications written for Android, the operating system that powers many smartphones that compete with the BlackBerry.

The new 7-inch device -- to be launched April 19 -- will be smaller than Apple's hugely successful iPad. The PlayBook is a bid by RIM to snag a part of the growing tablet market at the same time that BlackBerry phones face increasing competition and slower sales growth as the iPhone and Android-based phones eat up more market share.

The PlayBook will support apps written for Android 2.3 and BlackBerry Java and will open up a wider field for both app users and developers. "The upcoming addition ... will provide our users with an even greater choice of apps and will showcase the versatility of the platform," RIM co-Chief Executive Mike Lazaridis said.

RIM posted fourth-quarter earnings Thursday of $934 million, or $1.78 a share. The company forecasted earnings for the current quarter ranging from $1.47 to $1.55 a share, which fell below analyst estimates. Its shares, which closed up $1.97, or 3.2%, at $64.09, plunged $6.70, or 10.4%, to $57.39 in after-hours trading.

RIM said that cheaper BlackBerry sales would make up a greater chunk of its revenue in the current quarter. The company also plans to sink more into research, development and marketing, with a special focus on the PlayBook.

Source: Los Angeles Times

black line

black line

TC PROMOTION

black line

TC

black line

TC PROMOTION

black line

black line

IVYCORP

black line

New Ad Coming Soon

black line

IVYCORP

black line

black line

black line

Ira Wiesenfeld, P.E.

black line

Complete Technical Services For The Communications and Electronics Industries

Design • Installation • Maintenance • Training • Engineering • Licensing • Technical Assistance

black line

Ira Wiesenfeld, P.E.
Consulting Engineer
Registered Professional Engineer

Tel/Fax: 972-960-9336
Cell: 214-707-7711
7711 Scotia Dr.
Dallas, TX 75248-3112
E-mail: iwiesenfel@aol.com

black line

Ira Wiesenfeld, P.E.

black line

 

 

black line

HMCE Inc.

black line

pat merkel ad

hmce@bellsouth.net left arrow Click to e-mail
http://www.h-mce.com left arrow Paging Web Site
Joshua's Mission left arrow Helping Wounded Marines Homepage
Joshua's Mission left arrow Joshua's Mission Press Release

black line

HMCE Inc.

black line

propage

Newsletter Supporter

black line

teletouch

Newsletter Supporter

black line

cook paging

Newsletter Supporter

black line

 

black line

Canyon Ridge Communications

black line

canyon ridge

New Ad Coming Soon

black line

Canyon Ridge Communications

black line

Hahntech-USA

black line

www.hahntechUSA.com

 

2-Way 4-Button Pager

  • ReFLEX™ v 2.7.5
  • DSP Technology
  • Industrial Grade

e940
E940 PAGER & CHARGER

more

E-mail: sales@hahntechUSA.com
Telephone: 011-82-31-735-7592

 

black line

Hahntech-USA

black line

Paging & Wireless Network Planners

black line

PAGING & WIRELESS
NETWORK PLANNERS LLC

WIRELESS SPECIALISTS

www.pagingplanners.com
rmercer@pagingplanners.com

R.H. (Ron) Mercer
Consultant
217 First Street South
East Northport, NY 11731
ron mercer

Cell Phone: 631-786-9359

black line

Paging & Wireless Network Planners

black line

 

black line

PRISM PAGING

black line

prism
white line

PRISM IP MESSAGE GATEWAY

white line
THE ULTIMATE IN COMMERCIAL AND PRIVATE RADIO PAGING SYSTEMS
prism
  • VoIP telephone access — eliminate interconnect expense
  • Call from anywhere — Prism SIP Gateway allows calls from PSTN and PBX
  • All the Features for Paging, Voicemail, Text-to-Pager, Wireless and DECT phones
  • Prism Inet, the new IP interface for TAP, TNPP, SNPP, SMTP — Industry standard message input
  • Direct Connect to NurseCall, Assisted Living, Aged Care, Remote Monitoring, Access Control Systems
prism
prism

black line

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Sara Brown
SA Brown Marketing Strategy
919.699.7093
sara@sabrownmarketing.com

CONNECTED DEVELOPMENT DELIVERS IGLUCOSE DIABETES MANAGEMENT PRODUCT TO POSITIVEID CORPORATION

Connected Development currently demonstrating iglucose device at CTIA Wireless 2011, booth #1875.

CARY, NC — March 23, 2011 — (Virtual Press Office) — Connected Development today announced it has completed development for PositiveID Corporation’s (NASDAQ: PSID) iglucose™ mobile health solution for real-time diabetes management and delivered the product to PositiveID. Connected Development is currently demonstrating iglucose at its booth #1875 in the M2M Zone at CTIA Wireless 2011.

“We’re very pleased to be selected by PositiveID for this assignment and to showcase iglucose in our exhibit,” said Stefan Lindvall, president of Connected Development. “It is a tremendous credit to the team to have been an integral part of the development of such an innovative mobile Health solution with great potential for global market adoption.”

The competitively-priced iglucose is a wireless communication device for the automatic transmission of blood glucose readings from data-capable glucometers to the iglucose database. It functions without the use of a cellular telephone, telephone line or personal computer. Users simply connect their data-capable glucometer to iglucose and within seconds data is wirelessly transmitted to the iglucose database. Designed to take the work out of diabetes management, iglucose automatically creates the logs and journals which the American Diabetes Association says are an important assessment of an individual’s response to their diabetes care plan.

Connected Development handled the hardware design and embedded software development on the device and is currently taking it through pre-certification testing as the next step to marketability.

PositiveID has also finalized the product/mechanical design and back-end software architecture for iglucose, which is based on Web 2.0 methodologies and facilitates an intuitive user interface, and user-centric design of the application, and which is also on display at Connected Development’s exhibit.

"We have been very pleased with the support we’ve received from Connected Development,” said Scott R. Silverman, Chairman and CEO of PositiveID. “We simply couldn't have gotten so far, so fast without their impressive team of wireless experts.”

About Connected Development
Led by a team of well-known and respected experts in wireless and M2M, Connected Development provides the most comprehensive set of services on the market to bring products from concept to reality quickly and painlessly. Further, their network of partners, spanning every aspect of the wireless community, let Connected Development position customer solutions for success from the start. Visit http://www.connecteddev.com to learn more.

About PositiveID Corporation
PositiveID Corporation develops and markets healthcare and information management products through its diagnostic devices and identification technologies, and its proprietary disease management tools. PositiveID's implantable healthcare devices and external hardware and software products are designed to communicate wirelessly to improve healthcare and the patient's quality of life. For more information on PositiveID, please visit http://www.PositiveIDCorp.com. For more information about iglucose, please visit http://www.iglucose.com.

Source: Virtual Press Office

black line

black line

CVC Paging

black line

NEWS FLASH — SATELLITE FAILURES

  • January 11, 1997—Telstar 401 suffers a short in the satellite circuitry—TOTAL LOSS May 19, 1998—Galaxy 4 control processor causes loss of fixed orbit—TOTAL LOSS September 19, 2003—Telstar 4 suffers loss of its primary power bus—TOTAL LOSS March 17, 2004—PAS-6 suffers loss of power—TOTAL LOSS
  • January 14, 2005—Intelsat 804 suffers electrical power system anomaly—TOTAL LOSS

DON’T WAIT FOR THE NEXT SATELLITE OUTAGE

Allow us to uplink your paging data to two separate satellites for complete redundancy! CVC owns and operates two separate earth stations and specializes in uplink services for paging carriers. Join our list of satisfied uplink customers.

