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<generator>Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/</generator><item><title>Democrats waste no time in addressing public safety wireless</title><link>http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2007/01/11/democrats-waste-no-time-in-addressing-public-safety-wireless/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2007/01/11/democrats-waste-no-time-in-addressing-public-safety-wireless/</guid><comments>http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2007/01/11/democrats-waste-no-time-in-addressing-public-safety-wireless/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/government/" rel="tag">Government</a>, <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/regulatory-fcc/" rel="tag">Regulatory/FCC</a></p><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.thewirelessreport.com/media/2007/01/emergency.gif"  alt="" />With the U.S. Congress now being in control of the Democratic party, public safety issues like nationwide communications interoperability is already on the radar of the new houses of Congress.<br /><br />On tap is a way to make all the public safety networks that run across the nation seamlessly interoperable so that <a href="http://crstage.us.publicus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070110/FREE/70110009/1005/rss01">there are no issues with communication in times of crisis</a>. One of the first initiatives up for vote includes a bill that suggests recommendations of the 9/11 Commission.<br /><br />That bill would create a specific and detailed program within the Department of Homeland Security dedicated to improving first-responder communications. This is good news --<strong><em> immediate</em></strong> first responder communications is the key in many cases.<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://crstage.us.publicus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070110/FREE/70110009/1005/rss01>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2007/01/11/democrats-waste-no-time-in-addressing-public-safety-wireless/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/forward/734041/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2007/01/11/democrats-waste-no-time-in-addressing-public-safety-wireless/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br />]]></description><category>Democrats</category><category>Public Safety</category><category>Public Safety Spectrum</category><category>PublicSafety</category><category>PublicSafetySpectrum</category><dc:creator>Brian White</dc:creator><dc:date>2007-01-11T10:55:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Homeland Security chief vows to increase public safety airwaves</title><link>http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2007/01/04/h/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2007/01/04/h/</guid><comments>http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2007/01/04/h/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/cellular/" rel="tag">Cellular</a>, <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/government/" rel="tag">Government</a>, <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/regulatory-fcc/" rel="tag">Regulatory/FCC</a></p><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.thewirelessreport.com/media/2007/01/homeland180.jpg"  alt="" />With the U.S. Congress about to be taken control of by the Democratic Party, the head of the Department of Homeland Security -- Michael Chertoff -- has said that he would cooperate with Congress if the new, Democratic-controlled House and Senate pursue legislation to increase the supply of public-safety radio spectrum.<br /><br />This is no real surprise really, as companies that control much of that spectrum (or the government entities securing it) would like more business-friendly uses obviously. However, combined with the need to ensure federal, <a href="http://crstage.us.publicus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070103/FREE/70103010/1005/rss01">state and local first responders talking during emergencies</a> is slightly more important, yes?  In addition, these entities must be able to share bandwidth-hogging data and video communications at the time when it is most needed.<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://crstage.us.publicus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070103/FREE/70103010/1005/rss01>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2007/01/04/h/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/forward/729046/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2007/01/04/h/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br />]]></description><category>DHS</category><category>Michael Chertoff</category><category>MichaelChertoff</category><category>U.S. Congree</category><category>U.s.Congree</category><dc:creator>Brian White</dc:creator><dc:date>2007-01-04T11:15:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Cingular name to be dropped; AT&amp;T name to return</title><link>http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2007/01/02/c/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2007/01/02/c/</guid><comments>http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2007/01/02/c/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/cellular/" rel="tag">Cellular</a>, <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/government/" rel="tag">Government</a>, <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/regulatory-fcc/" rel="tag">Regulatory/FCC</a>, <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/business/" rel="tag">Business</a></p><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.thewirelessreport.com/media/2007/01/att_vert_color_med.jpg"  alt="" />Cingular Wireless, a brand name with billions in it, will no longer be after the recent AT&amp;T-Bellsough merger was approved earlier this week.