  • Each earth station features hot standby redundancy UPS and Generator back-up Redundant TNPP Gateways On shelf spares for all critical components
  • 24/7 staffing and support

cvc paging cvc antennas For inquires please call or e-mail Stephan Suker at 800-696-6474 or steves@cvcpaging.com left arrow

black line

CVC Paging

black line

 

pagerman

 

black line

DAVISCOMMS USA

black line

 

daviscomms

PAGERS & Telemetry Devices
FLEX & POCSAG

(12.5 KHz or 25 KHz - POCSAG)

br502 numeric
Br502 Numeric

br802 front
Br802
Alphanumeric

tmrp-1
Telemetry

white line

Contract Manufacturing Services
Board Level to complete “Turn-Key”

white line

Bob Popow
Scottsdale, AZ
www.daviscommsusa.com
480-515-2344

white line

Daviscomms (S) Pte Ltd-Bronze Member-AAPC

 

black line

DAVISCOMMS USA

black line

black line

CRITICAL RESPONSE SYSTEMS

black line

Critical Response Systems

Over 70% of first responders are volunteers
Without an alert, interoperability means nothing.

Get the Alert.

M1501 Acknowledgent Pager

With the M1501 Acknowledgement Pager and a SPARKGAP wireless data system, you know when your volunteers have been alerted, when they’ve read the message, and how they’re going to respond – all in the first minutes of an event. Only the M1501 delivers what agencies need – reliable, rugged, secure alerting with acknowledgement.

Learn More

FEATURES
  • 5-Second Message Delivery
  • Acknowledged Personal Messaging
  • Acknowledged Group Messaging
  • 16 Group Addresses
  • 128-Bit Encryption
  • Network-Synchronized Time Display
  • Simple User Interface
  • Programming/Charging Base
  • Secondary Features Supporting Public Safety and Healthcare

black line

Healthcare Visionary Soon-Shiong Says Wireless Technologies Will Enable Personalized Healthcare

March 23, 2011 09:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Patrick Soon-Shiong and Ericsson CEO Hans Vestberg outline vision for how wireless technologies will transform the entire spectrum of healthcare, from genomic analysis and prediction to in-home monitoring of chronic illness

CTIA WIRELESS 2011

ORLANDO, Fla.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Healthcare visionary and business leader Patrick Soon-Shiong, M.D., was a joint keynote speaker today with Ericsson CEO Hans Vestberg during the CTIA Wireless 2011 conference being held in Orlando, Florida. He set out his vision of how today’s wireless technologies can now help bring about a revolution in healthcare, realizing the dream of personalized medicine by connecting with what he calls the “human signal engine”— the wide array of information now available from genomics and proteomics, as well as more traditional tests and scans, and the data the body receives through the senses. Soon-Shiong’s remarks will be available after 10 a.m. EDT by visiting http://daily.ctia.org/wireless2011/.


“And there are a host of non-medical applications for this technology as well.”

Dr. Soon-Shiong revealed a stunning new object recognition technology which could enable any mobile device with a camera to read dollar bill denominations, and even “read” a newspaper and automatically connect the user with related video stories or Web sites.

“Technologies like this will transform life for the visually impaired. It will empower them,” he commented. “And there are a host of non-medical applications for this technology as well.”

Within a handful of years, Soon-Shiong predicted, it will be commonplace for cancer patients to have their genome sequenced and analyzed, and for patient-specific treatment guidance to be sent to mobile devices at the point of care.

“There is a widening gulf between medical science, which thanks to genomics and proteomics can now show us how disease affects individual patients at a molecular level, and the delivery of healthcare, which is increasingly struggling to absorb even yesterday’s information,” said Soon-Shiong. “Information technologies now exist that will enable us to close that gap, and enable real time information to be used by healthcare providers and consumers, thereby giving us better health and a more cost effective system of care.”

Soon-Shiong, whose keynote address was delivered via video from Los Angeles, where the part owner of the Lakers was grounded by a basketball injury, described an array of wireless technologies now becoming available to monitor the health of patients with chronic conditions, enabling healthcare professionals to intervene in real time, and before illnesses become acute. “This will bring great improvements in health outcomes,” said Soon-Shiong, “and will save a lot of money. Eighty percent of our healthcare costs are accounted for by chronic illness.”

About Patrick Soon-Shiong

Dr. Soon-Shiong is Chairman of the Chan Soon-Shiong Family Foundation, Chairman and CEO of the Institute for Advanced Health, Chairman and CEO of the Healthcare Transformation Institute and founder of the National Coalition for Health Integration. A physician, surgeon and scientist, he has pioneered new therapies for both diabetic and cancer patients, holds over 50 US patents, and has published over 100 scientific papers. He has developed and sold two multi-billion dollar companies, American Pharmaceutical Partners (APP) and Abraxis BioScience (ABII). Since 2006, Dr. Soon-Shiong’s business and philanthropic endeavors have been devoted to transforming healthcare by establishing an integrated health information platform and promoting a paradigm shift in healthcare in the United States by better integrating the three now separate domains of medical science, healthcare delivery and healthcare finance.

In 2010, Soon-Shiong became a co-owner of the LA Lakers. Also in 2010, in partnership with the Los Angeles Business Journal he founded the Patrick Soon-Shiong Innovation Awards; the first winners of these annual awards were six companies from the media, entertainment, engineering and aerospace sectors.

In the past two months, it has been announced that Soon-Shiong has acquired two companies: Vitality Inc., a Boston-based developer of the first wireless internet-enabled smart pill bottles for improved medication adherence; and Fourth Wall Studios, a pioneering, next generation entertainment company incorporating transmedia, social gaming and augmented reality.

Contacts

PondelWilkinson
Rob Whetstone
310-279-5963
or
Jen Hodson
310-405-7539

Source: Business Wire

black line

UNITED COMMUNICATIONS

black line

make your minitor II like new again

minitor
before

minitor
after

Flat rate repair for $55.00 per pager.

We manufacture Minitor II and III housings.

Call for pricing and availability.

We Sell: Accessories, Batteries, Chargers, Case Parts.

spacer United Communications Corp.
spacer Serving the Emergency Service Market Since 1986
motorola paging 888-763-7550 Fax: 888-763-7549
62 Jason Court, St. Charles, MO 63304
www.uccwireless.com
motorola original

black line

x

BloostonLaw Telecom Update

Published by the Law Offices of Blooston, Mordkofsky, Dickens, Duffy & Prendergast, LLP

[Portions reproduced here with the firm's permission.]

www.bloostonlaw.com

   Vol. 14, No. 12 March 23, 2011   

black line

Tentative Agenda For April 7 Open Meeting

The following items will be on the tentative agenda for the FCC’s April 7 open meeting:

  • Pole Attachment Report and Order and Order on Reconsideration: An Order that reforms the access, rates, and enforcement rules for utility pole attachments, reducing barriers to deployment and availability of broadband and other wireline and wireless services, and promoting competition.
  • Accelerating Broadband Deployment NOI: A Notice of Inquiry seeking comment on key challenges and best practices in expanding the reach and reducing the cost of broadband deployment, including by improving policies for access to government rights of way and wireless facility siting requirements.
  • Data Roaming Second Report and Order: A Second R&O that adopts a rule requiring facilities-based providers of commercial mobile data services to offer data roaming arrangements to other such providers on commercially reasonable terms and conditions, subject to certain limitations.
  • Signal Boosters Declaratory Ruling, NPRM, and Order: A Declaratory Ruling, NPRM and Order that helps to fill gaps in wireless coverage and expands broadband in rural and difficult-to-serve areas, while protecting wireless networks from harm.
  • Structure and Practices of Video Relay Service Program: Report and Order will adopt rules to detect and prevent fraud and abuse in the provision of video relay service (VRS). Also, a Further NPRM proposes to require all VRS providers to obtain certification from the FCC under new, tighter certification procedures in order to receive compensation from the TRS Fund.
  • Reliability and Continuity of Communications Networks NOI: An NOI seeking comment on existing reliability standards for communications networks, including broadband networks, and ways to further strengthen the reliability and continuity of communications networks to avoid disruptions of service during major emergencies, such as large-scale natural and man-made disasters.

black line

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

  • AT&T to acquire T-Mobile in $39 billion transaction.
  • Landover LPTV project raises certain concerns.
  • FCC clarifies conditional grant of renewal licenses.
  • FCC announces procedures, deadlines for 700 MHz Auction 92.
  • FCC says Sec. 254(g) rate integration requirement does not apply to CMRS.

AT&T To Acquire T-Mobile In $39 Billion Transaction

AT&T and Deutsche Telekom AG have announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which AT&T will acquire T-Mobile USA from Deutsche Telekom in a cash-and-stock transaction currently valued at approximately $39 billion. The agreement has been approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies.

But the deal requires approvals from both the Justice Department and the FCC, which obviously will take a long, hard look at combining the second- and fourth-largest carriers in the U.S. wireless market. Although this proposed transaction would offer certain network efficiencies, it would create a virtual duopoly that would not necessarily result in lower prices for consumers. Additionally, rural carriers likely will be affected by partnerships, roaming agreements, handset availability, and post-transaction divestiture requirements. Clients should watch the development of this proposed transaction carefully, and contact the firm with questions or concerns that may warrant the filing of comments.

With this proposed transaction, AT&T said it commits to a significant expansion of robust 4G LTE (Long Term Evolution) deployment to 95 percent of the U.S. population to reach an additional 46.5 million Americans beyond current plans – including rural communities and small towns. The parties tout that this would help achieve the FCC’s and President Obama’s goals to connect “every part of America to the digital age.” T-Mobile USA does not have a clear path to delivering LTE.

“This transaction represents a major commitment to strengthen and expand critical infrastructure for our nation’s future,” said Randall Stephenson, AT&T Chairman and CEO. “It will improve network quality, and it will bring advanced LTE capabilities to more than 294 million people. Mobile broadband networks drive economic opportunity everywhere, and they enable the expanding high-tech ecosystem that includes device makers, cloud and content providers, app developers, customers, and more. During the past few years, America’s high-tech industry has delivered innovation at unprecedented speed, and this combination will accelerate its continued growth.”

Deutsche Telekom Chairman and CEO René Obermann said, “After evaluating strategic options for T-Mobile USA, I am confident that AT&T is the best partner for our customers, shareholders and the mobile broadband ecosystem. Our common network technology makes this a logical combination and provides an efficient path to gaining the spectrum and network assets needed to provide T-Mobile customers with 4G LTE and the best devices. Also, the transaction returns significant value to Deutsche Telekom shareholders and allows us to retain exposure to the U.S. market.”

The proposed deal would apparently end rumors of a T-Mobile merger with Sprint that would have created a stronger third competitor vis-à-vis Verizon and AT&T. Instead, if the merger is approved, the wireless industry will be further consolidated, to the likely detriment of small, rural carriers. For instance, the merger will remove a significant source of competitive pressure on the carriers to provide a fair roaming rate to rural licensees; and AT&T will likely make itself the preferred roaming designation for T-Mobile customers, taking roaming revenues away from rural carriers.

As part of the transaction, Deutsche Telekom will receive an equity stake in AT&T that, based on the terms of the agreement, would give Deutsche Telekom an ownership interest in AT&T of approximately 8 percent. A Deutsche Telekom representative will join the AT&T Board of Directors.

This transaction would quickly provide the spectrum and network efficiencies necessary for AT&T to address spectrum shortages in certain markets driven by the exponential growth in mobile broadband traffic on its network. AT&T’s mobile data traffic grew 8,000 percent over the past four years and by 2015 it is expected to be eight to 10 times what it was in 2010. Put another way, all of the mobile traffic volume AT&T carried during 2010 is estimated to be carried in just the first six to seven weeks of 2015. Because AT&T has led the U.S. in smartphones, tablets and e-readers — and as a result, mobile broadband — it must obtain additional spectrum before new allocations of broadband spectrum will become available through future auctions. In the long term, the entire industry will need additional spectrum to address the explosive growth in demand for mobile broadband.

According to AT&T, AT&T and T-Mobile USA customers will see service improvements — including improved voice quality — as a result of additional spectrum, increased cell tower density and broader network infrastructure. At closing, AT&T will immediately gain cell sites equivalent to what would have taken an average five years to build without the transaction, and double that in some markets. The combination will increase AT&T’s network density by approximately 30 percent in some of its most populated areas, while avoiding the need to construct additional cell towers. AT&T said this transaction will increase spectrum efficiency to increase capacity and output, which not only improves service, but is also the best way to ensure competitive prices and services in a market where demand is extremely high and spectrum is in short supply.

AT&T said this transaction will directly benefit an additional 46.5 million Americans – equivalent to the combined populations of the states of New York and Texas – who will, as a result of this combination, have access to AT&T’s latest 4G LTE technology. AT&T claims that rural and smaller communities will substantially benefit from the expansion of 4G LTE deployment, increasing the competitiveness of the businesses and entrepreneurs in these areas.

The $39 billion purchase price will include a cash payment of $25 billion with the balance to be paid using AT&T common stock, subject to adjustment. AT&T has the right to increase the cash portion of the purchase price by up to $4.2 billion with a corresponding reduction in the stock component, so long as Deutsche Telekom receives at least a 5 percent equity ownership interest in AT&T.

The number of AT&T shares issued will be based on the AT&T share price during the 30-day period prior to closing, subject to a 7.5 percent collar; there is a one-year lockup period during which Deutsche Telekom cannot sell shares.

The cash portion of the purchase price will be financed with new debt and cash on AT&T’s balance sheet. AT&T has an 18-month commitment for a one-year unsecured bridge term facility underwritten by J.P. Morgan for $20 billion. AT&T assumes no debt from T-Mobile USA or Deutsche Telekom and continues to have a strong balance sheet.

The transaction is expected to be earnings (excluding non-cash amortization and integration costs) accretive in the third year after closing. Proforma for 2010, this transaction increases AT&T’s total wireless revenues from $58.5 billion to nearly $80 billion, and increases the percentage of AT&T’s total revenues from wireless, wireline data and managed services to approximately 80 percent.

Conditions
The acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals, a reverse breakup fee in certain circumstances, and other customary regulatory and other closing conditions. The transaction is expected to close in approximately 12 months. Our clients that feel they will be adversely affected by the transaction should contact us as soon as possible. There will be an opportunity to submit comments on the transaction at both the FCC and Department of Justice. Certainly clients that have a roaming agreement with T-Mobile should participate in such comments.

BloostonLaw contacts: Hal Mordkofsky, Ben Dickens, Gerry Duffy, and John Prendergast.