<br /><br />All Cingular branding will be <a href="http://www.phonescoop.com/news/item.php?n=2008">re-named to the AT&amp;T brand</a> so that AT&amp;T's apparent confidence in its brand name can be used across its entire company as a single brand. Why not "AT&amp;T Cingular", folks?<br /><br />I'll say this -- the "AT&amp;T Wireless" brand has nothing but bad vibes across the country. Ask a former customer of the "brand" about this.<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.phonescoop.com/news/item.php?n=2008>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2007/01/02/c/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/forward/727744/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2007/01/02/c/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br />]]></description><category>Cingular</category><dc:creator>Brian White</dc:creator><dc:date>2007-01-02T16:46:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Nextwave Wireless gets hands on 154 licenses from recent auctions</title><link>http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/12/22/nextwave-wireless-gets-hands-on-154-licenses-from-recent-auction/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/12/22/nextwave-wireless-gets-hands-on-154-licenses-from-recent-auction/</guid><comments>http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/12/22/nextwave-wireless-gets-hands-on-154-licenses-from-recent-auction/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/cellular/" rel="tag">Cellular</a>, <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/government/" rel="tag">Government</a>, <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/regulatory-fcc/" rel="tag">Regulatory/FCC</a></p><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.thewirelessreport.com/media/2006/12/logo_whtbkgd.gif"  alt="" />After the FCC's advanced wireless services auctions ended months ago, I was wondering when some of the smaller bidders would get their hands on the licenses they ended up winning.<br /><br />Well, NextWave Wireless has secured <a href="http://www.wirelessweek.com/article/CA6402069.html?nid=2965">154 Advanced Wireless Services (AWS) licenses it successfully bid on</a> during the FCC spectrum auction, and these licenses cover areas like Albany, Anchorage, El Paso, Fort Myers, Indianapolis, Little Rock, Louisville, New Orleans, Pittsburgh, Puerto Rico, Sacramento, Sarasota and Tulsa.<br /><br />What does this mean? Well, with NextWave looking to WiMAX for the future, the company says the new AWS licenses, combined with its existing 2.3 GHz and 2.5 GHz spectrum assets, will expand its footprint to cover about 247 million people across the United States. That's on par with the big boys.<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.wirelessweek.com/article/CA6402069.html?nid=2965>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/12/22/nextwave-wireless-gets-hands-on-154-licenses-from-recent-auction/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/forward/723432/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/12/22/nextwave-wireless-gets-hands-on-154-licenses-from-recent-auction/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br />]]></description><category>AWS Auctions</category><category>AwsAuctions</category><category>Neextwave wireless</category><category>NeextwaveWireless</category><category>Nextwave</category><dc:creator>Brian White</dc:creator><dc:date>2006-12-22T12:13:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>FCC Commissioner once again excuses himself from AT&amp;T-Bellsouth vote</title><link>http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/12/20/fcc-commissioner-once-again-excuses-himself-from-atandt-bellsouth/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/12/20/fcc-commissioner-once-again-excuses-himself-from-atandt-bellsouth/</guid><comments>http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/12/20/fcc-commissioner-once-again-excuses-himself-from-atandt-bellsouth/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/cellular/" rel="tag">Cellular</a>, <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/government/" rel="tag">Government</a>, <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/regulatory-fcc/" rel="tag">Regulatory/FCC</a></p><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.thewirelessreport.com/media/2006/12/200px-fcc-logo.gif"  alt="" />Who knows if the pending AT&amp;T-Bellsouth merger will ever be approved by the FCC, and FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell -- again -- officially disqualified himself from consideration of the stalled $79 billion merger of AT&amp;T Inc. and BellSouth Corp..<br /><br />FCC Chairman Kevin Martin <a href="http://crstage.us.publicus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061219/FREE/61219010/1005/rss01">was once again denied a tie-breaking Republican vote</a> that would have possibly cleared merger before year's end.<br /><br />Analysts from Stifel, Nicholas &amp; Company said that "We believe this is a setback for AT&amp;T-BellSouth's merger strategy and adds to uncertainty about the proceeding, but we do not expect the deal to be rejected."