Landover LPTV Project Raises Certain Concerns

Landover LLC has been offering rural telecom companies an opportunity to file applications for broadcast spectrum, low power TV UHF channels 14-51 (LPTV) at the FCC by engineering applications and filing them through a waiver or “rural filing window.” Landover says the costs of this application process would be significantly less when compared to prices paid for spectrum licenses auctioned in Auction 73 for 700 MHz. Landover itself holds interests in certain LPTV licenses, and wishes to establish a broadband network on this spectrum. It appears to be approaching a number of rural carriers as potential partners.

Clients interested in this opportunity should contact BloostonLaw, as there are certain concerns about the LPTV application process. For example, the FCC imposed an application freeze last fall, thereby creating significant regulatory hurdles for the grant of a waiver. The FCC is planning an “incentive auction” of the TV Band spectrum, raising a significant question as to whether the Commission will want to grant LPTV waivers ahead of such auction.

BloostonLaw contacts: Hal Mordkofsky, John Prendergast, and Cary Mitchell.

FCC Clarifies Conditional Grant Of Renewal Licenses

The FCC has issued a Public Notice clarifying its Wireless Radio Services Order, in which it directed the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau to grant applications for renewal of certain wireless radio service licenses conditioned on the outcome of the rulemaking proceeding in WT Docket No. 10-112.

On May 20, 2010, the Commission adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Order in WT Docket 10-112. In the Notice, it proposed to harmonize the requirements for the renewal of wireless radio service (WRS) licenses for 25 geographically-licensed services and, separately, 15 services that are licensed on a site basis. BloostonLaw, on behalf of its clients, filed comments opposing many aspects of the proposed rule changes.

In the companion Wireless Radio Services Order, the FCC froze the filing of applications that are mutually exclusive with renewal applications filed during the pendency of the rulemaking proceeding. In addition, it directed the Bureau to grant currently pending applications for renewal, as well as applications for renewal filed during this rulemaking, on a conditional basis, subject to the outcome of this proceeding. On August 6, 2010, the Wireless Communications Association International, Inc. (WCAI) filed a petition for partial reconsideration of the Wireless Radio Services Order, requesting that the FCC clarify the purpose of its conditional renewal directive.

When the FCC adopted the Wireless Radio Services Order, it identified one Personal Communications Service and 149 Wireless Communications Service pending renewal applications that were subject to one or more mutually exclusive (i.e., competing) applications for the spectrum. The Bureau subsequently granted these renewal applications with the following condition: “License renewal granted on a conditional basis, subject to the outcome of FCC proceeding WT Docket No. 10-112.” This condition “preserve[s] any available legal rights of the applicants that have already filed competing renewal applications,” and memorializes the Commission’s retention of authority to process (i.e., accept for filing) the competing applications, if it determines that doing so would be appropriate and consistent with any rules and policies that may ultimately be adopted in WT Docket No. 10-112.

The Commission’s directive to grant applications for renewal conditioned on the outcome of rulemaking proceeding WT Docket No. 10-112 also applies to: (1) renewal applications pending when the FCC adopted the Wireless Radio Services Order but not subject to competing applications; and (2) renewal applications filed during the pendency of the rulemaking proceeding. The FCC has determined that to implement the Wireless Radio Services Order, the Bureau should widen its alert about the conditional nature of the grant, by placing the conditional language it uses in connection with the renewal of the licenses identified in the Wireless Radio Services Order on the face of every affected license receiving a renewal grant during the pendency of the rule-making proceeding.

Accordingly, all licenses renewed on or after May 25, 2010 (the Order’s release date) in the services enumerated in the Appendix to the Public Notice will include the following condition: “License renewal granted on a conditional basis, subject to the outcome of FCC proceeding WT Docket No. 10-112.”

The FCC clarifies that the scope of the condition does not include retroactive application of any revisions to the Commission’s substantive license renewal standards that it may adopt in the rulemaking proceeding to renewal applications filed before or during the pendency of the proceeding. Rather, as directed, the Bureau will continue to review and process renewal applications filed before or during the proceeding under the applicable renewal standards in effect on the license’s expiration date.

The purpose of the above condition is to preserve the opportunities of any party that might otherwise have sought to file a competing application during the proceeding, but could not do so because the FCC has prohibited (i.e., frozen) the filing of competing applications during the rulemaking proceeding. Thus, if the Commission determines during the rulemaking that it should retain existing rules and policies that permit the filing of competing applications in a particular wireless radio service, then it would take the steps it deems necessary and appropriate to afford such potential applicants this opportunity. As a practical matter, it appears that renewal applications that were listed on Public Notice as accepted for filing and later granted when no competing applications were filed are safe, because the public has already been accorded notice of the renewal application’s filing and has been afforded the opportunity to file a competing application.

The FCC also notes that the Commission might determine during the rulemaking that it will prohibit the filing of competing applications in a particular wireless radio service; in which case, it would accordingly remove the condition from affected licenses.

FCC Announces Procedures and Deadlines for 700 MHz Auction No. 92

The FCC issued a Public Notice last week setting forth the dates/deadlines and filing requirements for 700 MHz Auction No. 92. Short-form application deadline is May 11 and bidding starts on July 19. Interested clients should contact the firm ASAP, since the short form application requires the compilation of detailed ownership information (and financial information if bid credits are sought).

Auction 92 will include a total of 16 licenses—these include two Basic Economic Area (BEA) and 14 Cellular Market Area (CMA) licenses. These licenses were offered in Auction 73 and remained unsold or were licenses on which a winning bidder defaulted.

Applicants that are winning bidders will be required to disclose in their long-form applications the specific terms, conditions, and parties involved in any bidding consortia, joint venture, partnership, or agreement, understanding, or other arrangement entered into relating to the competitive bidding process, including any agreement relating to the post-auction market structure. Applicants must be aware that failure to comply with the Commission’s rules can result in enforcement action.

700 MHz Band licensees must operate in accordance with Commission rules to reduce the potential for interference to public reception of the signals of digital television (DTV) broadcast stations transmitting on DTV Channel 51. These limitations may restrict the ability of such geographic area licensees to use certain portions of the electromagnetic spectrum or provide service to some parts of their geographic license areas.

For clients applying for bidding credits: A bidding credit represents an amount by which a bidder’s winning bid will be discounted. For Auction 92, bidding credits will be available to small businesses and very small businesses, and consortia thereof. The level of bidding credit is determined as follows:

  • A bidder with attributed average annual gross revenues that exceed $15 million and do not exceed $40 million for the preceding three years (“small business”) will receive a 15 percent discount on its winning bid.
  • A bidder with attributed average annual gross revenues that do not exceed $15 million for the preceding three years (“very small business”) will receive a 25 percent discount on its winning bid.

Bidding credits are not cumulative. A qualifying applicant may claim either a 15 percent or 25 percent bidding credit on its winning bid.

Important Dates/Deadlines

Auction Tutorial Available (via Internet)May 2, 2011
Short-Form Application (FCC Form 175)
Filing Window Opens
May 2, 2011
12:00 noon ET
Short-Form Application (FCC Form 175)
Filing Window Deadline
May 11, 2011
6:00 p.m. ET
Upfront Payments (via wire transfer)June 17, 2011
6:00 p.m. ET
Mock AuctionJuly 15, 2011
Auction BeginsJuly 19, 2011

Available markets include:

BEA markets: Wheeling, WV-OH, and Lubbock, TX

CMA markets:

Ponce, PR
Mayaguez, PR
Arecibo, PR
Aguadilla, PR
Fargo-Moorehead, ND-MN
Grand Forks, ND-MN
Bismarck, ND
North Carolina 2 - Yancey
South Carolina 1 - Oconee
South Carolina 6 - Clarendon
Texas 12 - Hudspeth
Virginia 1 - Lee
Puerto Rico 2 - Adjuntas
Puerto Rico 3 - Ciales

BloostonLaw Contacts: Cary Mitchell, Hal Mordkofsky, John Prendergast

LAW & REGULATION

FCC SAYS SEC. 254(g) RATE INTEGRATION REQUIREMENT DOES NOT APPLY TO CMRS: The FCC has denied a Petition for Rulemaking filed by South Seas Broadcasting, Inc., in which South Seas asked that the FCC expand the implementation of Section 254(g) of the Communications Act to include wireless (e.g., cellular telephone) calls from the mainland United States to the U.S. Territory of American Samoa. The FCC found that the statutory rate integration requirement of Section 254(g) does not apply to providers of commercial mobile radio services (CMRS), such as wireless carriers. South Seas requested that the Commission extend the rate integration requirements of Section 254(g) to wireless carriers. It asserted that the Wireline Competition Bureau’s 2006 reinstatement of the overall rate integration requirement for American Samoa caused confusion, in as much as the order did not explicitly extend the reinstated requirement to wireless carriers, “a fact that was omitted in news stories about the integrated rate rule and in the customer newsletter circulated by the American Samoa Telecommunications Authority (ASTCA).” Moreover, South Seas contended that most cellular telephone carriers offered at that time various calling plans that included “domestic long distance,” but none of them notified customers that callers to American Samoa (who would be dialing what was considered a domestic telephone number under the plans) would not be eligible for the favorable domestic long distance rate. These omissions caused some residents of American Samoa mistakenly to inform friends and family on the U.S. mainland that the calling rate effectively had been lowered as a result of rate integration. These relations placed calls on their wireless phones to American Samoa and later “were shocked when they received their telephone bills.” For these reasons, South Seas argued that rate integration should apply to CMRS carriers. The FCC said Congress did not contemplate that CMRS providers would be “provider[s] of interstate interexchange telecommunications services” and, accordingly, the rate integration requirement should not apply to CMRS. The Commission added that practical considerations support this interpretation. For instance, “CMRS service areas do not follow state lines and do not coincide with local exchange carrier (LEC) ‘exchanges.’ Rather, CMRS licenses are issued by [Metropolitan Statistical Areas] and [Major Trading Areas], which frequently cover multi-state areas within which some calls might be considered inter-LATA or interexchange calls in the wireline context.” This lack of congruence between CMRS service areas and those in which wireline services traditionally have been provided impedes the application of the rate integration requirement to CMRS, insofar as the rate integration requirement applies only to “interexchange telecommunications services.” Thus, the FCC said the Section 254(g)’s rate integration requirement does not apply to CMRS. BloostonLaw contacts: Hal Mordkofsky, John Prendergast, and Bob Jackson.

CITY OF CHARLOTTE ASKS FCC TO CLARIFY “GOVERNMENT USE” REQUIREMENT APPLICABLE TO 700 MHz PUBLIC SAFETY SPECTRUM: The City of Charlotte, North Carolina, has filed a petition for declaratory ruling asking the FCC “to confirm explicitly what the rulings in PS Docket No. 06-229 and the processing of 700 MHz narrowband applications indicate implicitly: Territories, possessions, states, counties, towns or similar State or local governmental entities that qualify as 700 MHz lessees/users presumptively have as their sole or principal purpose the protection of the safety of life, health, and property and are permitted to use 700 MHz broadband spectrum for activities conducted by their personnel including, but not limited to, activities of police, fire and medical emergency first responders.” Charlotte states that it “believes that [Section 337 of the Communications Act], the accompanying legislative history, and the FCC’s decisions regarding 700 MHz matters support a conclusion that the statutory qualifier applies to the eligibility of entities and not to the scope of activities they may undertake on 700 MHz spectrum.” Charlotte further notes, however, that “discussions regarding permissible use of 700 MHz broadband spectrum by non-governmental entities have included language that arguably could be read to say that police, fire and EMS services are the only activities that may be conducted on this spectrum, even by governmental entities.” Charlotte asks the Commission to “resolve any ambiguity on this point by issuing a declaratory ruling clarifying that all governmental entities eligible under FCC Rule Section 90.523(a) presumptively have as their sole or primary mission the safety of life, health and property, and, provided that emergency personnel are utilizing a 700 MHz broadband system, non-first responder government personnel may operate on the system as well.” Comments in this PS Docket No. 06-229 proceeding are due April 11, and replies are due April 29. BloostonLaw contacts: Hal Mordkofsky, John Prendergast, and Cary Mitchell.

FCC SETS COMMENT DATE FOR 10-YEAR RFA REVIEW: The FCC has set a comment date on its Public Notice to review rules pursuant to section 610 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA). The purpose of the review is to determine whether Commission rules whose ten-year anniversary dates are in the year 2009 should be continued without change, amended, or rescinded in order to minimize any significant impact the rules may have on a substantial number of small entities (BloostonLaw Telecom Update, March 9). Upon receipt of comments from the public, the Commission will evaluate those comments and consider whether action should be taken to rescind or amend the relevant rule(s). Comments in this CB Docket No. 09-229 proceeding are due May 17. There is no opportunity for reply comments. In reviewing each rule in a manner consistent with the requirements of section 610 the FCC will consider the following factors:

(a) The continued need for the rule;
(b) The nature of complaints or comments received concerning the rule from the public;
(c) The complexity of the rule;
(d) The extent to which the rule overlaps, duplicates, or conflicts with other Federal rules and, to the extent feasible, with State and local governmental rules; and
(e) The length of time since the rule has been evaluated or the degree to which technology, economic conditions, or other factors have changed in the area affected by the rule.

BloostonLaw contacts: Hal Mordkofsky, Ben Dickens, Gerry Duffy, and John Prendergast.

FCC SETS COMMENT CYCLE ON NPRM TO REINSTATE & MODIFY VIDEO DESCRIPTION RULES: The FCC has established a comment cycle on its second Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), related to the “Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010” (CVAA), that seeks comment on reinstatement and modification of the video description rules originally adopted by the Commission in 2000 (BloostonLaw Telecom Update, March 9). Comments in this MB Docket No. 11-43 proceeding are due April 28, and replies are due May 27. Video description is the insertion of audio-narrated descriptions of a television program's key visual elements into natural pauses in the program's dialogue. This feature makes television programming more accessible to people who are blind or visually impaired by providing them with essential information that is otherwise conveyed to the audience only visually. This NPRM would reinstate the Commission’s video description rules that were previously overturned by a federal appeals court more than a decade ago. The FCC said the enactment of the CVAA provided the Commission with ample authority for the reinstatement of these rules. As directed by Congress in the CVAA, the proposed rules would require:

  • Large-market broadcast affiliates of the top four national networks and large multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs) to provide video description;
  • These broadcasters to provide 50 hours per quarter of video-described primetime or children’s programming, with affected MVPDs providing the same amount on each of the five most popular non-broadcast networks; and
  • All network-affiliated broadcasters and all MVPDs to “pass through” any video description included in network or broadcast programming they carry. Live or near-live programming would be exempt from the proposed rules.

BloostonLaw contacts: Hal Mordkofsky and Gerry Duffy.