<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://crstage.us.publicus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061219/FREE/61219010/1005/rss01>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/12/20/fcc-commissioner-once-again-excuses-himself-from-atandt-bellsouth/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/forward/722084/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/12/20/fcc-commissioner-once-again-excuses-himself-from-atandt-bellsouth/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br />]]></description><dc:creator>Brian White</dc:creator><dc:date>2006-12-20T09:13:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>AT&amp;T-BellSouth merger still on sidelines</title><link>http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/12/18/atandt-bellsouth-merger-still-on-sidelines/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/12/18/atandt-bellsouth-merger-still-on-sidelines/</guid><comments>http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/12/18/atandt-bellsouth-merger-still-on-sidelines/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/cellular/" rel="tag">Cellular</a>, <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/government/" rel="tag">Government</a>, <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/regulatory-fcc/" rel="tag">Regulatory/FCC</a></p><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" align="right" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.thewirelessreport.com/media/2006/12/200px-fcc-logo.gif" />With the impending AT&amp;T and Bellsouth merger still waiting in the wings with all the crazy political stirrings going on, the FCC has set the agenda for its meeting next Wednesday and a vote on the pending AT&amp;T/BellSouth union <a href="http://www.wirelessweek.com/article/CA6400394.html?nid=2965">is *still* not scheduled.<br /></a><br />The merger -- which keeps changing amounts based on stock price levels -- is now worth $86 billion and still must receive the FCC's blessing before it can close.<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.wirelessweek.com/article/CA6400394.html?nid=2965>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/12/18/atandt-bellsouth-merger-still-on-sidelines/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/forward/720670/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/12/18/atandt-bellsouth-merger-still-on-sidelines/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br />]]></description><category>Kevin Martin</category><category>KevinMartin</category><dc:creator>Brian White</dc:creator><dc:date>2006-12-18T10:16:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>AT&amp;T-Bellsouth merger again seeing opposition</title><link>http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/12/13/atandt-bellsouth-merger-again-seeing-opposition/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/12/13/atandt-bellsouth-merger-again-seeing-opposition/</guid><comments>http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/12/13/atandt-bellsouth-merger-again-seeing-opposition/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/cellular/" rel="tag">Cellular</a>, <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/government/" rel="tag">Government</a>, <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/regulatory-fcc/" rel="tag">Regulatory/FCC</a></p><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.thewirelessreport.com/media/2006/12/200px-fcc-logo.gif" id="vimage_1" alt="" />A key Republican FCC commissioner that excused himself from ruling on the proposed AT&amp;T-Bellsouth merger only re re-instate himself to break a 2-2 voting deadlock <a href="http://crstage.us.publicus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061213/FREE/61213023/1005/rss01">is again seeing opposition</a> from Democrats.<br /><br />In perfect business fashion, an unnamed global telecom equipment supplier warned further delay in approving the deal -- if it is to be approved -- could hurt the manufacturing industry by slowing telecom investment. So what? Unless all angles of this merger are examined, perhaps the interests of consumers and business weigh a little more than "slowing telecom investment". <em>Jeesh</em> -- give me a break.<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://crstage.us.publicus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061213/FREE/61213023/1005/rss01>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/12/13/atandt-bellsouth-merger-again-seeing-opposition/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/forward/718061/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/12/13/atandt-bellsouth-merger-again-seeing-opposition/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br />]]></description><dc:creator>Brian White</dc:creator><dc:date>2006-12-13T15:05:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>AT&amp;T-Bellsouth merger needs deadlock fix</title><link>http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/12/04/atandt-bellsouth-merger-needs-deadlock-fix/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/12/04/atandt-bellsouth-merger-needs-deadlock-fix/</guid><comments>http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/12/04/atandt-bellsouth-merger-needs-deadlock-fix/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/government/" rel="tag">Government</a>, <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/regulatory-fcc/" rel="tag">Regulatory/FCC</a></p><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.thewirelessreport.com/media/2006/12/newcingular5za.gif" id="vimage_1" alt="" />FCC member Robert McDowell may be yet again drawn into the debate surrounding the proposed AT&amp;T-BellSouth merger, as McDowell recently excused himself from voting on the merger <a href="http://www.rcrnews.com/news.cms?newsId=27870">due to a conflict of interest</a>. Honesty -- I thought that was a forgotten principle in politics these days.<br /><br />There is currently a 2-2 deadlock on the $79 billion deal, and "barring a last-minute breakthrough, we believe that FCC Chairman (Kevin) Martin is likely to call on his Republican colleague, Commissioner McDowell, who has stayed on the sidelines in the proceeding due to concern about a potential conflict of interest," according to officials.<br /><br />So, I guess the previous conflict of interest is being swept under the rug in order to solve the stalemate. Hmm.