FCC GRANTS 6-MONTH SUBSTANTIAL SERVICE EXTENSION TO EBS INDUSTRY (BUT NOT BRS INDUSTRY): The FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) has granted a blanket 6-month extension for Educational Broadband Service (or EBS) licensees to complete their post-transition substantial service buildout. The Bureau’s action came in response to a request filed in early February by the National EBS Association and the Catholic Television Network to extend the substantial service deadline for EBS licensees from May 1, 2011 to November 1, 2011. Comments on the joint NEBSA/CTN request were filed in WT Docket No. 11-22. In granting the extension, the Bureau reasoned that a significant number of EBS licensees may be unable to comply with the EBS educational use requirements by May 1, 2011 because the substantial service deadline comes at the end of the school year. It also cited carrier reports that deployment of EBS service has been hampered by lack of equipment and engineering expertise, lack of full 4G signal availability, difficulties in obtaining middle-mile and backhaul facilities, and permitting delays that have slowed cell siting efforts. These factors were particularly evident for licensees in smaller markets. The Bureau concluded that blanket relief was appropriate in the case of EBS licensees because they are similarly situated, and because it would be unduly burdensome to require all EBS licensees to devote scarce resources at the end of the school year to the preparation and filing of individual waiver requests. A total of 17 commenters filed in support of the extension and no commenters opposed the NEBSA/CTN request. The Bureau’s ruling provides significant relief to many commercial 2.5 GHz Band operators, and it is a significant win for Clearwire Corp., since that company has significant EBS lease holdings and construction obligations in connection with those leases. Our firm’s clients should be advised that the EBS buildout extension does not in any way change or amend the May 1, 2011 substantial service deadline applicable to all Broadband Radio Service (BRS) licenses. Likewise, the ruling should not be read as an indication of the Bureau’s willingness to grant BRS buildout extensions. As a related matter, all BRS Basic Trading Area (BTA) licensees subject to the May 1, 2011 substantial service deadline must file a notification of completion of construction by Monday, May 16, 2011. BRS incumbent licensees (holders of non-BTA based BRS licenses) are required to demonstrate substantial service as part of their applications for renewal of license. The deadline for BRS incumbent licensees that expire on May 1, 2011 to file their renewal applications falls on Monday, May 2, 2011. Applications filed after the deadline will need to be accompanied by a request for waiver of the applicable deadline, along with a justification for a waiver. Request for extension of time to demonstrate substantial service must be filed before the deadline. BloostonLaw Contacts: Hal Mordkofsky, Cary Mitchell, Richard Rubino

FCC APPROVES QWEST-CENTURYLINK MERGER: The FCC has approved the merger of CenturyLink Inc. and Qwest Communications International Inc., but it imposed protections against the risk of harm to competition and said it ensured the merged entity will live up to its commitments to significantly expand its network and launch a major broadband adoption program for low-income consumers. The transaction is expected to close soon after the companies have obtained their final state approval. Based on the companies’ agreement to certain conditions, the FCC found that the potential public interest benefits of the merger are likely to outweigh the potential harms. Binding and enforceable conditions include:

1. Broadband adoption program for low-income consumers

  • Launch major broadband adoption program focused on connecting the millions of low-income consumers in the combined company’s 37-state territory.
  • Offer qualifying households broadband starting at less than $10 per month and a computer for less than $150, and keep the window open for five years for qualifying consumers to sign up.
  • Make a significant annual commitment to marketing, outreach, and digital literacy training, and include detailed reporting on outcomes and an independent analysis of the program’s effectiveness.

2. Broadband deployment

  • Significantly increase the capacity of the Qwest network, bringing broadband with actual download speeds of at least 4 Megabits per second (Mbps) to at least 4 million more homes and businesses, and at least 20,000 more anchor institutions, such as schools, libraries, and community centers.
  • Significantly increase availability of higher-speed broadband: The company will more than double the number of homes and businesses that can get 12 Mbps broadband, and more than triple the number that can get 40 Mbps broadband.

3. Advancing Universal Service Fund reform

  • Phase down three forms of support designed for smaller companies, which the company currently receives from the federal Universal Service Fund.

4. Protection against potential transaction-related harms

  • No increase in enterprise service prices for 7 years in a few dozen buildings where the companies currently compete (Minneapolis, Minn., and Olympia, Wash.).
  • Safeguards for smooth transition of operations support systems, to protect wholesale customers.
  • Ensuring the merger does not harm interconnection agreements with competing phone carriers.
  • Maintenance of wholesale service quality.

Monroe, Louisiana-based CenturyLink offers voice, video, and data services in 33 states, serving approximately 7 million access lines and 2.2 million broadband customers in its region. CenturyLink also operates as a competitive local exchange carrier in certain local and regional markets. Denver, Colorado-based Qwest operates as a local exchange carrier serving 10.3 million lines in a 14-state region; has 3 million broadband customers; and sells wireless, video, and extensive wholesale services through its subsidiaries. Under the deal, Qwest will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of CenturyLink. BloostonLaw contacts: Hal Mordkofsky, Ben Dickens, Gerry Duffy, and John Prendergast.

This newsletter is not intended to provide legal advice. Those interested in more information should contact the firm.

Source: Blooston, Mordkofsky, Dickens, Duffy and Prendergast, LLP For additional information, contact Hal Mordkofsky at 202-828-5520 or halmor@bloostonlaw.com

black line

We love those wireless devices

Unbelievable stats for wireless usage were released this week by the CTIA trade group at its conference in Orlando, Fla. It makes you wonder...

dudleyBrier Dudley
Seattle Times staff columnist

Unbelievable stats for wireless usage were released this week by the CTIA trade group at its conference in Orlando, Fla. It makes you wonder if Americans now have mobile phones grafted to their hands.

A sample of the 2010 survey results, thrown out by CTIA Chief Executive Steve Largent:

  • Wireless companies had 302.9 million subscribers last year, up 6 percent from 285 million in 2009. That equates to a wireless-penetration rate of 96 percent, up from 91.2 percent the year before.
  • Subscribers used 2.241 trillion minutes, down from 2.275 trillion minutes the previous year.
  • Instead of talking, subscribers are texting and browsing. Data traffic was 226.5 billion megabytes, up 110 percent from the 107.8 billion megabytes transmitted in 2009.
  • SMS text messages jumped 31 percent — 2.052 trillion were sent last year, up from 1.563 trillion the year before. MMS multimedia messages rose 64 percent, to 56.6 billion.
  • The average wireless bill fell to $47.21 a month, down from $48.16 in 2009.
  • The number of smartphones in active use jumped 57 percent, to 78.2 million.
  • Wireless tablets, laptops and modems grew 14.2 percent, to 13.6 million.

To handle all of this, wireless companies spent $24.9 billion on capital projects last year, up 22 percent from 2009.

That puts AT&T's $39 billion purchase of T-Mobile USA in perspective.

The companies are making big money, too.

Annual wireless service sales rose 4.8 percent, to $159.9 billion, and wireless data revenue grew 31.4 percent, to $50.1 billion.

T-Mobile poll

Nearly half of T-Mobile USA customers polled over 24 hours said they may switch providers now that AT&T is buying the Bellevue-based company.

That's according to a poll that ran on this blog. Thank you to those who participated.

Asked about how the deal will affect them, the largest percentage of respondents — 37 percent — said they are T-Mobile customers and will just see what happens with the merger.

But 30 percent said they are T-Mobile customers now thinking about switching providers.

Among respondents who said they were T-Mobile customers, about 45 percent said they may switch.

It wasn't a very scientific poll, but the results are still interesting. If 45 percent of T-Mobile's subscribers leave, AT&T's new market share won't be quite so dominant.

Asked generally if the $39 billion deal is good for consumers, two-thirds said no, it will make things worse for them. Only 14 percent said the deal will result in better service and coverage.

Of the nearly 1,500 participants, 53 percent believe the deal will be approved and 11 percent expect it to be blocked by regulators.

Varolii's new CEO

Seattle communications software company Varolii reached across Lake Washington for its new president and chief executive, hiring David McCann, general manager of Microsoft's Windows Server product-management team.

McCann was previously chief executive at Electronic Evidence and CarParts Technologies, and senior vice president at FileNet Software, leading up to its acquisition by IBM in 2006.

"Varolii is at a strategic intersection of cloud-computing services and personalized consumer communications, reaching more than 75 million U.S. consumers each year for some of the world's largest corporations," McCann said in a release.

McCann replaces Nicholas Tiliacos, who stepped down after 10 years at the company.

Varolii provides software and services that companies use to deliver automated messages to employees and customers via phone, email, fax or text messages. It has about 250 employees and 450 customers.

Source: The Seattle Times

black line

black line

WiPath Communications

black line

wipath header

Intelligent Solutions for Paging & Wireless Data

WiPath manufactures a wide range of highly unique and innovative hardware and software solutions in paging and mobile data for:

  • Emergency Mass Alert & Messaging Emergency Services Communications Utilities Job Management Telemetry and Remote Switching Fire House Automation
  • Load Shedding and Electrical Services Control

black line PDT3000 Paging Data Terminal pdt 2000 image

  • FLEX & POCSAG Built-in POCSAG encoder Huge capcode capacity Parallel, 2 serial ports, 4 relays
  • Message & system monitoring

black line Paging Controlled Moving Message LED Displays

welcom wipath

  • Variety of sizes Indoor/outdoor
  • Integrated paging receiver

black line PDR3000/PSR3000 Paging Data Receivers paging data receiver

  • Highly programmable, off-air decoders Message Logging & remote control Multiple I/O combinations and capabilities
  • Network monitoring and alarm reporting

black line Specialized Paging Solutions paging data receiver

  • Emergency Mass Alerting Remote telemetry switching & control Fire station automation PC interfacing and message management Paging software and customized solutions Message interception, filtering, redirection, printing & logging Cross band repeating, paging coverage infill, store and forward
  • Alarm interfaces, satellite linking, IP transmitters, on-site systems

black line

Mobile Data Terminals & Two Way Wireless  Solutions

mobile data terminal

radio interface

  • Fleet tracking, messaging, job processing, and field service management Automatic vehicle location (AVL), GPS
  • CDMA, GPRS, ReFLEX, conventional, and trunked radio interfaces

black line

Contact
Postal
Address:
WiPath Communications LLC
4845 Dumbbarton Court
Cumming, GA 30040
Street
Address:
4845 Dumbbarton Court
Cumming, GA 30040
Web site: www.wipath.com left arrow CLICK
E-mail: info@wipath.com left arrow CLICK
Phone: 770-844-6218
Fax: 770-844-6574
WiPath Communications

black line

black line

Preferred Wireless

black line

preferred logo

Terminals & Controllers:
1 Glenayre SYC
1Motorola C-NET Controller
1Motorola ASC1500
2 Zetron 2200 Terminals
2 GL3100 RF Director 
4Glenayre GLS2164 Satellite Receivers
1GL3000L Complete w/Spares
2 GL3000ES Terminals
 Many Unipage Cards, Chassis
Link Transmitters:
2Eagle Midband Link Transmitters, 125W
5 Glenayre GL C2100 Link Repeaters
1 Glenayre QT6994, 150W, 900 MHz Link TX
2 Glenayre QT4201, & 6201 25W & 100W Midband Link TX
3 Motorola 10W, 900 MHz Link TX (C35JZB6106)
2 Motorola 30W, Midband Link TX (C42JZB6106AC)
VHF Paging Transmitters
1 Motorola VHF PURC-5000 125W, ACB or TRC
8 Glenayre GLT8411, 250W, VHF TX
UHF Paging Transmitters:
24 Glenayre UHF GLT5340, 125W, DSP Exciter
6 Motorola PURC-5000 110 & 225W, TRC & ACB
900 MHz Paging Transmitters:
3 Glenayre GLT 8600, 500W
2 Glenayre GLT8200, 25W (NEW)
15 Glenayre GLT-8500 250W
35Glenayre 900 MHz DSP Exciters
25 Glenayre GLT-8500 Final PAs
35 Glenayre GLT-8500 Power Supplies
Miscellaneous Equipment:
2 Glenayre Hot Standby Panels—New & Old Style
25 Hennessy Outdoor Wall-Mount Enclosures, 24"x30"x12" deep
3 Chatsworth Aluminum Racks

SEE WEB FOR COMPLETE LIST:
www.preferredwireless.com/equipment left arrow CLICK HERE

Too Much To List • Call or E-Mail
Rick McMichael
Preferred Wireless, Inc.
10658 St. Charles Rock Rd.
St. Louis, MO 63074
888-429-4171 or 314-429-3000
rickm@preferredwireless.com
left arrow CLICK HERE
www.preferredwireless.com/equipment
left arrow OR HERE 

black line

Preferred Wireless

black line

 

 

 

black line

EastWest Communications Inc.

black line

Media 1® live
by EastWest Communications Inc.

Real-time response to live events

spacer The audience may attend or view/listen to an event nationwide and respond in real time without requiring a computer — even respond while attending an event.

spacer Participate in sporting events, concerts, training programs or other programs to allow the producers to change the program based on audience participation.

Ed Lyda
P.O. Box 8488
The Woodlands, Texas 77387
Cell: 832-928-9538

E-mail: eastwesttexas@sbcglobal.net

black line

EastWest Communications Inc.

black line

black line

U.S. Data Traffic Doubles; Smartphones Up 57%, says CTIA

By Maisie Ramsay
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
WirelessWEEK

The industry knows that mobile data traffic is increasing, but by how much? CTIA is shedding some new light on the trend in new numbers from its semi-annual survey.

CTIA reports that 226.5 billion megabytes of data were transmitted over wireless networks in the United States during the last half of 2010, more than double the 107.8 billion megabytes transmitted during the same period in 2009.

The rise in data traffic corresponded with an increase in the number of active smartphones on the market, which rose 57 percent in 2010 to 78.2 million. The number of feature phones on the market rose slightly, as did wireless tablets, laptops and modems, which rose 14 percent to 13.6 million.

"Whether it's sending a text, making a phone call or accessing the wireless Internet, the facts prove our industry continues to offer innovative and competitive services and products that consumers love and are using more than ever," CTIA President and CEO Steve Largent said in prepared remarks for his Tuesday keynote address at the association's spring trade show.

Despite the rise in data usage, the survey found that the average wireless bill actually decreased slightly to $47.21 last year, from $48.16 in 2009. However, overall service revenues grew nearly 5 percent to $159.9 billion and sales from mobile data grew to $50.1 billion.

The report also found that use of SMS and MMS messages also increased. The number of text messages sent and received in the United States climbed to more than 2 trillion in 2010, from 1.56 trillion in 2009, and the number of MMS messages rose 64 percent to 56.6 billion.