<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.rcrnews.com/news.cms?newsId=27870>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/12/04/atandt-bellsouth-merger-needs-deadlock-fix/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/forward/712285/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/12/04/atandt-bellsouth-merger-needs-deadlock-fix/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br />]]></description><dc:creator>Brian White</dc:creator><dc:date>2006-12-04T14:34:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Qualcomm's legal bills mounting</title><link>http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/11/28/qualcomms-legal-bills-mounting/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/11/28/qualcomms-legal-bills-mounting/</guid><comments>http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/11/28/qualcomms-legal-bills-mounting/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/cellular/" rel="tag">Cellular</a>, <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/government/" rel="tag">Government</a>, <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/regulatory-fcc/" rel="tag">Regulatory/FCC</a></p><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.thewirelessreport.com/media/2006/11/250px-qualcommlogo.png" id="vimage_1" alt="" />Seems like the transition to 3G networks all across the nation is <a href="http://wireless.seekingalpha.com/article/21316">causing such a legal ruckus</a> that Qualcomm is continually under legal siege -- something that I've said before in posts. What is going on here? Basically, the rampant transition is causing dollar bill signs to pop up up legal offices everywhere.<br /><br />Qualcomm probably has the largest bullseye on its back yet, as the company that owns so much of the intellectual property to much of the 3G technology about to be in use is being sued left and right -- but it's fighting off the storm pretty well. I'm sure Qualcomm did see the day that its IP would be needed worldwide, but didn't know it would cost hundreds of millions in legal bills either.<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://wireless.seekingalpha.com/article/21316>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/11/28/qualcomms-legal-bills-mounting/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/forward/708886/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/11/28/qualcomms-legal-bills-mounting/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br />]]></description><category>QCOM</category><category>Qualcomm</category><dc:creator>Brian White</dc:creator><dc:date>2006-11-28T16:56:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>FCC Chairman Kevin Martin gets a 5-year sentence</title><link>http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/11/20/fcc-chairman-kevin-martin-gets-a-5-year-sentence/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/11/20/fcc-chairman-kevin-martin-gets-a-5-year-sentence/</guid><comments>http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/11/20/fcc-chairman-kevin-martin-gets-a-5-year-sentence/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/wifi/" rel="tag">WiFi</a>, <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/cellular/" rel="tag">Cellular</a>, <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/man-muni/" rel="tag">MAN - muni</a>, <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/government/" rel="tag">Government</a>, <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/regulatory-fcc/" rel="tag">Regulatory/FCC</a>, <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/business/" rel="tag">Business</a></p><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.thewirelessreport.com/media/2006/11/200px-fcc-logo.gif" id="vimage_1" alt="" />FCC Chairman Kevin Martin will spend another five years behind the bars of the Federal Communications Commission, which is controlled by Republicans at this time and which is also deadlocked on the current AT&amp;T-Bellsouth $67 billion merger under Martin's guidance.<br /><br />Will Martin, who was appointed by President Bush, help <a href="http://www.rcrnews.com/news.cms?newsId=27793">shape the future of American telecommunications</a> in the next five years? Sure he will -- as the FCC is seeing a radical transformation of television, telephone, entertainment and broadband Internet services combine in an electronic alphabet soup that the FCC must keep on top of. Interesting times ahead!<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.rcrnews.com/news.cms?newsId=27793>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/11/20/fcc-chairman-kevin-martin-gets-a-5-year-sentence/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/forward/704878/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/11/20/fcc-chairman-kevin-martin-gets-a-5-year-sentence/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br />]]></description><category>FCC Chairman</category><category>FccChairman</category><category>Kevin Martin</category><category>KevinMartin</category><dc:creator>Brian White</dc:creator><dc:date>2006-11-20T12:01:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Democratic shift in Congress may mean delays in wireless issues</title><link>http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/11/09/democratic-shift-in-congress-may-mean-delays-in-wireless-issues/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/11/09/democratic-shift-in-congress-may-mean-delays-in-wireless-issues/</guid><comments>http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/11/09/democratic-shift-in-congress-may-mean-delays-in-wireless-issues/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/cellular/" rel="tag">Cellular</a>, <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/government/" rel="tag">Government</a>, <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/regulatory-fcc/" rel="tag">Regulatory/FCC</a>, <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/business/" rel="tag">Business</a></p><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.thewirelessreport.com/media/2006/11/merger.jpg" id="vimage_1" alt="" />With Tuesday's elections giving the U.S. Congress a Democratic bent from its previous slant to the Republican side, that means the shift will probably end the prospects for passage of a telecom reform bill.<br /><br />The bill would <a href="http://www.rcrnews.com/news.cms?newsId=27723">give broader wireless federal pre-emption</a> and would shift more regulative issues to the FCC and states.  With the AT&amp;T and Bellsouth merger approval being deadlocked in a 2-2 vote at this time, I'm not sure how the recent election results will affect the vote in the FCC if at all, but we'll all see soon.<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.rcrnews.com/news.cms?newsId=27723>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/11/09/democratic-shift-in-congress-may-mean-delays-in-wireless-issues/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/forward/698910/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/11/09/democratic-shift-in-congress-may-mean-delays-in-wireless-issues/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br />]]></description><category>FCC</category><category>Merger</category><dc:creator>Brian White</dc:creator><dc:date>2006-11-09T10:50:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Election results to affect muni WiFi?</title><link>http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/11/08/election-results-to-affect-muni-wifi/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/11/08/election-results-to-affect-muni-wifi/</guid><comments>http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/11/08/election-results-to-affect-muni-wifi/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/wifi/" rel="tag">WiFi</a>, <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/man-muni/" rel="tag">MAN - muni</a>, <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/government/" rel="tag">Government</a>, <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/regulatory-fcc/" rel="tag">Regulatory/FCC</a>, <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/business/" rel="tag">Business</a></p><p><img id="vimage_1" height="168" hspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.thewirelessreport.com/media/2006/11/hartford.jpg" width="225" align="right" vspace="4" border="0" alt="" />Geez, <strong>the corpse isn't even cold</strong> yet on yesterday's election, and the sniping has already begun.</p>
<p>In this case, a note from the investment banking firm <strong><a href="http://www.stifel.com">Stifel Nicolaus &amp; Co. Inc.</a></strong> indicates that the big gains for the Democrats in both the House and the Senate will mean that the passage of a bill that calls for deregulation of the telecom/broadband sector may not happen by the end of this year or even next year. The firm says this could affect the ability of municipalities to chart their own course in developing and deploying a WiFi network, either by managing it themselves or with a partner.</p>
<p>Whether you are a blue- or red-stater, this seems <strong>remarkably shortsighted</strong>. The muni WiFi network momentum keeps growing with each passing day, and it doesn't seem that a bill that will take some time to work its way through Congress is going to make that much of a difference. </p>
<p>Muni Wifi is truly a <strong>local issue</strong>, and there's no reason to think that these individual cities can't do a better job of determining their own wireless needs than the federal government.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.rcrnews.com/news.cms?newsId=27723>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/11/08/election-results-to-affect-muni-wifi/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/forward/698551/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/11/08/election-results-to-affect-muni-wifi/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br />]]></description><category>bill</category><category>elections</category><category>FCC</category><category>regulation</category><dc:creator>Michael Sciannamea</dc:creator><dc:date>2006-11-08T18:08:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>AT&amp;T -Bellsouth merger approval waits until after elections</title><link>http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/11/06/atandt-bellsouth-merger-approval-waits-until-after-elections/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/11/06/atandt-bellsouth-merger-approval-waits-until-after-elections/</guid><comments>http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/11/06/atandt-bellsouth-merger-approval-waits-until-after-elections/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/cellular/" rel="tag">Cellular</a>, <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/government/" rel="tag">Government</a>, <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/regulatory-fcc/" rel="tag">Regulatory/FCC</a>, <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/business/" rel="tag">Business</a></p><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.thewirelessreport.com/media/2006/11/fcc-blur.jpg" id="vimage_1" alt="" />The $67 billion merger between AT&amp;T and Bellsouth will not have final approval (or anything else) until after the mid-term elections this week, as FCC Chairman Kevin Martin still have not responded to the concerns voiced by some Democratic FCC commissioners.<br /><br />When the merger was approved by the Department of Justice <a href="http://www.rcrnews.com/news.cms?newsId=27680">without any conditions at all</a>, red flags went up all over the place within consumer groups and trade watchdogs, and huge differences remain between Martin and two Democratic commissioners that even may spell the delay of the vote past next week as these are ironed out.