The survey results will give the group additional leverage in its fight to get more spectrum for the wireless industry.

"This fact-based survey proves why our industry needs more spectrum," Largent said. "In order to meet the demands by consumers and businesses, we need more spectrum so our wireless ecosystem can keep fueling the 'virtuous cycle' of innovation and competition."

CTIA's semi-annual survey has been conducted since 1985 and tracks information submitted by wireless operators on subscribership, usage, sales and capital investment. The survey is voluntary and does not have a 100 percent response rate, but the most companies in the U.S. wireless industry respond to the survey. For CTIA's prior semi-annual survey in June, the group received responses from companies serving 95.5 percent of wireless subscriber connections in the United States.

Source: WirelessWEEK

black line

 

Note from Phil Leavitt:

For Sale

I have about 95 new CreataLinks and about 285 DataLinks, all 900 MHz POCSAG.

I have approximately 250 ± J39DNW0050 DataLink II Plus — boards only — new, and approximately 95 CreataLink modules. I also have 2 developer's kits and some CreataLink II units.

Philip C Leavitt, Manager
Leavitt Communications
7508 N Red Ledge Drive
Paradise Valley, AZ 85253
pcleavitt@leavittcom.com
www.leavittcom.com
Tel: 847-955-0511
Fax: 270-447-1909
Mobile: 847-494-0000
Skype ID: pcleavitt

 

black line

Hark Technologies

black line

hark logo

Wireless Communication Solutions

black line

USB Paging Encoder

paging encoder

  • Single channel up to eight zones
  • Connects to Linux computer via USB
  • Programmable timeouts and batch sizes
  • Supports 2-tone, 5/6-tone, POCSAG 512/1200/2400, GOLAY
  • Supports Tone Only, Voice, Numeric, and Alphanumeric
  • PURC or direct connect
  • Pictured version mounts in 5.25" drive bay
  • Other mounting options available
  • Available as a daughter board for our embedded Internet Paging Terminal (IPT)

black line

Paging Data Receiver (PDR)

pdr

  • Frequency agile - only one receiver to stock
  • USB or RS-232 interface
  • Two contact closures
  • End-user programmable w/o requiring special hardware
  • 16 capcodes
  • POCSAG
  • Eight contact closure version also available
  • Product customization available

black line

Other products

  • Please see our web site for other products including Internet Messaging Gateways, Unified Messaging Servers, test equipment, and Paging Terminals.
Contact
Hark Technologies
717 Old Trolley Rd Ste 6 #163
Summerville, SC 29485
Tel: 843-821-6888
Fax: 843-821-6894
E-mail: sales@harktech.com left arrow CLICK HERE

black line

Hark Technologies

black line

 

 

black line

UCOM Paging

black line

satellite dish ucom logo

Satellite Uplink
As Low As
$500/month

  • Data input speeds up to 38.4 Kbps Dial-in modem access for Admin Extremely reliable & secure
  • Hot standby up link components

Knowledgeable Tech Support 24/7

Contact Alan Carle Now!
1-888-854-2697 x272
acarle@ucom.com www.ucom.com

black line

UCOM Paging

black line

black line

Quakes called signal of danger to cell networks

By Stephen Lawson
Computerworld
March 24, 2011 01:09 PM ET

IDG News Service — Mobile networks were damaged more by the Feb. 25 earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, than by the 2010 quake that devastated Haiti, according to the chairman of a company that owns carriers in both countries.

The infrastructure in New Zealand was hit more heavily because it relied on shared towers and commercial power, Trilogy International Partners Chairman John Stanton said during a keynote panel discussion at the CTIA Wireless trade show in Orlando on Thursday. By contrast, the limited electrical grid and the vulnerability of cell towers forced operators there to set up strong backup and security systems at each site, he said.

The way mobile infrastructure is deployed in the U.S. and many other developed countries, with cell sites designed to be unobtrusive and shared among carriers, could make it vulnerable to widespread disasters like the recent earthquake in Japan, Stanton said.

In the Jan. 12, 2010, quake in Haiti, Trilogy-owned carrier ComCEL lost 26 cell sites out of more than 300, Stanton said. (Trilogy's estimate of cell sites out of service a few weeks after the quake was higher.) A key reason for the network's resilience was that each cell site had its own battery and generator and a long-lasting supply of fuel.

"There's essentially no commercial power in Haiti," Stanton said. Each cell site also has security guards because the fuel is so valuable it invites theft, he added.

In Christchurch, the government required mobile operators to collocate their antennas on shared towers for environmental reasons. Where those towers went down, service from all the carriers was lost, and at other locations, service went out quickly if the electrical grid had failed, Stanton said. As a result, service from all three carriers went out for about five days following the quake, he said.

In the U.S., carriers rely on portable generators distributed around the country and count on being able to deploy those to the scene of a disaster where cell sites have failed, Stanton said.

"The wireless systems are not, in general, serviced by more than a couple of hours of battery backup and not serviced by generators," Stanton said. "The premise in the U.S. is essentially that a disaster will be isolated."

In addition to heading Trilogy partners, Stanton is chairman and acting CEO of U.S. WiMax operator Clearwire. He did not discuss that company during Thursday's keynote discussion, which also included Twitter co-founder Biz Stone and Human Rights Watch Executive Director Kenneth Roth.

Source: Computerworld

black line

its stil here

 

It's still here — the tried and true Motorola Alphamate 250. Now owned, supported, and available from Leavitt Communications. Call us for new or reconditioned units, parts, manuals, and repairs.

We also offer refurbished Alphamate 250’s, Alphamate IIs, the original Alphamate and new and refurbished pagers, pager repairs, pager parts and accessories. We are FULL SERVICE in Paging!

E-mail Phil Leavitt (pcleavitt@leavittcom.com) for pricing and delivery information or for a list of other available paging and two-way related equipment.

black line

Phil Leavitt
847-955-0511
pcleavitt@leavittcom.com

leavitt logo

7508 N. Red Ledge Dr.
Paradise Valley, AZ 85253

www.leavittcom.com

black line

UNTIL NEXT WEEK

black line

Brad Dye
With best regards,

brad's signature
Newsletter Editor

73 DE K9IQY

aapc logo

Wireless Messaging News
Brad Dye, Editor
P.O. Box 266
Fairfield, IL 62837 USA

mensa member animated gif

Skype: braddye
Telephone: 618-599-7869

E–mail: brad@braddye.com
Wireless Consulting page
Paging Information Home Page
Marketing & Engineering Papers
AAPC web site

pagerman WIRELESS
wireless logo medium
MESSAGING

black line

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

black line

“One day at a time—this is enough. Do not look back and grieve over the past for it is gone; and do not be troubled about the future, for it has not yet come. Live in the present, and make it so beautiful it will be worth remembering.”

—Author unknown

black line

left arrow Newspapers generally cost 75¢ a copy and they hardly ever mention paging. If you receive some benefit from this publication maybe you would like to help support it financially? A donation of $25.00 would represent approximately 50¢ a copy for one year. If you are willing and able, please click on the PayPal Donate button to the left.

black line

iland internet sulutions This newsletter is brought to you by the generous support of our advertisers and the courtesy of iland Internet Solutions Corporation. For more information about the web-hosting services available from iland Internet Solutions Corporation, please click on their logo to the left.

black line

THE WIRELESS MESSAGING NEWSLETTER & THE PAGING INFORMATION RESOURCE

black line

Home Page | Directory | Consulting | Newsletters
Products | Reference | Glossary | Send e-mail