<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.rcrnews.com/news.cms?newsId=27680>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/11/06/atandt-bellsouth-merger-approval-waits-until-after-elections/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/forward/696904/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/11/06/atandt-bellsouth-merger-approval-waits-until-after-elections/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br />]]></description><category>Bellsouth</category><category>FCC</category><category>Kevin Martin</category><category>KevinMartin</category><dc:creator>Brian White</dc:creator><dc:date>2006-11-06T10:12:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Sirius gets more heat for operating improper land-based repeaters</title><link>http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/10/31/sirius-gets-more-heat-for-operating-improper-land-based-repeater/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/10/31/sirius-gets-more-heat-for-operating-improper-land-based-repeater/</guid><comments>http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/10/31/sirius-gets-more-heat-for-operating-improper-land-based-repeater/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/government/" rel="tag">Government</a>, <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/regulatory-fcc/" rel="tag">Regulatory/FCC</a></p><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.thewirelessreport.com/media/2006/10/xm1-bg.jpg" id="vimage_1" alt="" />Sirius satellite radio is <a href="http://www.rcrnews.com/news.cms?newsId=27639">receiving a mouthful</a> from many parties about its methods of operating land-based repeater systems in improper fashion. Additionally, satellite radio company and rival XM Radio has also been under scrutiny for operating land-based repeaters above established power levels.<br /><br />Why are the satellite companies doing this? Possibly to reach as many areas as possible in larger metro areas where a clear view of the sky is not possible but where millions if potential customers also lurk.<br /><br />While the FCC crafts specific rules on land-based repeater systems for both companies, they will be under the microscope for a while as they probably will have to tone down their land repeaters in terms of power level outputs.<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.rcrnews.com/news.cms?newsId=27639>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/10/31/sirius-gets-more-heat-for-operating-improper-land-based-repeater/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/forward/693745/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/10/31/sirius-gets-more-heat-for-operating-improper-land-based-repeater/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br />]]></description><category>SIRI</category><category>Sirius Radio</category><category>SiriusRadio</category><category>XM Radio</category><category>XmRadio</category><category>XMSR</category><dc:creator>Brian White</dc:creator><dc:date>2006-10-31T11:27:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Comcast ratchets up wireless to distribute video services</title><link>http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/10/30/comcast-ratchets-up-wireless-to-distribute-video-services/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/10/30/comcast-ratchets-up-wireless-to-distribute-video-services/</guid><comments>http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/10/30/comcast-ratchets-up-wireless-to-distribute-video-services/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/wimax/" rel="tag">WiMax</a>, <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/cellular/" rel="tag">Cellular</a>, <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/government/" rel="tag">Government</a>, <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/regulatory-fcc/" rel="tag">Regulatory/FCC</a>, <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/business/" rel="tag">Business</a></p><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.thewirelessreport.com/media/2006/10/comcast_logo.jpg" id="vimage_1" alt="" />Comcast will reportedly be unveiling a service this week that will allow for distribution of its video content (from all channels or select ones I'm not sure) through television sets (naturally), the Internet and even mobile phone screens.<br /><br />With Comcast being a spectrum partner with Sprint Nextel -- who won large chunks of radio spectrum at the latest FCC auctions -- the company is ready to get rolling when it comes to advanced services rollouts apparently. <a href="http://www.rcrnews.com/news.cms?newsId=27636">Comcast CEO Brian Roberts</a> said that when looking at the "big picture" of Comcast, "if you want and need to -- and when the timing is right -- to be able to have your own frequencies and your own network, integrated perhaps with others or with your own cable engineering, we're in a position to do that and we're in control of our own destiny."<br /><br />Those are pretty strong words but are very true. Cable companies have started and continued to build their own networks to bypass the infrastructure of the competition as much as possible, and we're just now seeing those results.<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.rcrnews.com/news.cms?newsId=27636>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/10/30/comcast-ratchets-up-wireless-to-distribute-video-services/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/forward/693061/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/10/30/comcast-ratchets-up-wireless-to-distribute-video-services/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br />]]></description><category>Brian Roberts</category><category>BrianRoberts</category><category>Comcast</category><category>Sprint Nextel</category><category>SprintNextel</category><dc:creator>Brian White</dc:creator><dc:date>2006-10-30T14:41:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Breaking down the just-completed AWS auctions</title><link>http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/10/19/breaking-down-the-just-completed-aws-auctions/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/10/19/breaking-down-the-just-completed-aws-auctions/</guid><comments>http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/10/19/breaking-down-the-just-completed-aws-auctions/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/cellular/" rel="tag">Cellular</a>, <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/government/" rel="tag">Government</a>, <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/regulatory-fcc/" rel="tag">Regulatory/FCC</a></p><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.thewirelessreport.com/media/2006/10/spectrum-chart.jpg" id="vimage_1" alt="" />This interesting article over at Phonescoop.com breaks down the geographical areas of the just-completed FCC AWS (advanced wireless services) auctions. There are some maps that clearly explain what is in <a href="http://www.phonescoop.com/articles/aws/">store for winning bidders</a> in the recent auctions.<br /><br />As the article clearly points out -- and you can see once you look at the RF allocation map for the U.S. -- radio spectrum is the single biggest strategic asset to any company that operates anywhere in the wireless arena.<br /><br />Forget phones, service plans, text messaging charges, EV-DO and HSDPA data and anything else. If you don't have the radio spectrum to deploy what you need, you won't have customers. This is why T-Mobile -- which has become starved for spectrum in its push to get 3G to market -- <a href="http://www.phonescoop.com/articles/aws/">was the largest AWS bidder</a> at over $4 billion.<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.phonescoop.com/articles/aws/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/10/19/breaking-down-the-just-completed-aws-auctions/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/forward/687539/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/10/19/breaking-down-the-just-completed-aws-auctions/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br />]]></description><category>AWS Auctions</category><category>AwsAuctions</category><category>FCC auctions</category><category>FCC AWS</category><category>FccAuctions</category><category>FccAws</category><dc:creator>Brian White</dc:creator><dc:date>2006-10-19T17:01:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>AT&amp;T trying to push the Bellsouth merger through with sweetened stance</title><link>http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/10/17/atandt-trying-to-push-the-bellsouth-merger-through-with-sweetened/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/10/17/atandt-trying-to-push-the-bellsouth-merger-through-with-sweetened/</guid><comments>http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/10/17/atandt-trying-to-push-the-bellsouth-merger-through-with-sweetened/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/cellular/" rel="tag">Cellular</a>, <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/government/" rel="tag">Government</a>, <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/regulatory-fcc/" rel="tag">Regulatory/FCC</a></p><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.thewirelessreport.com/media/2006/10/at-t-logo.jpg" id="vimage_1" alt="" />Looks like AT&amp;T is greasing the cookie sheets of <a href="http://www.wirelessweek.com/article/CA6381414.html?nid=2965">regulators from the FCC</a> by offering up broadband plans and specifically, wireless broadband plans for up to 10 trials in existing Bellsouth network areas in the 2.3 or 2.5 GHz spectrum that the combined company will own.<br /><br />There were rumors that a last-minute look at overlapping wireless infrastructure divesting may cause a delay in the merger, but this move by AT&amp;T will most likely not cause that to happen -- even if it's just an overture towards getting the merger approved as quickly as possible.<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.wirelessweek.com/article/CA6381414.html?nid=2965>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/10/17/atandt-trying-to-push-the-bellsouth-merger-through-with-sweetened/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/forward/686145/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/10/17/atandt-trying-to-push-the-bellsouth-merger-through-with-sweetened/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br />]]></description><dc:creator>Brian White</dc:creator><dc:date>2006-10-17T09:06:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>Qualcomm's MediaFLO gets FCC approval for spectrum use</title><link>http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/10/13/qualcomms-mediaflo-gets-fcc-approval-for-spectrum-use/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/10/13/qualcomms-mediaflo-gets-fcc-approval-for-spectrum-use/</guid><comments>http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/10/13/qualcomms-mediaflo-gets-fcc-approval-for-spectrum-use/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/man-muni/" rel="tag">MAN - muni</a>, <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/regulatory-fcc/" rel="tag">Regulatory/FCC</a>, <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/business/" rel="tag">Business</a></p><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" align="right" alt="" id="vimage_1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.thewirelessreport.com/media/2006/10/ec.trk.tv2.jpg" />MediaFLO, the very promising technology from CDMA pioneer Qualcomm that is in the process of being used on some CDMA networks for delivering high-quality mobile multimedia, has <a href="http://www.qualcomm.com/press/releases/2006/061012_mediaflo_usa_support.html">gained approval from the FCC</a> to use television channels 54, 55 or 56 until the transition to digital TV happens in 2009 nationwide.<br /><br />"Today's ruling is a big win for consumers, who will soon be able to enjoy new and exciting mobile TV experiences from MediaFLO USA," said Gina Lombardi, president of MediaFLO USA. "This ruling enables MediaFLO USA to launch its services to millions of customers across the nation." <br /><br />MediaFLO is a "forward link only" (the FLO) technology that was designed to give broadcasters and content products another mode in which to reach America's consumers. With over-the-air television, cable, satellite and now MediaFLO all competing for the delivery mechanism, times are sure heating up in an interesting way.<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.qualcomm.com/press/releases/2006/061012_mediaflo_usa_support.html>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/10/13/qualcomms-mediaflo-gets-fcc-approval-for-spectrum-use/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/forward/684282/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/10/13/qualcomms-mediaflo-gets-fcc-approval-for-spectrum-use/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br />]]></description><category>DVB-H</category><category>MediaFLO</category><category>Qualcomm</category><dc:creator>Brian White</dc:creator><dc:date>2006-10-13T11:24:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>AT&amp;T-Bellsouth merger gets approval from DOJ</title><link>http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/10/12/atandt-bellsouth-merger-gets-approval-from-doj/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/10/12/atandt-bellsouth-merger-gets-approval-from-doj/</guid><comments>http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/10/12/atandt-bellsouth-merger-gets-approval-from-doj/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/cellular/" rel="tag">Cellular</a>, <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/government/" rel="tag">Government</a>, <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/regulatory-fcc/" rel="tag">Regulatory/FCC</a>, <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/business/" rel="tag">Business</a></p><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.thewirelessreport.com/media/2006/10/200px-fcc-logo.gif" id="vimage_1" alt="" />Looks like the short road to creating the nation's largest telephone (and telecom) company is just hours away. Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Justice approved the merger between AT&amp;T and Bellsouth, <a href="http://www.wirelessweek.com/article/CA6379976.html?nid=2965">clearing the largest hurdle</a> before the companies actually make the merger happen on paper.<br /><br />With on of the FCC commissioners dissenting quite a bit, the matter now goes up before the FCC today after the DOJ's action yesterday. What will the FCC do? Most likely, the merger will be approved there as well, FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein said that "today's move by the Department of Justice to approve the proposed AT&amp;T-BellSouth combination without condition is a reckless abandonment of DOJ's responsibility to protect competition and consumers."<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.wirelessweek.com/article/CA6379976.html?nid=2965>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/10/12/atandt-bellsouth-merger-gets-approval-from-doj/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/forward/683657/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/10/12/atandt-bellsouth-merger-gets-approval-from-doj/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br />]]></description><dc:creator>Brian White</dc:creator><dc:date>2006-10-12T08:56:00+00:00</dc:date></item><item><title>FCC has to delay proposed AT&amp;T/Bellsouth merger vote</title><link>http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/10/11/fcc-has-to-delay-proposed-atandt-bellsouth-merger-vote/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/10/11/fcc-has-to-delay-proposed-atandt-bellsouth-merger-vote/</guid><comments>http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/10/11/fcc-has-to-delay-proposed-atandt-bellsouth-merger-vote/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/cellular/" rel="tag">Cellular</a>, <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/government/" rel="tag">Government</a>, <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/regulatory-fcc/" rel="tag">Regulatory/FCC</a>, <a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/category/business/" rel="tag">Business</a></p><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.thewirelessreport.com/media/2006/10/attmerger.jpg" id="vimage_1" alt="" />With AT&amp;T and Bellsouth just about there in terms of <a href="http://www.rcrnews.com/news.cms?newsId=27501">receiving approval to merge</a>, one of the five ranking Republicans on the FCC's board that will be voting for or against the merger has said that he will drop of of the voting process due to a conflict of interest. Wow -- a politician who has some sort of conscience. Stop the presses, please.<br /><br />The vote on the huge $67 billion merger could be delayed because this news -- when combined with controversy over wireless broadband spectrum, special-access lines and other politically charged issues -- may force the FCC to delay voting on the merger until the voting issue can be resolved.<h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.rcrnews.com/news.cms?newsId=27501>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/10/11/fcc-has-to-delay-proposed-atandt-bellsouth-merger-vote/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/forward/683055/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2006/10/11/fcc-has-to-delay-proposed-atandt-bellsouth-merger-vote/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br />]]></description><dc:creator>Brian White</dc:creator><dc:date>2006-10-11T16:23:00+00:00</dc:date></item></channel></rss>
